Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship Recipient, Prathama Das from India, Shares Her Journey of Pursuing a Master’s in Genome and Systems Biology at National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica, Taiwan

My name is Prathama Das, and I am from India. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Genome and Systems Biology (GSB), a joint program offered by National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica in Taiwan. Before this, I completed my Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology from Shoolini University, India, in 2024. During the junior year of my undergraduate studies, I was awarded the Chanakya UG Fellowship, through which I gained valuable exposure to computational biology, developed a strong appreciation for the field’s potential and impact, and was motivated to pursue advanced training in this area. The GSB program’s strong focus on systems biology and computational biology, combined with its intensive hands-on research environment, aligns closely with my academic interests and long-term career goals. Receiving the Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship significantly eased the financial burden of studying abroad and enabled me to pursue higher education while gaining meaningful international research exposure.

Taiwan Government Scholarship Details

I am a recipient of the Taiwan Government Scholarship awarded by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Taiwan. The scholarship covers tuition and miscellaneous expenses of up to NTD 40,000 per semester and provides a monthly living allowance of NTD 20,000 for a duration of two years for my master’s program. The MOE Taiwan Scholarship is also available for bachelor’s and PhD studies, with the amount varying according to the level of study.

Educational Background

I completed my Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology from Shoolini University, India, in 2024 with an overall GPA of 9.15 out of 10. During my undergraduate studies, I took several relevant core and advanced courses, including Bioinformatics, Microbiology, Animal Biotechnology, Advanced Biostatistics, and Recombinant DNA Technology. In addition to my coursework, I actively participated in several research training programs and internships at leading research institutions in India, which provided me with deeper exposure to contemporary scientific research. I was also highly engaged in extracurricular academic activities, including hackathons, ideathons, conferences, and scientific review writing. Furthermore, I served as the President of the Biosciences Society at my university, an experience that enriched my academic engagement, strengthened my leadership and communication skills, and allowed me to interact closely with the biosciences research community. Overall, these academic and research experiences prepared me well for advanced study and strengthened my overall application.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the National Taiwan University?

How Did You Find Information About Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship and the National Taiwan University?

I learned about them while studying Mandarin (as a minor subject) at my university. One of my instructors was affiliated with the International Office of my university and also served as a representative of the Taiwanese Representative Office in New Delhi, India. Ms. Sabrina Chen regularly informed us about various fully funded research and education opportunities in Taiwan, including the Taiwan Experience Education Program (an internship program) and the Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I took the IELTS examination. As my entire academic education has been conducted in English, I did not require any extra preparation for the test. I familiarized myself with the exam format using the official preparation materials provided at the time of registration, which were sufficient for my preparation. In addition, I took the TOCFL (Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language) at the novice level. Although it is not required for applications to fully English-taught programs, I chose to take the exam to demonstrate my enthusiasm for learning the language, which I believe may have reflected positively during the scholarship interview.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship?

To prepare for the scholarship application, I carefully developed my Statement of Purpose and academic curriculum vitae (CV), ensuring that they clearly reflected my academic background, research interests, and long-term goals, as well as how studying in Taiwan and gaining global experience would contribute to my education and career development. I also organized and submitted all required academic transcripts and supporting documents in accordance with the application guidelines.

How is (was) Your Experience at the National Taiwan University?

My experience at the institution so far has been very positive. In a short time, I’m amazed to see how I have been exposed to a wide range of research domains. The courses are highly hands-on and focus strongly on current advances in the field, with an emphasis on learning from research papers rather than only textbooks. The professors and my classmates are very approachable, supportive, and always open to discussion. The local community is also very welcoming, and despite language barriers, people often go out of their way to make international students feel comfortable and supported.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Mandarin? Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically Not Knowing Mandarin?

My program is fully taught in English, and proficiency in English is sufficient to be eligible for the program and to complete all coursework successfully. All lectures, teaching materials, class interactions, and presentations are conducted in English. At National Taiwan University, students can also choose elective courses from other related departments, many of which are offered in English, allowing international students to fulfill the required credit requirements without difficulty. In addition, many seminars and training workshops are conducted in English. While some events may be offered only in Chinese, attendance is not mandatory for international students, and when participation is required, English alternatives or support are provided at both National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe my application stood out due to my prior research exposure in the field of computational biology through multiple training programs and internships at highly reputed research institutions in India. In addition, a strong overall GPA, genuinely supportive letters of recommendation, and my active participation in co-curricular academic activities further strengthened my profile. These experiences helped me develop a clear understanding of my research interests and a strong motivation for pursuing advanced studies, which I articulated clearly in my Statement of Purpose. Furthermore, I had already identified a potential principal investigator (PI) who agreed to supervise my master’s thesis, which is a required criterion for admission to my program. My genuine interest in the Taiwanese language and culture was also reflected during the MOE scholarship interview, and obtaining a novice-level Mandarin (TOCFL) certificate may have contributed positively.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

If I were to go through the process again, I would reach out to potential professors earlier and communicate more with lab members to better understand their research focus and work culture before arriving in Taiwan. Based on my experience, there are many excellent laboratories at both National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica, and it is beneficial to begin identifying a suitable lab as early as possible. In some programs, local students join labs well before the semester begins, so it would be advantageous for international students to adopt a similar approach rather than waiting until the semester starts. If feasible, I would also try to engage with the lab before arrival by conducting literature reviews, building a strong theoretical understanding of the research topic, and gaining relevant computational experience.