Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (Taiwan), is an island in East Asia. Mandarin is widely used in education and public life, and Taiwan recognizes multiple national languages used by its different communities.
Higher education in Taiwan generally takes four years for a bachelor’s degree, one to four years for a master’s degree, and two to seven years for a doctorate, although some programs may vary. Language requirements depend on the university and the program; nursing programs may require Mandarin, English, or both.
Below are the top nursing schools in Taiwan known for nursing education and health sciences.
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in Taiwan
1. National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences
The National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences traces its roots to the Taiwan Provincial Junior College of Nursing, which was established in 1954. It was reconstructed as the National Taipei College of Nursing in 1994 and renamed the National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences in 2010. Its College of Nursing includes the School of Nursing, the Department of Nurse-Midwifery and Women Health, the Department of Gerontological Health Care, the Department of Health Allied Education and E-Learning, the Graduate Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Nursing, and international nursing and nurse-midwifery master’s programs.
NTUNHS is a strong option for students interested in nursing and health sciences in Taiwan. Its international nursing master’s program requires 30 credits and usually takes two to four years, while its international nursing Ph.D. program requires 39 credits and usually takes three to seven years. The university also notes that it offers both academic and vocational nursing training. Applicants to English-taught international nursing programs should review the latest English proficiency requirements before applying.
2. Taipei Medical University
Taipei Medical University is a medical university established in 1960. It has multiple colleges and affiliated hospitals and medical facilities, including Taipei Medical University Hospital, Wanfang Hospital, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Cancer Center, and Taipei Neuroscience Institute. International graduate students may be considered for TMU scholarships, including tuition waivers and, for selected students, monthly stipends; however, admission does not automatically guarantee scholarship support.
The university’s nursing programs are offered through the College of Nursing. The college began in 1963 as a five-year junior college program, and the School of Nursing now offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Master’s-level specialty areas include adult nursing, gerontological and community health nursing, women’s health nursing, child and adolescent health nursing, psychiatric nursing, anesthesia care, and nursing administration. The college also uses affiliated hospitals for practicum training and has simulation facilities for nursing education.
TMU’s official graduate fees page lists tuition at NT$53,450 per semester, subject to change. This is about US$1,690 per semester using a recent exchange rate of about NT$31.575 to US$1. Applicants should confirm current program-specific fees with TMU before applying.
3. National Cheng Kung University
National Cheng Kung University was founded in 1931 as Tainan Technical College. Its historical collaboration with Purdue University began in 1952 as a 14-year international research collaboration. NCKU is based in Tainan and includes campuses such as Cheng-Kung, Kuei-Jen, An-Nan, and Dou-Liu. The university describes itself as one of Taiwan’s most comprehensive research-oriented universities.
The university’s Department of Nursing is part of the College of Medicine. Its bachelor’s program in nursing was established in 1989, its master’s program in 1999, and doctoral nursing education through the Institute of Allied Health Sciences began in 2003. The department’s areas of teaching and research include oncology nursing, family nursing, hospice care, gerontological nursing, community health nursing, long-term care, psychiatric and mental health nursing, health care informatics, and health promotion.
For 2025/2026 foreign students, NCKU lists College of Medicine undergraduate tuition and fees, excluding medicine and dentistry, at NT$56,683 per semester, or about US$1,795. Graduate tuition in the College of Medicine is listed at NT$60,810 per semester for master’s students and NT$62,010 per semester for doctoral students, or about US$1,926 and US$1,964 respectively. Fees may be revised, so applicants should confirm the latest amount with NCKU before applying.
4. Kaohsiung Medical University
Kaohsiung Medical University, originally known as Kaohsiung Medical College, was formally established in 1954. The university received permission from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education to change its name to Kaohsiung Medical University in August 1999. It is recognized as Taiwan’s first private medical university and was an important center for medical care and tropical medicine in its early years.
The university’s College of Nursing began in 1968 with a three-year associate program in nursing, followed by the creation of the School of Nursing in 1975. The master’s program in nursing began in 1991, the College of Nursing was formed in 1999, and the doctoral program in nursing was established in 2001. KMU lists undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. programs in the School of Nursing for international applicants, and the school’s academic information also lists programs such as the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Philosophy, and Master of Science in Long-Term Care in Aging.
KMU’s 2025/2026 tuition page lists first-year tuition by program. As a current official reference, the Ph.D. program in the School of Nursing is listed at US$1,600 per semester. The statement that all international students pay twice the local tuition has been removed because KMU’s current tuition page applies that note only to specified undergraduate medicine and dentistry programs. Applicants should check KMU’s official tuition page for the latest program-specific fees.
5. Hungkuang University
Hungkuang University traces its roots to Hungkuang Junior College of Nursing, which was established in 1967. The school enrolled its first students in a five-year nursing and midwifery program and later became Hungkuang University in 2003.
In nursing, the university’s official history shows that a four-year nursing program was added in 1998, master’s programs in the Department of Nursing were added in 2003, and the Ph.D. program in the Department of Nursing was established in 2016. The 2025 international student handbook lists nursing among the available undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. options. It also notes that undergraduate programs are taught in Mandarin, while listed graduate programs are taught in Mandarin and English. Applicants should review the latest language requirements before applying.
FAQs: Nursing Studies in Taiwan
How Much Does It Cost to Study Nursing in Taiwan?
The cost of studying nursing in Taiwan varies by university, degree level, program, and student status. Current official examples include NCKU’s 2025/2026 foreign-student fees of NT$56,683 per semester for College of Medicine undergraduate programs excluding medicine and dentistry, about US$1,795; NT$60,810 per semester for College of Medicine master’s students, about US$1,926; and NT$62,010 per semester for College of Medicine doctoral students, about US$1,964. TMU lists graduate tuition at NT$53,450 per semester, about US$1,690. KMU lists the Ph.D. program in the School of Nursing at US$1,600 per semester. Before you decide to pursue nursing studies in Taiwan, you can explore other nursing courses from various sources to weigh your options.
Taiwan is a popular destination for international students because of its universities, scholarships, culture, food, and environment. Some scholarships are offered by universities, while the Taiwan Scholarship program can cover tuition and miscellaneous fees up to NT$40,000 per semester and provide a monthly living allowance for eligible students. Students should also check the latest university admissions rules and Taiwan visa guidance before applying.
We hope this article on the Best Nursing Schools in Taiwan was helpful. If you are interested, check out the Study in Taiwan and Available Programs for International Students!
