1. What Is the Taiwan MOE Scholarship?
The Taiwan MOE Scholarship is Taiwan Ministry of Education funding for foreign students to earn a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate at a Taiwanese university: it pays tuition and basic study fees up to NTD 40,000 per semester plus a monthly stipend of NTD 15,000 (bachelor's) or NTD 20,000 (master's and PhD). You apply through a Taiwan overseas mission between February 1 and March 31 in principle, and separately to a university.
Officially, it is called the Taiwan Scholarship, run by the Ministry of Education under the Operation Directions Governing the Ministry of Education Taiwan Scholarships, most recently amended on February 10, 2026. The scheme started in 2004 when the Executive Yuan launched a joint program with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and two other ministries (official program history), and it has funded tens of thousands of degrees since.
- Tuition and basic study fees: paid up to NTD 40,000 per semester; you pay any excess plus insurance, housing, and thesis fees yourself.
- Stipend: NTD 15,000/month (bachelor's) or NTD 20,000/month (master's and doctorate).
- Deadline: applications run February 1 to March 31 in principle, but only your local Taiwan mission's announced dates count.
- Two separate applications: the scholarship to the Taiwan overseas mission, and admission directly to a university - you need both.
- Results by May 31; your university admission letter must reach the mission by June 30.
- 1. What Is the Taiwan MOE Scholarship?
- 2. How Big Is the Program? Numbers at a Glance
- 3. Who Is Eligible?
- 4. What Does the Scholarship Cover?
- 4.1 Funding Breakdown by Degree Level
- 4.2 Out-of-Pocket Costs: A Worked Example
- 4.3 MOE vs. Huayu Enrichment vs. MOFA
- 5. 2027 Deadlines and Key Dates
- 5.1 Deadline Time-Zone Table
- 5.2 The Two Applications You Must Run in Parallel
- 5.3 What Changed in the February 2026 Rules
- 6. Required Documents
- 6.1 Language Rules: TOCFL and English Alternatives
- 6.2 Recommendation Letters and Translations
- 7. How to Apply: Step by Step
- 8. How Are Winners Selected?
- 9. International Applicant Guidance
- 9.1 For U.S. Applicants
- 9.2 For Pakistani Applicants
- 9.3 Notes for Other Regions
- 10. Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
- 11. After You Win: Arrival, Renewal and Work Rules
- 11.1 Changing University or Degree Level
- 12. FAQ
- 13. Official Links
- 14. Verification Note and Disclaimer
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE) | MOE program page |
| Degree levels | Bachelor's, master's, doctorate | Operation Directions, Point III |
| Funding | Tuition and misc. fees up to NTD 40,000/semester + NTD 15,000-20,000 monthly stipend | Operation Directions, Point II |
| Deadline | February 1 - March 31 in principle; your mission's announced dates govern | Operation Directions, Point VII |
| Status (2027 cycle) | Mission guidelines due by January 31, 2027 | Operation Directions, Point VII.1 |
| Where to study | Taiwan - accredited universities and colleges | Study in Taiwan school search |
| Intake | Scholarship year begins September 1, 2027 | Operation Directions, Point III.2 |
2. How Big Is the Program? Numbers at a Glance
Hard numbers from Taiwan's official sources, all checked on November 1, 2026:
- 140,417 international students were studying in Taiwan in the 2025/26 academic year, according to MOE Department of Statistics figures published in February 2026 and shown on the Study in Taiwan Key Numbers page.
- 52,974 students came from Vietnam, the largest source country; the United States ranked 9th with 4,282 students, up 7% year on year - so American applicants are a real, growing presence on Taiwan campuses.
- NTD 40,000 per semester is the tuition and basic-fee ceiling; NTD 15,000 / 20,000 per month are the two stipend rates.
- 4 / 2 / 4 years are the maximum durations for bachelor's, master's, and doctorate, with a 5-year lifetime cap across all levels.
- February 1 - March 31 is the official in-principle application window; January 31 is the deadline for every Taiwan mission to publish its local guidelines.
- May 31 / June 30 / July 31 are the official dates for results, admission-letter proof, and the final recipient list.
- The current Operation Directions contain 14 articles, promulgated February 10, 2026 - the rules you must follow changed this year (see section 12.2).
"In principle, the application period is from February 1 to March 31 each year. The actual application period for each local representative office will, however, be the period announced in its publicly available guidelines."
