East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowships support graduate study at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM) in fields relevant to the goals and objectives of the East-West Center (EWC). Because degree fellows are involved in programs at the EWC, as well as in advanced degree work at the UHM, they have obligations to both institutions. This relationship between the EWC and UH is unique, and clarification is needed regarding the EWC application process. 

If you are not already enrolled as a classified graduate student at UH Mānoa, you must apply to the university for the following fall semester by December 1. The University of Hawai‘i Graduate Division launches their application system on August 1 each year for admissions the following year. To ensure timely processing of your EWC application, supporting documents for both your UH admissions office and departmental applications must be completed by January 10 (see Application Process for UH and EWC below).

The diagram below, titled Application Process for UH and EWC, summarizes the process for applying to the EWC and to UHM. Selection for the fellowship is based upon the merits of the application. The final selection decision takes into consideration the following: relevance of the applicant’s interests to the East-West Center’s aims and programs, recommendation by the University of Hawai‘i graduate field of study, test scores, letters of reference, academic record, community involvement and/or extracurricular activity participation, and narrative statements. The final selection decision will be conveyed by email and only to the applicant by April 1. No information regarding the final selection will be disclosed by telephone.

Online Application 

EWC degree fellowships are awarded annually in an international competition. The deadline for submitting the East-West Center application is December 1 for study to begin the following August. Letters of Reference, test scores, and transcripts must be received no later than January 10 (see diagram below).

Be sure to download the Graduate Degree Fellowship application checklist and access the application. It is strongly recommended that you carefully review the application checklist and application well in advance to anticipate what you need to prepare. You may review the application as many times as you wish. 

Transcripts

One official transcript must be submitted from each college or university you listed on your application. An official transcript bears the actual signature of the appropriate school official in charge of maintaining academic records and/or actual inked stamp or embossed seal of the institution. A copy of the degree and/or graduation certificate, certified in the same manner as the transcript, must be included if the transcript does not list the type of degree awarded or date of graduation. Photo or scanned copies of documents bearing certification do not meet this requirement. Only documents that are received in sealed envelopes of the issuing school are considered official. 

It is recommended that you submit official transcripts to both the University of Hawaii and East-West Center at the same time. 

Your college or university should mail your transcripts directly to the East-West Center. However, if this is not their policy, you may mail them yourself if they are in sealed school envelopes. Documents that arrive before your application will be kept on file until we are able to consolidate them with your application. 

Please note that currently enrolled UH graduate students applying for the fellowship need not provide official transcripts since you have already gained admission to your academic program. However, the Center does need a copy of your academic records as the selection is based partly on academic merit. We therefore suggest you arrange with your UH academic program or the Graduate Admission Office to forward a copy of all transcripts listed on your application to the East-West Center. If you have grades for completed coursework at UHM, please upload a copy of your Campus Report by Semester to your application.

Letters of Reference

Please identify three individuals who would be willing to recommend you to the fellowship program. Two of the individuals should comment on your academic abilities and long-term professional objectives, while the third referee should reflect on any community service, civic engagement or extra-curricular activities with which you have been involved. Please see Diagram of Reference Letter Process below.

UHM Departmental Statement of Objectives

Current UHM students who are applying for the EWC fellowship to fund their current degree need not provide the statement of objectives. Applicants who are new to UHM, as well as current UH students applying for a new degree or program, may upload a copy of their UHM departmental statement of objectives to their fellowship application.

Exams and Score Reports

Make arrangements to register for any exams such as TOEFL, DUOLINGO, or IELTS that may be required for your admission to the University of Hawai‘i. Official results from the TOEFL, DUOLINGO, or IELTS exams should also be sent by the testing service directly to the East-West Center. UH admission generally requires a TOEFL minimum IBT score of 79, 6.5 for IELTS, and 95 for DUOLINGO. 

Please use institution code 4868 for TOEFL scores, or the address below for IELTS results: 

EWC Registrar's Office/Graduate Degree Fellowship
East-West Center
1601 East-West Road
John A. Burns Hall, Room 2066
Honolulu, Hawaii 96848-1601 USA