Taiwan is one of Asia’s most remarkable academic destinations — and one of its most underutilized scholarship ecosystems for international students.
This island nation of 23 million people has built a university system that consistently produces world-leading research in semiconductor technology, biomedical sciences, engineering, and computer science — fueling the innovation behind TSMC (the world’s most important chip manufacturer), MediaTek, ASUS, Acer, and dozens of other globally significant technology companies.
In 2027-2028, Taiwan offers ten major scholarship programs for international students — from government programs administered by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to institution-specific awards at NTU, NTHU, NYCU, and NCKU. Monthly stipends range from NTD 15,000 to NTD 40,000, making Taiwan one of Asia’s most financially accessible study destinations for funded international students.
This guide covers every scholarship, all coverage details, eligibility requirements, and official application links.
Table of Contents
Why Study in Taiwan in 2027?
Semiconductor and technology ecosystem. Taiwan is home to TSMC — the world’s most strategically important company by many measures — plus a dense ecosystem of technology companies that makes it the world’s most consequential location for semiconductor engineering, electronics, and technology research.
High-quality English-taught programs. Taiwan has dramatically expanded English-taught programs — particularly at the postgraduate level — with NTU, NTHU, NYCU, and NCKU all offering substantial English Master’s and PhD programs.
Affordable living costs. Monthly student living costs in Taipei range from approximately NTD 15,000–25,000 (~$460–$770 USD) — making Taiwan significantly more affordable than Singapore, Japan, or South Korea while maintaining high standards of safety, infrastructure, and quality of life.
Mandarin Chinese immersion opportunity. Taiwan offers a unique combination of English-taught academic programs alongside Mandarin Chinese immersion — a rare opportunity to gain both academic credentials and world-class Mandarin Chinese proficiency simultaneously.
Safe, democratic, and welcoming. Taiwan consistently ranks among Asia’s most democratic, safest, and most culturally welcoming societies. Its international student community is large and well-supported.
The Top 10 Taiwan Scholarships 2027-2028
🏆 1. MOE Taiwan Scholarship
Degree Level: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD Coverage: Tuition waiver up to NTD 40,000/semester + Monthly stipend NTD 15,000 (UG) / NTD 20,000 (Graduate) Eligibility: Outstanding foreign students via ROC Ministry of Education missions
The MOE Taiwan Scholarship — administered by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) — is Taiwan’s primary government scholarship for outstanding international students at all degree levels.
What it covers:
- Tuition waiver up to NTD 40,000 per semester (~$1,230 USD) — covering most or all tuition at public universities
- Monthly stipend:
- Undergraduate: NTD 15,000/month (~$460 USD)
- Graduate (Master’s and PhD): NTD 20,000/month (~$615 USD)
Who can apply: Outstanding foreign students applying through Taiwan’s overseas missions (embassies, representative offices, and trade offices) in eligible countries. Applications are submitted through ROC (Republic of China) representative offices in your home country.
Duration: Up to 4 years for undergraduate, 2 years for Master’s, 4 years for PhD.
Deadline: Typically February–March annually — check the ROC representative office in your country for exact application dates
👉 Official Website: studyintaiwan.org/scholarship_moe
🏆 2. MOFA Taiwan Scholarship
Degree Level: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD Coverage: Full/50% tuition subsidy + Monthly living stipend NTD 33,000 + One-way economy return flight Eligibility: Citizens of Taiwan’s diplomatic partner countries — via Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The MOFA Taiwan Scholarship — administered by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs — is specifically designed for citizens of countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, providing one of the country’s most financially generous scholarship packages.
What it covers:
- Full or 50% tuition subsidy depending on program and award tier
- Monthly living stipend of NTD 33,000 (~$1,015 USD) — one of the highest monthly allowances of any Taiwan government scholarship
- One-way economy airfare — travel grant to Taiwan
Who can apply: Citizens of countries with formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan (the Republic of China). This includes many Pacific Island nations, a number of Latin American countries, and several African nations. Check your country’s status through Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Why MOFA is exceptional: The NTD 33,000/month stipend significantly exceeds most Taiwan scholarship rates and provides very comfortable student living in Taiwan’s most affordable cities, and comfortable living even in Taipei.
