Approximately $35,000 to $45,000 per year in total value
Duration
Up to 24 months for Master's; up to 48 months for PhD
Deadline
December 1 annually
Level
Master's and Doctoral (PhD)
Acceptance
Typically less than 5%
Difficulty
Very High
Quick Summary
East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship (GDF), administered by East-West Center (EWC), is one of the funding options available to international and domestic graduate students (asia-pacific and us) in United States. The award covers Comprehensive package including full tuition, housing, monthly stipend, health insurance, airfare, and book allowance. and is open to master's and doctoral (phd) students studying most graduate fields at the university of hawaii (excluding specific professional degrees like mba, md, and jd). The scholarship runs for up to 24 months for master's; up to 48 months for phd and may be renewed annually based on academic performance. Eligibility is generally based on open to students from the US, Asia, and Pacific regions who have been admitted to a UHM graduate program. The application deadline is December 1 annually, with an acceptance rate of approximately Typically less than 5%. Students can compare this opportunity against similar scholarships below to find the best fit for their profile.
✨ Should I Apply for East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship (GDF)?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
60%
Eligibility Match
8%
Win Probability
9/10
Difficulty
10/10
Reward Score
60-80 hrs
Time Required
Highly Competitive
Competition
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
Approximately $35,000 to $45,000 per year in total value
⏳
Duration
Up to 24 months for Master's; up to 48 months for PhD
📅
Deadline
December 1 annually
💼
Fields
Most graduate fields at the University of Hawaiโi (excluding specific professional degrees like MBA, MD, and JD)
🏆
Awards/Year
Approximately 10 to 20 new awards per year
🌏
Study Country
United States
🏛️
Provider
East-West Center (EWC)
📊
Acceptance
Typically less than 5%
The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship provides funding for graduate study at the University of Hawaiโi at Mฤnoa while participating in leadership development and residential programs at the East-West Center in Honolulu. The fellowship is designed to foster a sense of community among students from diverse cultures and to develop future leaders for the Asia-Pacific region.
👥 Who Should Apply
Open to students from the US, Asia, and Pacific regions who have been admitted to a UHM graduate program.
🏛️ Host University
University of Hawaiโi at Mฤnoa (UHM)
🤝 Sponsor
East-West Center (established by the US Congress)
💼 Fields of Study
Most graduate fields at the University of Hawaiโi (excluding specific professional degrees like MBA, MD, and JD)
✨ Key Benefits
Comprehensive package including full tuition, housing, monthly stipend, health insurance, airfare, and book allowance.
🎯 Target Students
International and Domestic Graduate Students (Asia-Pacific and US)
Varies; usually hundreds of applicants for few spots
Applicants Last Year
Check official EWC annual reports for specific cohorts
Winners
Typically less than 5%
Acceptance Rate
Highly Competitive
Competition Level
Win Probability
8%
Match Score
60%
Competition
95%
💸 Funding Breakdown
Tuition
100% of graduate tuition and mandatory student fees
Living Stipend
Monthly stipend for food and incidental expenses
Total Award
Approximately $35,000 to $45,000 per year in total value
✈️ Travel: Round-trip airfare from home country to Honolulu🏠 Accommodation: Fully covered housing in East-West Center residence halls💊 Health Insurance: Full health insurance coverage provided🔄 Renewable: Yes💳 App Fee: No fee for EWC application; UHM application fee still applies
🎓 Tuition Coverage
100% of graduate tuition and mandatory student fees
🏠 Living Stipend
Monthly stipend for food and incidental expenses
🏡 Accommodation
Fully covered housing in East-West Center residence halls
✈️ Travel Allowance
Round-trip airfare from home country to Honolulu
💊 Health Insurance
Full health insurance coverage provided
🎁 Other Benefits
Book allowance, professional development funding, and participation in leadership seminars
🔄 Renewable
Yes
📋 Renewal Conditions
Subject to maintaining a 3.0 GPA and meeting EWC community participation requirements
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Citizens or permanent residents of the United States and countries in Asia and the Pacific
🎓 Academic Level
Master's and Doctoral (PhD)
📊 Minimum GPA
3.0 on a 4.0 scale
🗣️ English Requirement
TOEFL or IELTS scores meeting University of Hawaiโi graduate admissions standards
💼 Work Experience
Not strictly required but professional experience is highly valued
🏆 Leadership
Strong evidence of leadership potential and commitment to the Asia-Pacific region
💰 Financial Need
Not a primary selection criterion
🎯 Target Students
International and Domestic Graduate Students (Asia-Pacific and US)
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes (Personal Statement and Leadership Essay)
Rec Letters
3 letters of recommendation
Interview
Yes (Finalists may be interviewed via video conference)
Application Fee
No fee for EWC application; UHM application fee still applies
Documents Required
Academic Transcripts
Passport / National ID
3 letters of recommendation Recommendation Letters
CV / Resume
Personal Statement / Essays
TOEFL or IELTS scores meeting University of Hawaiโi graduate admissions standards
Interview: Yes (Finalists may be interviewed via video conference)
Min GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
📋 Application Process
Focus on how your academic and professional goals align with the East-West Centerโs mission of building community in the Asia-Pacific region.
💡 Insider Tip: Highlight specific instances of cross-cultural leadership and your intent to contribute to the EWC residential community.
🗾️ Application Roadmap
1
Research eligibility and gather requirements
Start Early
2
Collect all required documents
Start Early
3
Request recommendation letters early
4
Write compelling essays and personal statement
⚠ High Risk Stage
5
Submit complete application before deadline
6
Await shortlisting and attend interview if required
⚠ High Risk Stage
📅 Key Dates & Timeline
📅 Opens
August 1 annually
⏰ Deadline
December 1 annually
🎤 Interview
Yes (Finalists may be interviewed via video conference)
🎓 Study Starts
August (Fall Semester)
August 1 annually
Applications Open
Gather documents and begin essays
December 1 annually
Application Deadline
Submit complete application - no late entries
Yes (Finalists may be interviewed via video conference)
Shortlisting and Interview
Selected candidates invited for interview
After results
Award Announced
Successful applicants notified
August (Fall Semester)
Studies Begin
Commence degree at host institution
⚖️ Selection Process
📋 Selection Criteria
Academic excellence, leadership potential, and relevance of study to the Asia-Pacific region.
⚡ Similar Scholarships
Scholarship
Country
Coverage
Level
East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship (GDF)Current
United States
Full Funding
Master's and Doctoral (PhD)
—
๐บ๐ธ Alphabet X Fellowship (X Residency Program)
Open to students from the US, Asia, and Pacific regions who have been admitted to a UHM graduate program.
This scholarship covers: Comprehensive package including full tuition, housing, monthly stipend, health insurance, airfare, and book allowance.. It is a fully funded scholarship.
The deadline is December 1 annually. Always verify with the official website as dates may change annually.
Competition level: Highly Competitive. Acceptance rate: Typically less than 5%. Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
Yes
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, TOEFL or IELTS scores meeting University of Hawaiโi graduate admissions standards, 3 letters of recommendation recommendation letters, CV, personal statement/motivation letter. Check official website for the complete list.