Taiwan offers international students a strong combination of research universities, technology-focused institutions, medical schools, English-taught programs, and government-funded scholarships. When comparing universities, applicants should consider academic strengths, prospective supervisors, teaching language, tuition fees, scholarship coverage, and the opportunities available after graduation.
This guide introduces seven universities in Taiwan and features the real journeys and outcomes scholarship recipients and graduates. Their experiences show how successful applicants developed focused study plans, identified supervisors before applying, improved their language scores, sought feedback on personal statements, and connected their academic records and extracurricular activities with clear long-term goals.
Their outcomes include graduating with a 4.0 GPA and a national outstanding graduate award, becoming a university valedictorian, finding professional work in Taiwan, transferring from Taiwan to the Netherlands with ASML, and progressing to funded doctoral study at institutions including the University of Michigan and Monash University. Alongside these stories, you can compare each university’s notable academic fields, admissions information, tuition fees, scholarships, and international study opportunities.
Top Universities in Taiwan for International Students
| University | Selected Academic Areas |
|---|
| National Taiwan University | Chemistry, Engineering, Oncology, Pharmacology, and Toxicology |
| National Tsing Hua University | Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, and Nanoscience |
| National Cheng Kung University | Biotechnology, Civil Engineering, and Electrical Engineering |
| Taipei Medical University | Neuroscience, Pharmacology, and Artificial Intelligence in Medicine |
| National Taiwan University of Science and Technology | Engineering and Technology, Management, Design, and Education |
| Kaohsiung Medical University | Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Public Health |
| National Taiwan Ocean University | Marine Engineering, Aquaculture, Ocean Science, and Shipping Management |
1. National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a comprehensive public research university and Taiwan’s highest-ranked institution in the QS World University Rankings 2027, placing 54th globally. Its predecessor, Taihoku Imperial University, was founded in 1928, and the institution was renamed National Taiwan University in 1945. NTU offers a broad range of academic disciplines through its colleges, professional schools, departments, graduate institutes, and research centers. Its Main Library is the largest university library in Taiwan, and the university manages land equal to about 1% of Taiwan’s area, much of it through the NTU Experimental Forest.
NTU enrolls more than 32,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Students can access academic advising, career development, entrepreneurship support, and industry-linked learning opportunities.
One student’s journey: Prathama Das, who entered National Taiwan University‘s joint master’s in Genome and Systems Biology with Academia Sinica, says her 9.15/10 biotechnology GPA, computational-biology research experience, recommendation letters, and a clearly focused statement of purpose helped strengthen her application. She had also identified a potential thesis supervisor before admission—a requirement for her program—and says her novice-level TOCFL certificate may have helped demonstrate genuine interest in Taiwan during her scholarship interview. Her studies are supported by the fully funded MOE Taiwan Scholarship, which provides up to NTD 40,000 per semester toward tuition and miscellaneous expenses plus a NTD 20,000 monthly living allowance for her two-year master’s. View More National Taiwan University recipients →
2. National Tsing Hua University
National Tsing Hua University is a public higher education institution in Hsinchu. It was established in Beijing in 1911 and re-established at its present campus in Hsinchu in 1956. It has since developed into a comprehensive university with academic fields spanning science, engineering, life sciences and medicine, humanities and social sciences, technology management, the arts, education, semiconductor research, and sustainability.
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, NTHU is ranked joint 142nd globally. Its research activity and international partnerships attract students and scholars from around the world.
A recipient’s path: Vietnamese student Nim Boi Doanh approached admission to National Tsing Hua University as a structured project: she prepared documents and language tests early, prioritized sustained activities over short-term extracurriculars, sought advice from previous scholarship recipients, and entered interviews focused on clear, authentic answers rather than memorized responses. Her profile included a 9.2/10 high-school GPA, IELTS 7.5 and TOCFL Level 5, and she enrolled in NTHU’s bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with the Taiwan Ministry of Education Scholarship, which her story says covers tuition and living expenses for four years. She credits preparation, alignment and confidence rather than a single ideal applicant profile as the common thread she observed among successful recipients. View More National Tsing Hua University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at National Tsing Hua University: Darshana Mahesh Patil: after completing her two-year International MBA at NTHU, she secured an R&D Engineer role in mechanical design and project management at ONANO in Taiwan.
3. National Cheng Kung University
Blending tradition and technology, National Cheng Kung University is a comprehensive public research university in Tainan. Founded in 1931 as Tainan Technical College, NCKU has grown well beyond its engineering roots. Its campuses include historic buildings and cultural sites, while its research and industry partnerships connect the university with southern Taiwan’s technology sector, including the Southern Taiwan Science Park.
NCKU is ranked joint 191st globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Its academic strengths include engineering, computer science, biotechnology, medicine, and sustainability-related fields. International applicants should consult NCKU’s current admissions materials for the latest list of English-taught and bilingual programs. The university also maintains dual-degree pathways with overseas partners, including KU Leuven and Purdue University, although availability depends on the college and degree level.
One student’s journey: Indonesian civil engineering graduate Alvin completed a master’s at National Cheng Kung University with the TaiwanICDF International Higher Education Scholarship Program. In his account, he describes building an application checklist, repeatedly refining his study plan, biography and scholarship essay, consulting his former supervisor, and preparing for IELTS for around two to three months before scoring 7.5; he believed his 3.93/4.0 undergraduate GPA plus organizational and competition experience also strengthened his application. His fully funded award covered tuition, dormitory, visa and book costs, round-trip airfare and a stipend of roughly NTD 18,000 per month. View More National Cheng Kung University recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at National Cheng Kung University: Talitha: after completing her MBA, she remained in Taiwan and was working there after graduation.
