Graduate Admissions: Theatre and Performance Studies

Beginning Fall 2024, all degrees in our department will be in Theatre and Dance, with specific concentrations. Graduate Degrees: 

MA Theatre and Dance (Concentrations: Dance, Performance Studies, Theatre). Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (non-thesis) options available.

MFA Theatre and Dance (Concentrations: Dance, Theatre). MFA Theatre Focus Areas: Acting, Design, Directing, Hawaiian Theatre, Playwriting, Theatre for Young Audiences 

PhD Theatre and Dance (Concentrations: Asian Performance, Hawaiian and Indigenous Performance, Performance Studies) See PhD research in process and recent dissertations.

Prospective applicants: Priority deadline for Fall 2024 entry is Dec. 15, 2023; later applications accepted through May 2024, but earlier applications have greater priority for financial support. 

These Graduate Assistantship positions are anticipated to be available starting Fall 2024, pending funding: Acting Lecturer, Dance Lecturer, Electrics/Scene Shop Assistant, Instructor Stage, Film, and New Media Writing. Pending funding; please apply as soon as possible; priority deadline Feb. 1, 2024. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled. See Graduate Assistantship application details below.

Questions?  Please email theagrad@hawaii.edu

Great news!  If you are a legal resident of a WICHE state (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming), UHM now participates in the Western Regional Graduate Program (WGRP) for all Theatre degrees and concentrations. WGRP enables students from WICHE states to enroll and pay 150 percent of the UHM’s resident tuition rate, instead of the non-resident rate that an out-of-state student would normally pay.  Eligibility: legal residency status in a WICHE state, 3.0 GPA, and acceptance by UHM. There is no separate application, you will be automatically reviewed for WGRP eligibility.

How to Apply to Theatre Graduate Programs

Skip to Fellowships and Assistantships

Application Deadlines

For Fall semester priority admission: December 15 of previous year*
For Spring semester priority admission: August 15 of previous year*

(same deadlines for international applicants)

*Applications can often be accepted beyond these deadlines if openings still exist. Please email the Director of Graduate Studies in Theatre at theagrad@hawaii.edu to inquire.

Step 1: Application to UHM

1. Complete the online Graduate Admissions Application Form. See the Graduate Admissions page for information and the link to the application (“Submitting Your Application”).
2. Pay the application fee. Note that the Graduate Division does not grant waivers of this fee.
3. Request that official copies of all post-secondary transcripts be sent directly to Graduate Student Services. See the Graduate Admissions page for information and the link to the application (“Documentation Requirements”).

Please note that Theatre concentrations do not require a GRE score.

1. If you are an international applicant, please consult the International Students graduate website. You are also responsible for the following:
   • Official language proficiency scores sent directly to Graduate Student Services (see address above).  See Proficiency information here.
   • Financial Information Form.
   • Additional admissions requirements.

Step 2: Additional Departmental Requirements

Applicants for all graduate programs in Theatre and Dance should upload or request most Step 2 application materials via the Office of Graduate Education’s Supplemental upload website.

You may also watch a video tutorial on how to use the upload website.

If are applying to a Theatre-related concentration and you have questions on the process, please email the Director of Graduate Studies in Theatre at theagrad@hawaii.edu.

Admissions Checklist

Required:

• Three Letters of Recommendation (request from your recommenders via Supplemental Upload website)
• Theatre and Dance Graduate Express Form (please fill out this Google Forms link)
• Statement of Objectives (Please upload to Graduate Division Supplemental upload website, using UPLOAD Feature.  For Category, choose “Statement of Objective.”) As part of your statement, please address specifically why you are interested in attending UHM.
• Unofficial scans of all post-secondary transcripts (Please upload to Graduate Division Supplemental upload website, using UPLOAD Feature.  For Category, choose “Unofficial Transcripts.”  Important: you must also send official copies directly to Graduate Student Services as noted above for your application to be complete.)
• Needed materials as specified by degree (see list below)

Optional but highly recommended:

• Apply for Graduate Achievement Scholarships (optional but strongly recommended for all applications) Please fill out the Graduate Achievement Scholarship Application via this Google Forms application link. Please fill out no later than Oct. 1 for spring semester, and Feb. 1 for Fall semester; earlier applications encouraged.
• Apply for Graduate Assistantships (optional) Please fill out the Graduate Employment Application via this Google Forms application link. Priority deadlines: Oct. 1 for spring semester openings, Feb. 1 for Fall semester openings. Earlier applications encouraged; applications will be accepted until positions are filled.

Most degrees have additional requirements, listed below.

Reviews or other supplementary materials may also be uploaded.  See instructions at end of this list on how to upload various formats.

