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- Standard non-resident UG tuition: USD 33,336 (INR 31.82 Lakhs) per year
- With International Merit Award waiver (USD 16,380 off): net UG tuition drops to USD 16,956 (INR 16.18 Lakhs)
- PhD stack (Graduate Assistantship + tuition waiver + EWC award): near-zero out-of-pocket cost, plus a housing stipend
- Next hard deadline: December 1, 2025 for the East-West Center Fellowship (Fall 2026 intake)
- University of Hawaii at Manoa Scholarships for UG Students
- University of Hawaii at Manoa Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students
- India-Specific Scholarships at University of Hawaii at Manoa
- University of Hawaii at Manoa PhD Scholarships
- External Government Scholarships
- University of Hawaii at Manoa Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions
- Inlaks Shivdasani + Graduate Assistantship: Inlaks covers tuition and the TA cheque covers rent in Honolulu.
- Fulbright-Nehru Master’s + IUSS: Fulbright takes tuition and living costs, IUSS adds a discretionary buffer.
- JN Tata Endowment loan + EWC Fellowship: the loan bridges the airfare and visa gap before the stipend arrives in September.
University of Hawaii at Manoa offers 20+ scholarships, of which 15+ are accessible to Indian applicants.
The awards range from small ISS grants near USD 1,000 to full-ride East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowships worth up to USD 100,000. Indian students target this article to size Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 offer letters before signing an I-20.
Currency Note: All INR conversions use the live rate of 1 USD = INR 95.45 as of August 2026. Amounts assume Fall 2026 intake, F-1 visa status, and a two-semester academic year.
Table of Contents
University of Hawaii at Manoa Scholarships for UG Students
| Award | Annual Value | Who Qualifies (Indian Students) | Fall 2026 Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Merit Award Scholarship | USD 16,380 (INR 15.63 Lakhs) per year | F-1 visa, 3.3+ cumulative GPA, incoming first-year or transfer | June 1, 2026 (Fall); November 1, 2026 (Spring 2027) |
| International Undergraduate Student Scholarship (IUSS) | USD 10,000 (INR 9.55 Lakhs) per year, renewable up to 4 years | F-1 visa, 3.0+ GPA, first-time UHM freshman | Automatic on admission; apply by October 1, 2025 for priority |
| Dai Ho Chun ISS Scholarship | Around USD 1,500 (INR 1.43 Lakhs), up to USD 3,000 | F-1 or J-1 visa, 2+ semesters at UHM, 3.0 GPA | February 15, 2026 (annual cycle) |
| Manoa Academic Merit Scholarship | USD 2,000 to 4,000 (INR 1.91 to INR 3.82 Lakhs) | Not open to F-1 students; only US citizens and WUE residents | Rolling; apply as early in the season as possible |
The International Merit Award covers close to 49% of standard non-resident tuition for eligible Indian freshmen. Admissions screens every completed application against the 3.3 GPA and F-1 filters, so no separate scholarship form is required.
UH Manoa layers IUSS on top of the Merit Award for a small pool of Indian applicants. Confirm the double stack with the International Student Services office at issmanoa@hawaii.edu before you commit tuition deposit money.
University of Hawaii at Manoa Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students
| Program | Financial Cover | Indian Applicant Fit | Cycle Close |
|---|---|---|---|
| East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship | Up to USD 100,000 (INR 95.45 Lakhs) over 24 months | Indian citizens applying to approved UH Manoa Master’s programs, Asia-Pacific research focus | December 1, 2025 |
| Graduate Assistantship (TA / RA / GA) | USD 18,204 (INR 17.38 Lakhs) per academic year plus full tuition waiver | Admitted Master’s or PhD students, department-nominated | Rolling; most decisions notified by April 1, 2026 |
| June Chun Naughton ISS Scholarship | Between USD 1,200 and 2,800 (INR 1.15 to INR 2.67 Lakhs) | F-1 or J-1 visa, 2+ UHM semesters, 3.0 GPA, financial hardship | February 15, 2026 |
| Mildred Towle International Student Scholarship | Typical award USD 2,000 (INR 1.91 Lakhs); up to USD 3,000 | F-1 or J-1 visa, 2+ UHM semesters, 3.0 GPA | February 15, 2026 |
| Spring Forward Scholarship | USD 1,000 through 3,000 per semester (INR 95,450 to INR 2.86 Lakhs) | F-1 or J-1 visa, 1+ semester at UHM, 2.5 GPA | December 1, 2026 (tentative, Spring 2027 cycle) |
Graduate Assistantships stay the most reliable Indian funding path at UH Manoa. Departments in Oceanography, Astronomy, Linguistics, and Tropical Agriculture nominate every admitted PhD student, and many Master’s applicants receive TA offers by mid-April.
