Study in Taiwan: Universities and Scholarships for International Students

If you want to pursue a higher education in a new environment, you might want to consider Taiwan. Universities in Taiwan offer a range of short-term programs, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in English across a variety of disciplines. If you want to study Chinese, Taiwan is a great place to learn as there are plenty of universities and language schools in Taiwan to choose from. Choosing where to study in Taiwan will be based on your own preferences, budget and goals. 

There are plenty of reasons to study in Taiwan, for both short-term programs as well as university degrees. The benefits of studying in Taiwan include:

Welcoming to expats

Taiwanese people are very welcoming and helpful to foreigners and expats. Likewise, there are plenty of international students from all over the world who come to study in Taiwan for degrees or language programs. Many universities in Taiwan have large and active international student groups, meaning you will easily make new local and international friends during your studies in Taiwan.

Rich in culture 

Taiwanese cities blend traditional culture into modern life, which you can see, hear, feel and smell through the streets of Taiwan. Taiwan celebrates many traditional holidays throughout the year, and many universities in Taiwan hold cultural exchange events for international students to experience the holidays and traditions themselves. 

Safe and secure

Taiwan is an incredibly safe country, ranked 3rd among the safest countries with the 3rd lowest crime rates in Asia, as reported by the mid-year 2023 crime and safety index published by the global database Numbeo. Taiwanese universities also have many people and departments on campus who can help international students with their needs. There are low rates of crime and violence, and foreign hotlines are available in many languages should you need assistance. Taiwan is also especially sanitary, with high standards for cleanliness and healthcare. 

Great opportunities in the Tech industry

If you are a computer science, IT or engineering major, Taiwan has plenty of options for postgraduate roles. Taiwan is a world leader in technology, especially for semiconductors, microchips and electronic products, and tech professionals are constantly in demand. If you are studying one of these majors at a Taiwanese university, you will likely be able to find work after graduating.

Offers many scholarships

Taiwan offers many scholarships from both governmental departments such as the Ministry of Education, as well as from the universities themselves. There are also scholarship programs for countries that have economic partnerships with Taiwan, offering exclusive scholarships to citizens. Look into the government-run and research many Taiwanese Universities and do your research to see if you qualify for government or university-issued scholarships. 

There are many universities which offer English language programs to international students. Universities in Taiwan often have their own specialization or area of focus, for example, arts or sciences, but many offer a wide range of degrees. Here are some universities in Taiwan for you to consider: 

Rated the top public university in Taiwan, National Taiwan University (NTU) offers courses in humanities, science, business, engineering, and has many courses in English. Most of the English-taught programs are PhD and masters degrees in science and technology. NTU is a popular option for learning Chinese in Taiwan, and many international students will come for a short-term study abroad. 

National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) is a mostly science and technology-focused university in Taiwan, with many international students studying a masters or PhD there. The campus is nature filled, with its own lake and wildlife on a large campus. NTHU offers scholarships to international students as well.

NCKU offers english-language degrees in engineering, science, technology and management at the masters and PhD level. There are also Chinese language programs and other short-term programs at NCKU for international students, with scholarships offered by the university to support your studies.

NYCU focuses on two specialized areas of research; biological science and electronic communications. NYCU is a good option if you want to do a research degree at the Masters or PhD level, especially in niche topics like biophotonics or artificial intelligence. NYCU has funded Masters and PhD programs for international students. 

NCCU is a humanities-focused university, with undergraduate, masters and PhD programs for business and liberal arts majors available in English, with scholarships available. NCCU also offers Chinese language programs for their international students studying at degree level, as well as short-term programs. 

NSYU is predominantly a STEM university, with English programs in pure sciences such as biology and chemistry, as well as engineering programs as well. NYSU has degrees available at every level for international students, and its own language program if you are looking to study Chinese in Taiwan. 

TMU is a top university in Taiwan, and offers Masters and PhD programs in English in health science related majors, such as psychology, biotechnology, nutrition and nanosciences. TMU is private, so the fees are slightly higher than public universities, but there are many scholarship and fee-waiving options for international students.

NTNU is a popular option for short-term Chinese language courses in Taiwan, but also offers english-taught postgraduate degrees in select humanities and education majors. There are options for fee waivers and stipend scholarships for international students.

The fees for each university will depend on your degree level and major; most university fees are between 30,000 to 50,000 NTD per semester, with private Taiwanese universities charging on the higher end. You also need to consider the cost of living for each city, which varies throughout Taiwan, as well as whether you are eligible for on-campus housing. It’s important to note that not every scholarship covers all tuition fees, and each university or government scholarship will provide different funding, so do a thorough comparison between your shortlisted university options!

Yes! If you want to gain more experience or earn a little extra money on the side whilst you study in Taiwan, you can find work in Taiwan on your student visa. You can use sites such as CakeResume to build your online resume and look for part-time work across Taiwan.

To work legally in Taiwan, you must obtain a working permit through your university – your university can help you organize and apply for the permit. International students in Taiwan are restricted to working 20 hours per week during the semester, and hours can exceed this during semester vacations. There are large fines for working without a permit, so make sure you follow the guidelines closely!

Overall, Taiwan welcomes international students to study at many universities across taiwan. Whether you want to study Chinese short-term, or study at degree level, there are plenty of majors to choose from! Fees for international students at Taiwanese universities are reasonable, and there are plenty of scholarships and stipends available, especially for masters’ and PhDs. Sites like CakeResume make it easy for international students to find part-time work in Taiwan if they want extra experience or to build their resume while you study in Taiwan!

— Originally written by Bronte McNamara —