Graduate Funding

The Department of Geography and Environment has many sources of funding to support graduate students.

  • Teaching and Research Assistant Positions
    The department has a limited number of Teaching Assistant positions to award each year. Applicants for admission will be automatically considered for TAships unless they opt out. For RAships, inquire directly with the faculty sponsors who are Principal Investigators. These positions include tuition remission and a stipend
  • Ev Wingert Graduate Field Research Award
    Established by the late Professor Ev Wingert, this fund provides limited support (up to $3000 for PhD and $2000 for MA) to GEO graduate students with expenses related to thesis or dissertation fieldwork that requires travel. Can only be received once. Application requirements: short statements describing research and travel plan, budget, CV, and endorsement from faculty member. Deadline: Rolling, apply at least two months prior to planned trip. Full award details and application (UH login required).
  • Graduate Research and Travel Award
    This fund provides small awards (typically $1000 or less) to support GEO graduate student research, or travel to present a paper at a conference. Can be received multiple times. Application requirements: short statements describing purpose and need, budget, and CV. Deadline: February 1. Full award details and application (UH login required).
  • Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship
    This fellowship provides a 9-month graduate assistantship to support one GEO doctoral student in the last year of PhD dissertation writing. Application requirements: Statement describing dissertation research, CV, and endorsement from advisor. Deadline: March 1 Full award details and application (UH login required).
  • Abraham Piʻianaiʻa Graduate Scholarship
    This fund supports graduate students in the Department of Geography and the Environment engaged in projects related to the geography of Hawaiʻi, reflecting the spirit and life of prominent Hawaiian educator Abraham Piʻianaʻia. Deadline February 15. Full award details and application (UH login required).
  • Graduate Student Achievement Scholarships (Tuition Support)
    The University provides some funding to assist with tuition costs for graduate students who do not have tuition remission through an assistantship. Funds vary. Inquire with the Graduate Chair.
  • Non-Resident Tuition Exemption (Tuition Support)
    The University offers a limited number of exemptions for out-of-state residents so their tuition rate is reduced to that of a resident’s tuition rate.
  • Area Studies Scholarships
    Several centers for area studies at UH Mānoa offer a variety of scholarships available to students interested in the regions. Check out the Center for Southeast Asian Studies the Center for South Asian Studies, the Center for Japanese Studies, the Center for Chinese Studies, and the Center for Korean Studies.

There are other funding opportunities through the College of Social Sciences, the University, and the East-West Center.

Many graduate students received extramural grants and fellowships to support their research. These have included: