Taiwan scholarships come from five sources: the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship for Mandarin study, the TaiwanICDF program, and awards that universities fund themselves. Each pays different amounts, follows different rules and accepts different nationalities. Most failed applications come from applying to the wrong one.
This page is the main guide to scholarships in Taiwan for international students, covering every major route, with links to detailed guides for individual programs and universities. It replaces our old Fall 2022 post. That round closed years ago, and the numbers repeated about it (“2,000 scholarships,” “no competition”) have no current official source. The figures below come from the official Taiwan Scholarship website (its guidelines page was published June 10, 2026), the 2025 TaiwanICDF guidebook and university pages. Where a detail for the 2027 intake is not confirmed, we say so. Last updated: October 2026.
Table of Contents
Taiwan Scholarships at a Glance
| Scholarship | Who it is for | Levels | What it pays | Monthly allowance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOE Taiwan Scholarship | Students from countries MOE designates | Bachelor’s, master’s, PhD | Tuition and fees up to NT$40,000 per semester | NT$15,000 (bachelor’s); NT$20,000 (master’s, PhD) |
| MOFA Taiwan Scholarship | Students from countries with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, or recognized by MOFA as friendly | Mandarin program (1 year), bachelor’s, master’s, PhD | Airfare only, no tuition | NT$28,000 (Mandarin program); NT$33,000 (degree) |
| Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) | International students who want to study Mandarin only | Language courses of 2, 3, 6, 9 or 12 months | Allowance only | NT$28,000 |
| TaiwanICDF Scholarship | Citizens of TaiwanICDF partner countries | Master’s and PhD (2025 program list) | Airfare, dormitory, tuition, credit fees, insurance, textbooks | NT$18,000 (master’s); NT$20,000 (PhD) |
| University scholarships | Usually newly admitted or current students of that university | Varies | Varies, often tuition waivers or stipends | Varies |
Compare the columns before you read the details, because Taiwan scholarships that look alike can pay very different amounts. MOE, MOFA and HES figures come from the official comparison table on the Taiwan Scholarship website. TaiwanICDF figures come from its 2025 guidebook, the latest full guidebook we could verify, and can change when the 2027 guidebook is published.
Which of the Taiwan Scholarships Fits You?
Use this table to narrow down Taiwan scholarships by your situation.
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| Your country has diplomatic relations with Taiwan, or MOFA lists it as friendly | MOFA Taiwan Scholarship |
| Your country is on the TaiwanICDF list and you want a master’s or PhD in a listed program | TaiwanICDF Scholarship |
| You want a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD and your country is eligible for MOE awards | MOE Taiwan Scholarship, plus university awards |
| You only want to learn Mandarin | Huayu Enrichment Scholarship, or MOFA’s Mandarin program if your country qualifies |
| You already have admission to a Taiwanese university | That university’s own scholarship page |
| You are an established researcher or scholar | MOFA Taiwan Fellowship (its 2027 application window ran May 1 to June 30, 2026) |
TaiwanICDF does not let you hold another Taiwan government scholarship in the same academic year, so choose the route you can complete.
MOE Taiwan Scholarship
The MOE Taiwan Scholarship is the main route for bachelor’s, master’s and PhD study. According to the official guidelines, which MOE updated on February 10, 2026, it provides:
- Tuition and miscellaneous fees: up to NT$40,000 per semester. If your university charges more, you pay the difference.
- Monthly stipend: NT$15,000 for bachelor’s students and NT$20,000 for master’s and PhD students.
- Duration: four years for a bachelor’s degree, two for a master’s and four for a PhD, with a total scholarship period of no more than five years.
You must be a foreign national with a secondary school diploma or higher degree and a strong academic record. Students from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao are not eligible.
The official process has six steps: send the application to the local Taiwan overseas mission and apply separately to a university, attend an interview at the mission, give the mission a copy of your admission notice, receive a scholarship certificate, arrive and register, and then receive the allowance through your university. The steps are on the application process page. The application window has run from February 1 to March 31 each year, so plan for Fall 2027 around February 1 to March 31, 2027. Read our full MOE Taiwan Scholarship guide for documents and tips.
Recipients can apply for a work permit of up to 20 hours a week, except during summer and winter vacation. Programs that are not completely taught in English need a TOCFL Level 3 result.
MOFA Taiwan Scholarship
MOFA’s Taiwan Scholarship is for students from countries that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, or that MOFA has recognized as friendly. The list of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies is on the MOFA site. Per the official comparison table, it offers:
- Monthly allowance: NT$33,000 for degree programs and NT$28,000 for the one-year Mandarin program.
- Airfare: an economy-class ticket for direct flights to and from Taiwan. Ask your office exactly which legs it covers.
- Nothing else: MOFA does not pay tuition or any other cost.
Degree durations match MOE: four years for a bachelor’s, two for a master’s and four for a PhD. The award starts on August 1 of the first year, and the total period cannot exceed five years. Degree programs taught in Chinese need a TOCFL Level 2 result or higher.