3. Who Is Eligible for the Taiwan MOE Scholarship?
Any foreign national holding a secondary-school or higher diploma, with a strong academic record and good conduct, can apply - but citizens of Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, current students in Taiwan, and anyone holding another Taiwan government scholarship are excluded. Eligibility is decided by the Taiwan mission in your country of nationality.
"Each applicant shall be a foreign national who has a graduation certificate or diploma from a secondary school or post-secondary educational institution, an excellent academic record, and be of good moral character."
Source: Operation Directions, Point IV.1
The regulation then lists seven disqualifying situations. Read the decision table before you prepare anything:
| Your situation | Eligible? | Why (official rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign national with a secondary diploma, applying for a bachelor's | Yes | Basic eligibility test (Point IV.1) |
| Foreign national with a bachelor's degree, applying for a master's or PhD | Yes | Post-secondary diploma counts (Point IV.1) |
| Citizen of Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau | No | Program excludes these applicants (Point I) |
| Overseas compatriot student or ROC passport holder | No | Ineligible category (Point IV.2.i) |
| Already registered at a Taiwan university | No | Ineligible unless in your final year and moving to a HIGHER degree (Point IV.2.ii) |
| Already did a degree in Taiwan at the same level | No | Ineligible category (Point IV.2.iii) |
| Exchange or dual/joint degree student under a university agreement | No | Ineligible category (Point IV.2.iv) |
| Already held a Taiwan Scholarship for 5 years total | No | Lifetime cap (Point IV.2.v) |
| Ever had a Taiwan Scholarship or HES revoked | No | Permanent bar (Point IV.2.vi) |
| Will receive any other Taiwan government or institution funding while studying | No | Only exception: your university's own tuition discount for fees above the cap (Point IV.2.vii) |
| Final-year bachelor's student in Taiwan, applying for a master's | Yes | Carve-out in Point IV.2.ii |
| Completed one degree on this scholarship, want a HIGHER level | Yes | Second award allowed, applied by Feb 28 (Point X) |
For any program not fully taught in English, you need a TOCFL Band B (Level 3) certificate, or you must qualify for a mission-approved waiver. Details in section 6.1 - skipping this rule is one of the most common reasons applications fail at the screening stage.
4. What Does the Taiwan MOE Scholarship Cover?
The scholarship pays tuition and basic study-related fees up to NTD 40,000 per semester and a monthly living stipend of NTD 15,000 or NTD 20,000. It does not cover housing, insurance, administration fees, thesis supervision fees, or internet - and if your program's covered fees exceed NTD 40,000 in a semester, you pay the difference yourself.
"If these exceed a total amount of NTD 40,000, the remaining amount to be paid to the university or college must be paid by the student. The 'miscellaneous expenses' do not include administration fees, thesis supervision fees, insurance, accommodation, or internet access costs. These are the responsibility of the scholarship recipient."
Source: Operation Directions, Point II.1
4.1 Funding Breakdown by Degree Level
| Benefit | Bachelor's | Master's | Doctorate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition + basic study fees | Up to NTD 40,000 per semester; student pays any excess | ||
| Monthly living stipend | NTD 15,000 | NTD 20,000 | NTD 20,000 |
| Maximum duration | 4 years | 2 years | 4 years |
| Annual value of stipend (12 months) | NTD 180,000 | NTD 240,000 | NTD 240,000 |
| Maximum tuition coverage over the degree | NTD 320,000 (8 semesters) | NTD 160,000 (4 semesters) | NTD 320,000 (8 semesters) |
| Not covered | Administration fees, thesis supervision fees, insurance, accommodation, internet (Point II.1) | ||
Two details matter here. First, many Taiwanese universities publish a list of tuition and miscellaneous-fee discounts for Taiwan Scholarship recipients - when a discount brings the fee below NTD 40,000, the scholarship covers it fully. Second, the university pays your stipend monthly through your campus, after you register and enroll; the MOE transfers funds to universities twice a year, so the first payment can arrive weeks after term starts (official FAQ). Budget for that gap.
