This section includes information on admissions requirements for both U.S. and international applicants.

Additional information pertaining to international applicants is located in the section International Students.

Information on readmission and on admission as visiting students or as post-baccalaureate unclassified students is located toward the bottom of this page.

The UHM Graduate Division does not administer admission to certain professional programs, summer session only programs, East-West Center programs, or undergraduate degree programs. More information.

 
Online Application
Prospective students are encouraged to submit an online application at <http://apply.hawaii.edu>. Please note that due to a scheduled system upgrade, the online application site will be unavailable from 4:00 pm HST on Friday, February 12, 2010 through noon HST on Monday, March 1, 2010. Applicants are advised to check the deadlines for their intended graduate programs and plan accordingly well in advance.

Applicants applying for readmission or as visiting students must submit paper applications.

 
Paper Application
Prospective students who prefer to submit paper applications need to download the application materials below. Please download the free Adobe Reader to view, download and print the documents.

Please follow the instructions carefully. Complete and submit the appropriate forms to the Graduate Admissions Office and to the intended graduate program.

Academic Year 2010-11

• Graduate Admissions Application General Information and Instructions (174KB, non-fillable)
• Graduate Admissions Application and Fee Payment Form (100KB, non-fillable)
• Graduate Admissions Application Instructions and Form for Readmissions, Post-Baccalaureate Unclassified Student, and Visiting Student (176KB, non-fillable)
  (See Readmission, PBU Student, or Visiting Student before downloading this document.)
  
• Notice to Applicants (70KB)
• Statement of Objectives Form (62KB, non-fillable)
• Residency Declaration Form (106KB, non-fillable)
• Confidential Financial Statement for International Applicants (137KB, non-fillable)
• Petition to Apply for Concurrent Degree Status (109KB, non-fillable)
• Concurrent Graduate Certificate Program Application Form (109KB, non-fillable)

An applicant may apply to more than one graduate program at a time but may enroll in only one program initially, except in the case of official dual degrees, or in the case of a graduate degree program and a graduate certificate program.

Priority Consideration Deadlines
Some graduate programs at UHM have set priority consideration deadlines in addition to application deadlines. Applicants are advised to contact the intended graduate program for the priority dates. In many cases, graduate programs make offers of financial support well in advance of application deadlines. Funding is limited and often awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to the most qualified applicants.

Application Deadlines
The Graduate Admissions Office begins processing of admissions applications starting October 1 for the Fall semester and May 1 for the Spring semester.  Applicants are advised to apply well in advance of application deadlines.

Deadlines vary for each graduate program. Refer to individual program listings in the section Graduate Programs. Deadlines that fall on a weekend or a holiday will default to the next work day. Applicants who apply after the the application deadlines MUST consult with the intended graduate program before submitting an application.

Certain graduate programs such as library and information science offer degree programs that may be completed during the summer sessions. Applicants who apply to such programs should apply for the fall semester subsequent to the summer session and observe the fall priority consideration deadlines. Applicants for summer only programs will only be evaluated along with fall applicants.

Application deadlines for admission as post-baccalaureate unclassified students are July 15 for fall admission and December 15 for spring admission.

Notification
The Graduate Admissions Office sends notification of application receipt and status by email or by mail. Applicants who do not receive a notification within 30 days of submitting their application should contact the Graduate Admissions Office. N.B. Applicants who submit their applications during the last two weeks of December 2009 should allow up to 45 days before contacting the Graduate Admissions Office.

Notification of final admissions decision is by mail only.

The Graduate Division invites applications from prospective students with outstanding academic records and demonstrated potential to succeed in their intended graduate program of study.  All applicants need to meet Graduate Division admissions standard and documentation requirements, as well as specific graduate program criteria and requirements.

To be eligible to apply, an applicant needs to possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or an equivalent degree from a recognized non-U.S. institution of higher education.  At minimum, the applicant needs to demonstrate above average academic performance (B average or its equivalent) for undergraduate course work and for any post-baccalaureate or graduate course work. 

Since the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of spaces available, admission is competitive.  Meeting minimum admissions standard does not guarantee admission.