• MA Theatre or Performance Studies concentrations, Plan A—A major paper (pdf preferred).
• MFA Theatre concentration, Acting focus area—Resume plus two 2-minute monologues, one comedic and one serious; one from classical material and one from a modern or contemporary play. Plays from which monologues are chosen should be from well-known and established playwrights.  Preferred format: electronic link or uploaded video file.
• MFA Theatre concentration, Design focus area—Resume plus portfolio or appropriate supplementary materials (i.e., slides, photographs, videos).  Preferred format: electronic link or file.
• MFA Theatre concentration, Directing focus area—Resume plus provide short video examples of your work. Preferred format: electronic link to view video. Please also upload a separate 1-2 page written commentary explaining the video examples, commenting on your artistic choices in directing, challenges faced, etc. Please contact the Graduate Chair if you don’t cannot provide video.
• MFA Theatre concentration, Hawaiian Theatre focus area—Resume plus provide short examples of your work.  Preferred format: electronic link or file.
• MFA Theatre concentration, Playwriting focus area—Resume plus one-act play or other script (pdf preferred).
• MFA Theatre concentration, Theatre for Young Audiences focus area—Resume plus provide short examples of your curricular/directing/performance/puppetry work.  If applying to focus on TYA Directing, please send short video examples of your directing work. Preferred format: electronic link to view video. Please also upload a separate 1-2 page written commentary explaining the video examples, commenting on your artistic choices in directing, challenges faced, etc. Please contact the Graduate Chair if you don’t cannot provide video.
• PhD Theatre and Dance (all concentrations)—(1)  A major paper, (2)  A dissertation proposal of 4-6 pages, with a partial bibliography and a proposed title. (pdfs preferred).

Please upload requested materials to Graduate Division Supplemental upload website, using UPLOAD Feature.

PDF files: For Category, choose “Other” and please type <Writing Sample> or <Dissertation Proposal> or other appropriate title into the description.

Electronic Links: Please email the Director of Graduate Studies in Theatre at theagrad@hawaii.edu with your electronic link to portfolio, youtube video, etc.

Video Files:  For Category, choose “Other” and please type <Video Audition> or <Video Portfolio> or other appropriate description into the description.  Note: 200MB maximum per file.

FELLOWSHIPS AND ASSISTANTSHIPS

Graduate Assistantships Fall 2024

These positions are anticipated to be available starting Fall 2024: Acting Lecturer, Dance Lecturer, Electrics/Scene Shop Assistant. Pending funding; priority deadline Feb 1, 2024.

Applicants must be enrolled in or must also apply for entry to the University’s graduate Theatre degree programs. See details on this page for process and forms. Very competitive salary for 9-month appointments, plus graduate tuition waived. Full-time students only. Preference given to candidates in relevant field. Please fill out Graduate Employment Application.

Southeast Asian Language study Fellowships
For applicants interested to study Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Khmer, or Tagalog languages, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies plans to offer academic year/summer Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships that include tuition and stipend. Open to U.S. citizen and permanent resident undergraduate and graduate students for study at UH-Mānoa. IMPORTANT NOTE: This award is available pending grant support. Check back for updated information: Southeast Asian Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS)

For Chinese, Korean and Japanese languages, go to East Asian Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS)

For Chamorro, Maori, Samoan, Tahitian, and Tongan languages, go to Pacific Island Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS)

East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowships

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship (GDF) provides funding for up to 24 months for Master’s or Doctoral degree study for graduate students from Asia, the Pacific, and the U.S. to participate in the educational, residential, and leadership development programs at the East-West Center while pursuing graduate study at the University of Hawai‘i. Center fellowships are provided for degree study at the University of Hawai‘i and participation in the Center’s international and intercultural programs. The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship invites applications from:

• Citizens or permanent residents of the United States
• Citizens of countries in the Pacific and Asia, including Russia

Deadline: The Graduate Degree Fellowship application for study to begin in Fall Semester must be postmarked by December 1, of the previous year.  Click here for more information and the GDF application forms.

Society for Asian Art
The Society of Asian Art of Hawai’i, Inc. promotes the pursuit of higher education by awarding scholarship grants to deserving Hawai’i college or university students studying Asia-related art courses at Hawai’i institutions of higher learning.  Deadlines are June 30 prior to academic year.
Application Info

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Information on cost of graduate tuition at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/records/tuition_fees/Graduate

Note that 12+ credits is a typical load for MA/MFA students; PhD students typically may take 9-12 credits.

For General Financial Aid Information: http://www.hawaii.edu/fas/

For General Scholarship Information: http://www.hawaii.edu/fas/info/scholarships.php

Fellowships and Scholarships for Graduate Students (Graduate Division listing): https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/content/fellowships-scholarships

STAR Giving Tree, UHM scholarships and other possible funding opportunities (for current and incoming students): https://www.star.hawaii.edu:10012/Scholarship_live/login.jsp

Japan Studies funding for graduate students:

https://manoa.hawaii.edu/japanese-studies/scholarships-and-grants/graduate-students/

For Native Hawaiian students:
UH Mānoa Kua’ana Tuition Waiver: http://www.hawaii.edu/kuaana/ and also the Pauahi Foundation scholarships: http://www.pauahi.org/scholarships/

+RESOURCES

Dept. of Theatre + Dance
1770 East-West Rd Honolulu HI 96822
Main Office: (808) 956-7677
Box Office: (808) 956-7655