4.2 Out-of-Pocket Costs: A Worked Example
Assume (illustrative assumptions - replace with your program's real fee table) a master's student at a public university whose tuition and covered miscellaneous fees total NTD 48,000 per semester, with a NTD 1,200 administration fee and NTD 6,000 annual insurance, renting a dormitory for NTD 8,000 per month:
| Item | Cost (NTD) | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition + covered fees, 2 semesters | 96,000 | Scholarship 80,000 / you 16,000 (above the cap) |
| Administration fees (not covered) | 2,400 | You |
| Insurance (not covered until NHI eligibility) | 6,000 | You |
| Housing, 12 months (not covered) | 96,000 | You (or pay from stipend) |
| Stipend received (12 x 20,000) | -240,000 | Scholarship credit |
On these assumptions the stipend more than covers housing and the uncovered fees, which is why the MOE Taiwan Scholarship is commonly classified as fully funded for tuition-plus-living. The classification flips to partial only when your program's tuition sits far above NTD 40,000 per semester - common in private-university medicine, design, or MBA programs - or if you depend on the stipend arriving on day one. Check your program's fee table before you commit.
4.3 MOE vs. Huayu Enrichment vs. MOFA: Which Track Fits You?
Taiwan runs three government scholarships through the same mission channel, and applicants routinely mix them up. The official comparison table separates them cleanly:
| Feature | MOE Taiwan Scholarship | MOE Huayu Enrichment (HES) | MOFA Taiwan Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Degree (bachelor's/master's/PhD) | Mandarin language courses | Degree, or language prep + degree |
| Stipend | NTD 15,000 (BA) / 20,000 (MA/PhD) per month | NTD 28,000 per month | NTD 33,000 (degree) / 28,000 (language prep) per month |
| Tuition | Up to NTD 40,000 per semester | Not covered | Not covered |
| Ticket | Not covered | Not covered | One-way economy ticket |
| Who qualifies | All foreign nationals except Mainland China/Hong Kong/Macau | Foreign nationals, 18+ | Nationals of diplomatic allies or MOFA-recognized friendly countries |
| Duration | 4 / 2 / 4 years by level (5-year cap) | 2, 3, 6, 9, or 12 months | Up to 5 years total |
Read that table with one question in mind: which track can you actually win? If you are not a national of a diplomatic ally, MOFA is closed to you and MOE is the route. If your Mandarin is weak and your target program is taught in Chinese, a funded HES year first (NTD 28,000 monthly, tuition not covered) can be the smarter runway than burning your one MOE attempt on a program you cannot follow. If your program is fully taught in English, apply straight to the MOE degree track.
5. Taiwan MOE Scholarship 2027 Deadlines and Key Dates
The official application window is February 1 to March 31, but the binding deadline is whatever your local Taiwan mission publishes - and every mission must publish its 2027 guidelines, including closing dates, by January 31, 2027. Treat March 31 as the outer limit, not your target.
February 1 - March 31, 2027 (in principle). Your Taiwan overseas mission (representative office) publishes the actual local closing date in its guidelines, which must be public by January 31, 2027. Many missions close in February or early March. Confirm dates at the mission in your country of nationality (official MOFA overseas office directory). Deadlines are Taipei time (UTC+8).
5.1 Deadline Time-Zone Table
If your mission closes at 23:59 on March 31, 2027 Taipei time (UTC+8), that moment falls at the following local times. Use this only as a conversion example - your mission may close earlier, on a business day, at a different hour.
| Location | Local time equivalent | Zone note |
|---|---|---|
| Taipei | 23:59, March 31, 2027 | UTC+8, no DST |
| Pakistan | 20:59, March 31, 2027 | PKT, UTC+5 |
| US Eastern | 11:59, March 31, 2027 | EDT (DST active from March 14, 2027) |
| US Pacific | 08:59, March 31, 2027 | PDT (DST active) |
| United Kingdom | 16:59, March 31, 2027 | BST (from March 28, 2027) |
5.2 The Two Applications You Must Run in Parallel
The single most misunderstood feature of this scholarship: winning it and getting admitted are two separate processes with two separate deadlines, and missing either one ends your cycle.
| By this date | Action | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| January 31, 2027 | Your mission publishes local guidelines (criteria, quota, schedule) | Taiwan mission |
| February 1 - March 31, 2027 (in principle) | Submit the scholarship application to the mission; separately, apply for university admission within the university's own window | You |
| By June 15, 2027 | Universities send foreign applicants their admission decision in writing | University |
| By May 31, 2027 | Scholarship results (primary candidates and waiting list) notified | Mission |
| By June 30, 2027 | Primary candidates submit a copy of their university admission letter to the mission | You |
| By July 31, 2027 | Recipient list finalized; award certificates issued | Mission |
| September 1, 2027 | Scholarship year begins; register on time or forfeit (no deferral) | You + university |
"Each primary candidate shall submit a photocopy of their letter of admission to a university or college in Taiwan to the representative office by June 30 of that year to confirm their eligibility to receive a scholarship."