Applicants submit the following to the Graduate Admissions Office:

• completed Graduate Admissions Application
• application fee
• one transcript for each post-secondary institution attended

In addition, certain applicants may be required to submit the following:

• standardized exam scores
• Residency Declaration Form
• official TOEFL or IELTS exam scores
  (See International Students < English Proficiency.)
• proof of sufficient funding
  (See International Students < Financial Statement.)

Application Fee
Application fee is $60 for all applicants. No application fee waivers or deferments are granted. Application fees are non-refundable and may not be used for an application submitted at a later date.

Applicants may pay by credit card, check or money order. Do NOT send cash. Payment by check or money order must be in U.S. dollars, drawn on a U.S. bank, and made payable to the University of Hawai'i. Applicants should include their full name and date of birth on the payment.

 
Transcripts
Applicants are required to submit one transcript from each post-secondary institution attended, including any study abroad or exchange programs, summer programs, and non-degree work and extension programs. Applicants may submit unofficial copies of transcripts while applying for admission. However, admitted students are required to submit official transcripts in order to enroll at UHM.

Returning UHM graduate students applying for readmission to the same graduate program for the same degree objective should contact the Graduate Admissions Office for transcript requirements.

Official transcripts must be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office directly from the issuing institution(s), or in sealed institutional envelopes if submitted with the application.

UH Transcripts
Transcripts are not required for course work completed at any of the UH campuses. The Graduate Admissions Office will obtain UH transcripts on behalf of applicants. 

Non-Traditional Grades
Applicants who have more than 25 percent of undergraduate course work at a U.S. institution evaluated under a non-traditional grading system are required to submit official scores for the appropriate standardized exam. Non-traditional grades include pass/fail, credit/no credit, no grades, etc. The exam required depends on the intended graduate program:

• Applicants to the graduate programs in accountancy and business administration submit GMAT scores.
• Applicants to the graduate program in travel industry management submit either GMAT or GRE General Test scores.
• All other applicants submit GRE General Test scores.

International Transcripts and Academic Records
See International Students < International Transcripts and Academic Records for more information.

 
Standardized Exams
Applicants are required to take standardized exams in the following cases:

1. The Graduate Division requires standardized exam scores from applicants whose transcripts include more than 25 percent of undergraduate course work at a U.S. institution with non-traditional grades. See Transcripts < Non-Traditional Grades.
2. Many graduate programs require or recommend applicants to take standardized exams. See individual program listings in the section Graduate Programs.

Applicants may submit unofficial scores while applying for admission. However, admitted students are required to submit official scores in order to enroll at UHM. Official GRE scores must be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) code for UHM is 4867. In general, test scores cannot be more than five years old.

Applicants should make arrangements to take the appropriate standardized exams, several months prior to the admissions application deadline. Applicants who reside on O'ahu may visit the Testing Office at the UHM Counseling and Student Development Center. The center administers a number of standardized exams throughout the year. For information about the various standardized exams, visit the Websites for the GRE, the GMAT, the MCAT and the PRAXIS Series. Applicants are welcome to submit the ETS PPI evaluation report.

 
Residency Declaration Form
Applicants who qualify to pay resident tuition at UHM based on residency status or Board of Regents exemptions need to fill out the Residency Declaration Form.

The residency status of a student is determined at the time of admission to the university. Students who do not qualify as bona fide residents of the State of Hawai'i pay non-resident tuition, until satisfactory evidence that proves residency is presented to the residency officer.

For more information on residency status and Board of Regents exemptions, contact the Residency Office.

IMPORTANT: In addition to meeting Graduate Division criteria and requirements, applicants must contact their intended graduate programs for program specific admissions criteria and documentation requirements. General information is available in the section Graduate Programs.

Official “dual degrees" at UHM allow applicants to apply and enroll in two graduate programs simultaneously.

Applicants interested in applying to the following “dual degrees" submit separate applications to each of the two programs in the intended dual degree:

• business administration & civil and environmental engineering
• business administration & nursing
• business administration & public health
• library and information science & American studies
• library and information science & Asian studies
• library and information science & educational technology
• library and information science & computer science
• library and information science & history
• library and information science & Pacific Islands studies
• nursing & public health

An applicant who intends to pursue a joint degree with law or medicine applies separately to the graduate program and the professional school. To apply to the law school, contact the William S. Richardson School of Law. To apply to the medical school, contact theJohn A. Burns School of Medicine.

