MOE Taiwan Scholarship — Eligibility
The MOE Taiwan Scholarship is administered by Taiwan's Ministry of Education. You apply through the nearest TECO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office) or ROC overseas mission in your country.
Who is eligible
Foreign nationals (non-ROC citizens)
Any country of citizenship is acceptable, with the exceptions listed below.
Applying for bachelor's, master's, or PhD programs
All three study levels are eligible for MOE.
Not currently enrolled at a Taiwan university
Exception: If you are enrolled and will graduate before September of the scholarship year, you may still apply for the next level of study.
Academic records meeting the minimum standard
Generally a B average or above (roughly 70/100 or 3.0 GPA equivalent). Individual universities may have higher requirements.
Who is NOT eligible
ROC citizens (Taiwan nationals)
Residents of mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macao
Even if you hold a passport from a third country while being a permanent resident of the mainland, HK, or Macao — you are not eligible.
Current Taiwan Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC) holders
Anyone already receiving another Taiwan government scholarship
Holding two Taiwan government scholarships simultaneously is prohibited.
Anyone who has already completed a degree at the same level in Taiwan
If you completed a bachelor's degree in Taiwan previously, you cannot apply for another bachelor's scholarship. You could apply for master's level.
Anyone who has already received the maximum lifetime 5 years of Taiwan government scholarship
The "currently enrolled" rule is frequently misunderstood
If you started a master's program in Taiwan with your own funding and are now applying for the MOE scholarship, you are ineligible to continue that same program on scholarship. You cannot receive the scholarship to finish a degree you already started. You would need to complete it first and then apply for the next level.
TaiwanICDF Scholarship — Eligibility
The ICDF scholarship has stricter eligibility than MOE. It targets students from Taiwan's official development partner countries.
Core eligibility requirements
- Must be a citizen of a TaiwanICDF eligible partner country. The list is updated annually — check the current list at the ICDF portal before applying.
- Master's and PhD levels only. No undergraduate programs.
- Must not hold Taiwan citizenship or APRC.
- Must not currently be studying or residing in Taiwan.
- Must choose from the 32 pre-specified English-taught programs at 18 ICDF partner universities.
- Bachelor's degree required for Master's applicants; Master's required for PhD applicants.
- GPA equivalent to at least B+ average (approximately 75/100) is typically expected.
- English proficiency may be required depending on the program (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent).
ICDF eligible countries list
Partner countries include nations across Asia-Pacific, Africa, Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of Europe. The list is not static — countries are added and removed based on diplomatic and development relationships. Always verify your country's status at the official ICDF scholarship page for the current cycle.
Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) — Eligibility
The Huayu HES is for learning Mandarin only. It funds you to attend a Mandarin Language Center (MLC) at a Taiwan university — not a degree program.
- Foreign nationals only (same nationality rules as MOE apply).
- Must not currently hold or have held the Huayu HES in the past two years.
- Cannot hold any other Taiwan government scholarship concurrently.
- No language requirement at application — the scholarship is to learn Mandarin, not a reward for already knowing it.
- Duration choices: 2, 3, 6, 9, or 12 months.
Academic Requirements: What "Minimum" Really Means
The official MOE guidelines state a "B average" as a general standard. In practice, this is a baseline, not a target. Many Taiwan universities require higher academic standing from scholarship applicants, and competitive programs at NTU, NTHU, or NYCU will see applicants with top-percentile academic records.
The scholarship itself does not have a centralized GPA cutoff — selection weight is distributed between academic records, the study plan, language certificate, and recommendation letters. A very strong study plan and relevant background can offset a GPA that is above the minimum but not exceptional.
Language requirements summary
| Program type | TOCFL requirement | English requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese-taught program | TOCFL Level 3 required at application | Not required by scholarship |
| English-taught program | Not required, but gives selection priority | Per university requirements |
| ICDF programs | Not required | Per program requirements (IELTS/TOEFL) |
Can I apply for MOE and ICDF simultaneously?
Yes. You may apply for both the MOE Taiwan Scholarship and the TaiwanICDF scholarship in the same cycle. If you win both, you must choose one. You cannot hold both. You cannot combine the Huayu HES with either degree scholarship.