Three government schemes, not one

When people say “the Taiwan Scholarship”, they can mean several different programmes. The government funds international students through at least three routes, and each is run by a different body with different rules on who can apply and what gets paid.

  • The Taiwan Scholarship, run by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and, for some countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). This is for full degrees.
  • The Huayu Enrichment Scholarship, run by the MOE. This is for studying Mandarin, not for a degree.
  • The TaiwanICDF Scholarship, run by the International Cooperation and Development Fund for students from its partner countries.

You cannot stack them freely. The MOE lists anyone who has received another scholarship or subsidy from a Taiwan government agency among those who are ineligible. Pick the scheme that fits your situation before you start the paperwork.

The Taiwan Scholarship (MOE stream)

Under the current guidelines, updated 10 February 2026, the MOE pays up to NTD 40,000 per semester towards approved tuition and miscellaneous fees. If your fees are higher, you pay the difference.

On top of that, the MOE pays a monthly living allowance of NTD 15,000 for undergraduates and NTD 20,000 for master’s and doctoral students. The maximum period is four years for a bachelor’s, two for a master’s and four for a doctorate, with a cumulative ceiling of five years.

Several groups cannot apply. The MOE excludes ROC nationals, overseas Chinese students, anyone already enrolled at a Taiwanese institution, and anyone who has already studied at the same degree level in Taiwan. The guidelines also exclude students from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao.

Two practical points trip people up. First, you apply for the scholarship through the Taiwan overseas office responsible for your country, and you apply separately to the university for admission. Winning one does not give you the other. Second, if your programme is not taught entirely in English, you must submit a TOCFL (Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language) certificate at Level 3 or above.

The Taiwan Scholarship (MOFA stream)

For students from countries with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, MOFA runs its own version. Its guidelines say it is granted “in principle” to those students, with special consideration possible for others.

The money works differently. MOFA pays a monthly stipend of NT$33,000 for degree programmes and NT$28,000 for its Language Enrichment Programme, plus one-way economy-class tickets for direct flights to and from Taiwan. MOFA does not itself pay tuition, though its guidelines note that universities may offer recipients reduced fees.

MOFA gives its application window as 1 February to 31 March. Check the current year’s notice from your local Taiwan office, since the dates are set each year.

The Huayu Enrichment Scholarship

If you want to learn Mandarin before or instead of a degree, this is the scheme to look at. The MOE’s current guidelines set the stipend at NTD 28,000 a month, for courses of two, three, six, nine or twelve months.

The MOE describes applicants as needing to be at least 18, to have finished secondary school or studied at post-secondary level, and to have a strong academic record. You cannot apply if you have already held this scholarship or are currently studying Chinese in Taiwan. Recipients on courses of nine months or longer are expected to sit the TOCFL at Level 3 (Band B1) or above.

The MOE says applications are usually taken in January or February, through the authorised overseas office for your country. The MOE page does not state whether tuition is covered, so read your local office’s notice carefully on that point.

The TaiwanICDF Scholarship

The TaiwanICDF describes its programme as offering full scholarships to outstanding students from partner countries. That is its own description. Before you treat it as covering everything, download the current application guidebook from the TaiwanICDF site and check each item: airfare, tuition, housing, insurance and the monthly allowance.

The partner country list and the programmes on offer are in that guidebook too. The TaiwanICDF site gives the 2027 application window as 1 December 2026 to 15 March 2027, through its online application system.

Your visa and residence card

If you are coming for a full degree, you need a resident visa, not a visitor visa. National Taiwan University strongly recommends a resident visa for anyone staying one academic year or longer, and says degree students should convert to an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) rather than extend a visitor visa.

The ARC is your residence card, and the clock starts when you land. NTU tells students to convert the resident visa to an ARC within 30 days of entering Taiwan. Confirm the deadline with your own university’s international office in your first week, and book the appointment early.

Health insurance: two phases

Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) does not cover you from day one. Taipei Medical University explains that all international students who hold an ARC must join NHI after residing in Taiwan continuously for six months, and that enrolment is mandatory and cannot be suspended while the ARC is valid.

For the premium, Taipei Medical University puts the student rate at NTD 826 a month. Premiums can change, so check the current figure with your university. Budget for private or university insurance for your first six months as well, and check whether your scholarship pays for it. Our guide to health insurance for international students explains how to read those requirements.

Working while you study

Foreign students in Taiwan can take part-time jobs, but National Taiwan University says they need a valid work permit first, on or off campus. The Workforce Development Agency says that, outside the winter and summer vacations, a foreign student’s total working hours must not exceed 20 hours a week.

Before you take any job, also read your scholarship terms. Some awards restrict outside work, and losing a stipend over a café shift is an expensive mistake.

A realistic budget

Do the sum before you accept. If you hold the MOE degree scholarship as a master’s student, your monthly allowance is NTD 20,000 and your tuition cover stops at NTD 40,000 per semester. Look up the actual fees for your programme, the dormitory rent, and the first six months of insurance, then see what is left.

If the numbers do not close, you may need savings or a family sponsor, and you may need to prove those funds for your visa. Our guide to proof of funds for student visas covers how that evidence is usually assessed.