Study in Taiwan
Taiwan is an appealing destination for international students, due to the country’s academic resources, rich cultural environment and future job prospects. If you're looking to study at a university in Taiwan, you will find a range of education choices known for their research and technological advancements. Taiwan has favourable living conditions and lower tuition rates compared to western countries.
Universities have been actively recruiting exceptionally talented international students and they continue to increase number of degree courses taught in English. Another important aspect is that government of Taiwan offers numerous scholarships including for international students.
Over the last years, numerous students from Taiwan have been winners of prestigious honours and product design awards for innovative research in the technology field.
Why study in Taiwan?
1. You can apply for numerous scholarships
In an effort to attract a larger number of international students, the Taiwanese government and local universities are offering various scholarships to non-local students. Check out government scholarships and university scholarships in Taiwan.
2. Learn Chinese
The official language in Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese. Learning it can quickly transform your CV from good to excellent, as an increasing number of international companies are looking for job applicants who are proficient in this language.
3. Affordable tuition fees
Taiwanese public universities have affordable courses, which start at around 700 EUR per academic year. The highest you can expect to pay is around 13,000 EUR per year, but only for specific disciplines.
Combine these fees with a scholarship and you can make your study experience in Taiwan much more affordable.
4. Enjoy the local scenery and buildings
Taiwan is a beautiful place where one can live and study. While you're here, we recommend visiting the Taroko National Park, the Sun Moon Lake, Jioufen, the Kenting National Park, the National Palace Museum, the National Chiang Kai-shek park, the Lungshan Temple, etc.
Education System in Taiwan
There are over 100 higher education institutions in Taiwan. All schools, including higher education institutions focus on Technological and Vocational Education (TVE), which involves matching the industries’ workforce demand and student abilities in a way that leads and highly contributes to Taiwan’s economic development and prosperity. Study period for university education is 4 years, between 1-4 years for Master’s degree and from 2 to 7 years for PhD studies.
General Application Requirements
Only foreign students who meet the eligibility terms required by Taiwan Ministry of Education can apply for an undergraduate or graduate degree programme.
Check and read carefully eligibility conditions here.
Here is a list of necessary documents for university application in Taiwan:
- Photocopies of original diplomas or exam certificates (translated in Chinese or English, if it’s the case)
- Application form
- Financial statement of self-sufficiency
- Statement of purpose
- Letter of recommendation
- Application fee
- Any other documents, as required by individual universities
Study Options in Taiwan
Taiwan’s most popular university subject areas are engineering and technology, social sciences and management, with eight Taiwanese universities appearing in the world’s top 400 for each. Students are especially attracted to these disciplines due to Taiwan’s exceptional tradition in business and technology, being a leading supplier of computer chips, smartphones and GPS devices.
There are other universities ranked for natural sciences, life sciences and medicine, and for arts and humanities, but one of the biggest attractions for international students is to learn Mandarin Chinese.
Language of instruction
Language of instruction used in universities in Taiwan is Chinese, the country’s official language. International students can follow undergraduate and graduate studies that are taught in English. They can choose between programmes that are 50% or 100% in English.
Computer Science and Information Technology, Engineering, Health Science, Business Administration, Law, Global Politics and Economics are a few examples of degree programmes that are offered in English in over 40 universities.
English exam preparation courses in Taiwan
Meet language requirements for university admission in Taiwan by choosing an English language preparation course offered by English language schools worldwide, including Taiwan.
By taking the right English exam training course you will advance your language skills in order to get the needed scores for IELTS, TOEFL, C1 Advanced, PTE Academic, or other English exams.
Living in Taiwan
Let's take a closer look at tuition and living expenses in Taiwan:
Tuition fees
Universities in Taiwan are affordable when compared to their Western counterparts. The full amount depends on the type of degree, length of studies, and chosen discipline.
At public universities, international students usually pay between 680–12,700 EUR per academic year. Private universities might have higher tuition.
You can also apply for scholarships to reduce the costs of your education in Taiwan.
Costs of living
On average, students need around 570–850 EUR per month to cover their living costs. These numbers can go up and down based on your lifestyle and the city where you live.
Here's a breakdown of living expenses in Taiwan:
- accommodation (rent a flat): 230–460 EUR/month, depending on the area and facilities
- monthly utilities: 60–80 EUR/month
- food and groceries: 150–250 EUR/month
- monthly transport pass: 37 EUR; some cities might offer student discounts
- three-course meal for 2 at a mid-range restaurant: 20.50 EUR
- 1 litre of milk: 2.65 EUR
- 1 loaf of bread: 1.65 EUR
- 1 cappuccino: 2.40 EUR
About Taiwan
Taiwan, also known as Republic of China, was founded in 1912, becoming the first democratic republic in Asia. With an area of 36,000 square kilometres, land of Taiwan lies off the South-Eastern coast of mainland Asia, across the Taiwan Strait from China - an island on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. Neighbouring countries are Japan in the North and the Philippines in the South. The capital is Taipei, one of the largest cities in the country.
