Visit the Honors Mākālei portal to start your application
First-Time Students: Apply to the Honors Four-Year Program
The Honors four-year program is for talented and well-prepared incoming students who want to challenge themselves with some of the best academic and personal experiences at UH Mānoa. We’re thrilled you found us and we encourage you to seriously consider joining our program and making the very most of your undergraduate degree.
Questions? You are always welcome to schedule a prospective student appointment. Go here to make an appointment.
Four-Year Program Basics
Find out in more detail about our four-year program here. Program requirements at a glance:
- Coursework. Two Honors courses, which can also satisfy General Education and / or major requirements. One “A-Section” course, a small, discussion-based General Education class reserved for Honors students
- Senior project of independent research or creative work, mentored by a UHM faculty member
- Honors classes can also fulfill General Education and / or major and minor requirements.
- With regular Honors advising, most students can expect to graduate with Honors in no more than four years.
Eligibility
- High school students, or students who do not have more than 43 college credits
- Cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or higher
Typical Student Profile
- Shows solid academic preparation from high school experience
- Motivated to experience a challenging undergraduate curriculum
- Enjoys discussion-based classes and interdisciplinary approaches
- Interested to pursue senior project of independent and original work
Application Process
- Complete application including personal statement, list of extracurricular materials, and one letter of recommendation
- Use our Mākālei portal and apply with your @hawaii.edu email
- Schedule an interview with an Honors faculty member. Your application cannot be processed before you meet with an Honors faculty member.
Key Dates
- May 1: priority registration for Fall classes; eligible for to Honors residential learning community
- June 15: can register for Fall Honors classes; priority registration not guaranteed
- After June 15: can enter Honors program; registration for Fall Honors classes not guaranteed
- All application dates include interview with Honors faculty; plan accordingly
The Honors Interview
The Honors interview is more like a local “talk story” or on-boarding meeting. We are interested to hear about your academic and leadership experiences and to better understand why you are interested in Honors. We feel that it is a terrific program, but it has to be a good fit for your academic and career goals. When we meet, we’ll introduce the Honors program and see how it can amplify and strengthen your undergraduate experience. We can answer questions about Honors, UHM, and anything else that can help you make your decision.