Source: Operation Directions, Point IX.2
Missing that June 30 deadline forfeits the award to the next person on the waiting list. Track this and every other government scholarship deadline on our scholarship deadline tracker.
5.3 What Changed in the February 2026 Rules
The Operation Directions were amended on February 10, 2026, so 2027 applicants face a newer rulebook than most guides describe. One practical change: from the 2026 academic year onward, bachelor's recipients' living-allowance payments run until June 30 of their graduation year (Point III.3), which closes a gap where final-semester undergraduates previously stopped receiving funds. Applicants must also show proof they have already APPLIED to a university at the scholarship stage (Point V.4), and the TOCFL/English-waiver logic was tightened (Point V.5). Older articles describing a simple "March 31 deadline, no TOCFL rules" version of this scholarship are out of date.
6. Required Documents for the Taiwan MOE Scholarship
Seven document groups are required by law: the mission's application form, passport or nationality proof, your highest diploma and transcripts, proof you have applied to a Taiwanese university, language certificates, two sealed recommendation letters, and anything else the mission specifies. Documents not in Chinese or English need a notarized translation, and none are ever returned.
| # | Document | Official requirement and practical notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Application form | Each mission designs its own form (Point V.1) - download it from YOUR mission, not from another country's mission |
| 2 | Passport / nationality proof | Photocopy (Point V.2); your passport must still be valid for travel |
| 3 | Highest diploma + transcripts | Point V.3; documents in other languages need notarized Chinese or English translation |
| 4 | Proof of university application in Taiwan | Point V.4: fee-payment receipt, application form, or the university's acknowledgment email all count |
| 5 | Language certificates | TOCFL Band B+ or approved English alternative - see 6.1 |
| 6 | Two recommendation letters | Point V.6: from a school principal, university/college president, professor, or tutor; each in a sealed envelope, signed across the seal by the writer |
| 7 | Mission-specific extras | Point V.7: e.g. health certificate items, CV, study plan - follow your mission's guideline exactly |
6.1 Language Rules: TOCFL and English Alternatives
TOCFL Band B (Level 3) or higher is the default language requirement for any program not fully taught in English - and there is a structured escape hatch if your mission area has no TOCFL test center. Map your situation before booking anything:
| Your situation | What you must submit |
|---|---|
| Program fully taught in English, on the official English-program checklist | TOEFL or another intermediate English certificate (>= 75% overall), or proof of graduating from an English-taught program. Citizens of countries where English is an official language are exempt from this requirement |
| Program not fully in English; your mission organizes TOCFL testing | TOCFL Band B (Level 3) results or certificate. Other Chinese tests are not accepted |
| Program not fully in English; your mission does not organize TOCFL | Apply without it, then sit TOCFL at your own expense by the end of your first semester in Taiwan and submit the Band B+ result to your university |
| Your program is in English but NOT on the checklist | Get formal evidence issued by the university itself (not a department) that the degree is fully taught in English |
| You hold TOCFL Band B or higher | You receive selection preference under Point VIII.4 |
If you are admitted to a Chinese-taught program without a Band B certificate (mission without TOCFL testing), you must pass TOCFL Level 3+ by the end of your first semester. Universities then suspend stipend payments from the following semester, restarting only when you submit the result - and if it is still missing by the end of your second semester, the scholarship is revoked from the third semester (Point XIV.2.v.a).
Test prep is free to plan: TOCFL is run officially at tocfl.edu.tw. If you are weighing whether you need IELTS or TOEFL for a university admission application instead, our IELTS band score calculator helps you check where you stand.
6.2 Recommendation Letters and Translations: The Details That Kill Files
Two rules in Point V catch applicants every cycle. First, recommendation letters must come from a principal, president, professor, or tutor - a boss or colleague does not qualify - and each must sit in an envelope the writer seals and personally signs across the seal. Second, any transcript or diploma not issued in Chinese or English needs a notarized translation; a quick self-translation is grounds for rejection, and submitting altered or false documents at any point leads to full revocation and repayment of every dollar received (Point XIV.1.ix).
7. How to Apply: Step by Step
Apply to the Taiwan mission that covers your country of nationality, and in parallel submit a university admission application inside the university's own window - the scholarship application itself requires proof of the university application. No single online portal replaces the mission; the form, submission channel (in person, email, or post), and closing date are all set by your local mission.
