The short version
The three main routes into university all use GSAT scores: the Star Plan (results in March), Personal Application (registration in March, final placement results in June) and exam-based placement (the Advanced Subjects Test in July, results in August). They run one after another, and they have rules between them: anyone admitted through Star Plan groups 1 to 7 cannot register for Personal Application, and exam-based placement is only for people who do not already hold an offer from another route. Four-year technical and two-year junior colleges (四技二專) have their own routes: joint placement uses 統測 exam scores, and four-year technical Personal Application uses GSAT scores.
First, the years
Official documents use Taiwan's official calendar, which counts from 1912. Year 115 is 2026 and year 116 is 2027. The "116 school year" (116 學年度) means the class that enters in 2027. The pages in this section all cover the 116 school year.
The routes at a glance
| Route | What counts | Key dates | Run by |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Scholastic Ability Test (學測, GSAT) | The exam itself: Chinese, English, Math A, Math B, Social Studies, Science; you choose which to take | Exam 22 to 24 January 2027; scores 25 February | College Entrance Examination Center (大考中心) |
| Star Plan (繁星推薦) | Your high school recommends you; a school rank standard by school grades, plus the GSAT, English listening and skills tests (as each program requires) | High schools register 11 to 12 March; groups 1 to 7 admitted 18 March | University admission selection committee (甄選委員會) |
| Personal Application (個人申請, 申請入學) | Stage one: GSAT, English listening, skills test and APCS standards; stage two: each university's own assessments | Registration 23 to 24 March; final placement results 10 June | University admission selection committee (甄選委員會) |
| Advanced Subjects Test (分科測驗) and exam-based placement (分發入學) | 3 to 5 subjects from the GSAT, the Advanced Subjects Test and skills tests, with at least 1 from the Advanced Subjects Test | Advanced Subjects Test 10 to 11 July; choices 1 to 4 August; results 13 August | College Entrance Examination Center, University Admission Committee (考分會) |
| Four-year technical and two-year junior colleges (四技二專) | Joint placement uses the 統測 exam; four-year technical Personal Application uses the GSAT | 統測 24 to 25 April; joint placement results 5 August | Joint admissions committees for technical colleges (技專校院招生委員會聯合會) |
Rules between the routes
- Anyone admitted through Star Plan groups 1 to 7, whether or not they give up the place, cannot register for university Personal Application in the same year.
- A student can be recommended for either the university Star Plan or the Star Plan for universities of technology, not both.
- For exam-based placement, you must pass the review of your education documents, and you must not already hold an offer from any other 116 school year route, such as selection, assessment or application.
- Before 12 noon on 21 June 2027, the selection committee sends the list of students admitted through the Star Plan and Personal Application to the University Admission Committee and the technical college committees.
Each route explained
→ The GSAT and English listening test
→ The Star Plan (繁星推薦)
→ Personal Application (個人申請)
→ The Advanced Subjects Test and exam-based placement
→ Technical college admission (四技二專)
→ The 116 school year admissions calendar
→ All universities
Sources
College Entrance Examination Center: key exam dates for the 116 school year (PDF, Chinese), University admission selection committee: 116 Star Plan general rules (PDF, Chinese), University admission selection committee: Star Plan timeline (Chinese), University admission selection committee: 116 Personal Application general rules (PDF, Chinese), University admission selection committee: Personal Application timeline (Chinese), University Admission Committee: 116 placement admission handbook (PDF, Chinese), Technical college joint placement key dates (PDF, Chinese), Four-year technical Personal Application key dates (PDF, Chinese). Checked November 2026.