Zoology Graduate Program Admissions

Application Deadline is December 15, 2024 to start Fall Semester 2025

Note:  You may apply at any time if you are a recent major fellowship awardee (e.g., NSF GRF, EPA STAR, NSERC, ARC, etc.).  In such cases, please contact zoolgrad@hawaii.edu for guidance.

For questions or problems with the application process, please call (808) 956-8303 or email lifesci@hawaii.edu.

There are two concurrent steps for applying for admission to the Zoology Graduate Program:  (1) completing your application (starting with this web page – see below), and (2) finding a graduate advisor. If you apply but do not have a faculty sponsor, then you will not be accepted by the program, so it is critical that you contact potential advisors directly well before applying. You can search for potential mentors using the Graduate Division database, just enter Zoology under graduate program. Master’s students need a level 2 or 3 faculty mentor, and Phd students need a level 3 faculty mentor. Details regarding the Zoology Graduate Program admissions process are available in the handbook.

To apply for admission to the Zoology Graduate Program, please complete the following steps:

  1. If you have already applied to the UH Manoa Office of Graduate Division, and have had your official transcripts mailed there, you do NOT have to do so again. The Graduate Division will forward them to the Zoology Graduate Program.
  2. If you have NOT yet applied to the UH Manoa Office of Graduate Division, then please have your official transcripts mailed to: 

          Zoology Graduate Admissions         

          University of Hawaii at Manoa
           3190 Maile Way, St. John 101
          Honolulu, HI 96822

  1. Complete your applications to BOTH the UH Manoa Office of Graduate Division AND the Zoology Graduate Program in either order:
    1. Complete the general UH graduate application: UH Manoa Office of Graduate Education.
    2. Download and complete the Zoology Graduate Program supplemental application by clicking the following link:  Zoology Graduate Program Supplemental Form. Upload your completed Zoology Supplemental application to the UHM Graduate Division’s Supplemental Document website (https://documentupload.manoa.hawaii.edu/upload/#/login).
  2. Please remember to also submit the following documents to the Graduate Division Supplemental Document Website:
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  • Statement of Objectives
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation

 It is critical that you contact potential advisors directly to determine the level of mutual interest in working together.  You must have a Zoology graduate faculty mentor lined up before you apply to the program. Students without faculty sponsors are highly unlikely to be admitted to the program. You may search for Zoology graduate faculty through the Graduate Division database.