Study plan, letters, portfolio and interview

Good to know: Several schools had not published a Fall 2027 brochure when we checked. Each example below says which intake its source covers. Where the source is for 2026, details may change for 2027.

Study plan and autobiography

Most schools ask for both. Some set them university-wide; others leave them to each department.

• National Cheng Kung University (國立成功大學, NCKU): a study plan from all applicants, covering "education background, research interest, motivations for further study". The autobiography is in Chinese or English, as the department requires.
• National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (國立陽明交通大學, NYCU): a study plan in Chinese or English explaining why you chose the department and your future goals. Its Department of Computer Science says the undergraduate study plan "Must include a proposed course plan and be written in Chinese".
• National Tsing Hua University (國立清華大學, NTHU), Fall 2027 undergraduate: bachelor's applicants download NTHU's statement of purpose instructions and write in Chinese or English. Master's and PhD applicants write one to three pages, encouraged to cover their motivation for choosing NTHU and the department.
• National Chung Hsing University (國立中興大學, NCHU): a one-page study plan for your first-choice department (and another for a second), and a "One-page autobiography within 300~500 words or CV, written in Chinese or English".
• National Taiwan University (國立臺灣大學, NTU), Fall 2027: study plans and portfolios are set by each department, in its listing of available degree programs. Applicants to English-taught programs "must submit all the documents in English".
• Department examples with lengths: at National Sun Yat-sen University (國立中山大學, NSYSU, 2026-2027 guide), Philosophy (master's) asks for a study plan within 3,000 words and an autobiography within 1,000, both in Chinese, and Foreign Languages (master's) an English study plan of no more than 3 pages. At Tunghai University (東海大學, 2026-2027 brochure), many departments ask for 300 to 500 words in Chinese or English, and Industrial Design 500 to 1,000 words in Chinese. At National Chengchi University (國立政治大學, NCCU, 2027 Spring/Fall brochure), Philosophy (master's and PhD) asks for a Chinese autobiography written by the applicant, within 500 characters.

Few schools set word or page limits university-wide. Where limits appear, they are department rules.

Recommendation letters

At most schools here, letters go through the online application system. You enter your recommender's details, the system sends them a link, and they fill in an online form or upload a scanned letter. This is how NTU, NTHU, NCKU, NYCU, NCHU, Taipei Medical University and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology describe it.

• NTU (Fall 2027): letters in Chinese or English "by applicants' professors or employers". Up to 5 requests per application; paper copies only if a department asks.
• NTHU (Fall 2027 undergraduate): two letters, preferably from teachers who can evaluate "academic qualifications and research potential". You can't submit the application until recommenders have finished. The FAQ says letters "must be provided to NTHU by the recommender directly" and asks you not to send paper letters. Its Electrical Engineering wants at least one from a teacher or academic advisor at your high school.
• NCKU: two, from teachers or employers, in their own format or on NCKU's form.
• NYCU: two, from at least two different recommenders, preferably teachers or employers. After you submit, the system emails them, and you confirm receipt.
• NCHU: two, requested automatically once you complete the online application.
• Tunghai (2026-2027): from a professor or advisor at a current or previous school or a company; bachelor's "At least one letter of recommendation", master's and PhD at least two.
• NSYSU (2026-2027): its international office does not accept hard copies of anything except recommendation letters. Many departments ask for two.
• Taipei Medical University (臺北醫學大學, TMU) (Fall 2026 undergraduate): "At least TWO" or "At least ONE", in English or Chinese, depending on the school within TMU.
• National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (國立臺灣科技大學, NTUST) (Spring 2027 graduate): from "professors, employers, or anyone who knows the applicant", one or two depending on the department. The application is incomplete if they don't reply by the deadline.

Good to know: Because recommenders reply through the system, your application depends on their timing. At NTHU you can't submit until they finish, and at NTUST the application is incomplete if they don't reply by the deadline.

Language certificates

University-wide minimums, before any higher department level:

NCKU, Fu Jen Catholic University and TMU also list TOCFL A2 for programs taught in Chinese, and NCKU CEFR B1 for programs taught in English. At NTU, departments may set their own levels and may make a conditional offer (valid one year) if your certificate is below the level. NTHU does not accept TOEFL Home Edition or ITP, or certificates from Chinese language centers, and its FAQ says statements you write about your own language learning don't count as proof. At Fu Jen, TOCFL proof means the official certificate plus the score report.