Reddit Insight: Indian applicants on r/gradadmissions report that East-West Center reviewers weigh 2+ years of Asia-Pacific work or research experience over raw GPA. File the EWC application by December 1, 2025, which lands six weeks before the January 15, 2026 Graduate Division cutoff, so the awards committee sees your file at both agencies.
India-Specific Scholarships at University of Hawaii at Manoa
| Grant | Payout | Who Can Apply | Submission By |
|---|---|---|---|
| J. Watumull Scholarship for the Study of India | Range USD 1,500 to 3,500 (INR 1.43 to INR 3.34 Lakhs) | UH System UG or graduate student researching Indian art, philosophy, history, or languages | February 15, 2026 |
| AIIS Junior Research Fellowship (UHM endorsement) | USD 25,000+ (INR 23.86 Lakhs+) for a 12-month India fieldwork stipend | Indian-origin PhD candidates registered at UH Manoa, dissertation researcher on India | September 30, 2026 (annual cycle) |
| AIIS Language Fellowship | Tuition, airfare, and monthly stipend covered in full | UHM students learning Hindi, Tamil, Sanskrit, Urdu, Bengali, or Marathi at approved AIIS centres | October 15, 2026 (tentative) |
| Freeman-ASIA (Indian dual-citizens) | USD 3,000 to 7,000 (INR 2.86 to INR 6.68 Lakhs) | US permanent resident or citizen of Indian origin pursuing Asian study | April 4, 2026 |
UH Manoa is one of a handful of American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS) member campuses. That membership matters, since AIIS caps endorsed applications at three per campus per cycle, so applicants secure department backing before September.
The J. Watumull award rewards students working on Indian classical dance, Sanskrit epics, or contemporary Indian political studies. UH Manoa’s Centre for South Asian Studies coordinates the endowment and publishes recipient lists each spring.
University of Hawaii at Manoa PhD Scholarships
| PhD Award | Yearly Value | Doctoral Eligibility | Submission Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| EWC Fellowship (PhD track) | Up to USD 100,000 (INR 95.45 Lakhs) across 24 months, plus airfare | Indian PhD applicants working on Asia-Pacific research questions | December 1, 2025 |
| Departmental Teaching or Research Assistantship | USD 18,204 to 22,000 (INR 17.38 to INR 21 Lakhs) per year, plus tuition waiver and student health plan | Admitted PhD students, department-nominated for 8 guaranteed semesters | Rolling; most awards issued by April 1, 2026 |
| Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Honolulu | USD 5,000 to 8,500 (INR 4.77 to INR 8.11 Lakhs) | STEM PhD candidates at dissertation stage, US visa holders | March 15, 2026 (tentative, annual cycle) |
| Graduate Student Organization (GSO) Grant | USD 500 to 2,000 (INR 47,725 to INR 1.91 Lakhs) | PhD candidates presenting at conferences or funding pilot research | Rolling; two internal cycles each academic year |
| Watson T. Yoshimoto Foundation Fellowship | USD 6,000 to 10,000 (INR 5.73 to INR 9.55 Lakhs) | PhD candidates in wildlife biology, conservation, marine science | April 30, 2026 (tentative) |
Linguistics, Oceanography, Astronomy, and Tropical Agriculture guarantee eight semesters of assistantship funding for admitted PhD students. Applicants sign the department stipend and tuition waiver together when accepting the offer, and departments extend two more semesters on merit for late-stage dissertation work.
The ARCS Honolulu chapter releases new dissertation awards each March. Indian PhD candidates in astronomy at the Institute for Astronomy commonly stack the ARCS payout on top of the assistantship, which pushes total yearly income past USD 26,000 (INR 24.82 Lakhs).
