Overview
National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) is a leading public research university located in Hsinchu, Taiwan, and its International Student Scholarship program for the 2027 intake offers fully and partially funded places across Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degree levels. Administered by NTHU's Office of Global Affairs, the scholarship is designed to attract international students to one of Taiwan's most research-intensive universities, particularly known for its strength in engineering, semiconductor technology, and the physical sciences given its location in Hsinchu, a major hub for Taiwan's technology industry.
The scholarship's combination of full tuition waivers and meaningful monthly stipends — reaching up to NTD 40,000 for doctoral scholars — makes it one of the more comprehensive funding packages available to international students pursuing STEM or interdisciplinary study in East Asia.
Scholarship Details
Funding varies significantly by degree level and program track. Doctoral scholars receive a monthly living stipend ranging from NTD 20,000 to NTD 40,000, with those in select humanities and social science intercollegiate programs receiving NTD 10,000 to 20,000 per month; all PhD scholars receive a full tuition, credit fee, and registration charge exemption. Master's degree scholars receive a monthly living allowance of NTD 5,000 (equivalent to an annual stipend of NTD 60,000), along with full tuition and academic credit fee subsidies. Bachelor's degree scholars also receive NTD 5,000 monthly (or NTD 60,000 annually), with full or partial tuition waiver support depending on the specific award.
The scholarship duration is one year, renewable based on the recipient's academic GPA and overall progress — meaning continued funding through subsequent years of study depends on maintaining satisfactory academic standing rather than being guaranteed for the full length of the degree program upfront.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility follows Taiwan's Ministry of Education (MOE) regulations for international students. Applicants must hold foreign citizenship and must never have held Republic of China (R.O.C.) citizenship or Overseas Chinese student status at any point prior to applying. A continuous overseas residency requirement also applies: applicants must have resided outside Taiwan continuously for at least six years, with any stays in Taiwan during that period limited to no more than 120 days per calendar year.
Academic prerequisites follow standard degree-level logic — a high school diploma or equivalent for undergraduate applicants, a recognized Bachelor's degree for Master's applicants, and a recognized Master's degree for PhD applicants. Language proficiency requirements depend on the program's language of instruction: English-taught programs require TOEFL iBT 71, IELTS 5.5, TOEIC 750, or an equivalent CEFR B2 level (with exemptions for native English speakers), while Mandarin-taught programs require TOCFL Level A2 or higher. Importantly, applicants who are already recipients of other Taiwan government scholarships, such as those from the Ministry of Education (MOE) or Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), or who hold a working visa, are not eligible for concurrent NTHU scholarship funding.
Fields of Study & Programs
NTHU offers an unusually broad range of English- and Mandarin-taught programs across its colleges. At the undergraduate level, options span the College of Science (physics, chemistry, mathematics, interdisciplinary science), College of Engineering (chemical engineering, power mechanical engineering, materials science, industrial engineering), the College of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, the College of Life Sciences & Medicine, the College of Nuclear Science, the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, the College of Technology Management, the College of Arts, and Hsinchu Teachers College. At the Master's and Doctoral level, programs extend into advanced AI, robotics, semiconductor technology, applied physics, biotechnology, molecular medicine, environmental health, and technology management, alongside interdisciplinary PhD and MS degrees through NTHU's International Intercollegiate Programs.
Participating Universities
The scholarship is hosted exclusively at National Tsing Hua University in Hsinchu, Taiwan — a city widely regarded as Taiwan's technology and semiconductor hub, home to the Hsinchu Science Park and a concentration of major technology companies. NTHU consistently ranks among Taiwan's top research universities and maintains particularly strong research programs in physics, materials science, and electrical engineering, drawing directly on its proximity to the region's technology industry for research partnerships and career pathways.
How to Apply
The application process runs entirely through the NTHU International Student Online Application System. Applicants begin by registering an account with a valid email address, then complete five distinct sections covering applicant information, family information, educational background, language background, and other supplementary information. Within the scholarship section of the system, applicants must specifically check the box to apply for the NTHU International Student Scholarship — this step is not automatic and must be deliberately selected.
Required uploads include the application fee payment receipt (with the application number specified), notarized transcripts and diplomas, a statement of purpose or study plan of one to three pages covering academic background and research interest, a valid passport copy or citizenship certificate, and language proficiency score reports. Two letters of recommendation are handled separately: applicants input their recommenders' email addresses directly into the portal, which then sends confidential upload links to each referee. Given this indirect process, applicants should confirm with their recommenders in advance that they're prepared to complete the online submission promptly once notified.
Deadlines & Important Dates
The application deadline is September 30, 2026 at 3:00 PM Taiwan time. Given the number of documents required — particularly notarized transcripts and coordinated recommendation letters — applicants should begin the process well in advance, especially if translation or notarization of academic records is needed, as this step alone can take several weeks depending on the applicant's home country.
Life as a Scholar
International scholars at NTHU join a university situated at the heart of Taiwan's technology sector, offering unusually direct access to research collaborations, internships, and career pathways connected to the semiconductor and electronics industries centered in Hsinchu. The renewable structure of the scholarship — contingent on maintaining a satisfactory GPA — means recipients are expected to sustain strong academic performance throughout their studies to retain funding year over year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply if I previously held Overseas Chinese student status? No, applicants must never have held R.O.C. citizenship or Overseas Chinese student status.
Is the scholarship guaranteed for the full length of my degree? No, it is awarded for one year at a time and renewed annually based on academic GPA and progress.
Do I need a Mandarin language test if I'm applying to an English-taught program? No, TOCFL is only required for Mandarin-taught programs; English programs require TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, or equivalent instead.
Can I hold this scholarship alongside a Taiwan MOE or MOFA scholarship? No, recipients of other Taiwan government scholarships are not eligible for concurrent NTHU funding.
Is the 120-day Taiwan residency limit strict? Yes, applicants must have spent no more than 120 days per calendar year in Taiwan during their required six years of continuous overseas residence.
How many recommendation letters are required? Two, submitted directly by referees through the online portal.
Final Thoughts
NTHU's scholarship program offers a strong combination of tuition coverage and living stipends for international students at all three degree levels, backed by the university's genuine research strength in engineering and the physical sciences. Because eligibility depends on precise residency and citizenship history requirements, prospective applicants should review the MOE regulations carefully before applying, and should begin document preparation — especially notarized transcripts and recommendation coordination — well ahead of the September 30, 2026 deadline.