Department levels are often higher. Examples: NTHU Electrical Engineering asks TOEFL iBT 85, TOEIC 750 or IELTS 6; NTHU Chinese Literature asks TOCFL Band C Level 5; NYCU Computer Science asks TOEFL iBT 73, IELTS Academic 5.5 or TOEIC 750, plus Chinese proof covering all four skills; TMU's School of Medicine asks English CEFR B2 and Chinese CEFR C1.

Portfolios and recordings

• Art and design: NTHU's Interdisciplinary Program of Technology and Art and Arts and Design (Design) require a portfolio. Fu Jen's Applied Arts (Fall 2026) asks for "10-15 pictures" of your own design work in A4; its Textiles and Clothing asks for an A4 PDF with no QR codes or download links. Tunghai's Fine Arts (2026-2027) asks for work "in various stages", with pictures, artist statements and creative process.
• Architecture: Tunghai's bachelor's portfolio shows creativity, critical thinking and implementation, each work labelled with title, completion date, ideas and medium, and joint work marked with your part; the master's portfolio is "under 30 pages in A4~A3 paper size". NTUST's English-taught Architecture master's asks for a "Design Portfolio or Research Publications". Chung Yuan Christian University (中原大學, 2025 brochure, the newest found) requires a portfolio for Architecture, Interior Design, Commercial Design and Landscape Architecture.
• Music: NTHU asks for a performance recording or score video on YouTube. NSYSU (2026-2027) asks for 10 to 15 minutes of solo performance video with a form signed by your instructor, and says "scoring below 85 points is not qualified". Tunghai asks for 10 to 15 minutes from the past year, from memory, in two style periods. Fu Jen asks for at least 15 minutes for bachelor's.
• Video in Chinese: Tunghai's Business Administration (master's) and International Business ask for a 5-minute video in Chinese, uploaded to YouTube as "Unlisted". NSYSU's Institute of Education (master's, PhD) asks for a self-introduction video in Chinese.
• File limits: NTU, each document up to 5MB and 10MB per department; NCCU, each up to 3MB and 20MB per department; Tunghai and NTUST, 5MB per file. At Tunghai, a portfolio over 5MB goes in as a cloud storage link on its "Portfolio Link" form.

Interviews

At most schools here, selection is mainly document review, and the department decides whether to interview.

• NTHU: most department entries say "Phone or webcam interview may be arranged if necessary." Departments contact applicants directly.
• NCKU: "The dept./ inst. will conduct oral test or online interview if needed."
• NTU: "Certain departments/graduate institutes/divisions may require oral/written examinations or interviews."
• NSYSU: "written tests, phone or video interviews" depend on the department.
• Tunghai: several departments interview "via telephone or skype if necessary" (or "telephone or webcam").
• NCCU: departments give interview dates in the brochure. For the 2027 round one, Chinese Literature (master's, PhD) said a phone or video interview might be required, and Philosophy (master's, PhD) held video interviews for applicants who passed the first review.
• National Taiwan Normal University: applicants take any written exams, interviews or technical tests the department requires, showing a passport or photo ID.
• TMU (Fall 2026 undergraduate) is the clear exception: "All interviews take place online via virtual meeting platform" for shortlisted applicants, and the interview is 50% or 60% of the score depending on the school. Slots can't be rescheduled, and a missed interview scores 0.

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Questions

Do I post my recommendation letters to the university?

Usually not. At most schools here, your recommender gets a link from the online system and submits the letter there. NTHU asks applicants not to send paper letters. NSYSU is the one school in our list whose guide accepts hard-copy letters.

Should my study plan be in Chinese or English?

Most schools accept either, but departments can require one. NYCU's Computer Science, for example, wants its undergraduate study plan in Chinese, and NTU wants everything in English for English-taught programs. Check the department's listing.

Will I have an interview?

Maybe. Most schools here interview only "if necessary", by phone or video, and the department contacts you. Taipei Medical University's undergraduate programs interview every shortlisted applicant online.

Related pages

→ How to apply as an international student
→ All universities

Sources (22)

Checked November 2026.Show

NTU: 2027/2028 September entry guidelines (PDF), international students. NTHU: Fall 2027 undergraduate guidelines (PDF), admission, FAQ. NCKU: required documents, degree application, 2027 Spring INTENSE Program. NYCU: international admission, Computer Science international applicants. NCCU: 2027 brochure post, brochure file. NSYSU 2026-2027 guide (PDF). NCHU required documents. Tunghai 2026-2027 brochure (PDF). Fu Jen Fall 2026 brochure. NTNU: prospectus, application website. TMU Fall 2026 undergraduate guidelines (PDF). NTUST 2027 Spring graduate guidelines (PDF). CYCU 2025 brochure (PDF). Tamkang Spring 2027 admission.