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 first-time undergraduates. We welcome applications from 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.
Who is Eligible to Apply
We welcome applications to our four-year program from these students:
- High school students, or students who do not have more than 43 college credits
- Cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Have at least six remaining semesters of undergraduate study
- Students who have fewer than six semester are still welcome to apply to Honors, but should consider our 2-year program.
Application Process
To apply to Honors, please complete these steps:
- Complete our online application including personal statement, list of extracurricular activities, and one academic letter of recommendation. Letter of recommendation can be from a teacher, tutor, or other person who can speak to your academic experiences.
- Our application asks for a high school GPA. If your high school does not provide a GPA, please state that in your application essay, and describe your academic experiences that demonstrate your preparation for Honors work.
- Applications are accepted via our Mākālei portal. 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.
- There are no fees or charges to join Honors.
Typical Student Profile
Students who join the UHM Honors program typically have these qualities:
- 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
Information for International Students
Students who have not attended high school in the United States may not have a GPA to report for admission to Honors. Please explain in your application essay how your high school experiences demonstrate your preparation for an Honors program. Describe any challenging courses or other academic experiences you may have had, and let us know why you are interested in joining Honors at UHM.
Key Application Dates
Honors accepts student applications year-round. However, students who complete the application process by the dates below may have different access to Honors benefits. Please note that applications cannot be processed until the Honors interview has also been held.
- May 1: Students accepted by this date (including Honors interview) have priority registration for all their Fall classes. Students are also eligible to apply for Honors residential learning community. Please note that the housing application is a separate process and you need to apply directly to UH Housing Office. Go here for more information on Honors housing.
- June 15: Students accepted by this date can join the Honors program in the fall and register for Fall Honors classes. Priority registration for non-Honors classes is not guaranteed.
- After June 15: Students accepted to Honors after June 15 can join the Honors program in the fall and register for Fall Honors classes based on availability.
- All application dates include interview with Honors faculty; plan accordingly.
Schedule an Honors Interview
To schedule an interview, make an appointment with any one of the Honors faculty.
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.