External Government Scholarships
| External Award | Grant Size | Indian Candidate Criteria | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship | USD 35,000 to 45,000 (INR 33.4 to INR 42.95 Lakhs) per year, fully funded | Indian citizens with 55%+ Bachelor’s aggregate, 3 years relevant work experience | May 15, 2026 (tentative, 2027-28 cycle) |
| Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship | Monthly stipend, tuition, airfare, US student health insurance | Indian PhD candidates registered in an Indian doctoral programme, working on research at UHM | July 1, 2026 (2027-28 cycle) |
| Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship | Up to USD 100,000 (INR 95.45 Lakhs) across 2 years | Indian citizens under 30, admitted to approved US Master’s or PhD programme | March 15, 2026 (tentative, annual cycle) |
| KC Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad | INR 8 to 10 Lakhs (grant, non-repayable) | Indian citizens admitted to top-100 overseas Master’s programme | March 31, 2026 |
| AAUW International Fellowship | USD 20,000 to 50,000 (INR 19.09 to INR 47.72 Lakhs) | Indian women pursuing full-time Master’s, PhD, or postdoctoral study in the US | November 15, 2025 (annual cycle) |
| JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship | INR 1 to 10 Lakhs (interest-free loan) | Indian citizens under 45, admitted to any accredited US postgraduate degree | March 22, 2026 (tentative) |
Reddit Insight: Indian applicants on r/Fulbright note that a signed affiliation letter from a UH Manoa faculty member noticeably strengthens the USIEF interview. Line up your department contact by January 2026, at least three months ahead of the Master’s deadline, so USIEF sees a firm Hawaii tie in the primary application.
Indian awardees usually structure funding as a paired stack rather than a single source. The most effective combinations we track for UH Manoa applicants include:
Explore More: University of Hawaii at Manoa Overview | Admissions Guide | Programs and Fees | Rankings
University of Hawaii at Manoa Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. What is the maximum University of Hawaii at Manoa scholarship stack an Indian student can secure?
Ans. PhD candidates stacking a Graduate Assistantship, tuition waiver, and East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship reach roughly USD 45,000 (INR 42.95 Lakhs) per year. That stack covers tuition, health insurance, housing, and daily living costs in Honolulu in full. Master’s students top out lower, since the assistantship pool is competitive and EWC prioritises Asia-Pacific research candidates over generalist applications.
Ques. When should Indian applicants apply for University of Hawaii at Manoa scholarships?
Ans. Indian applicants should file the EWC Fellowship by December 1, 2025 and the Graduate Division application by January 15, 2026 for the Fall 2026 intake. UG students targeting the International Merit Award must submit admissions paperwork by June 1, 2026 for Fall, or November 1, 2026 for Spring 2027 entry. Fulbright-Nehru Master’s cycles close mid-May 2026 and the Doctoral track closes July 1, 2026.
Ques. Which awards need a separate application versus automatic consideration?
Ans. The International Merit Award, IUSS, and Manoa Academic Merit Scholarship are decided through admissions review, so no scholarship form is needed. The EWC Fellowship, ISS-administered awards (June Chun Naughton, Mildred Towle, Dai Ho Chun, Spring Forward), and every external government award require separate portals and their own document sets. Graduate Assistantships are decided by the academic department, not the central financial aid office, so email your target faculty by November 2025.
Ques. What GPA does an Indian student need for the East-West Center Fellowship?
Ans. The East-West Center publishes no hard GPA cutoff, but recent Indian awardees held a Bachelor’s aggregate of 75% or a 3.4 CGPA on a 4.0 scale. Selection weights Asia-Pacific research experience, community leadership, and a strong statement of purpose above raw grades. Applicants with 2 or more years of relevant work experience have historically fared better than fresh graduates in the December 1 cycle.
Ques. Do University of Hawaii at Manoa scholarships cover the cost of living in Honolulu?
Ans. A Graduate Assistantship stipend of USD 18,204 (INR 17.38 Lakhs) plus tuition waiver clears roughly 70% of the annual Honolulu cost of living, estimated at USD 26,000 to 28,000 (INR 24.82 to INR 26.72 Lakhs) for a single graduate student. The EWC Fellowship layers on-campus residence hall housing, food stipend, and health insurance, which closes the gap. Undergraduate awards leave a shortfall near USD 10,000 (INR 9.55 Lakhs) per year, so most Indian UG students pair scholarships with on-campus jobs capped at 20 hours per week.
Ques. Can I apply for the East-West Center Fellowship before I receive UH Manoa admission?
Ans. Yes, and applicants are expected to. The East-West Center accepts fellowship applications ahead of UH Manoa Graduate Division decisions, since the Center forwards shortlisted files directly to the academic department for admission review. Indian applicants should submit both applications in parallel by early December 2025 and confirm the target department in the EWC statement.
Scholarships offered
Chuan Ai Lu Engstrom Memorial Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: No
- Amount: $1,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: College-Specific
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Bharat Petroleum Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Master
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Comindware Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $4,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Apprenticeship
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Forktip Women’s- Innovation Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: College-Specific
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: 10
FINCAD Women in Finance Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $20,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Master
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
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