East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship 2026-2027

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship provides master's and doctoral degree funding for graduate students from Asia, the Pacific, and the United States to participate in educational, cultural, residential community building, and leadership development programs at the East-West Center while pursuing graduate study at the University of Hawai‘i at M?noa (UHM). Undertaking degree studies at UHM through an East-West Center fellowship is not merely about receiving a scholarship. Since the basic purpose of the East-West Center is to build a sense of community across Asia, the Pacific, and the US and prepare for future leadership roles, EWC graduate student fellows live together and interact with each other in both intellectual and social activities. Through leadership development projects and internships, learning about the Asia Pacific region, cultural exchange, educational enrichment gatherings, community service and service-learning projects, EWC graduate degree fellows establish friendships and lifelong ties to a network of people committed to peace, prosperity, and positive change in the Indo-Pacific region.

• Table of Content
• About East-West Center
• East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship Postgraduate Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship Postgraduate Scholarship
• Requirements for East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship Postgraduate Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship Postgraduate Scholarship

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship provides support for key expenses, including the following:

• Full-time graduate tuition and fees up for the academic year to the equivalent of the general tuition charged for post-baccalaureate students at the University of Hawai‘i at M?noa toward master's or doctoral studies;
• Housing in an East-West Center residence hall for the academic year, based on single occupancy;
• A stipend to partially cover food and incidental expenses;

All other costs related to study and residence in Hawai'i are the responsibility of the awardee. All provisions above are subject to change.

Requirements for East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification

Individuals who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries listed below may apply for the East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship:

• United States
• Pacific Region:  American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Easter Island (Rapa Nui), 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 & Futuna Islands
• Southeast Asia:  Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, 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

Bachelor's Degree and Grade Point Average

• Before the start of the award, applicants for graduate programs must have obtained a 4-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited US college or university, or from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad. Generally, an applicant must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (4.0=A scale) or the equivalent, in the last four semesters or six quarters of the undergraduate record and in all post-baccalaureate work.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• If you are not already enrolled as a classified graduate student at UH M?noa, you must apply to the university for the following fall semester by December 1.
• The University of Hawai‘i launches their online application system (https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/) 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 department applications must be completed by January 10, regardless of whether the UH departmental deadline falls after that date.  

Application Forms

To access the application documents, click below:

1. Academic Letter of Reference Form & Instructions (form-fillable PDF)
2. Civic Engagement Letter of Reference Form & Instructions (form-fillable PDF)

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to first review the Frequently Asked Questions page before applying.

If you are unable to access these application materials, please email [email protected] for further assistance.

For more information, kindly visit East-West Center webpage.