Taiwan is emerging as a top study destination in Asia, offering high-quality education, affordable living costs, and many fully funded Scholarships opportunities for international students — many of which do not require IELTS if you can provide alternative English proficiency documentation like a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate.
🎓 Scholarship Overview
- Host Country: Taiwan
- Academic Year: 2026–2027
- Available For: International students worldwide
- Study Levels:
- Bachelor’s
- Master’s
- PHD / Doctoral
- IELTS Requirement: Not mandatory for many Taiwan Scholarships — most accept MOI certificates, previous English education proof, or alternative documentation.
Taiwan is Home to a growing number of Scholarships that promote global talent and academic exchange. These programs cover tuition fees, living stipends, and often additional benefits like accommodation or travel support.
🎯 Top Fully Funded Scholarships in Taiwan (No IELTS Required)
1. National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) International Scholarship
A fully funded opportunity for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students with generous stipends and no IELTS requirement if alternatives are submitted.
🔗 Apply Here (Official Admissions Portal): https://www.nctu.edu.tw/
Benefits:
- Full tuition waiver
- Monthly stipend (varies by study level)
- Research assistantships available
- No IELTS required — MOI accepted
Deadline: Typically early Fall 2025 (e.g., September 30, 2025).
2. Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU) International Student Scholarship
A fully funded scholarship at KMU — one of Taiwan’s leading medical and health sciences universities — that does not require IELTS, TOEFL, or GRE.
🔗 Apply Here: https://www.kmu.edu.tw/
Benefits:
- Full tuition waiver
- Monthly stipends depending on degree level
- On-campus housing for selected categories
- MOI or equivalent accepted instead of IELTS
Deadline: Typically around October 9, 2025.
3. National Taiwan University (NTU) Scholarship
NTU offers comprehensive funding for Master’s and PhD students, including tuition waivers and monthly stipends — and IELTS is not mandatory if applicants provide alternative language proof such as MOI.
🔗 Apply Here: https://ntu.edu.tw/
Benefits:
- Tuition fee coverage up to stipulated limits
- Monthly living stipend (~TWD 30,000 for graduate)
- Return airfare support for some awardees
- MOI accepted instead of IELTS
Deadlines: First round around November 13, 2025 and a second round around January 15, 2026.
4. Taiwan Government Scholarships (MOE & MOFA)
The Taiwan Government Scholarship programs — including the Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Scholarship — support international students at all levels. IELTS is not strictly required if acceptable English proficiency is demonstrated.
🔗 Apply Here (Official Taiwan Scholarship Portal): https://taiwanscholarship.org/
Benefits:
- Full tuition waiver
- Monthly stipend (varies by program)
- Some support for travel or Mandarin language study
Note: Deadlines often vary by embassy and intake (Fall/Spring cycles).
5. Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP)
An interdisciplinary PhD scholarship program jointly supported by Academia Sinica and Taiwanese universities with full funding and no IELTS requirement (MOI accepted).
🔗 Apply (via TIGP portal): https://tigp.sinica.edu.tw/
Benefits:
- Full funding for PhD research
- Monthly stipend and research support
- English MOI accepted in place of IELTS
Note: Typically for STEM and related fields.
💰 Financial Coverage (Typical Fully Funded Benefits)
Most Taiwan scholarships provide one or more of the following:
- 🎓 Full tuition fee waiver
- 💸 Monthly stipend (e.g., NTD 21,000–29,000 for NCTU)
- 🏠 Accommodation support (varies by scholarship)
- ✈️ Return airfare support (select awards like NTU)
- 📚 Research or academic support for graduate students
📜 Eligibility Criteria
Academic
- High school diploma for Bachelor’s
- Bachelor’s degree for Master’s
- Master’s degree for PhD
- Strong academic records and research potential for postgraduate scholarships
Nationality
- Open to international students (non-Taiwanese) and often not limited by country of origin.
Language
- IELTS is not required if you can present:
- A Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate showing previous education in English
- Duolingo/TOEFL or other acceptable alternatives (even if optional)
Other
- Health and character requirements as specified by universities or scholarship bodies.
📄 Required Documents for International Applicants
Prepare the following documents (may vary by scholarship):
- 📜 Academic transcripts and certificates
- 🛂 Valid passport copy
- 📑 CV / Resume
- 📝 Statement of Purpose or study plan
- 🧾 Letters of Recommendation
- 📌 English proficiency proof (MOI or alternatives)
- 🔬 Research proposal (for PhD applicants)
📝 Application Process (Step-by-Step)
- Research scholarships & eligibility
- Prepare documents (SOP, transcripts, CV, MOI, etc.)
- Register on the official application portal (TAIWAN Scholarship, NCTU, NTU, KMU, TIGP)
- Submit online applications before deadlines
- Attend interviews or assessments (if required)
- Receive admission & scholarship letters
- Begin pre-departure and visa application
✈️ Taiwan Student Visa Process (Steps)
After receiving your acceptance and scholarship offer:
- Get the Admission & Scholarship Letters
- Prepare visa documents: passport, letters, health check, photos
- Apply for a Resident Visa at the Taiwanese embassy/consulate
- Attend biometric interview (if requested)
- Visa Issuance and travel to Taiwan
- Apply for ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) within 15 days of arrival
🌏 Why Choose Taiwan for Your Studies
- 🎓 High-quality education with many globally ranked universities
- 🌍 Cultural diversity and safe, student-friendly environment
- 💼 Research & innovation opportunities
- 💰 Affordable cost of living and study compared to many Western countries
- 🈶 Many scholarships with no IELTS requirement for international students
❓ FAQs
Q: Are these scholarships fully funded?
✔ Yes — Taiwan scholarships typically cover tuition, stipends, and sometimes accommodation or airfare.
Q: Can I apply without IELTS?
✔ Yes — many programs accept MOI or equivalent language proof instead of IELTS.
Q: Who can apply?
🌍 International students from all countries are eligible.
Q: Do these scholarships cover living expenses?
✔ Many include monthly stipends for living costs.
Q: When are the deadlines for 2026–2027?
🗓️ Most deadlines fall between August and October 2025, with second rounds into early 2026 for some programs.
🔗 Official Apply Links
- National Chiao Tung University: https://www.nctu.edu.tw/
- Kaohsiung Medical University: https://www.kmu.edu.tw/
- National Taiwan University: https://ntu.edu.tw/
- Taiwan Government Scholarship (MOE/MOFA): https://taiwanscholarship.org/
- Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP): https://tigp.sinica.edu.tw/
