How to Apply: Postgraduate Students
Find out how to apply to the Exchange, Hoakipa, and Independent Visiting Student programs at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa as a postgraduate student, and the deadlines for submitting your application.
Nomination & Application Deadlines
Fall Semester (August – December)
- Nomination Period: December 1 – February 1
- Application Period: December 1 – March 1
Spring Semester (January – May)
- Nomination Period: July 1 – September 1
- Application Period: July 1 – October 1
Applying as an Exchange or Hoakipa Visiting Student
Our Exchange program and Hoakipa Visiting Student program are open to students who are currently enrolled at one of our 90+ partner universities around the world. If your home university does not have a formal Exchange or Hoakipa agreement with the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, please scroll down to learn about applying as an Independent Visiting Student. If you are in a combined BA/MA or integrated undergraduate/graduate degree program, and have not yet earned your bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), please follow the application instructions for Undergraduate Students instead.
Before you apply:
Applicants for the Exchange or Hoakipa Visiting Student programs must first be nominated by one of our exchange partner institutions before they can apply to the MIX Program. To begin the process, students should contact their home university’s exchange or international office. Home university representatives may request access to the nomination form by contacting us at inbound@hawaii.edu.
In order to be eligible for the Exchange or Hoakipa Visiting Student program, you must:
- Be currently enrolled at one of our partner universities
- Be nominated as an Exchange or Hoakipa visiting student by your home university exchange office
- Meet our English language requirements
- Possess an undergraduate degree or expect to be awarded an undergraduate degree prior to beginning your program
- Be currently enrolled in a graduate degree program at an accredited institution
If you are planning to take graduate-level courses from the Shidler College of Business, you must also meet the requirements listed here. Please note that graduate-level Business (BUS) courses are not open to Exchange/Visiting students. More details on course restrictions can be found on our Academics page.
To apply to the program, the following is required:
- MIX Online Application
- University of Hawai’i at Mānoa Graduate Admissions Online Application (see application guide)
- University transcript(s) and degree certificates from all universities you have attended (see requirements)
- Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable, see requirements)
- Copy of your passport’s biographical information page
- MIX Financial Certification Form (not required for U.S. citizens or permanent residents)
- MIX Participation, Assumption of Risk, Consent, Waiver, Release and Indemnity Agreement for Incoming Students
- If you are planning to take business courses at UH Mānoa, you will also be required to provide a copy of your resume/CV
Links to applications and forms are provided in the steps below.
Application steps:
Students must complete both applications:
2. UH Mānoa Graduate Application – please read the Application Guidelines for Postgraduates for assistance
All postgraduate applicants, including Exchange Students, Hoakipa Visiting Students, and Independent Visiting Students, are required to provide official transcripts and degree certificates from every college or university they have attended at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level as a part of their application.
Required Official Documents for Postgraduate Applicants
- Final undergraduate transcript
- Undergraduate diploma or certification of graduation
- Graduate transcript or proof of enrollment in an active degree program during the intended MIX program period
Translations: If English is not the primary language of your institution, you must provide an official copy of your documents in the native language and an official translation in English.
Notarized Copies: Notarized copies from the issuing institution are accepted if sent directly by that institution. Documents notarized by a different institution will not be valid.
Postgraduate Transcript Submission Methods
- By mail in their original, sealed envelope
- Through email from the record’s office of the issuing institution to inbound@hawaii.edu – cannot be sent by the student. The Graduate Division office is unable to accept transcripts sent from staff or faculty in other departments
- Via a certified digital platform (such as eQuals) to inbound@hawaii.edu
English proficiency test score (if needed): The list of eligible tests and exceptions can be found on our English Language Requirements page. Official test scores must be sent directly to the UH Mānoa Graduate Division by the testing authority.
Once you have submitted your MIX Application, you will receive an email with a link to the student Dropbox document upload form. Please use the Dropbox link to submit the following documents:
- High quality color scan of your passport biographical information page
- MIX Financial Certification Form (not required for U.S. citizens)
- MIX Participation, Assumption of Risk, Consent, Waiver, Release and Indemnity Agreement for Incoming Students
- If you are planning to take business courses at UH Mānoa, please also provide a copy of your resume/CV
If you did not receive a link to the document upload Dropbox form after completing the MIX Online Application, please first check your Spam folder. If you are unable to find the Dropbox link, email inbound@hawaii.edu and we can resend.
Once your application is complete:
After you have completed the application process, please allow some time for your applications and materials to be reviewed. Upon admission, you will receive a series of emails from inbound@hawaii.edu, the inbox for our Mānoa International Exchange (MIX) Inbound team:
- Acceptance Email – this email includes a PDF copy of your acceptance letter from our Graduate Division office and your assigned UH Student ID Number.
- Welcome Guide – includes information on your next pre-arrival steps, housing, course registration, and program expectations.
