How to apply as an international student

Who counts as an international student

The rules are in the Ministry of Education's Regulations Regarding International Students Undertaking Studies in Taiwan (外國學生來臺就學辦法), last amended on September 19, 2025.

• The basic rule: you have foreign nationality and have never held Republic of China (Taiwan) nationality. You have never studied in Taiwan as an overseas Chinese student (僑生), and the University Entrance Committee for Overseas Compatriot Students (海外聯招會) has not given you a place in the same academic year.
• If you also hold Taiwan nationality: you can apply only if you have never had household registration in Taiwan, and you have lived overseas continuously for at least six years right before you apply.
• If you used to hold Taiwan nationality: the Ministry of the Interior must have approved your renunciation at least eight full years before you apply, and the six-year overseas rule also applies.
• Medicine, dentistry and Chinese medicine: for applicants under the dual-nationality rule, the overseas residence needed is at least eight years instead of six.
• How the years are counted: up to the start of the semester you are applying for (February 1 or August 1).
• What "overseas" means: any country or region other than mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. "Continuous" means no more than 120 days in Taiwan in each calendar year.

Some time in Taiwan does not break your overseas residence, if you have documents to prove it: overseas youth vocational training run by the Overseas Community Affairs Council or technical training recognised by the Ministry of Education; Mandarin study at a university language centre approved by the Ministry of Education, under two years in total; exchange study, under two years in total; and approved internships, under two years in total.

Other cases the regulation covers:

• A foreign national who also has Hong Kong or Macau permanent residence, has never had household registration in Taiwan, and has lived in Hong Kong, Macau or overseas continuously for six years (eight for medicine, dentistry and Chinese medicine) can apply under these rules.
• A former resident of mainland China who holds foreign nationality, has never had household registration in Taiwan and has lived overseas continuously for six years (eight for medicine, dentistry and Chinese medicine) can apply.
• Students chosen by a foreign government, organisation or school under an education cooperation agreement, who have never had household registration in Taiwan, may be exempted from these limits with approval.

Good to know: you can apply under these rules once. After that, further study normally goes through the routes for local students. The regulation lists exceptions, for example applying for a master's degree or higher after you finish your program.

If you are an overseas Chinese student or a Hong Kong or Macau student, different rules apply. → Overseas Chinese, Hong Kong and Macau students

How direct admission works

• Each university writes its own admission rules, which the Ministry of Education approves, and publishes its own admission guidelines.
• You apply to the university during the application period it sets.
• If you pass its review or screening, the university sends you an admission notice.
• The admission letter must be in Chinese and English. It states the program, the degree, the teaching language, the academic year, the semester start date, fees and refund rules, and scholarships.
• Universities may not hand international admission to outside agencies or individuals. The only exceptions are publicity and helping students with necessary procedures.

Study in Taiwan, the government's portal for international students, describes five steps: choose a school and program, look at financial aid, apply directly to the university or college, get a visa, and prepare to move. It says the details vary by school and program.

→ All universities

→ Programs taught in English

Documents the regulation requires

• An application form.
• Your academic credentials. Credentials from mainland China, from Hong Kong and Macau, and from other countries each follow their own recognition rules. Credentials from a foreign school's campus in mainland China need notarisation and authentication.
• Proof that you have enough money to study in Taiwan, or proof of a full scholarship.
• Any other documents the school asks for.

If a school has doubts about a document, it may ask you to have it authenticated by a Republic of China (Taiwan) mission abroad.

Language requirements

There is no single national language standard for this route. Each school sets the language level for each program in its own guidelines. Check the program you are interested in.

Fees and insurance

• International students pay the school's fee rate for international students. It may not be lower than private-school rates at the same level. Exceptions include Taiwan Scholarship recipients from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and permanent residents.
• When you register as a new student, you need medical and accident insurance that is valid for at least six months from the day you enter Taiwan. Insurance bought abroad must be authenticated by a Republic of China (Taiwan) mission abroad.