Deadline: Typically March–May — check Taiwan’s MOFA or your country’s Taiwan representative office
👉 Official Website: mofa.gov.tw/en/scholarship
🏆 3. TaiwanICDF Higher Education Scholarship
Degree Level: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD Coverage: 100% tuition and credit fees waiver + Monthly stipend NTD 15,000–20,000 + Round-trip airfare + Housing + Health insurance Eligibility: Students from eligible developing partner nations across ICDF universities
The TaiwanICDF (International Cooperation and Development Fund) Higher Education Scholarship is one of Taiwan’s most comprehensive fully funded scholarship programs — designed specifically to support students from developing partner nations.
What it covers:
- 100% tuition and credit fees waiver — complete elimination of tuition costs
- Monthly stipend of NTD 15,000–20,000 ($460–$615 USD)
- Round-trip economy airfare to Taiwan
- University housing — subsidized dormitory accommodation
- Health insurance — comprehensive medical coverage
Who can apply: Citizens of TaiwanICDF partner developing countries applying to designated ICDF-affiliated university programs. The program covers approximately 30+ partner countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific.
Why TaiwanICDF is comprehensive: The combination of full tuition, stipend, airfare, housing, AND health insurance makes this one of the most complete scholarship packages available in Taiwan — comparable to Australia Awards or Japanese MEXT in total financial coverage.
Deadline: Typically January–February annually
👉 Official Website: icdf.org.tw/en/scholarship
🏆 4. NSTC International Graduate Fellowship
Degree Level: Master’s, PhD Coverage: Monthly research stipend ~NTD 30,000–40,000 + Tuition subsidy + Lab research support Eligibility: National Science and Technology Council — high-caliber scientific researchers
The NSTC (National Science and Technology Council) International Graduate Fellowship — funded by Taiwan’s premier science funding agency — provides research fellowships for outstanding international graduate students pursuing STEM research at Taiwan’s universities.
What it covers:
- Monthly research stipend of approximately NTD 30,000–40,000 (~$920–$1,230 USD) — among the highest monthly research allowances in Taiwan
- Tuition subsidy toward program costs
- Laboratory research support — access to NSTC-funded research infrastructure
Who can apply: High-caliber international graduate students admitted to Master’s or PhD programs in natural sciences, engineering, computer science, biomedical sciences, and related STEM disciplines at Taiwan’s research universities.
Why NSTC is valuable: The NTD 30,000–40,000/month research stipend significantly exceeds the standard government scholarship rates — providing genuinely comfortable living while conducting research at institutions directly connected to Taiwan’s world-leading technology sector.
Deadline: Typically December–February — check NSTC website for current call
👉 Official Website: nstc.gov.tw/en/scholarship
🏆 5. Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) — Academia Sinica
Degree Level: PhD Coverage: Monthly living stipend NTD 34,000 (~USD $1,100) for up to 3 years Eligibility: English-medium PhD research programs at Academia Sinica and top universities
The Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) — jointly administered by Academia Sinica (Taiwan’s national academy and premier research institution) and top Taiwan universities — is one of Asia’s most prestigious doctoral programs for international researchers.
What it covers:
- Monthly living stipend of NTD 34,000 (~$1,045 USD) for the full scholarship period (up to 3 years initially)
- Access to Academia Sinica’s world-class research institutes
- English-medium instruction and research environment
Who can apply: Outstanding international students applying for TIGP PhD programs in biological and biomedical sciences, chemical sciences, computational biology, molecular science and technology, and other research areas. All programs conducted entirely in English.
Why TIGP is extraordinary: Academia Sinica is Taiwan’s highest-prestige research institution — housing Nobel laureates and world-leading researchers in life sciences and chemistry. TIGP scholars conduct their doctoral research directly at Academia Sinica’s institutes while pursuing their degree, providing access to research quality that few institutions worldwide can match.
Available programs include: Biodiversity, Bioinformatics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology, Earth System Science, Molecular Medicine, Molecular Science and Technology, and others.
