Application Deadlines

For admission in the Fall semester, the deadline for receipt of all application materials is November 15. Applications received after this date will be considered as space permits.

For admission in the Spring semester, the deadline for receipt of all application materials is the preceding August 15. Applications received after this date will be considered as space permits. Note that Spring admissions are limited, and your application may be deferred for consideration in the Fall admissions cycle.

If the application deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications are due the next business day.

Financial Support

PhD Program
All PhD students are financially supported for up to five years (10 semesters), provided they are making satisfactory progress in their degree program. Support is provided in the form of either (i) a Graduate Assistantship which includes a stipend and a full tuition waiver; or (ii) a Bilinski Dissertation Fellowship. (awarded to eligible students on a competitive basis once they have advanced to candidacy). Departmental support beyond five years is at the discretion of the faculty.

MA Program
A variety of financial aid, including Graduate Assistantship and tuition waivers, is available on a competitive basis to MA students. Graduate Assistantships are typically not available to MA students in their first semester of the program.

For additional details see the funding page.

Western Regional Graduate Program

We are happy to announce that starting with students entering in Fall 2020, the Department of Linguistics at UH participates in the Western Region Graduate Program.  Graduate Students who are residents of WICHE states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands) with a baccalaureate grade point average of 3.0 or higher will receive reduced tuition at 150% of Hawaiʻi resident tuition.

How to apply

The application process consists of two components: (A) an application to Graduate Division, and (B) supplemental materials specific to the Department of Linguistics. Be sure to complete both components fully.

A. Apply for admission to the Graduate Division

General Information about the Graduate Division’s requirements can be found on their Website for Prospective Students. You may apply to the Graduate Division either online or by paper application.

You will need to provide the following set of documents to the Graduate Division:

1.  Application form and appropriate fee;

2.  One official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended, including any study abroad or exchange programs, summer programs, and non-degree work and extension programs sent directly from the institution to the Graduate Division;

3. Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report is required (for international applicants, as well as some immigrant and US applicants).  Our program requires a minimum TOEFL score of 94 (internet-based test), with subtest scores of 25 for listening and 25 for speaking for admissibility and for waiver of English Language Institute (ELI) placement tests.  We also accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of seven in place of the minimum TOEFL scores.  TOEFL or IELTS scores cannot be more than two years old.

Note:  University of Hawaii Graduate Division is no longer accepting the Duolingo English Test.

4. Verification of financial status (for international applicants).

B. Submit supplemental materials specific to the Department of Linguistics

Use the Graduate Division Website to submit the following supporting documentation that is specific to the Department of Linguistics.  Be sure to submit everything as a .PDF file.

1. Department of Linguistics Application Form (PDF)

2. Three (3) Letters of Recommendation:

a. We recommend using the Graduate Division Website to request letters of recommendation. Graduate Division will send the request to your letter writers and provide them a link for submitting their letters.

b. If any of your letter writers have trouble loading their letter of recommendation onto the Supplemental Documents Website, another option is to Download the Department of Linguistics Letter of Recommendation Form [PDF]. After signing the waiver, you may send it to the appropriate letter writers.  Upon completion, they can email it to the lingadm@hawaii.edu address.  Some letter writers may prefer not to use the form and will instead provide their letter of recommendation on their company’s letterhead.  This option also works.

3. A sample of your academic writing, such as a seminar paper. This must be written in English or ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.

4. Statement of Objectives form [PDF].  You may prepare your statement as a separate file and include it as a (PDF) attachment along with this form.

Do not submit GRE scores; we do not accept the GRE as part of the admission packet.

Questions? 

E-mail lingadm@hawaii.edu or call (808) 956-8602.