East West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship

• No. of Scholarships - Vary Each Year
• Host Country - USA
• Level - Master's & PhD
• Courses - Available at University of Hawaii
• Institute - University of Hawaii
• Benefits - Fully Funded
• Deadline - December 1st: Application Deadline January 10th: Document Deadline

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.

 

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.