East West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship is an extraordinary opportunity for aspiring scholars from Pakistan, Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. This program combines challenging academics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM) with residential, cultural, and leadership development at the East-West Center (EWC). This fellowship aims to develop future leaders who can help strengthen US-Asia-Pacific ties and address major regional and global concerns.

The selected fellows not only study their chosen academic areas, but they also join a vibrant community that values cross-cultural discussion, leadership development, and the development of a global mindset. The program's goal is to build a network of persons who are prepared to address the region's complicated concerns.

Programs Offered

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship helps students pursuing Master’s and Doctoral degrees at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. While it doesn’t list specific programs, it covers a variety of fields that fit with the Center’s objectives to promote understanding and tackle issues in the Asia-Pacific area. Some of the areas you can study include:

• Social Sciences
• Humanities
• Environmental Studies
• Economics
• Political Science
• Public Policy
• Education
• Communications
• Area Studies (like Asian Studies or Pacific Islands Studies)

Plus, many more fields that are important for regional growth and international relations. If you’re thinking about applying, check out the graduate programs at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and find one that matches your goals and the Center's objectives.

Benefits

The East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship is pretty competitive and well-known for offering solid financial support, meaning it often fully covers or nearly fully covers costs for those who get it. The benefits are quite broad, helping fellows ease their financial worries so they can concentrate on their studies and EWC activities. Usually, these benefits include:

• Full Tuition Fees: You'll get all your tuition costs covered for Master's and Doctoral programs at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. This is a big deal, especially since UHM tuition can be quite high for international students.
• On-Campus Housing: You'll stay in a single room at an East-West Center dorm on campus. It's a great option because it creates a friendly living space and makes it easy to access campus facilities and programs.
• Monthly Stipend: There's a monthly stipend to help with living costs like food, transport, and other personal expenses. This really helps keep your finances in check while you're on the fellowship.
• Books & Supplies Allowance: A yearly allowance is offered to help with the purchase of necessary textbooks, academic supplies, and study materials.
• Health Insurance Subsidies: A considerable subsidy for the cost of health insurance. Having access to good healthcare is really important, and this benefit makes sure that everyone is covered.
• Conference and Field Study awards (Competitive): Fellows can apply for competitive awards to help them pursue their academic goals outside of the classroom. This could involve money for presenting research at international conferences, undertaking field research, or attending specialist workshops.
• Leadership Development Programs: Fellows play an important role in EWC's dynamic learning environment in addition to receiving financial help. They take part in structured workshops, seminars, and experiential learning opportunities centered on leadership abilities, intercultural communication, dispute resolution, and public speaking.
• Cross-Cultural Exchange and Networking: The unique residential experience brings together students from more than 30 nations. This establishes vital personal and professional networks, broadens cross-cultural knowledge, and creates a foundation for lifelong connections and collaborations.
• Access to EWC Resources: Fellows get access to EWC's large network of alumni, research resources, faculty mentors, and specialized programs, which helps them advance academically and professionally.

Eligibility Criteria

Pakistani citizens are encouraged to apply for the East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship. To be considered, applicants need to meet specific academic and personal requirements, which include:

• Citizenship: You need to be a citizen or have permanent residency in an eligible country in Asia, the Pacific, or the U.S. If you're a citizen of Pakistan, you've already met this requirement.
• Academic Qualification: You must have a completed 4-year Bachelor's degree, or something similar, from a school that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan recognizes. Make sure your degree matches a U.S. bachelor's degree.
• Academic Performance (GPA): You'll need a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for your last four semesters or six quarters of undergrad studies, as well as for any post-bachelor's courses. Your transcripts will be checked carefully.
• English Language Skills: It's important to show that you have a good grasp of English. You need to back this up with official test scores from:
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): You need at least a score of 79 on the Internet-Based Test (IBT).
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System): You need a minimum band score of 6.5 overall.
  • Exemptions: You might not have to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores if you got your last degree (Bachelor's or Master's) from a institute where English is the main language and it’s in a country where English is the first language, like the USA, UK, Canada, or Australia. Just make sure you earned that degree within the last five years.
• University of Hawaii at Mānoa (UHM) Admission: The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa requires admission to a graduate program (Master's or Doctoral). The fellowship is subject on UHM acceptance. The chosen academic program at UHM should be consistent with the East-West Center's broader goals and objectives, which often focus on Asia-Pacific concerns.
• Visa Requirements: If you're a Pakistani applicant, you'll need to get a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa to study in the U.S. The East-West Center will give you the necessary paperwork (DS-2019 form) to help with your visa application.
• Dual Citizenship Consideration: If you have dual citizenship in Pakistan and the U.S., your application will be handled as if you are a U.S. citizen. This might change some parts of the program or requirements.
• Second Graduate Degree: If you're interested in pursuing a second graduate degree—like another Master’s or a Doctoral degree—you can apply for the fellowship as long as you meet the other eligibility criteria.

