Applicants who are in need of financial assistance should seek it simultaneously from as many different sources as possible. This would include, but should not be limited to, the various forms of financial aid available through the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Financial Aid Services Office and the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health, Department of Social Work.
The best and most comprehensive forms of financial aid are often found through other public and private sources. Although the school makes every effort to distribute information about additional resources based on notices received, students and applicants should not rely upon this as their primary source of information.
The Department of Social Work does not offer any graduate teaching assistant positions for MSW or PhD students at this time. Graduate research assistantships, when available, are posted on the UH employment website, Work at UH (http://workatuh.hawaii.edu/). Further information about graduate assistantships can be found on the Graduate Division website at http://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/content/graduate-assistants.
Paid practicum/field placements and training stipends are sometimes available, and information on these opportunities is distributed to students by the Department’s Practicum Office and/or Project Directors as it becomes available, usually during the school year.
UHM Financial Aid Services
The UH Mānoa Financial Aid Services Office administers the University student assistance program, which includes federal work study, scholarships, grants, and loans. More information and application forms can be obtained by contacting the UHM Financial Aid Services Office by phone at (808) 956-7251 or by visiting their website at http://www.hawaii.edu/fas/.
Department of Social Work Administered Financial Aid
Several scholarships and financial awards are administered through the Department of Social Work. Application for Department of Social Work administered financial aid is through common application forms for each of the degree programs. Additional materials may be required for specific scholarships and awards. Application information will be updated in Spring 2024. Check back for additional information or email swadmit@hawaii.edu and ask to be updated when the information goes live.
Please note that continued availability and terms of the scholarships and awards described here are subject to change at the discretion of their sponsors.
Mānoa Achievement Scholarships are available to a limited number of full-time students who are enrolled in a Department of Social Work degree program at UH Mānoa and are in good academic standing.
The Hoa Hana Scholarship was established to assist students commuting from neighbor islands to complete their education at the Department of Social Work. Preference will be given to those who currently reside on a neighbor island and express an intention to practice in the field of social work on a neighbor island.
For Department of Social Work Scholarships (BSW, MSW, PhD)
Deadline: Friday, March 22, 2024 at 8:00AM HST
To apply and see the description of the scholarship, click on the scholarship name in the list below. When you click on the scholarship name, you will go to a Google Form page.
2024-2025 DSW SCHOLARSHIPS
- MANOA ACHIEVEMENT GRADUATE DIVISON SCHOLARSHIP
- MANOA ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP
- ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF THE SCHOOL OF SW SCHOLARSHIP
- BETTY LYLE ANDERSON SCHOLARSHIP FUND IN THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
- DANIEL SELVARAJAH SANDERS DOCTORAL AWARD IN INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK
- DIANE ROEHM SOCIAL WORK SCHOLARSHIP
- ELAINE K .TAMASHIRO ENDOWED FELLOWSHIP
- ELVIRA TOM LEE & ARTHUR JACK TOM ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IN SOCIAL WORK
- EMPATHY SCHOLARSHIP
- ETHEL H. YAMANE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
- FRED MARKHAM LAMPSON ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
- GENEVIEVE T. OKINAGA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
- HAWAII PACIFIC FOUNDATION HAUMANA SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
- HOA HANA SCHOLARSHIP
- HUNG WAI CHUNG SCHOLARSHIP FUND
- JENSEN LAMPSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- MBT 80TH ANNIVERSARY KAUHALE SCHOLARSHIP
- MURABAYASHI FOUNDATION SW SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT UHM
- MYRON B. THOMPSON ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IN SOCIAL WORK
- OSCAR AND GAILE KURREN SCHOLARSHIP FUND
- RICHARD S. & T. ROSE TAKASAKI SCHOLARSHIP
- SALLY KANEHE LAMPSON SCHOLARSHIP
- SENTARO AND LAUREL TOMIKO TAKASAKI KANEDA SCHOLARSHIP
- SUMMER SUCESS SCHOLARSHIP
Gordon & June Ito Foundation
The Gordon & June Ito Foundation Social Work Scholarship is open to full-time MSW students entering into the Concentration year of the Master’s program. Candidates must declare Gerontology or Health as their focus area, register for either SW 726: Practice w/the Aged, or SW 722: Practice in Health Care, and/or who will be registering for a 2nd year practicum in Gerontology or Health. Candidates are selected based upon scholastic merit, student involvement, community service, financial need and an essay. Selected applicants will be interviewed by representatives of the Foundation for final determination of awardees. Application information and materials will be made available through the Department of Social Work, Student Services Office. For more information, please contact Cathy Iwai, Executive Director: ciwai@icfsnf.com.