Deadline: Typically December–January for September intake
👉 Official Website: tigp.sinica.edu.tw
6. National Taiwan University (NTU) International Outstanding Students Scholarship
Degree Level: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD Coverage: Full tuition waiver + Monthly living stipend NTD 6,000–8,000 (UG) / NTD 10,000–15,000 (Postgrad) Eligibility: Flagship university award for top NTU applicants
National Taiwan University (NTU) — consistently ranked among Asia’s top 10 and the world’s top 70 universities — is Taiwan’s most prestigious academic institution, and its flagship international scholarship provides comprehensive support for the most outstanding international students.
What it covers:
- Full tuition waiver — zero tuition costs
- Monthly stipend:
- Undergraduate: NTD 6,000–8,000 ($185–$246 USD)
- Postgraduate (Master’s/PhD): NTD 10,000–15,000 ($307–$461 USD)
NTU’s strengths: Engineering, computer science, life sciences, medicine, business, law, and social sciences. NTU’s Taipei campus provides extraordinary access to Taiwan’s technology industry, government institutions, and cultural life.
Deadline: Aligned with NTU admissions — typically February–March for September intake
👉 Official Website: oia.ntu.edu.tw/scholarship
7. National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) International Student Scholarship
Degree Level: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD Coverage: Full or partial tuition fee waiver + Monthly living stipend ~NTD 5,000–15,000 Eligibility: Merit-based — automatically evaluated upon NTHU admission
National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Hsinchu — one of Taiwan’s most prestigious research universities and historically connected to China’s Tsinghua University — automatically evaluates all admitted international students for scholarship support.
What it covers:
- Full or partial tuition fee waiver — amount based on merit tier
- Monthly living stipend of approximately NTD 5,000–15,000 ($154–$461 USD) depending on award level
The automatic evaluation advantage: Unlike most scholarships requiring a separate application, NTHU evaluates your scholarship eligibility during the admissions process. Simply apply for admission — scholarship consideration happens automatically.
NTHU’s strengths: Engineering, physics, chemistry, computer science, and materials science. NTHU’s location in the Hsinchu Science Park — home to TSMC, MediaTek, and hundreds of semiconductor companies — provides extraordinary industry connections for STEM researchers.
Deadline: Aligned with NTHU admissions — check NTHU’s international office
👉 Official Website: oia.nthu.edu.tw/scholarship
8. National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) Scholarships
Degree Level: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD Coverage: Full tuition exemption + Monthly stipend up to NTD 12,000 (Master’s) / NTD 24,000 (PhD) Eligibility: Engineering, computer science, and medical research tracks at NYCU
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) — formed through the 2021 merger of National Yang-Ming University (medical sciences) and National Chiao Tung University (engineering and technology) — is Taiwan’s most powerful STEM-focused research university, providing exceptional engineering, computer science, and biomedical science programs.
What it covers:
- Full tuition exemption — zero tuition at NYCU
- Monthly stipend:
- Master’s: Up to NTD 12,000 ($369 USD)
- PhD: Up to NTD 24,000 ($738 USD) — one of Taiwan’s highest university doctoral stipends
Why NYCU is strategically important: NYCU’s merger united Yang-Ming’s world-class medical research with Chiao Tung’s legendary engineering and computer science programs. For students in semiconductor engineering, AI, biomedical engineering, or pharmaceutical sciences, NYCU’s combined expertise and industry connections to Taiwan’s technology sector are extraordinary.
Deadline: Check NYCU’s international office — typically February–April for September intake
👉 Official Website: oia.nycu.edu.tw/scholarship
9. National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) International Student Scholarship
Degree Level: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD Coverage: Full or partial tuition waiver + Monthly living allowance ~NTD 5,000–15,000 Eligibility: High-achieving international candidates maintaining top GPA
National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) — one of Taiwan’s leading comprehensive research universities, particularly renowned for engineering, design, and sciences — offers merit-based international scholarships maintained through academic performance.
What it covers:
- Full or partial tuition waiver — amount based on GPA and merit assessment
- Monthly living allowance of approximately NTD 5,000–15,000 ($154–$461 USD)
- Renewal based on maintaining top GPA throughout the program
GPA maintenance: NCKU’s scholarship requires maintaining strong academic performance throughout enrollment — this creates an incentive for sustained academic excellence that benefits both the student and the university.
NCKU’s strengths: Civil and structural engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, medicine, architecture, and design. NCKU’s Tainan campus — in Taiwan’s southern technology hub — offers lower living costs than Taipei with excellent research infrastructure.
