Graduate Admission

MA Program Requirements

Students are admitted to advanced degree programs by the Graduate Division in the fall and spring semesters only. Outreach College does not fulfill the "in residence" requirement. Students who wish to take course work at the graduate level during a summer session, but who have not been admitted to an advanced degree program before that session begins, must register as post-baccalaureate unclassified (PBU -- in university parlance) students.

Admission to the Outreach College does not imply or guarantee eventual admission to the Graduate Division; however, appropriate credits earned from Outreach College courses prior to formal admission to the Graduate Division may be applied toward an advanced degree with proper application (not to exceed 12 credits). All appropriate credits earned in Outreach College after admission to a degree program are applicable toward that degree.

Application Procedures

Students applying for admission to the master's programs must submit the following completed materials:

  • To the Graduate Division (all students):
    1. Completed graduate application form. (You may apply online or download .pdf form for printing)
    2. Copy of transcript from each school attended. Transcript should be sent from school you attended directly to UHM Graduate Admissions Office. Do not send the transcripts yourself.
    3. Official GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score report, aptitude test only. (Choose "Area Studies" for department)
    4. Residency Declaration Form (for applicants claiming Hawai'i residency or statutory exemptions only)
    5. International students, please submit
      1. an official TOEFL ( Test of English as a Foreign Language) score report [note: only students from a school in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore or United Kingdom are excluded from this requirement], and
      2. Requirements for international students.
    6. The address is:

      University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
      Graduate Admissions Office
      Spaulding Room 354
      2540 Maile Way
      Honolulu HI 96822

  • To the Asian Studies Program:
    • Two letters of recommendation. Please tell the person to send the recommendation directly to us. (download .pdf form for printing) We prefer a hardcopy letter, but email is acceptable if a hardcopy is sent later.
    • A 10 page writing sample.
    • Statement of Purpose
    • Asian Studies Information Form

    • The Address is:

      Asian Studies Admission
      School of Pacific & Asian Studies
      Moore Hall 416
      University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
      1890 East-West Road
      Honolulu HI 96822
      Fax: 808.956.2682

International students from some Asian and Pacific countries may be eligible for a partial tuition waiver. You can check the Aid page

Deadlines for receipt of applications: February 1 for the fall semester and September 1 for the spring semester.

Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Division and SPAS. Notification of acceptance or denial is sent to each applicant as soon as possible after a decision is reached.

Deferral of Admission Per Graduate Division policy, admission may not be deferred. It is valid only for the semester for which it is offered. For example, admission for Spring 2012 is valid only for Spring 2012. It may not be deferred until Fall 2012 or Spring 2013. If you cannot attend, you must re-apply. Normally your original application will be kept for about 2 years, but there is no guarantee.

Residency requirements Normally, it takes 2 years to complete an Asian Studies MA degree. Thus, you may be interested in knowing about establishing residency to reduce your tuition cost.

Now, the requirements

Graduate Certificate

Students not already enrolled in a University of Hawai'i at Manoa graduate degree program should follow the Application Procedures outlined above for admittance to the graduate school.

Students already admitted to or registered in a graduate degree program at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa need apply only to the Asian Studies Program.

The deadlines for receipt of applications are March 1 for Fall and September 1 for Spring.

Students already registered in a graduate degree program at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa are advised to apply as early as possible in order to plan and schedule for the certificate requirements. In any event, applications must be received at least one semester before graduation. Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Division and SPAS. Notification of acceptance or denial is sent to each applicant soon after a decision is reached.

Please click the requirements for admission to the graduate program.

Prof. Michael Aung-Thwin

Chair,Asian Studies Program
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
1890 East-West Road, Moore Hall 416
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel. (808) 956-5962
Email. aungthwi@hawaii.edu