How to Apply

To apply for the East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship, you’ll need to fill out applications for both the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the East-West Center. Here’s a quick guide to help you out:

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM) Admission

• If you’re not already a classified grad student at UHM, you need to apply to the university for the next fall semester.
• The online application usually opens up in early August.
• The admission deadline for UHM is typically December 1st.
• Make sure you check the specific requirements for your program before applying.

East-West Center (EWC) Fellowship Application

• When you apply to UHM, make sure to also apply for the EWC Graduate Degree Fellowship around the same time. 
• You can usually find the EWC fellowship application starting in early August. 
• The deadline for the EWC online application and the required documents is usually December 1st. 
• Here’s what you’ll need to upload by that date:
  • A CV or resume 
  • A copy of your passport bio page (if you're an international applicant) 
  • A statement of objectives for your graduate program (check your specific UH program for details) 
  • Proof that you've submitted you’re UH application (like the acknowledgment receipt). 

Submission of Supporting Documents (by January 10^th)

• Make sure to submit all your supporting documents for both UHM and EWC by January 10th, no matter what other deadlines might come up. The documents should come straight from the right institutions or people.
• Here’s a quick list of what you need by January 10th:
  • Official transcripts from every school you've attended, sent directly from them.
  • Three Letters of Reference, including at least one from an academic source and one related to civic activities, sent straight from the referees.
  • Your official English test scores (TOEFL or IELTS), sent directly from the testing service.
  • Certified copies of your degree certificates if they're needed.

FAQs

1. Is the East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship fully funded for Pakistani citizens?

Yes, it mostly covers everything, including tuition, housing, a stipend, health insurance, and some money for books and supplies. There might be extra travel grants available, but those can be competitive.

2. What GPA do I need to apply?

Applicants generally need a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or something similar) for the last four semesters or six quarters of their undergrad studies and any post-baccalaureate work.

3. Do I need to apply to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa separately?

Yes, you have to do two applications. One for a graduate program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and another for the East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship. You need to be admitted to UHM before you can get the fellowship.

4. What are the English language requirements?

You need to submit official scores for TOEFL (with a minimum of 79) or IELTS (with at least 6.5). You might be exempt if your previous degree was from an English-speaking school within the last five years.

5. What’s the application deadline?

Usually, the main deadline for both the EWC fellowship and UHM admission is on December 1st for the next academic year. Supporting documents typically need to be in by January 10th.

6. What programs can I study with this fellowship?

You can pursue Master's and Doctoral degrees in many fields at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa that relate to what the East-West Center aims to accomplish in the Asia-Pacific region.

7. Can I apply if I’ve already got a Master’s degree from Pakistan?

Yes, you can use the fellowship for a second graduate degree, whether it’s another Master’s or a Doctoral degree, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.

8. What if I have both Pakistani and U.S. citizenship?

If you hold dual citizenship, your application will be treated like a U.S. citizen's.

9. How long does the fellowship last?

The fellowship usually covers the whole time you’re in your graduate program—up to 24 months for Master’s degrees and up to 48 months for Doctoral degrees, depending on your specific program.

10. Where can I find the official application forms and instructions? 

Check the East-West Center's official website for the most current application handbook, forms, and instructions. Look for the Graduate Degree Fellowship section under Student Programs.