University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents Presidential Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by University of Hawaii

Overview
The Upper-level Scholarship Programs are competitive awards created to honor the academic achievement and documented community contributions of degree-seeking students who enter UH Mānoa as transfer students. The two scholarships included in this program are:
- Presidential Scholarship (reserved for Hawaiʻi residents)
- Transfer Merit Scholarship (open to applicants of any residency)

These awards are granted at the beginning of the recipient’s Mānoa degree program and are intended to help fund up to two years of enrollment while the student works toward finishing their degree. Scholarship funds are applied directly to the student’s educational costs.

Who should apply (Eligibility)
Applicants eligible for consideration include admitted transfer students or current UH Mānoa students who will be classified as juniors by the end of the spring semester and who are pursuing a degree. Specific points:
- Residency: Presidential Scholarship — Hawaiʻi residents (Transfer Merit — all residency types)
- Student type: Incoming transfer or continuing Mānoa student
- Class standing: Must be a junior by the end of the spring semester
- Minimum GPA: Candidates with a college GPA of 3.7 or higher will be considered
- Number of Presidential awards: Historically, Mānoa has granted 10 Presidential Scholarships per year
Note: If you are offered more than one merit scholarship from the Office of Admissions, you may accept only one.

Application timing and deadlines
Because these scholarships are selective, you must submit your admission application by March 1 to be considered. Once an eligible applicant is admitted, the Office of Admissions will provide instructions for submitting the additional materials required for scholarship review. The supplemental application for the Upper-level Scholarship Programs must be submitted by March 15. Applications are reviewed in March and April, and scholarship decisions are typically communicated in early May.

Selection process
The Office of Admissions determines scholarship recipients through a holistic review that includes the admission application, academic records, and evidence of community impact. In addition to the admission application, applicants must provide two supplemental items for scholarship consideration:

Required supplemental materials
1) Activities and achievements list — A detailed inventory of your extracurricular activities, volunteer work, leadership roles, honors, employment, or other accomplishments that demonstrate how you spend your time beyond the classroom and the ways you contribute to your community or communities.

2) Short-answer essay — Respond to the prompt: Describe how your activities or commitments create an impact in your community/communities, and explain why that impact matters to you.
- Suggested questions to consider in your response: Why is this activity or commitment meaningful to you? In what ways will this experience influence or shape your time at Mānoa?
- Length: Aim for 250–400 words. Responses slightly shorter or longer are acceptable as long as you address the prompt fully.

Optional documentation
You may also upload an updated transcript if you have new grades or academic information that became available after you initially submitted your admission materials. Submitting updated transcripts is encouraged but optional.

Additional notes
- Awards are applied toward educational expenses to reduce the recipient’s cost of attendance.
- The Office of Admissions and the Scholarship Selection Committees conduct the application reviews and make final award decisions.

If you have questions about eligibility, required materials, or deadlines, contact the Office of Admissions for guidance.