2. When does the East-West Center need to receive my application?
3. Must I send everything by November 1?
4. Do I have to apply separately to the University of Hawaii?
5. How will I know whether my application is complete?
6. What is the latest date that you will accept documents that I could not include with my application?
7. Is my application disqualified if my recommenders do not submit their letters by the deadline?
8. I studied at a university where English was the medium of instruction. Am I still required to take TOEFL or IELTS?
9. What is the absolute latest date that I can take TOEFL, IELTS, GRE or GMAT?
10. What kind of page format should I use in my essay responses?
11. When will I know of the results of my application?
12. I am currently enrolled at the University of Hawaii. Do I need to provide you with official documents—transcripts and test scores—or will you accept photocopies?
1. What should I send to the East-West Center to apply for the East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship?
The application checklist [doc] [pdf] provides a quick overview. Your application to the Graduate Degree Fellowship requires 1) the application form; 2) essay responses regarding your long-range goals, biographical essay, your preparedness for an inter-cultural learning environment, and the option you chose to fulfill the EWC academic requirement; 3) the University of Hawaii Graduate Admission application and statement of objectives (for the academic program you are applying to); 4) official transcripts from each college or university you attended; 5) three letters of recommendation; 6) any official test score reports that are required by the University of Hawaii.
2. When does the East-West Center need to receive my application?
You have until November 1 to mail your application to the East-West Center. Your application does not have to reach the Center by November 1, you only need to show evidence that you have mailed your application by November 1. If you are mailing your application close to November 1, you should obtain a receipt from the post office. In the event we are unable to read the postmark, we will need you to send your receipt to us. If you plan to courier your application, be sure that the service accepts your application before or on November 1.
3. Must I send everything by November 1?
No, only the EWC application and University of Hawaii application and supporting essays for both applications must be postmarked by November 1. Supporting documents such as test scores, transcripts and letters of recommendation do not have to be postmarked by November 1. The application checklistprovides a quick overview.
4. Do I have to apply separately to the University of Hawaii?
You should submit your University of Hawaii application to the East-West Center at the time you apply for the Graduate Degree Fellowship. If you learned about EWC after you applied to UH, please include a note to tell us that you already applied and provide your application number if possible so that we can contact the Graduate Admission Office to let them know that you are applying to EWC for financial support.
5. How will I know whether my application is complete?
We will email you upon receipt of your application and periodically send you a summary report of what we received and what may still be missing. Please realize that as it gets closer to the deadline or in the 2-3 weeks following the deadline that the office is extremely busy and we may be delayed in notifying you on the status of your application.
6. What is the latest date that you will accept documents that I could not include with my application?
We do not have a definitive deadline however we encourage applicants to send their remaining documents by December 1 so that their application is complete by the time the EWC preliminary review process begins.
7. Is my application disqualified if my recommenders do not submit their letters by the deadline?
No, your application would not be disqualified if your recommenders do not provide us with their recommendations in a timely manner. However, it is your responsibility to check with your recommenders to urge them to submit the letters so that your application can be completed.
8. I studied at a university where English was the medium of instruction. Am I still required to take TOEFL or IELTS?
The University of Hawaii requires proof of English proficiency in determining your readiness for graduate level work. The University of Hawaii will grant an exception only if the following criteria are met: a) your academic program was in a country where English is the first language; b) you received a degree from that institution within the past five years.
9. What is the absolute latest date that I can take TOEFL, IELTS, GRE or GMAT?
We would like to receive your TOEFL and IELTS scores by the time the East-West Center begins the preliminary review process in December. If you are unable to provide your test scores during the Center’s review process but make it through the preliminary screening, we will need to receive your official score report from the testing service by mid January in order forward your application to the University of Hawaii Graduate Admission Office. The UH Graduate Admission Office will not accept an application that is lacking an official TOEFL or IELTS score report if proof of English proficiency is required.
GRE and GMAT scores are requirements by some University of Hawaii academic programs but are not a requirement for the EWC fellowship. Nevertheless, because the Center is responsible for submitting your application to the University, we need you to submit your official score report to the East-West Center in order to complete your UH application. Official GRE and GMAT score reports should reach EWC by mid January so as not to delay the UH admission process.
10. What kind of page format should I use in my essay responses?
We do not require a particular font type or line spacing but keep in mind that your essays will be read by many people, some of whom may have difficulty reading certain styles of print or font sizes. An example of a clear, readable type/font is Times Roman type and font size 12. Handwritten essays are acceptable as long as they are legible.
11. When will I know of the results of my application?
The selection process is conducted in two phases. The first phase is meant to determine whether you meet the criteria for the fellowship and results of the preliminary assessment will be made at the end of December. Applicants who make it through to the final selection will be contacted in late March concerning the Center’s decision on your application. The Center will email all applicants of the result. The Center will not disclose results over the telephone.
12. I am currently enrolled at the University of Hawaii. Do I need to provide you with official documents—transcripts and test scores—or will you accept photocopies?
Since you are already admitted to the University of Hawaii, it is not necessary for you to provide official transcripts or official test score reports. Photocopies of these documents, preferably from your academic program or the UH Records Office, are acceptable.