You can apply for the East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship if you are a graduate student from or residing in Southeast Asia, South Asia, East Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. The Fellowship covers all the costs to study for your master’s or doctoral degree at the University of Hawaii in Mānoa. So, if you are looking for an excellent opportunity that could turn around your career, this is the right opportunity for you.

Quick Details

Organized by: East-West Center

Degree: Master/ Doctoral degree

Location: USA

Duration of the Award: 12 months, extendable for less than 24 months

Host Institution: University of Hawaii

Application Deadline: December 1, 2024

Documents Submission Deadline: January 10, 2025

Result Announcement: April 1, 2025

Fellowship Start Date: August 2025

Benefits

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship pays the following funding:

• Full-time graduate tuition and fees as per general tuition charged for post-baccalaureate students at the U.H. at Manoa toward masters or doctoral studies;
• Single occupancy housing or accommodation in an East-West Center residence hall,
• Allowance to partially cover food and incidental expenses
• Stipends for books, materials, and supplies
• Subsidy toward health insurance coverage
• All Graduate Degree Fellowship applicants may benefit from EWCA Alumni and Foundation scholarships.

• In case of funding availability, EWC may provide funding for field study and conference presentations to degree fellows on a competitive basis during their study period.

Note: All provisions above are subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for application, candidates must be from one of the following countries:

• United States
• Pacific Region:  American Samoa, Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Marianas, New Zealand, Palau, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Tokelau, Wallis & Futuna Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu

• Southeast Asia:  Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Timor-Leste, Vietnam
• South Asia:  Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
• East Asia:  China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan

• When you apply to the EWC, you must also request admission to the graduate program at U.H. Manoa (UHM).
• A four-year bachelor’s degree is necessary from a U.S.-accredited university or abroad.
• Must have completed the last four semesters or six quarters of the bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (4.0=A scale).
• By the deadline, have applied or plan to apply to a graduate program at the University of Hawaii.

Supporting Documents

Applicants should submit the following supporting documents with their Fellowship application by December 1, 2024:

• Application Acknowledgement receipt or proof of U.H. application submission for prospective students applying for admission
• UH’i statement of objectives (refer to the academic program for instructions): Current UH students continuing in their same degree and field do not need to submit this document.
• CV/Curriculum Vitae
• Copy of passport biodata page if available (for international candidates)
• Students applying for the Obuchi Student Scholarship, please submit a photocopy of your permanent domicile in Okinawa or a certificate of residence

To be submitted by January 10, 2025:

• Official transcripts from each college or university you attended (see the Handbook’s “Academic Transcripts” section for submission instructions).
• If you are not a current University of Hawaii student and must demonstrate English proficiency, the testing service must report an official IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo. Please check the Handbook section on “Exams and Score Reports” for more information on how to write your results.
• Three letters of recommendation address your academic abilities and professional goals; the third reflects on your community service, civic engagement, or extracurricular activities. When you submit your online application, your referee will be sent a link to the Letter of Reference form.

Applicants should send any physical documents to the East-West Center at the following address:

Award Services/Graduate Degree Fellowship

East-West Center

1601 East-West Road

John A. Burns Hall, Room 2066

Honolulu, Hawai’i 96848-1601 USA

Note: Read the Handbook of Application here.

How to apply for the East-West Center (EWC) Graduate Degree Fellowship?

You should apply for admission to the U.H. Manoa (UHM) graduate department at the same time as when you apply to the EWC.

Candidates should send the Mandatory documents to the East-West Center before December 1, 2024. The supporting documents must be completed for the U.H. Application and East-West Center by January 10, 2025.

Apply Now to the EWC

Apply to the University of Hawaii

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the deadline for submitting my application to the East-West Center? 

You can apply online at http://www.eastwestcenter.org/applyGDF until December 1. The application portal will automatically close at 11:59 PM Hawaii Standard Time on December 1.

What documents are required for the East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship application? 

Submit by December 1:

– Your CV or resume.

– The “Application Acknowledgment” (screenshot or PDF of the confirmation from UH when you submit your admission application to the university) if you’re applying to UH at the same time [sample here].

– Passport biodata page (for international applicants).

Submit by January 10:

– Official transcripts from each institution you attended (see the “Academic Transcripts” section in the Handbook for submission details).

– Official IELTS, Duolingo, or TOEFL scores must be sent by the testing agency if you’re not already a student at the University of Hawai‘i and need to show proof of English proficiency. Check the “Exams and Score Reports” section in the Handbook for more details on reporting results (acceptable tests for UH are listed at [this link](https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/english-proficiency/)).

– Three recommendation letters: two addressing your academic skills and professional goals, and one focused on your community involvement or extracurricular activities. Once you complete your application online, your referees will receive a link to submit their letters.

Do I need to apply separately to the University of Hawai‘i? 

Yes, if you’re not already enrolled in a graduate program at UH, you need to apply to the University of Hawai‘i by December 1. After submitting your online admission application, you’ll receive an “Application Acknowledgment,” which should be uploaded to your EWC application.

Your application to UH requires official transcripts and proof of English proficiency for some international students. Please visit the [UH Graduate Education website](https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/) for full details. The admission application must be completed by January 10.

Certain academic programs may also require additional departmental applications, which might include forms, a statement of objectives, letters of reference, GRE or GMAT scores, or sample work. Check with your program for any specific requirements and make sure to submit everything by January 10. Missing this deadline could result in your application being removed from the scholarship selection process.

How will I know if my application is complete? 

You will receive an email notification from the online system.

Is my application still considered if my recommendation letters are late? 

No, your application will not be reviewed without all recommendation letters. Please follow up with your recommenders to ensure they submit their letters on time.

I studied at a university where English was the primary language of instruction. Do I still need to provide an English proficiency test score? 

The University of Hawai‘i requires proof of English proficiency to determine your readiness for graduate studies. You can be exempted if:

1. a) You studied in a country where English is the official language.
2. b) You earned your degree within the past five years from that institution.

Please do not request an exemption from the East-West Center as we cannot overrule UH requirements. The EWC will follow the decision made by UH. If you’re applying to UH and are required to provide English scores, note that the Center requires minimum scores of 79 for TOEFL, 95 for Duolingo, or 6.5 for IELTS (academic). Currently-enrolled students don’t need to submit scores.

What is the latest date to take the English proficiency test? 

The East-West Center must receive your official scores by January 10. Please plan your test date accordingly.

When will I be notified about my application results? 

You’ll be informed by April 1 regarding the Center’s decision. All applicants will receive notification by email. No results will be given over the phone.

I’m currently enrolled at the University of Hawai‘i. Do I need to provide official transcripts and test scores, or are photocopies acceptable? 

Since you’re already enrolled, photocopies of your documents issued by your program or the UH Records Office are acceptable. Include a copy of your current UH grade report by uploading your Campus Report by Semester.

If I want to apply for other scholarships at the East-West Center, do I need to submit separate applications? 

Yes, you need to submit separate applications for each scholarship. However, you can mail one set of the required documents (e.g., transcripts, degree certificates, test results) and address them to all the scholarships you’re applying for (e.g., GDF, Obuchi, ADB-JSP, Taiwan GDF).

Note: You do not need a separate application for EWCA Alumni and Foundation scholarships; applicants for the Graduate Degree Fellowship are automatically considered for those.

Please visit the East-West Center website for more information about East West Center (EWC) Graduate Degree Fellowship.

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