PhD Microbiology at University of Hawaii at Manoa

Programme overview

The PhD in Microbiology trains candidates in the research areas of the department's graduate faculty. Candidates must show the ability to carry out original experimental research and produce an acceptable dissertation.

Faculty: College of Natural Sciences | Department: Microbiology | Study mode: full-time | Location: Honolulu, HI, United States

What you will study

A minimum of 40 credit hours: 24 credits of directed research (MICR 699), yearly seminar and research literature review credits, Research Ethics (MICR 614), dissertation research, and at least 15 credit hours of coursework at the 600 level or higher. A written and oral comprehensive examination and a dissertation defense are required; laboratory teaching experience is considered desirable.

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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