Overview

This Theatre and Dance programme offered by University of Hawaii at Manoa prepares scholars, educators, researchers, and academic leaders through original investigation of artistic expression, social practices, community traditions, and human experiences across diverse societies. Situated within the contexts of Hawaiʻi, Asia, and the Pacific, the programme enables exploration of Indigenous knowledge systems, historical traditions, intercultural exchange, representation, memory, identity formation, and contemporary societal issues. Students work closely with faculty mentors while developing specialised academic perspectives and contributing new scholarly knowledge.

Key Facts

The programme promotes interdisciplinary inquiry by integrating approaches from anthropology, education, history, critical theory, and Indigenous studies. Doctoral candidates participate in scholarly activities including publication, conference participation, archival investigation, teaching, collaborative projects, community engagement, and dissertation development. Research may focus on Asian traditions, Native Hawaiian practices, decolonial approaches, ritual activities, embodiment, cultural revitalisation, or social change, examining their significance within local and global contexts.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Asian Performance
Asian Theatre Traditions
Performance and Cultural Identity
Hawaiian and Indigenous Performance
Hana Keaka (Hawaiian Theatre)
Performance Studies
Performance and Society
Identity and Representation
Ritual and Ceremony

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 84 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-24 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-15 00:00:00
Starting 2028-01-12 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-08-15 00:00:00

More details

Priority deadline for Fall: December 15 of prev year

Priority deadline for Spring: August 15 of prev year

Applications will be accepted until positions are filled

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

135

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TOEFL^® IBT

100

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IELTS

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Credits

30 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Honolulu, United States

Disciplines

Drama View 21 other PhDs in Drama in United States

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Academic requirements

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

135

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Official language proficiency scores sent directly to Graduate Student Services (see address above). See Proficiency information here.

Financial Information Form.

Additional admissions requirements.

Three Letters of Recommendation (request from your recommenders via Supplemental Upload website)

Theatre and Dance Graduate Express Form (please fill out this Google Forms link)

Statement of Objectives (Please upload to Graduate Division supplemental upload website, using UPLOAD Feature. For Category, choose “Statement of Objective.” Include why you would choose to pursue a degree at UHM and in Hawai’i, and why you have chosen your specific focus to study.

Unofficial scans of all post-secondary transcripts

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

44864 USD / year

≈ 44864 USD / year
Out-of-State

44864 USD / year

≈ 44864 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

20800 USD / year

≈ 20800 USD / year

Living costs

Honolulu

United States

1640 - 2500 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Theatre and Dance.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Key Facts

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Honolulu

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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