Urban & Regional Planning > Academic Programs > Admission Information

Admission Information

Application Deadlines

March 1 is the deadline for admissions for the following fall semester; September 1 is the deadline for admission for the following spring semester. Application materials, including all relevant forms, may be obtained from the Department. Official notification of admission or denial is issued by the Graduate Division, not by the Department.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is available to a limited extent. Opportunities include:

The Department, in cooperation with the Graduate Division, offers some tuition waivers
The University of Hawai’i waives out-of-state fees to residents of some countries in Asia and the Pacific
Teaching assistantship which is usually awarded to a second year student.
Research assistantships available to advanced students
East-West Center grantees
Some students qualify for and participate in the University's work-study program; others apply for student loans
A number of students secure part-time employment in the planning field which serves as a source of work experience and financial assistance

For information and application forms for student loan, work study employment and grants write to: Financial Aid Office, 2600 Campus Road, Suite 112, Honolulu, HI 96822: (808) 956-7251. Inquires may also be directed to the Department.

Unclassified Students

A person not enrolled as an advanced degree student at the University may register as an unclassified graduate student and take graduate courses in the Department. Information on the procedure may be obtained directly from the Office of Admissions and Records. An application, certification of a previously earned degree from an accredited college or university, and transcripts are required. The application deadline is May 1 for the fall semester, and October 1 for the spring semester. Up to twelve credits earned as an unclassified student may be transferred to the MURP degree program if the student later is admitted as a degree candidate and obtains Graduate Division approval.

Persons not Registered as Students

A person who is neither a classified nor an unclassified student may take courses numbered 600 and above in the Department through the Outreach College. A student interested in this option must obtain the permission of the Department, provided that he or she has graduated from an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada. If the student has a degree from other institutions, she or he must meet the English language requirements established by the Outreach College. Those desiring to register in this manner should contact the Department well before the beginning of the semester in which they wish to enroll. Such a student is required to obtain a "Permission to Enroll" form from the Department, and must submit that form to the Outreach College when registering for the course. Registration is to occur on or before the first day of classes. Tuition and fees are paid directly to the Outreach College.

Evening and Late Afternoon Classes

The Department will endeavor to offer two to four courses each semester in the late afternoon or early evening in order to provide an opportunity for practicing professionals and others to supplement their education and training and to earn credits toward the Professional Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning. Different courses will be offered each semester. In order to enroll in such courses, an individual must be a classified graduate student (accepted into an advanced degree program) or an unclassified graduate student or a student registered through the Outreach College. Persons interested in taking such courses should qualify themselves as soon as possible. See above for information relating to admission as a classified graduate student, unclassified graduate student or registration through the Outreach College.