Tainan advantage: Monthly living costs in Tainan are approximately 20–30% lower than Taipei — making NCKU scholarships go further financially than comparable awards in northern Taiwan.
Deadline: Typically March–May — check NCKU’s international office
👉 Official Website: oia.ncku.edu.tw/scholarship
10. MOE Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES)
Degree Level: Language Study (Non-degree) Coverage: Fixed monthly stipend of NTD 25,000 Eligibility: Non-degree Mandarin Chinese study at university language centers (2–12 months)
The MOE Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) is uniquely designed for students who want to study Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan without pursuing a full degree program — providing financial support for language immersion that can be a powerful stepping stone toward Taiwan’s degree scholarships.
What it covers:
- Fixed monthly stipend of NTD 25,000 (~$769 USD) for the full scholarship period
- Duration: 2 to 12 months at a university Mandarin language center
Who can apply: Non-ROC citizens who want to study Mandarin Chinese at recognized Taiwan university language centers. Priority for students who have not previously studied in Taiwan for more than one year.
Strategic value of Huayu scholarship:
- Language preparation: Build Mandarin proficiency before applying for MOE/MOFA degree scholarships that may benefit from Chinese language skills
- University connections: Study at the language center of your target university — building relationships with faculty and understanding campus culture before your degree program application
- Taiwan exploration: Spend 6–12 months experiencing Taiwan’s academic environment and daily life while receiving a monthly stipend
Deadline: Typically January–March for summer/autumn intake and July–September for spring intake
👉 Official Website: studyintaiwan.org/scholarship_hes
Quick Reference — All 10 Taiwan Scholarships
| # | Scholarship | Level | Monthly Stipend | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MOE Taiwan Scholarship | All levels | NTD 15,000–20,000 + tuition | Feb–Mar |
| 2 | MOFA Taiwan Scholarship | All levels | NTD 33,000 + 50-100% tuition | Mar–May |
| 3 | TaiwanICDF | All levels | NTD 15,000–20,000 + full pkg | Jan–Feb |
| 4 | NSTC Graduate Fellowship | Masters/PhD | NTD 30,000–40,000 + tuition | Dec–Feb |
| 5 | TIGP Academia Sinica | PhD | NTD 34,000 (~$1,100) | Dec–Jan |
| 6 | NTU Outstanding | All levels | Full tuition + NTD 6k–15k | Feb–Mar |
| 7 | NTHU Scholarship | All levels | Full/partial tuition + NTD 5k–15k | Auto on admission |
| 8 | NYCU Scholarships | All levels | Full tuition + NTD 12k–24k | Feb–Apr |
| 9 | NCKU Scholarship | All levels | Full/partial tuition + NTD 5k–15k | Mar–May |
| 10 | Huayu Enrichment (HES) | Language | NTD 25,000/month | Jan–Mar / Jul–Sep |
Health Insurance in Taiwan — What International Students Need
All international students residing in Taiwan for more than 6 months with a valid ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) are required to enroll in Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI).
Taiwan’s NHI — One of Asia’s Best Healthcare Systems: Taiwan’s NHI is widely regarded as one of the world’s best healthcare systems — providing comprehensive coverage at extremely low cost.
Monthly NHI premium for students: Approximately NTD 749–1,000/month (~$23–$31 USD) — one of the world’s most affordable national health insurance premiums.
What NHI covers:
- GP and specialist consultations (small co-payment of approximately NTD 50–300 per visit)
- Hospital treatment (small co-payment, 10% for inpatient)
- Prescription medications
- Dental treatment (basic — fillings, extractions, cleanings)
- Traditional Chinese medicine
- Emergency care
Enrollment process:
- Obtain your ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) at the National Immigration Agency within 15 days of arrival
- Enroll in NHI through your university’s administrative office OR directly at the National Health Insurance Administration
- Receive your NHI card — present this at every medical appointment
TaiwanICDF scholarship recipients: Health insurance is included in the scholarship package — your provider will be arranged through the program. Confirm details in your award documentation.
