By Maria Wilkinson
Amongst the numerous benefits of studying in Taiwan, one helpful factor is the plethora of scholarships available to international students. Depending on where you study, where you are from, and what degree you are pursuing, there are a variety of scholarships to consider.
Scholarships at a glance:
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Government Scholarships: |
National Chengchi University Scholarships: |
Granted by:
For those only studying Mandarin:
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New Degree Students:
Current Degree Students:
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There are a number of scholarships you may be eligible for, though regulations defer. The following gives an overview of each scholarship’s regulations.
The Taiwan Scholarship
The Taiwan Scholarship will be granted through the MOE, MOFA, or MOST. Each office has different regulations on tuition scholarships and subsidiaries.
1. Ministry of Education (MOE)
The MOE Scholarship is applicable to Bachelor’s for 4 years, Master's for 2 years, Ph.D. for 4 years. For Bachelor students, the monthly living stipend is NTD15,000. The government covers NTD40,000 each semester and the remaining balance is waived by NCCU. For students who have graduated from one program and would like to enroll in a higher program subsequently, the scholarship allows you to reapply. The maximum time allotted for the scholarship is 5 years.
▲Ministry of Education
For Master’s and Ph.D. students, the monthly living stipend is NTD20,000 and each semester the government covers NTD40,000 in tuition costs. For students in International Master of Business Administration (IMBA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA), the remaining balance must be paid by the scholarship recipient. All other programs’ remaining fees are covered by NCCU.
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
The MOFA scholarship is applicable to Bachelor’s for 4 years, Master’s for 2 years, and Ph.D. for 4 years. The award coverage is a month living stipend of NTD30,000 and one round-trip economy-class flight ticket from home country. The MOFA Taiwan Scholarship is granted to students from countries that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, special consideration may also be given to students from other countries. The award may also be granted to students that wish to only study Mandarin, in that case, the scholarship duration is 1 year and the monthly living stipend is NTD25,000.
▲Ministry of Foreign Affairs
3. Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)
The MOST scholarship is applicable to Master’s students for 2 years and Ph.D. students for three years. The scholarship provides a monthly living stipend of NTD30,000. The aim of the MOST scholarship is to encourage outstanding international students to study in Taiwan while promoting bilateral scientific and technological exchanges. This scholarship is not eligible to students from Macau, Hong Kong, or Mainland China.
4. Taiwan MOE Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES)
The HES scholarship is available to students who wish to study only Mandarin. The duration of the scholarship differs. There are 2 months scholarships for students who study June to July or July to August. Additionally, there are 3, 6, 9, or 12-months scholarships from September to August. Students should apply if they are not currently enrolled as a student in a Mandarin language center or have never been a degree-seeking student at any university in Taiwan.
For these four scholarships, contact the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in your country. Applications are accepted from February 1st to March 31st. Note that your eligibility depends on your country’s ties with Taiwan. Some countries may not be eligible or there may be another scholarship you are eligible for.
For more information, visit the Taiwan Scholarship website: https://taiwanscholarship.moe.gov.tw/web/index.aspx
Taiwan IDCF Higher Education Scholarship Programs
The Taiwan IDCF Higher Education Scholarship’s mission is to help partner countries with human resources development. Currently, there are 54 partner countries. Taiwan IDCF has established the Taiwan International Cooperation Alliance with 22 partner universities. NCCU, being one of these universities, offers two Master’s programs to apply to, IMBA and International Master's Program in International Studies in the College of International Affairs (IMPIS). And one Bachelor’s program, the International Undergraduate Program in Business Administration (IUP in BA). The duration of the scholarship for Master’s programs is 2 years. The duration of the scholarship for the Bachelor’s program is 1 year.
IDCF arranges and covers the airfare for a round-way ticket to and from Taiwan. The dormitory, credit fees, tuition, insurance, and textbooks are paid for by IDCF. For students in an undergraduate program, a monthly living stipend of NTD12,000 is provided. For students in a Master’s program, a monthly living stipend of NTD15,000 is provided.
For more information, visit the IDCF website; https://www.icdf.org.tw/wSite/np?ctNode=31561&mp=2.
Elite Scholarship Program: Southeast or South Asia/Africa
The Elite Scholarship Program is applicable to those who currently occupy a formal lecturer position at a public or private college or university in Southeast Asia, South Asia, or Africa. Nationals of the Republic of China and overseas Chinese citizens are not eligible.
In addition, individuals who are currently enrolled in or on leave of absence from another college or university in Taiwan, with the exception of students who are in the process of graduating from a Bachelor’s or Master’s program and are applying to pursue a higher degree, are ineligible. Candidates enrolling in a program that awards a degree that duplicates another degree already held by the applicant from a university in Taiwan is ineligible. Current exchange students or students enrolled in a double (or joint) degree through an academic cooperation arrangement between a foreign educational institution and a college or university in Taiwan is ineligible. Lastly, those who are currently receiving other scholarships or subsidies from the ROC are ineligible.
▲Lakeside reading house
Applicants are nominated by their individual academic departments or programs to the Office for International Cooperation (OIC). The duration of the award for Master’s students is 2 years. For Ph.D. students, the duration is 3 years. The award cannot exceed 3 years cumulatively. The tuition and monthly stipend differ depending on the funding available. The quota is announced and regulated by the ROC MOE.
NCCU Tuition Waiver
▲NCCU main gate
The duration of the tuition waiver is 4 years for Bachelor’s, 2 years for Master’s, and 3 years for Ph.D. The award is full exemption from tuition fees and credit fees. Only international students who are newly admitted and without additional scholarships are eligible. Students will be nominated by their college, individual applications by students are not accepted. For more information, you may see the guidelines; https://oic.nccu.edu.tw/Upload/FileManager/6c3d4823-b7b5-4473-8380-61e01fb75162.pdf.
New Inbound International Students Scholarship Pilot Plan
This scholarship is similar to the NCCU Tuition Waiver, as the duration is 4 years for Bachelor’s, 2 years for Master’s, and 3 years for Ph.D. The award coverage depends on whether you receive the full scholarship or half. For those who receive the full scholarship, a tuition waiver is provided, though credit fees are not included, and a living stipend of NTD150,000 per academic year is given. For half-scholarship recipients, only the tuition is waived, not including credit fees, and no stipend is given. This scholarship is only for newly admitted international students without other scholarships. Students are nominated by individual academic departments and programs to the OIC every April and December. For more information, the guidelines are here; https://oic.nccu.edu.tw/Upload/FileManager/a58aea8a-96c2-4f1d-ab80-626208c181b7.pdf.
▲Dah Hsian Seetoo library
Academic Excellence Scholarship
The Academic Excellence Scholarship is given each semester as a reflection of your academic performance the semester before. Students who have enrolled at NCCU for more than one semester may apply. A transcript of the previous semester will be required upon applying and volunteer hours that contribute to the NCCU OIC community will be asked of the student. Those who have received other full scholarships are excluded. Students studying Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. are all welcome to apply. Applications are to be sent to OIC around September and late February each year. The actual deadline will be announced by OIC. For more information, you can find it here; https://oic.nccu.edu.tw/Upload/FileManager/230b16f9-bb6c-4912-bda6-e198168108e3.pdf.
If you are reading this article prior to October 16, 2023, note that the Academic Excellence Scholarship is currently accepting applications until the 16th of October. Contact OIC for more information.
Department Scholarships
Lastly, each department may have its own academic scholarship for students who do not have any other scholarship. Contact your department to inquire what their scholarship opportunities may be.
▲Art & culture center