Because MOFA does not pay tuition, check the university’s own tuition rules before you accept. Some universities discount tuition for Taiwan Scholarship recipients, and the official site links to a list of them.
Huayu Enrichment Scholarship
The Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) pays NT$28,000 a month to international students who study Mandarin at a language center in Taiwan. Terms run 2 months (summer), 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. A nine-month or longer recipient takes part in TOCFL at Level 3 (Band B1) or above.
Per the guidelines and university pages that quote them, you cannot apply if you are already registered at a Mandarin center, have studied for a degree in Taiwan, or have held an HES or Taiwan Scholarship before. HES recipients may work only if they take language courses for six months or more.
TaiwanICDF Scholarship
The Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) scholarship targets students from partner countries, and its award is the closest to a full ride. The 2025 guidebook lists round-trip economy airfare, dormitory housing (required), tuition and credit fees, insurance, textbook costs and a monthly allowance of NT$18,000 for master’s students and NT$20,000 for PhD students.
All programs are taught in English. The 2025 round had 29 master’s and PhD programs at partner universities such as National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, National Chengchi University, National Tsing Hua University, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taipei Medical University and National Cheng Kung University. The program list changes yearly. Our TaiwanICDF scholarship guide walks through each step.
The TaiwanICDF scholarship 2027 round is listed for December 1, 2026 to March 15, 2027, matching the 2025 window of December 1 to March 15. Results come, in principle, no later than June 10. You may apply to only one program per year, and you cannot change it after submitting. University admission alone does not make you a recipient: only a TaiwanICDF acceptance letter does. Confirm everything on the official TaiwanICDF site and file the form in its online application system.
University Scholarships in Taiwan
Many universities in Taiwan run their own awards on top of the government Taiwan scholarships, so scholarships in Taiwan for international students include both. They are usually for newly admitted or current students at that school, and each university sets its own rules, so the best source is always its international office.
National Chengchi University (NCCU) is a useful example. Its 2023 page describes a tuition waiver for newly admitted students nominated by their college, a pilot scholarship for new international students that pays a tuition waiver plus a living stipend for full-scholarship recipients, an Academic Excellence Scholarship for enrolled students each semester, and scholarships from individual departments. Details change, so read its current scholarship page.
| University | Where to look | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) | International students page | NTHU scholarship guide |
| National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) | International students page | NYCU scholarship guide |
| National Chengchi University (NCCU) | Scholarship page | Coming soon |
| Taipei Medical University (TMU) | Taiwan government scholarship page | Coming soon |
NYCU was formed by the merger of National Chiao Tung University and National Yang-Ming University, which is why older lists show them as two schools. The MOE site also publishes a list of universities with English-taught degree programs on its guidelines page.
Can Students From Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and Bangladesh Apply?
It depends on the scholarship, and no single list covers all Taiwan scholarships.
- TaiwanICDF: Kenya is on the official 2025 country list, alongside Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa and others. Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt and Bangladesh are not on that 2025 list. Some websites claim otherwise, so check the current list before you apply.
- MOFA: only countries with diplomatic relations with Taiwan or recognized by MOFA as friendly.
- MOE: MOE designates the eligible countries. We could not find an official page that lists Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt or Bangladesh as MOE or MOFA countries, and we do not want to guess.
The reliable step is to write to the Taiwan representative office that covers your country. MOFA publishes the contact list for overseas missions, and the Taiwan Scholarship site has a list of MOE overseas offices. Ask which scholarships it accepts applications for this year. Never trust a blog list, including ours, over the office’s reply.
Application Timeline for the 2027 Intake
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| December 1, 2026 | TaiwanICDF window listed to open (confirm on its site) |
| February 1, 2027 | MOE application window opens, in principle |
| March 15, 2027 | TaiwanICDF online application closes (listed) |
| March 31, 2027 | MOE window closes, in principle. Embassies send TaiwanICDF their recommended list by this date |
| By June 10, 2027 | TaiwanICDF announces recipients, in principle |
| August 1, 2027 | MOFA award period starts |
| September 1, 2027 | MOE scholarship period starts |
| Varies | University admission deadlines, which you must meet separately |
Every Taiwan scholarship 2027 application runs on two clocks: the scholarship window and the university’s own deadline. These are the usual dates for Taiwan scholarships, so treat anything for 2027 as provisional until the official pages confirm it.
Documents and Language Requirements
Documents differ across Taiwan scholarships, so build one checklist per route.
- MOE: the application form, proof that you applied to a Taiwanese university, and whatever else your local office lists. Expect an interview at the mission.
- MOFA: the MOFA application form and the checklist from your local office.
- TaiwanICDF: a copy of your passport, your highest diploma and transcripts, an English proficiency certificate or proof of exemption (for applicants whose official language is English or who studied fully in English), and referee details. TaiwanICDF says it has no English test requirement of its own, but your program may.
- Language: TOCFL Level 3 for MOE programs not fully taught in English, Level 2 for MOFA degree programs taught in Chinese. If your office does not run TOCFL, MOE lets you take it at your own cost by the end of your first semester.