Banking in Taiwan — Complete Setup Guide
Wise — Best Pre-Arrival Option Taiwan Dollar (NTD) account openable from your home country before departure. Receive your scholarship stipend from day one without waiting for an in-country bank account. 👉 wise.com
Taiwan Cooperative Bank — Best for International Students Most widely used bank near Taiwan’s major universities with English-language services and good international student account options. 👉 tcb-bank.com.tw/en
Bank of Taiwan — Government Bank Taiwan’s government bank with branches throughout the country. Student accounts available with simplified documentation. 👉 bot.com.tw/en
Fubon Bank — Best Digital Banking Fubon’s digital banking platform is among Taiwan’s strongest. Mobile app available in English. 👉 fubon.com/banking/en
Post Office (Chunghwa Post) — Most Accessible Chunghwa Post bank accounts are available at every post office across Taiwan — the most accessible banking option for students at regional universities. 👉 post.gov.tw/en
ARC Required: You need your ARC to open most traditional Taiwanese bank accounts. Apply for your ARC at the National Immigration Agency (immigration.gov.tw) within 15 days of arrival.
Taiwan Student Visa and ARC — Requirements
Non-Taiwan students studying for more than 60 days need a Visitor Visa for Study before arrival, converted to an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) after arrival.
Financial requirements for visa:
- Scholarship award letters (MOE, MOFA, TaiwanICDF) serve as comprehensive financial proof
- Self-funded students must show bank statements demonstrating sufficient funds
- Proof of enrollment or admission at a Taiwan institution
ARC application: Within 15 days of arrival at the National Immigration Agency (NIA) 👉 immigration.gov.tw
5 Tips to Maximize Your Taiwan Scholarship Success
MOFA scholarship gives Taiwan’s highest monthly stipend — check your country’s diplomatic status first. The NTD 33,000/month MOFA stipend is the highest of any Taiwan government scholarship. If your country maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan (the Republic of China), this is your highest-priority target.
NTHU evaluates automatically — no separate application needed. For NTHU-specific scholarships, simply submit a strong admissions application — scholarship evaluation is automatic. This simplicity means many students overlook NTHU’s scholarship when comparing application effort to award value.
TIGP Academia Sinica offers Taiwan’s most prestigious PhD environment. For doctoral researchers in life sciences, chemistry, and computational sciences, TIGP’s access to Academia Sinica’s research institutes is unmatched in Taiwan — and the NTD 34,000/month stipend is among the highest PhD allowances available.
Use the Huayu scholarship strategically. Six months of Huayu study builds your Mandarin proficiency, establishes your Taiwan network, and gives you genuine insight into your target university’s environment — significantly strengthening your subsequent degree scholarship applications.
NYCU’s PhD stipend of NTD 24,000/month is Taiwan’s highest university doctoral stipend. For STEM researchers specifically interested in engineering, computer science, or biomedical sciences, NYCU’s combination of full tuition exemption plus NTD 24,000/month makes it the financially strongest university PhD scholarship in Taiwan.
Final Thoughts — Taiwan Is Asia’s Rising Scholarship Star
Taiwan in 2027 offers international students something genuinely compelling: access to the world’s semiconductor technology heartland through NTHU, NYCU, and NTU’s industry connections; world-class life sciences research at Academia Sinica through TIGP; Mandarin Chinese immersion through the Huayu scholarship; and government scholarship programs from MOE, MOFA, and TaiwanICDF providing stipends of NTD 15,000–40,000/month with full tuition coverage.
The MOFA scholarship’s extraordinary NTD 33,000/month. NSTC’s remarkable NTD 30,000–40,000 research stipend. TIGP’s NTD 34,000 at Academia Sinica. NYCU’s NTD 24,000 PhD stipend with full tuition. The TaiwanICDF’s completely comprehensive package including housing and health insurance.
MOE applications: February–March. MOFA: March–May. TaiwanICDF: January–February. TIGP: December–January. Huayu: January–March.
Your Taiwan future is waiting. Apply today.
👉 Study in Taiwan Portal: studyintaiwan.org 👉 MOE Taiwan Scholarship: studyintaiwan.org/scholarship_moe 👉 TaiwanICDF Scholarship: icdf.org.tw/en/scholarship 👉 TIGP Academia Sinica: tigp.sinica.edu.tw 👉 Huayu Enrichment Scholarship: studyintaiwan.org/scholarship_hes
