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For Prospective Students

If you're considering joining the Department of Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures, this page offers helpful resources to guide your next steps. Learn about our language program offerings, placement tests, and available language certificates. You’ll also find links to the academic calendar for IPLL-related events and information on financial aid, scholarships, and other support to help make your studies possible.

Explore Our Language Programs

The Department of Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures (IPLL) offers one of the most diverse selections of language programs in the country. Students can study languages spoken across Asia and the Pacific, including Arabic, Cambodian, Chamorro, Filipino, Hindi-Urdu, Ilokano, Indonesian, Māori, Samoan, Sanskrit, Tahitian, Thai, Tongan, and Vietnamese.

In addition to language study, IPLL offers interdisciplinary Indo-Pacific courses that explore the region’s cultures, histories, and literatures. Whether you're starting fresh or continuing your studies, there's a program here for you.

View All Language Programs

Academic Opportunities and Placement

IPLL offers a range of academic programs for students interested in deepening their study of Indo-Pacific languages and cultures. Explore degree options, earn a certificate in a language, or take a placement test to get started at the right level.

Major and Minor Programs

Pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Philippine Language and Culture, or choose from minors in Filipino or Ilokano. These programs offer in-depth language and cultural study, ideal for careers in education, translation, government, and more.

Explore Degree Programs

Language Certificates

IPLL offers language certificates in a variety of Indo-Pacific languages. These certificates recognize your proficiency and cultural knowledge, and they’re a great option whether you're complementing another degree or pursuing personal or professional goals.

View Certificate Options

Placement Tests

If you already speak or have studied one of our languages, a placement test helps place you at the appropriate level and may qualify you for back credits.

Learn About Placement Tests

Ready to Enroll? Start Here.

Before taking IPLL language courses, you’ll need to register as a UH student or sign up through Outreach College. Choose the option that fits you best to get started.

Applying to UH Mānoa

If you plan to pursue a degree or certificate at UH Mānoa, your first step is to apply for admission. Once accepted, you can register for IPLL language courses through STAR GPS and begin your academic journey with us.

Apply to UH Mānoa

Registering as a Non-UH Student

Not a UH student but interested in taking a language course? You can still enroll as a non-degree student through Outreach College. This option is ideal for visiting students, professionals, or anyone interested in language learning without a full application.

Enroll as Non-UH Student

Financial Support and Scholarships

Undergraduate students studying Indo-Pacific languages may be eligible for a range of financial support opportunities at UH Mānoa. These include scholarships, tuition waivers, and grants based on academic merit, financial need, or language of study. Exploring these options can help make your education more affordable.

 

View Financial Support Options

Your IPLL Questions, Answered 

Exploring majors and opportunities under The Department Indo-Pacific Language and Literature (IPLL) and whether you're prospective student or current student exploring other academics, this FAQ page is here for you. From understanding what IPLL is, to deciding what available programs we offer, we've provided answers to the common questions student ask. Explore below to get the support that you need. 

2,900+ Faq Page Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images - iStock

 

The Indo-Pacific Language and Literatures Department provides instruction in the languages of the Indo-Pacific area to students at UH Mānoa. This department is the only one to offer programs of study in four Polynesian languages, most of the heritage and national languages of Southeast Asia, as well as classical and modern Indian, Arabic and Urdu languages. Beyond language, the department offers courses in the literature and cultures of the area, including literature in popular culture, folklore, film, and drama of South and Southeast Asia, Polynesia, and the Philippines. Opportunities are available for study abroad in certain areas. The department at UH Mānoa provides an opportunity without parallel elsewhere in the country for students to acquire an in-depth knowledge of the languages and cultures of that part of the world that encompasses more than 25 percent of the Earth’s population and an extraordinary plurality of people's experiences.

We offer many languages courses here at the University of Hawaii at Manoa under our department. Learn more about specific language courses we offer under our academic programs list.

Most recently, we have our BAM program. It is a pathway that helps students earn a BA in Philippine Language and Culture (PLC) and an MA in Asian Studies in five years. Students may double-count relevant credits towards both their undergraduate and graduate degrees and earn graduate-level credits at the undergraduate tuition rate, essentially saving time and money. Learn more about it here!

Taking a language course at a college level can increase your career opportunities, and enhance cultural awareness, and personal growth in adapting to the confidence of a language. Language skills make our students more competitive in a globalized job market, open doors to new cultures, and contribute to better academic performance and well-rounded education. Learn more about our language offerings here!

Students have the option to pursue a degree in our language offering, either majoring or minoring. Learn about our major and minor programs here!

Some language programs do offer language certificates as well. Learn more about our language certificates here! 

There are numerous student clubs or associations related to majors and academic programs here at IPLL. To see all of the Registered Independent Organizations (RIOs) on the Manoa campus, you can search for them at https://manoa.hawaii.edu/studentlife/involvement/registered-independent-organizations/ 

To transfer credits to UH Mānoa, you must submit official transcripts from all previous colleges to the Office of Admissions, apply as a transfer student, and then consult with an academic advisor to understand how your credits apply to your specific degree program. You can use the UH System Course Transfer Database to check for course equivalencies, but the official evaluation happens after admission. You must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at UH Mānoa for a bachelor's degree, and generally, only courses numbered 100+ from accredited institutions with a minimum grade of D or better will transfer.

To register for classes at UH Mānoa, you must first create a UH Username and have an eligible student status. You can then register through STAR GPS by accessing it via MyUH Services, which allows you to search for classes, use a "shopping cart" to build your schedule, and submit your registration, according to a YouTube video. Make sure to resolve any holds, complete any necessary placement exams, and meet with an advisor to prepare for registration.

Students at UH Mānoa should contact the Mānoa Advising Center or their college/school academic advisor for general language program information and their specific language department for questions about individual language courses and requirements.

To address being waitlisted at UH Mānoa, you should monitor your hawaii.edu email daily for notifications of available seats, as you only have a short window to register once notified. You should also check your MyUH Services account to view your position on the waitlist and contact the instructor or department for guidance, and consider registering for an alternative class with your advisor to ensure you meet your degree requirements.

With a UH Mānoa language degree, you can pursue careers in education, translation and interpreting, government and military, business, and healthcare, among many other fields.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa offers numerous financial aid opportunities, including federal and state grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs, to help cover the cost of attendance. To apply for most aid, you must complete the annual Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which helps determine eligibility for need-based and merit-based aid. UH Mānoa also provides institutional scholarships and fellowship opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Yes, UH Mānoa offers various research and internship opportunities through programs like the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Students can find opportunities in various disciplines by exploring UROP resources, checking with their college advisors, or utilizing the Mānoa Career Center for listings.

Yes, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH Mānoa) offers various options for students to study abroad through the Study Abroad Center (SAC) for UH credits or the Manoa International Exchange (MIX) program for transfer credits, including semester, year-long, and summer programs

At UH Mānoa, language placement exams assess a student's proficiency in a language they've previously studied to determine the correct course level, potentially earning them "back credits" for high scores. These exams are required for students with prior experience but are not needed for those taking the introductory 101-level course with no experience. Contact your program coordinator for more information here under IPLL! 
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us!