The Obuchi Scholarship supports Okinawan students for master’s or doctoral degree study at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in fields deemed beneficial to Okinawan development needs, or for the Asia Pacific Leadership Program (APLP), a non-degree leadership training program. 

Application to the Obuchi Scholarship for degree students must be made separately from the Graduate Degree Fellowship at: www.eastwestcenter.org/obuchi. These scholarships are offered through a joint partnership of the United States and Japanese governments, specifically through the East-West Center and the Okinawa Prefectural Government. The program’s mission is to help Okinawa develop and strengthen its human resources to take a proactive role in Asia Pacific intellectual, research, and business activities. Priority in the student selection process is given to those studying in fields of benefit to Okinawan development.

The Obuchi Student Scholarship provides the following funding provisions:

• Full-time graduate tuition and fees for general graduate programs* toward master’s or doctoral studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa;

• Housing in an East-West Center residence hall, based on single occupancy;

• A stipend to partially cover food and incidental expenses;

• An allowance for books, materials and supplies; and

• Subsidy toward health insurance coverage. 

*The Graduate Degree Fellowship does not cover the full tuition or professional fees for professional programs, such as Architecture, DNP, JD, LLM, MAcc, MBA, MD, and MSN. Candidates will be responsible for covering the difference in cost. See the Office of the Registrar for tuition rates.

Obuchi Scholarship recipients participate in educational, cultural, residential community building, and leadership development programs at the East-West Center and follow the same program and requirements as the Graduate Degree Fellows. Please refer to this Handbook for these requirements and opportunities. The East-West Center and the University of Hawai‘i, located in a unique island setting with a distinctive multicultural heritage, offer premier resources for studies on Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. Through East-West Center affiliation, awardees become part of a growing network of students and alumni forging the shape and substance of the world’s most vibrant region.

Obuchi student fellows have opportunities to enhance their degree studies by participating in Center internship and leadership development projects.

Undertaking graduate degree studies at the UHM or joining the Asia Pacific Leadership Program through an Obuchi Scholarship is not merely about receiving a financial aid scholarship. Since the basic purpose of the East-West Center is to build a sense of Asia Pacific community and prepare for future leadership roles, Obuchi scholars and other EWC graduate student fellows live together and interact with each other in both intellectual and social activities. Through team-building activities, leadership development projects and internships, learning about the Asia Pacific region, cultural exchange, educational enrichment gatherings, community service and service learning projects, Obuchi scholars and other EWC Graduate Degree Fellows establish friendships and lifelong ties to a network of people committed to positive change in the Asia Pacific region.

Applicants must submit a photocopy of permanent domicile in Okinawa or a certificate of residence for Okinawa to show your eligibility to apply for the Obuchi Scholarship.

Click here to read testimonials from Obuchi Scholarship alumni.

The Hawaiʻi Pacific Foundation & Alakaʻina Foundation also provide funding for Graduate Degree Fellowships in support of Master's or Doctoral study. Students who apply for the GDF and who meet the criteria for these fellowships will automatically be considered for these privately funded awards. Awardees are subject to the same programmatic expectations and benefits and are required to participate in EWC educational, cultural, residential community building, and leadership development programs at the East-West Center. To learn more about previous awardees, please see our student spotlights.

Provisions include: general tuition and fees, graduate residence hall room costs, health insurance subsidy, book allowance, and partial living stipend, as well as competitive field study/travel grant awards. 

Recipients of the GDF who are single or married with no accompanying dependents below 18 years of age are required to reside in Center dormitories. Individuals with minor dependent children cannot be accommodated in on-campus facilities and must reside off-campus. (See Spouse and Dependents under the Funding Provisions page.)

Recipients of the GDF who are married and/or have dependents may request approval to have their spouse and/or dependents join them in Hawaii after one semester in the GDF program. 

Pets are not allowed in EWC dormitories.

Further information about the EWC residence halls may be found at their website.

Degree fellows who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States and are sponsored by private foundation funds will need to enter the U.S. with the University of Hawaii's F-1 visa.

Degree fellows sponsored by U.S. federal funding are required to come to the East-West Center on the Exchange Visitor (J-1) visa and are subject to all provisions of the U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor Program. 

The intent of the Exchange Visitor Program is to have participants return to their home countries upon program completion to share and apply the knowledge and experience gained during their program. Exchange visitors on East-West Center J-1 sponsorship are required to return to their home country for an aggregate period of two years after completing their exchange visitor program. Graduate Degree Fellows are eligible to apply for post-completion Academic Training upon completion of their degree program. 

For further information contact Ms. Mathura Small in the East-West Center Visa Office.

East-West Center degree fellows who have completed either an undergraduate or graduate degree under a different EWC scholarship program may apply for another fellowship administered by the Center for which they meet the eligibility requirements. Please note: an individual can receive the Graduate Degree Fellowship for no more than a total of 20 months. In other words, a student who received the Graduate Degree Fellowship for 20-months for a masters degree is not eligible for the Fellowship to pursue a PhD. Students who receive a one-year GDF award are eligible to apply for another one-year GDF award. They will however have a lower priority during the selection consideration having already been supported by the Center for one degree.

Southeast Asia

• Brunei; Burma; Cambodia; Indonesia; Laos; Malaysia, Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; Timor-Leste; Vietnam

East Asia

• China; Hong Kong; Japan; Korea - Democratic People's Republic of; Korea - Republic of; Macau; Mongolia; Russia; Taiwan

South Asia

• Afghanistan; Bangladesh; Bhutan; India; Iran; Maldives; Nepal; Pakistan; Sri Lanka

United States

• Puerto Rico; United States; Virgin Islands

Pacific Region

• American Samoa; Australia; Cook Islands; Federated States of Micronesia; Fiji; French Polynesia; Guam; Kiribati; Marshall Islands; Nauru; New Caledonia; New Zealand; Niue; Northern Marianas; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Tokelau; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu; Wallis and Fortuna

The Graduate Degree Fellowship may not be deferred to another semester or year. Students are encouraged to reapply if they are unable to participate in residence at the EWC starting from the first day of the Community Building Institute (in early August) of the year their fellowship is to begin.

EWC Graduate Degree Fellowships are granted on an annual basis for a maximum of 20-months (2 academic years [summer study is not covered]). Fellowships are made initially for 10 months but may be renewed for up to an additional academic year, subject to funding availability, and timely and satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree and fulfillment of East-West Center requirements. The total award length may be less than 20 months, depending on the academic status of the student at the time the award is given and the time necessary to complete degree requirements.

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship begins in early- to mid-August with the Community Building Institute (CBI) that includes time for advising and registration at the University of Hawai‘i. All students on new awards are required to participate in this initial program, including those who are currently residing in Hawai‘i.