How Competitive Are Taiwan Scholarships?
Competition for Taiwan scholarships is real. Taiwan’s representative office in the Philippines said a record 147 Filipinos received government-funded scholarships for 2026-2027, from more than 1,000 applications, according to Focus Taiwan. MOE says the number of awards depends on its yearly budget and on each local office’s results.
That is why we do not repeat the “2,000 scholarships” and “easiest scholarship” claims from older posts. No current official source backs them. TaiwanICDF also runs two review stages and caps you at one program per year.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Check your country against each of the Taiwan scholarships first. Eligibility by country decides everything else.
- Apply to the university early. MOE needs your admission notice, and every university sets its own deadline.
- Write the study plan around a real need. TaiwanICDF says it designs programs around partner countries’ development needs and wants recipients to contribute after graduation.
- Prepare recommendation letters before the window opens. See our guide to a recommendation letter for a scholarship, with sample, example, template and format.
- Keep documents consistent. Names, dates and degree titles should match across your passport, diploma and transcripts.
- Ask the office, not a forum. Your local Taiwan representative office has the current checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many kinds of Taiwan scholarships are there?
There are five main groups of Taiwan scholarships: the MOE Taiwan Scholarship, the MOFA Taiwan Scholarship, the MOE Huayu Enrichment Scholarship for Mandarin study, the TaiwanICDF Scholarship, and awards that individual universities fund themselves. The MOFA Taiwan Fellowship for visiting researchers is a separate program.
Which Taiwan scholarship is fully funded?
TaiwanICDF comes closest. Its 2025 guidebook lists airfare, dormitory housing, tuition, credit fees, insurance, textbook costs and a monthly allowance. The MOE scholarship pays tuition and fees up to NT$40,000 per semester plus a monthly stipend. MOFA pays a monthly allowance and an airfare but no tuition. University awards vary by school.
How much do Taiwan scholarships pay per month?
MOE pays NT$15,000 to bachelor’s students and NT$20,000 to master’s and PhD students. MOFA pays NT$33,000 for degree programs and NT$28,000 for its Mandarin program. The Huayu Enrichment Scholarship pays NT$28,000. TaiwanICDF’s 2025 guidebook lists NT$18,000 for master’s students and NT$20,000 for PhD students.
When do Taiwan scholarships open for applications in 2027?
TaiwanICDF’s 2027 round is listed for December 1, 2026 to March 15, 2027. The MOE Taiwan Scholarship has run from February 1 to March 31 each year, so the 2027 window should follow. Your local Taiwan representative office confirms the exact dates for MOE, MOFA and Huayu Enrichment applications, and each university sets its own admission deadline.
Can students from Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Bangladesh or Kenya apply?
For TaiwanICDF, Kenya is on the official 2025 country list, and Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt and Bangladesh are not. MOFA awards go to countries with diplomatic relations with Taiwan or countries MOFA recognizes as friendly. MOE decides which countries receive its awards. We could not find an official page that lists your country for MOE or MOFA, so ask the Taiwan representative office that covers it before you spend money on documents.
Do I need to speak Chinese to get a Taiwan scholarship?
Not always. For the MOE scholarship, a TOCFL Level 3 result is required only if the program is not completely taught in English. MOFA asks for TOCFL Level 2 or above for degree programs taught in Chinese. A Huayu Enrichment Scholarship of nine months or longer requires TOCFL Level 3 participation. TaiwanICDF programs are taught in English.
Can I work while on a Taiwan scholarship?
MOE and MOFA recipients can apply for a work permit of up to 20 hours per week, except during summer and winter vacation. Huayu Enrichment recipients may work only if they take language courses for six months or more. TaiwanICDF says recipients may work part-time within Taiwan’s employment law.
Can I hold two Taiwan scholarships at once?
TaiwanICDF does not allow it. Its guidebook bars recipients from holding another Taiwan government scholarship in the same academic year. For MOE and MOFA, the total scholarship period across degrees cannot exceed five years.
Do I apply to the university or to the scholarship first?
Both, separately. For the MOE scholarship you send the application to the local Taiwan overseas mission, apply to a Taiwanese university on its own deadline, attend an interview at the mission and then submit a copy of your admission notice. TaiwanICDF applicants also fill in its online system and apply to the partner university program.
Are there really 2,000 Taiwan scholarships?
We found no current official source for that number. MOE says awards depend on its yearly budget and each local office’s results. In 2026, Taiwan’s representative office in the Philippines reported a record 147 awards for the 2026-27 year against more than 1,000 applications, so plan for real competition.
Final Word on Taiwan Scholarships
Taiwan scholarships are not one program, and the right choice among the Taiwan scholarships depends on your nationality, your degree level and whether you need tuition covered. Use the comparison table to pick a route, confirm eligibility with your local Taiwan office, then apply to the university and the scholarship on their own timelines. Check the official pages again in December and February, because 2027 details can still change.