Student Programs

For Current East-West Center Students:

For New East-West Center Students:

New Student Orientation

Opportunities for Study
Scholarships and Fellowships administered by the East-West Center

Poster and Overview of Opportunities for Study
"East-West Center Experience" links to an eight-minute video on an overview of the Center's history and mission, along with personal insights from recent Center fellows about the Center's impact on their education and lives

East-West Center students develop lifelong relationships and a powerful sense of community with others who share an interest in the Asia Pacific region. Located in Honolulu adjacent to the University of Hawai‘i, the Center's 21-acre campus features conference, research, and residential facilities nestled in the heart of beautiful Manoa Valley.

Asia Pacific Leadership Program
An innovative graduate level certificate program that combines the development of regional expertise with the enhancement of individual leadership skills.
Type of study: A five or nine-month course of study; includes seminars, field studies and internships.
Eligibility: Early- to mid-career professionals; currently enrolled graduate students; and recent university graduates from all countries.
Provisions: Substantial funding for tuition, field studies and health insurance. Supplemental scholarship assistance for living expenses and housing in graduate residence hall.
Application deadline: December 1
For more information: www.eastwestcenter.org/aplp and aplp@eastwestcenter.org

East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship
Funding for graduate study to participate in educational and research programs at the East-West Center while pursuing graduate study at the University of Hawai‘i.
Type of study: Master's (up to 24-month fellowship) or Doctoral degree (up to 48-month fellowship).
Eligibility: Citizens or permanent residents of the United States and citizens of countries in the Pacific and Asia, including Russia. See application for complete list of eligible countries.
Provisions: Substantial funding toward education and living expenses, including tuition and fees, graduate residence hall room costs, health insurance, book allowance, and partial living stipend.
Application deadline: November 1
For more information: scholarships@eastwestcenter.org

Ford Foundation, International Fellowships Program (IFP)
Fellowships target exceptional individuals, with academic talent and community leadership experience, from marginalized populations in developing nations. Fellows are drawn from social groups outside metropolitan centers that, historically, have had limited access to higher education.
Type of study: Post-baccalaureate degree directly enhancing professional knowledge, career skills, and leadership capacity in a discipline or field corresponding to the Foundation's areas of endeavor.
Eligibility: Countries currently represented at the EWC: China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Check the Ford IFP web site for complete list of eligible countries.
Provisions: Tuition and fees, graduate residence hall room costs, health insurance, book allowance, living stipend, family fund, professional enhancement fund, and round-trip airfare.
Application deadline: Refer to the Ford Foundation, International Fellowships Program web site below.
For more information: www.fordifp.net and scholarships@eastwestcenter.org

Asian Development Bank-Government of Japan Scholarship
Funding for graduate study to participate in educational programs at the East-West Center while pursuing graduate study in the ADB approved fields at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
Type of study: Graduate degree study (up to 24-month scholarship).
Eligibility: Applicants must be a citizen of a borrowing member country of the Asian Development Bank.
Provisions: Tuition, graduate residence hall room costs, health insurance, book allowance, living stipend, and round-trip airfare.
Application deadline: November 1
For more information: www.adb.org and adbjsp@eastwestcenter.org

United States--South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP)
Funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, USSP provides educational opportunities for individuals from South Pacific countries to pursue degree study at U.S. institutions in fields relevant to development needs in the Pacific islands region.
Type of study: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree study.
Eligibility: Citizens of the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Provisions: Tuition, residence hall room costs, health insurance, book allowance, living stipend, and round-trip airfare. Internship in Washington, D.C. and home-country community service project.
Application deadline: February 1
For more information: USSP@eastwestcenter.org

United States--Timor-Leste Scholarship Program (USTL)
Funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, USTL provides educational opportunities for individuals from Timor-Leste to pursue degree study at U.S. institutions in fields relevant to development needs in Timor-Leste.
Type of study: Bachelor's degree study and, if needed, pre-academic English language study.
Eligibility: Citizens of Timor-Leste.
Provisions: Tuition, residence hall room costs, health insurance, book allowance, living stipend, and round-trip arifare. Internship in Washington, D.C. and home-country community service project.
Application deadline: August
For more information: scholarships@eastwestcenter.org or USTLscholarship@gmail.com