→ The Taiwan Scholarship

Programs international students cannot join

International students may not enrol in continuing-education bachelor's programs, in-service master's programs, or classes held only at night or on weekends. The exceptions are students who already live in Taiwan legally, and classes with special approval.

Example dates: three universities, Fall 2027

These are each school's own dates, as published when we checked. Other schools set different dates. Always check the school's own page.

National Taiwan University (國立臺灣大學)

• September 2027 entry 1st round September 29 to November 19, 2026. NTU says it extended this deadline to 4:00 p.m. (GMT+8) on November 19, 2026, after a cyberattack temporarily suspended its online application system. 2nd round December 1, 2026 to January 28, 2027.
• Results 1st round: decisions January 25, reply by February 1, final waitlist decisions February 15. 2nd round: decisions April 22, reply by April 29, final waitlist decisions May 6. Deadlines are 4 p.m. GMT+8 unless NTU says otherwise.
• February 2027 entry Graduate programs only: August 3 to September 17, 2026 (closed).
• Sophomore entry International Sophomore Entry for September 2027: March 2 to March 26, 2027.
• How many programs Up to five departments or graduate institutes. You can enrol in only one.
• Application fee NT$2,000 or US$80 per department for first-time applicants. NT$1,500 or US$60 for each additional application from the third onward. Not refundable.
• Documents For the eligibility check: graduation certificate (or a provisional or enrolment certificate if you graduate this year), transcripts, proof of nationality, and the language proficiency NTU requires. For the department review: language proficiency certificate, recommendation letters and any other required documents. Also: a photograph, the fee receipt, a Declaration and Authorization Form and a financial statement.
• Department differences Some departments ask for one or two recommendation letters and some ask for none. Some hold oral or written exams or interviews.
• Agencies NTU says it does not work with study abroad agencies or outside institutions for recruitment.

National Tsing Hua University (國立清華大學)

• Fall 2027 undergraduate Online application November 12, 2026 to 3:00 p.m. January 25, 2027 (Taiwan time).
• After you apply Results April 26, 2027. Scholarship results early May 2027. Confirm enrolment by May 15, 2027. Classes begin early September 2027.
• Spring 2027 August 3 to 3:00 p.m. September 30, 2026, results December 1, 2026 (closed).
• Who can apply NTHU's admission pages say that applicants and their parents must all hold foreign nationality and have never held Taiwan nationality, and that applicants must not have studied in Taiwan as overseas Chinese students.
• Late or incomplete NTHU says it does not accept late submissions or incomplete documents.

National Cheng Kung University (國立成功大學)

• Fall 2027 Not yet posted on NCKU's schedule page when we checked. For reference, the Fall 2026 window was December 20, 2025 to March 15, 2026 (results June 2, 2026).
• Spring 2027 July 1 to September 15, 2026, results November 30, 2026 (closed).
• How many programs Up to three departments or institutes (one group per department). If admitted, you choose one program. One account per applicant.
• Application fee NT$2,000. Documents are uploaded as PDF files.
• Recommendation letters At least two.
• Language, general guidelines English-taught programs: English at CEFR (the Common European Framework of Reference for languages) B1 or above. Programs taught in Chinese and English: TOCFL (the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language) A2 or above and English at CEFR B1 or above. Chinese-taught programs: TOCFL A2 or above. NCKU says these are general guidelines and each department's own requirement applies.
• Forms A declaration form, a recommendation letter format, a guarantor financial sponsorship form, and a form for a certificate of entry and exit dates.

After you are admitted

Study in Taiwan says a student visa application often needs proof of admission, a financial statement and a health certificate, and it points to the National Immigration Agency for visa information.

→ Student visas

Sources (9)

Checked November 2026.Show

Regulations Regarding International Students Undertaking Studies in Taiwan (外國學生來臺就學辦法), Study in Taiwan: five steps, National Taiwan University application timeline and international students, National Tsing Hua University Fall 2027 undergraduate admission and Spring 2027 admission, National Cheng Kung University application schedule and requirements.