PhD Earth and Planetary Sciences at University of Hawaii at Manoa

Programme overview

The PhD in Earth and Planetary Sciences covers geophysics and tectonics, marine and environmental geology, volcanology, geochemistry and petrology, and planetary geoscience and remote sensing, with extensive fieldwork and oceanographic expeditions.

Faculty: School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology | Department: Earth Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Honolulu, HI, United States

What you will study

Students without an MS pass a qualifying examination at the beginning of the second semester in residence. All candidates pass an oral and written comprehensive examination by the end of the fourth semester of residence (students without an MS) and defend a dissertation. Areas of interest are Geophysics and Tectonics, Marine and Environmental Geology, Volcanology, Geochemistry and Petrology, and Planetary Geoscience and Remote Sensing.

Career pathways

Technical and professional work at industrial, governmental and academic institutions (geophysics and tectonics area).

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Candidates are accepted with a BS or MS degree. Suitable backgrounds include geology or other natural sciences, geophysics, mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy or engineering, with basic courses in physics, chemistry and mathematics; students with other backgrounds may be accepted if records and recommendations are strong. Space and financial aid are limited. Graduate Division English proficiency (applicants whose native language is not English; programme minimums may be higher): TOEFL iBT 61 (pre-2026 scale) or 3.5 (2026 scale), IELTS Academic 5.5, Duolingo 90.

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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