Obuchi Student Scholarship
Funding for graduate study to participate in educational and research programs at the East-West Center while pursuing a Master's degree at the University of Hawai‘i, or for study in the Asia Pacific Leadership Program (APLP)
Type of Study: Master's degree (up to 24-month fellowship) or APLP (up to 9 month fellowship).
Eligibility: Residents of Okinawa, Japan, who have the intention of returning to Okinawa on completion of study, to contribute to the development needs of Okinawa.
Provisions: Substantial funding toward education and living expenses, including tuition and fees, graduate residence hall room costs, health insurance, book allowance, and partial living stipend.
Application deadline: December 1 (for MA studies or for APLP study)
For more information: scholarships@eastwestcenter.org

For more information on Scholarships and Fellowships:
East-West Center
Award Services Office
1601 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI 96848-1601
USA
Tel: (808) 944-7735
Fax: (808) 944-7730

Other Student Programs

East-West Center Student Affiliate Program
An opportunity for University of Hawai‘i graduate students and graduate students coming to Hawai‘i on official exchange programs to participate in the Center's educational and cultural programs and residential community.
Type of study: Participation in EWC programs focused on creating an Asia Pacific community through research, dialogue, educational and cultural activities, and public outreach.
Eligibility: Full-time graduate student status at the University of Hawai‘i, or participation in an exchange program. Open to students from all countries; priority given to students with research interests in the Asia Pacific region.
Provisions: Discounted housing rate in EWC residence halls. Eligible for competitive EWC field-study/travel grant awards.
Application deadline: November for spring semester start; April and June for fall semester start.
For more information: affiliates@eastwestcenter.org

East-West Center Affiliate Scholar Program
An opportunity for graduate students from universities and institutions from all countries to have a short-term affiliation with the EWC while working on research for a thesis or dissertation related to the Asia Pacific region.
Type of study: Intensive research for one semester to one year; participation in EWC programs focused on creating an Asia Pacific community through research, dialogue, educational and cultural activities.
Eligibility: Graduate students from universities world-wide, to work on research for a thesis or dissertation. Priority given to graduate students with research interests in the Asia Pacific region.
Provisions: Research library access, and discounted housing rate in EWC graduate residence halls.
Application deadline: Applications are received year-round and arranged individually.
For more information: affiliates@eastwestcenter.org

The East-West Center's student programs, carried out in cooperation with the University of Hawai‘i (UH), are designed to foster a sense of community and develop the leadership skills and knowledge required in the 21st century.

Since it was established in 1960 by the U.S. Congress, the East-West Center has supported more than 5,000 students from Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. Center scholarships are given for degree study and participation in the Center's unique international and intercultural programs. Graduates of the Center are now found in prominent positions in universities, governments, and businesses, constituting an active network of alumni devoted to regional cooperation and community building.

The Center's core scholarship program gives priority to applicants pursuing degrees related to areas of research excellence at the East-West Center. Students are offered opportunities to work with the Center's research staff as well as with visiting fellows from institutions and organizations throughout the world. The primary areas of Center research include:

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

East-West Center students are a central element in the Center's community of approximately 150 academic, professional and support staff. In keeping with the objective of the Center to develop understanding of major issues in the Asia-Pacific region, students take part in a range of activities designed to build community and foster intellectual and cultural interaction.

Beyond fulfilling degree requirements at the University of Hawai‘i, East-West Center students actively engage in the Center's education program activities. This includes involvement in an East-West Center research project or completion of one of several interdisciplinary certificates, and participation in the Center's rich student organizational life.

Students are also encouraged to become involved in the broader community of the university and the metropolitan area of Honolulu, with its distinctive multicultural population. From weekly seminars to dormitory living with students from diverse cultures to participation in research and student-organized activities, the East-West Center offers its student participants a rich blend of academic and cultural experience.