PhD Oceanography at University of Hawaii at Manoa

Programme overview

The PhD in Oceanography requires a minimum of 36 credit hours, 24 of them coursework at the 600 level or above, and a dissertation based on original research. Admission to the PhD requires a positive recommendation from a PhD-qualifying committee.

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 or OCN 626-628, with at least 12 credits from three subject groups (biological, geological, chemical, physical oceanography, mathematical methods and statistics, atmospheric sciences). Requirements include a seminar, computer competency, 30 days of field experience, a comprehensive examination and a final oral defense.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to the PhD programme requires a positive recommendation from a PhD-qualifying committee. 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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