Use the official MOFA overseas office directory. Your mission's guidelines contain the binding closing date, quota, selection criteria, and required extra documents.
Search Study in Taiwan's program finder. If you plan to study in English, cross-check the official English-taught degree program checklist - being on it changes your language paperwork.
Each university sets its own window and fees. Keep the payment receipt, application PDF, or acknowledgment email - you must attach proof of this application to the scholarship file (Point V.4).
Form, passport copy, diploma and transcripts (with notarized translations if needed), university-application proof, language certificates, two sealed recommendation letters, plus mission extras - by your mission's closing date inside the Feb-Mar window.
Primary candidates send a copy of the admission letter to the mission; the final list is set by July 31 and your award certificate is issued before departure.
Missions hold briefings covering the scholarship rules and the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) process. Failing to arrive and register on schedule forfeits the scholarship with no deferral (Point III.2).
8. How Are Winners Selected?
Missions score applications on academics first - on a 4.5 scale, at least 3.0 for bachelor's and 3.5 for master's applicants - then weigh language ability, personal circumstances, conduct, and how you might contribute to Taiwan and your home country. There is no fixed global GPA formula: the mission converts your transcript to its 4.5-scale equivalent, or judges it against its own local standard of excellence.
- Academic floor (Point VIII.2): GPA 3.0/4.5 for bachelor's, 3.5/4.5 for master's, after conversion. A Pakistani 3.0/4.0 CGPA or a US 3.4/4.0 transcript is comfortably above these floors - but conversion is at the mission's discretion, so submit the official scale, not your own estimate.
- Language preference (Point VIII.4): TOCFL Band B+ holders are preferred outright; English-track applicants are preferred with TOEFL or a recognized intermediate English certificate showing at least 75% overall.
- Quotas (Point VI): the MOE allocates a fixed number of awards to each mission each year, based on its budget and that mission's performance, and notifies missions of next year's allocation by December 31. Your real competition is local, not global.
- Whole-person review (Point VIII.3): missions examine personal circumstances, actual language proficiency, interpersonal manners, and moral character - interview rounds are common where the mission conducts them.
- Documents are final (Point VIII.5): submit everything complete; nothing is returned, so incomplete files simply do not enter the pool.
9. International Applicant Guidance
"International" here means any foreign national outside Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau - but the practical route differs by region, because the mission that receives your file, the language rules you face, and the document chain you must complete all depend on where you live and studied.
9.1 For U.S. Applicants
- Your mission is TECRO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States), with offices in Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Houston, Miami, and Boston - each jurisdiction publishes its own application instructions.
- English-medium degrees fit the English waiver: U.S. citizens are exempt from the English-certificate requirement (English is an official language), but you still confirm your program sits on the official English-taught checklist, or obtain university-issued proof that it is fully in English.
- Your transcript is already in English - no notarized translation is needed. Submit the official GPA on your school's scale; TECRO will convert it.
- 4,282 American students studied in Taiwan in 2025/26 (+7% year on year, MOE statistics), and U.S. community-college transfer applicants are explicitly welcome as diploma holders.
- Finances: FAFSA does not apply abroad; the stipend is paid in NTD through your university monthly, so bring enough USD to cover your first month's housing deposit and the uncovered fees.
9.2 For Pakistani Applicants
- Pakistanis are eligible: the exclusion list covers only Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, ROC nationals, and overseas compatriot students. Pakistani applicants apply through the Taiwan mission covering Pakistan (check the MOFA directory for the current jurisdiction and its announcement).
- Get HEC attestation early. Degree and transcript attestation chains in Pakistan take weeks; start before the February window opens. Our CSC scholarship application guide explains the same attestation logic used across Asian government scholarships.
- English is your advantage, Chinese is the filter. Pakistani applicants are NOT exempt from the TOCFL rule for Chinese-taught programs (English is not an official national language of Pakistan), so either target a fully English-taught program on the checklist or start TOCFL preparation now.
- Grading conversion: submit your official transcript and marking scheme; the mission converts to its 4.5 scale. A B+ / 75%+ profile typically clears the 3.0/4.5 floor, but the conversion is theirs, not yours.
- Cost reality: at roughly NTD 15,000-25,000 per month, dormitory and shared-apartment living in Taichung, Tainan, or Kaohsiung is comfortably inside the NTD 20,000 stipend; Taipei is tighter. Budget a month of buffer for the first stipend delay.