- Form I-20 Delivery & Instructions – If you need a U.S. student visa to study at UH Mānoa, you will receive the Form I-20 via email within 5-7 business days after your Acceptance Email. You will use the Form I-20 for the F-1 student visa status. For more detailed information on the visa application process, please see the Visas page on the ISS website. Note: If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or have confirmed attendance through another visa type, you will not be issued an I-20.
You will continue to receive emails from inbound@hawaii.edu throughout your MIX Program. If you have any questions, or do not receive any emails as intended (make sure to check your spam folders as well), please contact us at inbound@hawaii.edu.
Applying as an Independent Visiting Student
If your home university does not have a formal Exchange or Hoakipa agreement with the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, you can apply for our Independent visiting student program. Students can apply for this program independently or with the assistance of their home university. If you are in a combined BA/MA or integrated undergraduate/graduate degree program, and have not yet earned your bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), please follow the application instructions for Undergraduate Students instead.
Before you apply:
In order to be eligible for the Independent Visiting Student program, you must:
- Meet our English language requirements
- Possess an undergraduate degree or expect to be awarded an undergraduate degree prior to beginning your program
- Be currently enrolled in a degree program at an accredited institution
If you are planning to take graduate-level courses from the Shidler College of Business, you must also meet the requirements listed here. Please note that graduate-level Business (BUS) courses are not open to Exchange/Visiting students. More details on course restrictions can be found on our Academics page.
To apply to the program, the following is required:
- MIX Online Application
- University of Hawai’i at Mānoa Graduate Admissions Online Application (see application guide)
- University transcript(s) and degree certificates from all universities you have attended (see requirements)
- Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable, see requirements)
- Copy of your passport’s biographical information page
- MIX Financial Certification Form (not required for U.S. citizens)
- MIX Participation, Assumption of Risk, Consent, Waiver, Release and Indemnity Agreement for Incoming Students
- If you are planning to take business courses at UH Mānoa, you will also be required to provide a copy of your resume/CV
Links to applications and forms are provided in the steps below.
Application steps:
Students must complete both applications:
2. UH Mānoa Graduate Application – please read the Application Guidelines for Postgraduates for assistance
All postgraduate applicants, including Exchange Students, Hoakipa Visiting Students, and Independent Visiting Students, are required to provide official transcripts and degree certificates from every college or university they have attended at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level as a part of their application.
Required Official Documents for Postgraduate Applicants
- Final undergraduate transcript
- Undergraduate diploma or certification of graduation
- Graduate transcript or proof of enrollment in an active degree program during the intended MIX program period
Translations: If English is not the primary language of your institution, you must provide an official copy of your documents in the native language and an official translation in English.
Notarized Copies: Notarized copies from the issuing institution are accepted if sent directly by that institution. Documents notarized by a different institution will not be valid.
Postgraduate Transcript Submission Methods
- By mail in their original, sealed envelope
- Through email from the record’s office of the issuing institution to inbound@hawaii.edu – cannot be sent by the student. The Graduate Division office is unable to accept transcripts sent from staff or faculty in other departments
- Via a certified digital platform (such as eQuals) to inbound@hawaii.edu
English proficiency test score (if needed): The list of eligible tests and exceptions can be found on our English Language Requirements page. Official test scores must be sent directly to the UH Mānoa Graduate Division by the testing authority.
Once you have submitted your MIX Application, you will receive an email with a link to the student Dropbox document upload form. Please use the Dropbox link to submit the following documents:
- High quality color scan of your passport biographical information page
- MIX Financial Certification Form (not required for U.S. citizens)
- MIX Participation, Assumption of Risk, Consent, Waiver, Release and Indemnity Agreement for Incoming Students
- If you are planning to take business courses at UH Mānoa, please also provide a copy of your resume/CV
If you did not receive a link to the document upload Dropbox form after completing the MIX Online Application, please first check your Spam folder. If you are unable to find the Dropbox link, email inbound@hawaii.edu and we can resend.
Once your application is complete:
After you have completed the application process, please allow some time for your applications and materials to be reviewed. Upon admission, you will receive a series of emails from inbound@hawaii.edu, the inbox for our Mānoa International Exchange (MIX) Inbound team:
- Acceptance Email – this email includes a PDF copy of your acceptance letter from our Graduate Division office and your assigned UH Student ID Number.
- Welcome Guide – includes information on your next pre-arrival steps, housing, course registration, and program expectations.
- Form I-20 Delivery & Instructions – If you need a U.S. student visa to study at UH Mānoa, you will receive the Form I-20 via email within 5-7 business days after your Acceptance Email. You will use the Form I-20 for the F-1 student visa status. For more detailed information on the visa application process, please see the Visas page on the ISS website. Note: If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or have confirmed attendance through another visa type, you will not be issued an I-20.
You will continue to receive emails from inbound@hawaii.edu throughout your MIX Program. If you have any questions, or do not receive any emails as intended (make sure to check your spam folders as well), please contact us at inbound@hawaii.edu.