NOTE: Visit the UH Graduate Division web site for additional information.
Questions? Contact our admission committee via oreapply [at] hawaii [dot] edu

Students are admitted to ORE for graduate studies based on their scholastic records and prior relevant work experiences. Candidates for the MS program typically have a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, which provides an adequate background in mathematics, science, and mechanics. Students of all disciplines will be evaluated for admission to the MS and PhD programs; however, prior success in closely related math, science, and engineering courses is highly weighted. MS Students with undergraduate degrees other than engineering will likely be required to take “pre-program” basic engineering, math, and science courses. Students seeking admission to the PhD program should have an MS in engineering (or a closely related field), or equivalent qualifications. Exceptionally qualified students with a bachelor’s degree in engineering who do not hold an MS degree may petition for direct admission to the PhD program. Admission letters include a preliminary list of deficiencies, if any, determined by the ORE Graduate Chair. Refer to the ORE graduate student manual for details regarding pre-program and program requirements, available via our degree requirements page. Other general information about the department and programs is available on the frequently asked questions page.

Deadlines for Applications

Deadlines to submit applications for admission to the ORE graduate program are

  • January 15 for fall semester admission and
  • August 15 for spring semester admission

The first page of the ORE Admission Application includes a checklist of all of the forms and supporting documents that need to be submitted. Application materials should be submitted via the UH Graduate Division.

Detailed requirements and forms are available on the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Graduate Division Admissions web page. GRE test results are not required but will be considered if submitted. Official English Proficiency Exam scores are required from non-native English-speaking students. TOEFL or IELTS scores are acceptable. For minimum admissible scores please see the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa  English Proficiency webpage.

Forms required by the ORE Department can be downloaded below (both are PDFs):

After the required documents are received, Graduate Division screens the application to ensure that university admission requirements are satisfied. The ORE Admissions Committee and ORE Graduate Chair evaluate the application and determine the applicant’s admissibility to the ORE program.

ORE Flyer

FAQs of Admissions

See below regarding all FAQs towards Admissions Questions

How to apply to the ORE Graduate Program? 

Forms for ORE’s Admission Application and Letters of Recommendation can be found on the department’s website: https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/ore/program/admission/. Note, the first page of the ORE Admission Application includes a checklist of all of the forms and supporting documents that need to be submitted. Application materials should be submitted via the UH Graduate Division.

Are there available internships and graduate assistantships? 

Prospective MS and PhD students are strongly encouraged to contact faculty members directly to inquire about the availability of graduate positions prior to submitting an application. A list of faculty members and their research interests is available on the department’s website: https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/ore/people/faculty/. Note, a faculty advisor/sponsor is not required at the time of application nor for acceptance to the MS program. PhD students will not be accepted without a faculty advisor/sponsor; however, one can be identified after an application is submitted.

What Programs do you have available? 

The Ocean and Resources Engineering is a graduate-level only program with an MS and PhD Program.

MS Program in Ocean and Resources Engineering

  • The ORE MS degree is ABET-accredited. ABET stands for Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. ABET is a non-governmental agency that evaluates and accredits college education programs in applied and natural sciences, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. ABET accredits more than 4,000 programs including more than 800 institutions across 41 countries. ABET-accredited degrees enable holders to sit for examinations that lead to professional licensure after completing experience requirements. The majority of ABET-accredited programs offer baccalaureate degrees.
  • Since the MS degree is ABET-accredited, the ORE department upholds the requirements of ABET, and each MS student is required to complete 45 credits of undergraduate engineering and 30 credits of math and science courses. These courses are collectively referred to as the “pre-program” requirements.
  • Candidates for the MS program typically have a bachelor’s degree in an mechanical or ocean engineering discipline, which provides an adequate background in mathematics, science, and mechanics, satisfying the “pre-program” requirements. MS Students with undergraduate degrees in other engineering fields or other than engineering will likely be required to take “pre-program” basic engineering, math, and science courses. 

PhD Program in Ocean and Resources Engineering

  • Students applying for direct entry to the ORE PhD program do not need to satisfy all of the pre-program requirements. However, students have typically taken at least statics, dynamics and fluid mechanics as they are pre-requisites for ORE graduate-level courses. 

What is a pre-program? Do my courses apply? 

Pre-program requirements include the following classes. More details about these courses and course numbers of corresponding courses at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (such that you can look up the course descriptions in the UHM course catalog) are included on page 5 of the ORE Admission Application. If you have any questions regarding if your courses at your University can apply, please have a copy of your syllabus to send to the Department ready.

Science:

  • Calculus I, II, III and IV
  • Physics I & II
  • Chemistry I & II
  • Differential Equations

Engineering

  • Computer Aided Design (CAD)
  • Statics
  • Dynamics
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Solid Mechanics
  • Probability and Statistics