9.3 Notes for Other Regions
- Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand): you are the largest applicant community in Taiwan - Vietnam alone sent 52,974 students in 2025/26 - and your mission runs established TOCFL test sessions, which means the "take TOCFL after arrival" fallback is usually unavailable. Plan the Band B certificate before applying.
- Africa and Latin America: confirm your mission's jurisdiction first; some countries are served by a mission in a neighboring capital, which changes both your submission channel and deadline.
- Europe: most European missions organize TOCFL sessions in spring; check the mission's testing dates against its scholarship closing date, since the test result must exist by the deadline.
- Overseas Chinese passport holders: if you hold ROC nationality or qualify as an overseas compatriot student, you are ineligible for the MOE track (Point IV.2.i) - verify your status before building an application around it.
10. Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
Most rejected MOE scholarship files fail on process, not merit: treating March 31 as universal, applying without proof of a university application, or ignoring the TOCFL rule until after admission. These are the traps the official text actually punishes.
It is the in-principle outer limit only. A mission may close in mid-February, demand in-person submission, or require extra documents. The binding date is the one in your mission's own guideline, which must be public by January 31.
Point V.4 requires documentary proof that you have already applied to a Taiwanese university - receipt, form, or acknowledgment email. Winning the scholarship without an admission letter by June 30 revokes the award.
The tuition cap is NTD 40,000 per semester and explicitly excludes administration fees, thesis supervision fees, insurance, accommodation, and internet. At programs with higher fees, you carry the difference.
Missing the post-arrival TOCFL deadline suspends your stipend from the second semester and revokes the scholarship from the third. For Chinese-taught degrees, treat Band B as an application requirement.
Holding another Taiwan government or institution scholarship means full revocation and repayment of every allowance and fee paid (Point XIV.1.v). Only a university's discount on fees above the cap is permitted.
Each semester must average at least 70 (bachelor's) or 80 (graduate institutes); one month below standard suspends payment, two consecutive semesters revoke the award. More than one-third monthly class absence, or more than 15 days outside Taiwan in a month, can also stop payments.
Applicants comparing Asia's big government schemes should read our China CSC scholarship walkthrough and the Royal Thai Government Scholarship guide - the document chains are similar, but Taiwan's mission-first model has no single national portal, and that difference is where applications get lost.
11. After You Win: Arrival, Renewal and Work Rules
Winning converts into a monthly compliance routine: register on time, keep your ARC reason as "pursuing studies," maintain your semester average, join National Health Insurance when eligible, and meet the attendance rules. Break these and the university itself suspends or revokes your award.
- Payment mechanics: universities pay the stipend monthly, around the middle of the month, to recipients meeting attendance and academic criteria; the first months can be delayed by accounting cycles (official FAQ) - carry a cash buffer.
- Health insurance: join NHI as required; before eligibility, buy other medical and student accident insurance yourself (Point XIV.1.vi).
- ARC: present an Alien Resident Certificate showing "pursuing studies" at every semester registration; a changed residence reason triggers revocation from that semester.
- Work: you may apply for a work permit under Taiwan's foreign-worker employment regulations, with a maximum of 20 hours per week during term (unlimited in vacations), per the official comparison table.
- Travel: leaving Taiwan mid-semester for more than 15 days in a month can suspend that month's stipend; going abroad as an exchange or dual/joint degree student gets the scholarship revoked outright unless your program rules require a mandatory internship or research trip (in which case payments pause while you are away).
11.1 Changing University or Degree Level
After one year in a bachelor's program you may transfer once to another same-level program or department, with both universities' approval - but you must re-apply to the mission that awarded you, and your current scholarship does not automatically follow the transfer (Point XII). Switching from a bachelor's to a master's while enrolled requires university approval and a formal MOE change-of-level process (Point XI.3).
12. FAQ: Taiwan MOE Scholarship 2027
What is the Taiwan MOE Scholarship deadline for 2027?
The official application period is February 1 to March 31, 2027 in principle, but each Taiwan mission publishes its own binding local closing date, and every mission's guidelines must be public by January 31, 2027. Check the mission that covers your country of nationality - many close in February, well before March 31.
Is the Taiwan MOE Scholarship fully funded?
