PhD Anthropology at University of Hawaii at Manoa

Programme overview

The PhD in Anthropology requires an MA in anthropology as a prerequisite and covers biological, cultural and archaeological specialisations. Students form a five-member committee, pass written and oral comprehensive exams, and write and defend a dissertation.

Faculty: College of Social Sciences | Department: Anthropology | Duration: Candidates must finish within seven years of admission to the doctoral programme | Study mode: full-time | Location: Honolulu, HI, United States

What you will study

Students with an MA from another university take upper-division graduate courses from four different faculty plus graduate survey courses (Ethnology, Contemporary Anthropological Theory, Archaeology, Biological Anthropology Core); archaeology students also take Field Mapping, Archaeological Data Analysis and Research Design seminars.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

An MA in anthropology is a prerequisite. UH Mānoa MA students are evaluated by the faculty and, if approved by a majority, invited to reapply through Graduate Division.

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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