Frequently Asked Questions

When are applications for the Ph.D. program due?

January 31st is the deadline. Application materials submitted after this date are not considered.

East- West Center offers funding and housing assistant for graduate students with a commitment to the Asia Pacific region. 

Will my GMAT or GRE score be considered if received after the January 31st deadline?

Allow sufficient time between taking your test and the deadline. If you are unsure if the official score will be available in time please send a copy of your GMAT or GRE score along with your other application materials.

Do you offer spring admissions?

No. The PhD Program is a full-time program which offers admission only in the fall semester.

What do I receive my degree in?

Your PhD degree will be in Business Administration.

I already have an MBA; will this help shorten the duration of the PhD program?

No. The MBA is not a required first step in pursuit of the PhD. The PhD is not master's work at a higher level. The course requirements for the PhD are distinct from the MBA.

Do you offer any funding for your PhD Program?

Financial support for students is available in the form of a graduate research or teaching assistantship. All admitted applicants are considered for a graduate assistantship. A graduate assistantship consists of 20 hours a week of research work with assigned faculty in the Shidler College of Business. An assistantship includes a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend. Candidates are encouraged to seek funding or co-funding from other institutions.

If candidates do not receive the graduate assistantship from the program, they may seek funding or co-funding from other institutions. Useful scholarship information can also be found at:

What is the duration of funding for the graduate assistantship?

Graduate assistantships are evaluated each year. Continuation is contingent upon one's GPA and satisfactory performance as a research or teaching assistant. Students may receive the graduate assistantship for up to four years contingent upon satisfactory annual evaluation of your performance in the program. 

What is the duration of the PhD program?

Approximately four to five years.

Do you offer a part-time, weekend, evening, or distance-learning option?

No. The PhD Program is a full-time program with courses only available at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa campus.

Do you prefer a GRE or a GMAT score?

The PhD Admissions Committee does not have any preference.

What are the school codes for the GMAT, GRE, and TOEFL exam?

The school code for the GMAT exam is PBQ-5926. The school code for the GRE and the TOEFL is 4867.

What is the average GMAT or GRE score for a person accepted into the PhD Program?

Admitted applicants have an average GMAT score of 683 and GRE of 320. However, we understand that a standardized test score is only one indicator of an applicant's qualification and thus review a candidate's suitability to the program against the background of his or her application package as a whole.

What are the minimum requirements to apply to University of Hawaii graduate studies?

Please refer to the graduate admissions office page for more information:

https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/content/admissions-requirements

Do I need to take the TOEFL?

Please refer to graduate admissions office webpage for more information on the test and exemptions.

https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/content/english-language-institute

I took my TOEFL over 2 years ago, but I am getting my MBA right now at a university where English is the primary language. Do I have to re-take the TOEFL?

Graduates of U.S. universities and colleges are not required to take the TOEFL. If your school is located outside the U.S., the University of Hawaii requires you to provide documentation which affirms your university's use of English as its primary language of instruction. Without such documentation, a TOEFL score will be necessary.

Do you offer exemptions for the GMAT or GRE exam?

No, valid GMAT/GRE scores are required for admissions. Valid scores are from tests taken within the past five years.