4. Taipei Medical University
Taipei Medical University was founded in 1960. It now comprises 11 colleges, a General Education Center, more than 6,000 students, and seven affiliated medical institutions. TMU emphasizes clinical and translational research in areas such as cancer, neuroscience, pulmonary medicine, biomedical devices, cell therapy, and artificial intelligence in healthcare.
In the Times Higher Education 2026 subject rankings, TMU placed in the 251–300 band worldwide for Medical and Health. It was also ranked 97th in the 2026 Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings. These results, together with its medical education and affiliated healthcare institutions, make TMU a strong option for international students interested in health-related fields.
Raphael’s path to Taipei Medical University: Nigerian pharmacy graduate Raphael Onuku earned the MOE Taiwan Government Scholarship and enrolled in an MS in Medicinal Chemistry at Taipei Medical University, where he graduated with a 4.0/4.0 GPA and received the Ministry of Education Outstanding Graduate Award. For his scholarship application, he says he built a focused personal statement around clear research goals, highlighted leadership and community engagement with quantified results, and had mentors critique his essays for clarity and evidence of future potential. After his TMU master’s and a paid research internship at Academia Sinica, he progressed to a fully funded Medicinal Chemistry PhD at the University of Michigan; his TMU studies had been supported by the MOE Taiwan Government Scholarship, covering approved tuition and fees up to NTD 40,000 per semester plus an NTD 20,000 monthly stipend. View More Taipei Medical University recipients →
5. National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, commonly known as Taiwan Tech, is a public university in Taipei. Founded in 1974 as the National Taiwan Institute of Technology, it was the first higher education institution in Taiwan’s technical and vocational education system and became a university under its current name in 1997. Its current academic units span engineering, electrical engineering and computer science, management, design, liberal arts and social sciences, applied sciences, and industry–academia innovation.
Taiwan Tech describes its mission as developing an international applied research university with strong industry links. It is ranked joint 379th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, its Engineering and Technology field ranked 194th globally, while Architecture and Built Environment, Civil and Structural Engineering, and Education and Training were among Taiwan’s top three. The university also offers English-medium courses and international academic opportunities.
Mnasnan’s path to NTUST: Mnasnan Seamorntham earned a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology with the MOE Taiwan Scholarship. For her application, she raised her IELTS score from 6.5 to 7.5 and focused her personal statement on connecting her academic background, future goals, and reasons for studying in Taiwan, while using mentor and teacher feedback to strengthen her materials. She later graduated as NTUST valedictorian, joined ASML in Taiwan as its first Thai employee, and received an internal transfer to the Netherlands within a year. View More National Taiwan University of Science and Technology recipients →
6. Kaohsiung Medical University
Kaohsiung Medical University is a private medical university located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Founded in 1954 as Kaohsiung Medical College, it was Taiwan’s first private institution dedicated to medical education. The university now has approximately 5,800 students.
KMU is organized into seven colleges covering medicine, dental medicine, pharmacy, nursing, health sciences, life sciences, and humanities and social sciences. Its academic offerings include medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, biotechnology, medical laboratory science, and healthcare administration.
The university works closely with its affiliated hospitals, giving students opportunities to connect classroom learning with clinical training and medical research. KMU also offers several English-taught graduate programs for international students in fields such as medicine, tropical medicine, pharmacy, nursing, public health, and medical biotechnology.
Parikshit Banerjee’s path to Kaohsiung Medical University: After completing a pharmacy master’s in China, Parikshit Banerjee moved to Taiwan for a second master’s at Kaohsiung Medical University, completing an M.Sc. in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine with a 4.27/4.3 GPA. He received the Kaohsiung Medical University International Scholarship, and described the degree as the point where he became deeply committed to regenerative medicine. After graduating, he briefly began doctoral study at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and later moved to Monash University, where he is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Medicine focused on gene-based approaches to tissue repair. View More Kaohsiung Medical University recipients →
7. National Taiwan Ocean University
National Taiwan Ocean University is a public university located in the port city of Keelung, Taiwan. Founded in 1953 as a maritime technology college, it has developed into a comprehensive university specializing in ocean-related education and research. NTOU has approximately 9,000 students and operates campuses in Keelung, Matsu, and Taoyuan.
The university is organized into colleges covering maritime science and management, life sciences, ocean science and resources, engineering, electrical engineering and computer science, humanities and social sciences, and ocean law and policy. Its programs include marine engineering, shipping management, aquaculture, food science, biotechnology, fisheries science, naval architecture, computer science, and marine environmental studies.
NTOU’s research and professional training are closely connected to Taiwan’s maritime industries. The university maintains specialized centers for ocean science and ocean engineering while promoting internships, international exchanges, and collaboration with industry. It also offers English-taught programs, particularly at the master’s and doctoral levels, for international students interested in marine and related fields.
Joey Tang Pei Wen’s path to National Taiwan Ocean University: After earning first-class honours in Aquaculture in Malaysia, Joey Tang Pei Wen applied separately to National Taiwan Ocean University and the MOE Taiwan Scholarship, completing the university application online and sending the scholarship’s hard-copy documents to TECO in Malaysia within one week; she was not interviewed. She credits sustained academic performance and extracurricular participation with helping her application stand out, and the MOE award funded her NTOU master’s with full tuition and an NTD 20,000 monthly allowance. After completing that master’s, she continued at NTOU into a PhD in Marine Science with the MOST Excellent Doctoral Scholarship. View More National Taiwan Ocean University recipients →
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 include 47 universities from Taiwan, with seven placed among the global top 500. Taiwanese universities offer programs across science, engineering, technology, medicine, business, the humanities, and many other fields. Prospective students should compare current program languages, admission requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, and career pathways before applying.
We hope this article on universities in Taiwan for international students was helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