It is best described as tuition-plus-living funding: tuition and basic study fees up to NTD 40,000 per semester plus NTD 15,000 (bachelor's) or NTD 20,000 (master's and PhD) per month. It does not pay administration fees, thesis supervision fees, insurance, housing, or internet, and you pay any tuition above the NTD 40,000 cap yourself.
Can Pakistani students apply for the Taiwan MOE Scholarship?
Yes. Any foreign national with a secondary or higher diploma can apply; only applicants from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, ROC nationals, and overseas compatriot students are excluded. Pakistani applicants are not exempt from the TOCFL rule, so either choose a fully English-taught program or prepare the TOCFL Band B certificate in advance.
Do I need Chinese language proficiency (TOCFL) to apply?
For programs not fully taught in English, yes: a TOCFL Band B (Level 3) or higher certificate, unless your mission grants a waiver or does not organize TOCFL testing (in which case you test at your own cost by the end of your first semester in Taiwan). Citizens of countries where English is an official language applying to fully English-taught programs are exempt.
Do I need a university admission offer before applying?
You do not need the offer letter at the application stage - you must instead attach proof that you have already applied to a Taiwanese university, such as a fee receipt, application form, or acknowledgment email. You must then submit your actual admission letter to the mission by June 30, 2027, or the award is revoked.
How much is the Taiwan MOE Scholarship monthly stipend?
NTD 15,000 per month for bachelor's students and NTD 20,000 per month for master's and doctorate students, paid through your university after you register. For comparison, the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship pays NTD 28,000 per month and the MOFA degree scholarship pays NTD 33,000 per month but does not cover tuition.
Can I work part-time while holding this scholarship?
Yes, with a work permit under Taiwan's employment regulations for foreign workers: a maximum of 20 hours per week during the semester, with no hourly limit during summer and winter vacation. Your university remains responsible for monitoring attendance and academic performance that keep the scholarship active.
What GPA do I need to win the Taiwan MOE Scholarship?
On a 4.5 scale, at least 3.0 for bachelor's applicants and 3.5 for master's applicants, after the mission converts your transcript to its equivalent scale. Missions also weigh language ability, conduct, and personal circumstances, and they give preference to applicants holding TOCFL Band B or higher.
When are Taiwan MOE Scholarship results announced?
In principle by May 31 of the application year, including the waiting list. Primary candidates must send their university admission letter to the mission by June 30 to confirm the award; final recipient lists are settled by July 31, and scholarship certificates are issued before departure.
Can I hold two Taiwan government scholarships at once?
No. Holding any other scholarship or financial assistance from a Taiwan government agency or educational institution leads to full revocation, and you must repay all living allowances and tuition payments received. The only permitted exception is a university discount covering tuition above the NTD 40,000 cap.
13. Official Links
- Operation Directions Governing the Ministry of Education Taiwan Scholarships (English, promulgated February 10, 2026) - controlling source for funding, eligibility, deadlines, selection, and renewal rules.
- Scholarship Guidelines and official comparison table (Taiwan Scholarship and Huayu Enrichment Scholarship Office) - MOE/HES/MOFA amounts, work rules, guideline PDFs, English-program and tuition-discount lists.
- Taiwan Scholarship Program (Taiwan Ministry of Education, English) - program overview and mission contact route.
- Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) (Taiwan Ministry of Education, English) - Mandarin track eligibility and application method.
- Official FAQ: Scholarship Application and Release - payment timing, cancellation conditions, single-scholarship rule.
- MOFA directory of overseas missions - find the office that receives your application.
- Study in Taiwan - Key Numbers (MOE statistics, February 2026) - international student totals and source-country rankings.
14. Verification Note and Disclaimer
Every fact in this guide was checked today against the official English Operation Directions on the MOE Laws and Regulations Retrieving System, the Taiwan Scholarship and Huayu Enrichment Scholarship Office site (guidelines page, FAQ, program history), the Taiwan MOE English scholarship pages, and the Study in Taiwan portal statistics. Where sources could differ, the Operation Directions (amended February 10, 2026) were treated as controlling. Two honest limits: your local Taiwan mission's 2027 guidelines - including its exact closing date and any extra documents - were not yet published at the time of checking (they are due by January 31, 2027); and USD equivalents are illustrative only, since the MOE publishes amounts in NTD. Confirm both with your mission before applying.
This article is independent educational information for prospective applicants. It is not legal advice, not an official publication of the Taiwan Ministry of Education, and no relationship with any Taiwanese government office or university is implied. Scholarship terms can change; the official documents listed above always prevail.
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