MS Oceanography at University of Hawaii at Manoa

Programme overview

The MS and PhD in Oceanography share a minimum of 36 credit hours, including 24 credits of coursework at the 600 level or above, and require a thesis based on original research.

Faculty: School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology | Duration: 36 credit hours minimum | Study mode: full-time | Location: Honolulu, HI, United States

What you will study

Students take OCN 620, 622 and 623 plus either OCN 621 (non-biological) or OCN 626-628 (biological); at least 12 credits come from three groups among biological, geological, chemical and physical oceanography, mathematical methods and statistics, and atmospheric sciences. Students complete 6 credits each of OCN 699 and OCN 700, a seminar requirement, demonstrated computer competency and at least 30 days of field experience, and defend the thesis orally.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate Division standards (all UH Manoa graduate applicants): a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited US institution or an equivalent non-US degree, held or expected before matriculation, and a B average (usually 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate and any post-baccalaureate or graduate coursework; graduate programmes may add requirements such as GRE, GPA minimums and other documents. English proficiency for most applicants whose native language is not English: minimum TOEFL iBT 61 (old scale; 3.5 on the new 2026 scale), TOEFL Essentials 7.0, IELTS Academic 5.5, Duolingo 90 or Cambridge Scale 161, with programme-level scores possibly higher. Graduate teaching assistantship applicants need TOEFL iBT 100 (Listening 25, Speaking 25) or IELTS 7.0. Applicants who are native English speakers or earned a degree within the last five years in an English-exempt country (including the US, UK, Canada except Quebec, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya) are exempt.

Requirements published at program group level.

Domestic applicants: USD 10,400 a year (2026-27). Graduate tuition for 2026-27 based on a typical full-time load of 8 credits per semester (indicative budget figure from the cost of attendance page); excludes fees ($934), housing, food, books and other costs. Hawaii resident rate. Source

International applicants: USD 22,432 a year (2026-27). Graduate tuition for 2026-27 based on a typical full-time load of 8 credits per semester (indicative budget figure from the cost of attendance page); excludes fees ($934), housing, food, books and other costs. Non-resident rate. Source

Graduate applications are accepted for Summer, Fall and Spring terms; Graduate Division begins processing applications from August 1 for the following Fall and Summer semester and from April 1 for the following Spring semester.

All graduate application deadlines are set by the graduate programmes and vary by programme; some programmes set priority deadlines. Most Fall applicants hear a decision by late March/early April and Spring applicants by November/December. Application fees are non-refundable.

Apply through the official page: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/

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