National Association of Social Workers, Hawai‘i Chapter
NASW Student Community Service Scholarship supports three scholarships of $1,000 each to be awarded to three students who are currently enrolled in a BSW, MSW or PhD social work program at Brigham Young University, Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Pacific University; and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (to be awarded to one student from each of the three programs). Applicants must document a single or ongoing significant contribution to their community, are members of NASW, and are in good academic standing at their social work program. Applicants must highlight in a personal statement the type of service(s) they are providing in the community. Application information and materials will be made available through the Department of Social Work, Student Services Office. For further inquiries, please email: info@naswhi.org.
Other Sources of Financial Aid at UHM
There are other sources of financial aid at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, including the following:
The Office of Multicultural Student Services offers a limited number of scholarships to qualified undergraduate or graduate students, based on academic performance, community service and involvement, and financial need. Recipients are required to fulfill a volunteer service requirement. For more information, visit http://opmanong.ssc.hawaii.edu, or contact the Office of Multicultural Student Services, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Queen Lili‘uokalani Center for Student Services 309, 2600 Campus Road, Honolulu, HI 96822.
Additional Sources of Financial Aid
The University of Hawai‘i Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization that was established to encourage private support for the University of Hawai‘i. The UH Foundation provides fundraising services to the University and manages donated funds for the benefit of the University and its students. The UH Foundation offers scholarships to students at all UH campuses. For more information, visit the UH Foundation website at http://www.uhf.hawaii.edu/, call (808) 956-8849 or 1-866-846-4262, or write to University of Hawai‘i Foundation, P.O. Box 11270, Honolulu, HI 96828-0270.
The Hawai‘i Community Foundation administers a number of scholarship funds that are primarily available to residents of Hawai‘i. More information on available scholarships and how to apply can be obtained by visiting http://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/, e-mailing scholarships@hcf-hawaii.org, or calling (808) 566-5570 (1-888-731-3863 toll-free from neighbor islands).
Kamehameha Schools offers financial assistance to undergraduate or graduate students, with preference given to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.ksbe.edu/finaid/, e-mail finaid@ksbe.edu, or call 1-800-842-4682, dial 9, then x48080.
Ke Ali‘i Pauahi Foundation administers merit-based and/or need-based scholarships for undergraduate or graduate students, with preference given to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.pauahi.org/scholarships/, or contact their office by phone at (808) 534-3966 or by e-mail to scholarships@pauahi.org.
The East-West Center is an educational and research organization established to foster intercultural understanding and relations among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. The Center awards a number of scholarships and fellowships aimed at promoting intercultural understanding and research on issues with international implications. For application forms and information, visit the East-West Center website at http://www.eastwestcenter.org/, or contact the East-West Center Award Services Office at (808) 944-7735 or 1601 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96848-1601, USA.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) provides fellowships and grants for women in a wide range of disciplines. For more information, visit the AAUW website at http://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/educational-funding-and-awards/.
The Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program offers federal service scholarships to students of Hawaiian ancestry pursuing a degree in a health-related discipline (ex. social work). For more information, visit http://www.nhhsp.org/ or call (808) 585-8944.