MA Admissions

All supplemental materials and requests for letters of recommendation will be be collected through the Online Application System with Graduate Division. See complete instructions on this page.

We are pleased to be able to offer a limited number of funded positions in our MA program for graduates and alumni of the following programs: CELTA, Peace Corps, JET, Fulbright, EPIK, TAPIF, ETA, Boren Award, CIEE Teach Abroad, and Teach for America. If you have participated in any of these programs or received any of the above awards, you are especially encouraged to apply. In your statement of purpose, be sure to mention your experience and its relevance to your study plans. Priority for these funding opportunities will be given to those who apply by January 1.

How to Apply

APPLICATION DEADLINES	Fall Semester Enrollment	Spring Semester Enrollment
Master of Arts in Second Language Studies	January 1 Early Notification March 1 Regular Deadline	September 1
	Semester begins in August.	Semester begins in January.

Many applicants wish to make plans for the future as soon as possible. For these prospective students, we offer Early Notification with a deadline of January 1. Our regular deadline is March 1. For consideration for a Graduate Assistantship, priority will be given to those who apply by January 1st.

Information regarding support can be found on the Financial Support for MA Students and Funding pages.

Click on each of the following steps for detailed instructions. All materials—online application and fee, letters of recommendation, and supplemental materials including score report(s) and transcript(s)—are due by the application deadline.

1. Take Standardized Exam

GRE

Not required for MA applicants.

English Proficiency Test

Required for most applicants whose first language is not English; see UHM Graduate Division policy on English Proficiency and Standardized Exams.
Scores cannot be more than 2 years old.
Minimum scores required for admissions and consideration for graduate assistantship.

Test	Minimum for Admissions	Minimum for Graduate Assistantship
TOEFL iBT (2026 and beyond)	Overall score of 3.5	Overall score of 5 with subtest scores of 5 for Listening and 5 for Speaking
TOEFL iBT (up to Dec 31, 2025)	Overall score of 61	Overall score of 100 with subtest scores of 25 for Listening and 25 for Speaking
TOEFL Essentials	Overall score of 7.0	Overall score of 10.5 with subtest scores of 11 for Listening and 10 for Speaking
IELTS	Overall score of 6.0	Overall score of 7.0 with subtest scores of 7.0 for Listening and 7.5 for Speaking
Duolingo English Test	Overall score of 95	Overall score of 135 with subtest scores of 135 for Listening and 145 for Speaking
Cambridge English Scale	Overall score of 161	Overall score of 185 with subtest scores of 180 for Listening and 180 for Speaking

2. Prepare Supplemental Materials

All supplemental materials are due by the application deadline.

i. Statement of Purpose
In a maximum of 1,000 words, outline your academic and professional objectives and reasons for applying to the MA in Second Language Studies. Describe your experience with languages, language learning, and professional contexts that involved various forms of language expertise, and connect these to your long-term goals as a language professional.

ii. Supplemental Information Form
Please download and complete the Supplemental Information Form (PDF, 1 page).

iii. Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae

iv. Unofficial Score Report
An unofficial score report for the TOEFL (or IELTS) is required at the time of application.
Note. Admitted students are required to submit official score reports in order to enroll. If you wish to submit official scores at the time of application (this is not required), please refer to the instructions to Submit Official Test Score Report under the Document Requirements for Admitted Students section.

v. Unofficial Transcript(s)
One transcript is required from each postsecondary institution attended, including any study abroad or exchange programs, summer programs, and non-degree work and extension programs.
Note. Admitted students are required to submit official transcripts in order to enroll. If you wish to submit official transcripts at the time of application (this is not required), please refer to the instructions to Submit Official Transcript(s) under the Document Requirements for Admitted Students section.

vi. (OPTIONAL) Writing Sample
The writing sample is optional. It can be a research paper, thesis, or publication.

vii. (Applicants from Ewha Womans University, TESOL program, only) Degree Type
Please download and complete this form to indicate which degree type you are applying to.

3. Submit Online Application and $100 Application Fee

4. Request Three (3) Letters of Recommendation

Letters from three individuals who have recent knowledge of your academic capacity are most helpful (e.g., current and past instructors, academic advisors, etc.) Ideally, at least one reference should relate to your stated areas of interest, and all letters should be recent. Use of official university or institutional letterhead is preferred.

Letters from professional references, in both academic and non-academic settings, are also welcome.

After logging in to the Graduate Application Supplemental Materials Upload Website, click Request a Recommendation for each of your recommenders. Use of official university or institutional email addresses is preferred.

5. Upload Supplemental Materials

Upload all documents in PDF format using the Graduate Application Supplemental Materials Upload Website.

For expediency, please use the following naming convention, including the numerals in the file names:
1_LastnameFirstname_SOP.pdf
2_LastnameFirstname_SuppInfo.pdf
3_LastnameFirstname_Resume.pdf or 3_LastnameFirstname_CV.pdf
4_LastnameFirstname_TOEFL or 4_LastnameFirstname_IELTS
5_LastnameFirstname_Transcript.pdf

Additional/optional files:
5_LastnameFirstname_Transcript2.pdf
6_LastnameFirstname_WritingSample.pdf
7_LastnameFirstname_DegreeType_EwhaOnly.pdf

Document Requirements for Admitted Students

Click on each of the following steps for detailed instructions.

1. Submit Statement of Intention to Register to Graduate Division

2. Submit Official Test Score Report

3. Submit Official Transcript(s)

4. FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Submit Confidential Financial Statement

International applicants need to show proof of sufficient funding to cover all educational and living expenses for a 9-month budget, including expenses for any accompanying spouse or children. Upon admission to UHM, only international applicants with proof of funding will receive visa documents.

Be sure to complete the Confidential Financial Statement for International Applicants as soon as possible to avoid delays in applying for your student visa.

5. FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Submit Health Insurance Documents

Health insurance is mandatory for international students, but the university encourages all students to think about their health insurance needs and enroll in a plan that provides adequate coverage.

Proof of health insurance must be submitted to the UH Student Health Insurance Office for those on a F-1 visa and to the International Student Services Office (ISS) for those on a J-1 visa. For more information, please visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/issmanoa/?page_id=39.

**Spring 2021: Students intending to stay in their home countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic may request a health insurance exemption by contacting shio@hawaii.edu.

6. Submit Health Clearance Form

All students are required to meet the immunization requirements before physically attending classes at the university. For example, TB, MMR, Tdap, and Varicella are required for those planning to come to Hawaii. MCV is required for first-year students living in on-campus housing. For more information, please visit https://www.hawaii.edu/shs/health_clearance/. Please note that a record of immunizations, signed, or stamped by a US licensed practitioner or the Hawaii Department of Health may be submitted in lieu of the Health Clearance Form.

The University Health Services offers the TB test as well as the MMR and Varicella immunizations.

**Spring 2021: Students intending to stay in their home countries or on the mainland due to the COVID-19 pandemic may request a health clearance exemption by contacting uhsm@hawaii.edu.

Questions?

Email grdchr@hawaii.edu or call (808) 956-8374.

Prospective Students

How to Apply

Document Requirements for Admitted Students

Questions?