Taiwan ICDF Scholarship
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Undergraduate Masters PhD
- Full tuition and credit fees
- Round-trip economy airfare
- Living allowance (NTD 12,000–15,000/month)
Deadline: March 15
🇹🇼
Asia
Scholarships in Taiwan for International Students
1 verified scholarships · 1 fully funded · Including Taiwan ICDF Scholarship
Taiwan is a top study destination renowned for its rapidly growing academic excellence, innovative research hubs, and unique cultural immersion. We've compiled 1 scholarship opportunities — including 1 fully funded programs — to help international students fund their education in Taiwan in 2026.
1
Total Scholarships
1
Fully Funded
3
Degree Levels
1
Open to All Nations
All Scholarships in Taiwan
Why Study in Taiwan?
Taiwan has emerged as a major destination for international students from Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America, hosting over 130,000 each year. The Taiwan ICDF Scholarship covers tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation, return airfare, and health insurance for citizens of Taiwan's diplomatic allies and partner countries. Taiwanese universities are research-intensive — especially in semiconductors, biotechnology, and engineering — and the country offers extensive English-taught programmes through its New Southbound Policy. Cost of living is significantly lower than other East Asian destinations like Japan or South Korea.
Top Universities in Taiwan for International Students
These universities anchor the country's scholarship pipeline and are routinely the destination institutions for the funded programmes listed above.
National Taiwan University (NTU)
Taipei
Engineering, medicine, social sciences (Taiwan's flagship)
National Tsing Hua University
Hsinchu
Engineering, materials science, computer science
National Chiao Tung University (merged into NYCU)
Hsinchu
Electronics, optoelectronics, biomedical engineering
National Cheng Kung University
Tainan
Engineering, medicine, social sciences
National Sun Yat-sen University
Kaohsiung
Business, marine biology, social sciences
National Central University
Taoyuan
Atmospheric sciences, geophysics, engineering
Taipei Medical University
Taipei
Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy
Fu Jen Catholic University
New Taipei
Humanities, communications, business
Tuition and Cost of Living in Taiwan
Fully funded scholarships normally cover both tuition and a monthly living allowance, but knowing the underlying costs helps you choose between full and partial funding offers.
Annual Tuition (Self-Funded Rate)
- Undergraduate
- NT$50,000–NT$110,000 per semester
- Master's
- NT$55,000–NT$120,000 per semester
- PhD
- NT$55,000–NT$120,000 per semester
ICDF and Taiwan Government Scholarship recipients have full tuition covered. Self-funded students benefit from significantly lower fees than Japan, Korea, or Singapore.
Monthly Living Budget (NT$18,000–NT$30,000)
- Rent
- NT$5,000–NT$15,000 (student dormitories or shared apartments; Taipei at upper end)
- Food
- NT$6,000–NT$9,000
- Transport
- NT$1,000–NT$2,500 (EasyCard student rates)
Taipei is the most expensive city. Tainan, Hsinchu, and Kaohsiung are 30–40% cheaper. ICDF stipend (NT$15,000–NT$20,000/month depending on degree) covers comfortable living.
Student Visa, Work Rights, and Post-Study Pathway
Visa rules and post-graduation work rights vary dramatically between destinations — for many applicants they matter as much as the scholarship itself.
Resident Visa for Students
- Visa Fee
- Approximately NT$2,200 for single-entry; NT$4,400 multiple-entry
- Processing Time
- 2–4 weeks
- Financial Proof Required
- Equivalent of USD 2,500+ per year (waived for ICDF and government scholarship holders)
- Health Insurance
- Mandatory enrolment in National Health Insurance (NHI) after 6 months; ~NT$826/month
- Work While Studying
- Up to 20 hours/week during term with work permit; unrestricted during breaks
Post-Study Work Rights
Special foreign professional work visa (Employment Gold Card) gives 1–3 years residence with full work rights — accessible to graduates of Taiwanese universities in priority fields. Standard post-study work permit is available with employer sponsorship; Taiwan has been actively recruiting foreign graduates to address skilled-labour shortages.