Joint Degree with Law
Simultaneous admission to a graduate program and the law school is not permitted, because the first year of law school is a prescribed curriculum. A current UHM graduate student must complete at least one semester of graduate course work before starting law school. A current law student must complete the first year of law school before starting a graduate program.

The following graduate programs offer official joint degrees with the law school:

• Asian studies
• business administration
• history
• library and information science
• political science
• psychology
• social work
• urban and regional planning

Applicants interested in any other joint degree with law should check with the respective graduate program and the law school to discuss degree requirements, tuition assessment, and potential financial aid issues.

Joint Degree with Medicine
For information about the joint degree with medicine, contact the medical school.

With the exception of concurrent enrollment in two doctoral programs, which is not permitted (even if the second doctoral program is at another institution), concurrent enrollment in two completely distinct graduate programs at UHM may be permitted.

A current UHM graduate student who wishes to pursue an additional graduate degree concurrently may do so, ONLY after completing one semester of study in the first graduate program. To apply for concurrent enrollment, submit the Petition to Apply for Concurrent Degree Status along with the Graduate Admissions Application.

Enrollment in official dual degrees and graduate certificate programs is NOT subject to the above policies governing concurrent degrees.

An applicant who already holds a graduate degree may pursue an additional graduate degree at the same level ONLY if the degrees in question represent distinct and separate bodies of knowledge. Sequential doctorates are permitted only in highly exceptional cases.

On a case-by-case basis, admission may be granted to an applicant who wishes to repeat a graduate program for the purpose of obtaining professional certification in the discipline.

If Admitted But Not Enrolled
Admission may not be postponed or deferred. A newly admitted student must register during the semester of admission. Failure to register will result in the abandonment of admission status, as will complete withdrawal before the last day to drop courses. To be readmitted, the student must follow the standard admissions procedures for prospective students. Please note that previous admission does not guarantee future admission.

After Lapse of Enrollment
Except in the case of an approved leave of absence, a returning UHM graduate student who wishes to re-enroll in the same graduate program for the same degree objective after a lapse of enrollment must apply for readmission. To apply, submit a completed Graduate Readmissions Application and other documentation requirements as specified in the application instructions. If the lapse of enrollment is five years or more, follow the standard admissions procedures for prospective students.

After Academic Dismissal
A student who has been dismissed must obtain the express consent of the chair of the graduate program, before applying for readmission to the same graduate program for the same degree objective. To apply after obtaining consent, submit a completed Graduate Readmissions Application and other documentation requirements as specified in the application instructions. If the lapse of enrollment is five years or more, follow the standard admissions procedures for prospective students.

Upon invitation by a graduate program at UHM, a student may undertake a prescribed course of study at UHM without seeking a degree. The student must be in good academic standing and actively pursuing a graduate degree in a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or an equivalent degree in a recognized non-U.S. institution of higher education. If granted, the visiting student status is generally limited to a period of one year. Visitng students are generally not eligible for financial support from UHM. International visiting students must comply with certain enrollment regulations (See International Students < Enrollment Regulations).

To apply as a visiting student, submit a completed Visiting Graduate Student Admissions Application to the Graduate Admissions Office. International visiting students are also required to show proof of sufficient funding. See International Students < Financial Statement.

A visiting student who subsequently decides to become a degree-seeking student at UHM needs to apply for graduate admission by following the standard admissions procedures for prospective students. Admission as a visiting student does not guarantee subsequent admission as a degree-seeking student.

A Post-Baccalaureate Unclassified (PBU) student is one who holds a bachelor's degree and who enrolls at UHM without seeking a specific degree. Unlike degree-seeking (classified) students, PBU students are not admitted to a specific degree program.

To be eligible to apply for admission as a PBU student, an applicant needs to possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or an equivalent degree from a recognized non-U.S. institution of higher education. 

The Graduate Division does not administer admissions to the programs of study listed below. Prospective students should contact the units listed for admissions info.