Portuguese sailors who first saw the island called it “Ilha Formosa”, which means the beautiful island.
The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese, but since many Taiwanese people are of southern Fujianese descent, Minnan is also widely spoken. English is the main foreign language taught in schools, thus it is spoken and understood.
Total population of Taiwan counts 23 million people, whose religion belong mainly to Buddhist or Taoist beliefs. During the country’s long history, Taiwan was populated by indigenous tribes, Dutch, Spanish, Japanese, and Han Chinese population, creating a varied culture and developing different local customs and traditions. Because the longest domination was under the Japanese rule, from 1895 to 1945, Taiwan today presents a unique culture, combining Chinese and Japanese elements.
The Republic of China is a sovereign state, with a government divided into five administrative departments: the cabinet, the legislative, the judicial and the examination (civil service). The president is elected by popular vote for a maximum 2 terms comprised of 4 years, on the same voting ticket as the vice-president.
Taiwan today is often described as economically prosperous and politically vibrant. The 21st-largest economy in the world, its high-tech industry plays an important role in the global economy. The country offers an excellent environment for learning Chinese and over the last decades it has continuously improved the standards of higher education, targeting students’ creativity.
Taiwan is known for its towering mountains and numerous mountains peaks that rise over 3,000 meters. The country is the home of Northeast Asia's tallest mountain, Yu Mountain (Yushan), which is nearly 4,000 meters in height, and has nine national parks.
Universities, colleges and schools in Taiwan
Douliu
- National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (2 Bachelors)
Hsinchu
- National Tsing Hua University (14 Bachelors)
Kaohsiung
- Kaohsiung Medical University (11 Bachelors)
- I-Shou University (4 Bachelors)
- National Sun Yat Sen University (1 Bachelor)
Keelung
- National Formosa University (2 Bachelors)
Ma-kung
- National Chung Cheng University (1 Bachelor)
Taichung
- Asia University, Taiwan (9 Bachelors)
- Chaoyang University of Technology (3 Bachelors)
- National Chung Hsing University (1 Bachelor)
- China Medical University (2 Bachelors)
- Feng Chia University (8 Bachelors)
- Providence University (2 Bachelors)
Tainan
- National Cheng Kung University (1 Bachelor)
- Kun Shan University (1 Bachelor)
- CTBC Business School (1 Bachelor)
- Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (1 Bachelor)
Taipei
- National Taipei University of Technology (14 Bachelors)
- Ming Chuan University (6 Bachelors)
- National Taipei University (13 Bachelors)
- University of Taipei (2 Bachelors)
Taoyuan City
- Yuan Ze University (2 Bachelors)
- Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (6 Bachelors)
- Chung Yuan Christian University (27 Bachelors)
Yilan
- National Ilan University (13 Bachelors)
Interested in scholarships for Taiwan? Check out our scholarship search page.
How to Apply to a Master's in Taiwan
If you've decided to study a Master's degree at a university in Taiwan, you will have to gather the right documents to prove that you fit the university requirements. Provide complete personal information, previous qualifications, financial information, and a personal statement.
What documents do I need to provide to apply in Taiwan?
To apply to a university in Taiwan you will likely be asked to provide some of the following documents:
- birth certificate;
- recent photos;
- your passport or national identity card;
- one or more reference letters from past employers or teachers;
- copies of past diplomas or certificates, including your graduated Bachelor's degree;
- academic transcripts;
- letter of intent;
- Curriculum Vitae;
- Some form of proof that you can support your stay in the country during your studies.
Depending on the subject or specialization of your chosen Master's, you might also be asked to provide scores for additional tests like the GRE, GMAT or LSAT. Check if your programme requires any of these, or others.
The list of documents depends on the specific requirements of universities in Taiwan so you might be asked to include additional documents. It’s also likely you’ll have to provide official English translations of your documents, or translations in the local language.
Prove your English skills
Because you’ll study an international degree in English, you'll have to present a language certificate. Some popular options for international students are IELTS, TOEFL or C1 Advanced language certificates. You’ll have to meet a minimum language score set by the university, and your test scores shouldn’t be older than 1-2 years. If you don’t meet the minimum language requirements, you will have to improve your skills and scores by taking an English preparation course.
Application deadlines for Taiwan
The deadlines for applying to a Master's in Taiwan are usually during summer (June-July), or in winter (January-February). Keep in mind that some universities don’t have application deadlines, which means you can apply whenever you are ready.
To avoid delays or missed deadlines send your required documents with plenty of time in advance.