English Language Requirements
For English-taught programmes: IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79–90. For Chinese-taught programmes: TOCFL Level 3 (undergraduate) to TOCFL Level 5 (graduate). ICDF scholars receive a year of Chinese language preparation if needed.
Application Timeline for Taiwan Scholarships
Most scholarship deadlines are 8–14 months before the programme start date. Backwards-plan from your target intake to avoid missing key dates.
- 1
10–12 months before
Check eligible-country list for ICDF and Taiwan Government Scholarship (changes yearly).
- 2
10 months before
Apply for ICDF (deadline March 15) or Taiwan Government Scholarship (deadlines vary by country, typically February–March).
- 3
6–8 months before
Apply directly to universities (most have Spring and Fall intakes; deadlines vary).
- 4
4–6 months before
Receive admission and scholarship confirmation; arrange Chinese-language test if applicable.
- 5
2–3 months before
Apply for resident visa, secure on-campus housing, book travel.
How to Win a Scholarship in Taiwan
Taiwan offers two parallel scholarship programmes: ICDF (administered by Taiwan's International Cooperation and Development Fund) targets developing-country citizens and ties scholarship to bilateral development cooperation; Taiwan Government Scholarship is more broadly accessible but covers fewer countries. ICDF applications go through Taiwan's diplomatic mission or representative office in your country, not the universities. Strong applications connect your background to Taiwan's development cooperation priorities — agriculture, public health, ICT, or sustainable development. NTU, NCKU, and Tsing Hua run their own international student scholarships separate from government awards. Many programmes interview shortlisted candidates by video.
Taiwan Scholarships at a Glance
- Taiwan ICDF Scholarship covers full tuition, NT$15,000–NT$20,000/month, accommodation, and round-trip airfare.
- Taiwan's National Health Insurance is among the most efficient and affordable in the world.
- NTU consistently ranks in the global top 100; Taiwanese semiconductor research is world-leading.
- Cost of living in Taipei is roughly 40% lower than in Tokyo or Singapore.
Scholarships in Taiwan by Student Nationality
Find scholarships in Taiwan tailored to students from your home country. Select your nationality to see specific opportunities and eligibility requirements.
🇵🇰 Pakistani Students 🇮🇳 Indian Students 🇳🇬 Nigerian Students 🇧🇩 Bangladeshi Students 🇰🇪 Kenyan Students 🇬🇭 Ghanaian Students 🇵🇭 Filipino Students 🇪🇬 Egyptian Students 🇪🇹 Ethiopian Students 🇳🇵 Nepali Students 🇻🇳 Vietnamese Students 🇮🇩 Indonesian Students 🇱🇰 Sri Lankan Students 🇹🇿 Tanzanian Students 🇺🇬 Ugandan Students
Explore Other Study Destinations
Considering other countries? Browse scholarships in these popular study destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships in Taiwan
Yes, Taiwan offers several fully funded scholarships that cover tuition fees, living expenses, health insurance, and sometimes even travel costs. Government-sponsored programs and university-specific awards provide comprehensive funding for international students at all degree levels.
Competition varies by program. Prestigious government scholarships tend to be highly competitive with acceptance rates under 5%, while university-specific funding and partial scholarships are more accessible. Starting your application early and maintaining strong academic credentials significantly improves your chances.
Most English-taught programs require IELTS (6.0–7.0) or TOEFL (80–100) scores. Some programs offer pre-sessional language courses to help you meet the requirements.
Start researching and preparing at least 12–18 months before your intended start date. Most scholarship deadlines fall between October and March for programs starting the following September. Early preparation gives you time to gather recommendation letters, write strong personal statements, and take standardized tests.
Most student visa categories in Taiwan allow part-time work during term time (typically 15–20 hours per week) and full-time work during holidays. However, many fully funded scholarships provide sufficient living allowances, allowing you to focus entirely on your studies.
TheScholarSphere currently lists 1 scholarship programs in Taiwan for the 2026 academic year, ranging from fully funded government scholarships to partial university grants. New opportunities are added regularly, so subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
Scholarship Alerts
Never Miss a Scholarship Deadline
Get curated scholarship opportunities, application tips, and deadline reminders delivered straight to your inbox every week.
Verified scholarships only
Weekly updates
Unsubscribe anytime