Studying in Taiwan

What a year costs

Tuition is set by each university. National Taiwan University's published schedule for international degree students, per semester (two semesters a year):

• Liberal arts, social sciences, law: NT$50,460 a semester for bachelor's
• Engineering, electrical engineering and computer science: NT$58,940
• Medicine and public health: NT$62,100
• Master's and doctoral students pay full tuition of NT$51,280-62,360 a semester for the first two years, then a lower basic fee from year three

So a bachelor's degree at NTU costs roughly NT$101,000-124,000 a year in tuition. Private universities set their own fees.

Living costs. NTU estimates, per four-month semester, excluding tuition:

• Accommodation: general dorms NT$7,900-12,900; off-campus NT$48,000-72,000
• Living expenses: NT$48,000-72,000
• Books: NT$5,000-8,000
• Total: NT$66,000-157,000 a semester, depending mainly on whether you get a dorm place

Health insurance. Once you have lived in Taiwan for six consecutive months from your Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) date, you must join the National Health Insurance (NHI). Universities quote NT$826 a month, collected as NT$4,956 a semester. Before that you need private cover, usually arranged by your university. During the first six months, leaving Taiwan for more than one trip or more than 29 days resets the clock.

The Taiwan Scholarship, run by the Ministry of Education, pays tuition and fees of up to NT$40,000 a semester and a living allowance of NT$15,000 or NT$20,000 a month. You apply through the Taiwan representative office in your country, and separately to the university.

The visa

For a degree programme you need a resident visa for foreign students, followed by an Alien Resident Certificate after arrival.

Fee: US$66 for a single-entry resident visa applied for overseas, or NT$2,200 in Taiwan. The Bureau of Consular Affairs charges nationals of countries that levy extra fees on Taiwan passport holders an equivalent extra amount, so your fee may be higher.

What you submit, according to the Bureau of Consular Affairs:

• the online application form, two photos and a passport with at least six months' validity
• your admission letter and your previous diploma and transcripts, translated into English or Chinese if necessary
• a health certificate issued within the last three months by a hospital on the designated list; certificates from foreign hospitals must be authenticated by a Taiwan overseas mission
• financial evidence: bank statements or remittance records, yours or your family's, sufficient for at least six consecutive months' living needs

The money. There is no fixed national amount. Your university's figure is the one to meet. NTU requires self-funded applicants to show a bank statement, issued within the past three months, with a balance of at least NT$200,000.

The 30-day rule. You must apply online for your ARC within 30 days of the day after you arrive. Missing it brings a NT$2,000 fine. The ARC costs NT$1,000 a year for international students, and you can choose one to three years at a time. Apply to renew about 90 days before it expires.

Working while you study

You need a work permit for any job or internship, on or off campus. It is issued by the Workforce Development Agency of the Ministry of Labor.

• Term time: up to 20 hours a week
• Winter and summer vacations: no weekly limit
• Permit valid for up to one year, renewed each year; NTU notes the latest validity date each year is 30 September
• Fee NT$100, processing about 7-10 working days

You qualify if you are enrolled as a degree student, or after completing one year of a Mandarin language course. Working without a permit can bring a fine of NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 and removal from Taiwan.

After you graduate

This changed on 1 January 2026. Graduates with an associate degree or higher from a Taiwanese college or university can extend their stay for up to two years after graduation, and during that extension they may work full-time or part-time without a work permit, in any field. The policy has no job-type restriction and no salary threshold during the extension.

Take-up has been fast: the National Development Council reported 3,239 foreign graduates had been granted the extended stay by July 2026, against 281 applications in the whole of 2025.

When the extension ends, you need a standard route: a work permit for specialised or technical work, the points-based system, or an Employment Gold Card. Talent Taiwan, set up by the National Development Council, advises graduates on the extension and next steps.

Language

English-taught programmes exist at many universities, especially at master's level and in engineering, business and the semiconductor-focused colleges. NTU asks for English at CEFR B2 or above for English-taught programmes.

Chinese-taught programmes at NTU ask for CEFR A2 or above, evidenced by a recognised test such as TOCFL. Other universities set their own levels.

Taiwan uses Traditional Chinese characters. Mandarin is the working language of the ARC office, landlords, clinics and most part-time jobs, and it matters for employment after graduation. Many universities run Mandarin centres, and the Ministry of Education promotes Taiwan as a destination for learning Mandarin.

When to apply

The academic year starts in September, with a smaller February intake at some universities.

NTU's application periods for September 2027 entry:

• First round: 29 September to 5 November 2026
• Second round: 1 December 2026 to 19 January 2027

The application fee is NT$2,000 or US$80 per department, dropping to NT$1,500 or US$60 from the third application onwards.

Taiwan Scholarship applications go through your local Taiwan representative office and follow its timetable, so check that office's dates at the same time as university deadlines.

After admission, allow time for the health certificate from a designated hospital and for the visa itself, then plan to arrive early enough to file your ARC within 30 days.

What to watch out for

The health certificate must come from a designated hospital. A general check-up from any clinic will not do. Check the Bureau of Consular Affairs list for your country, or plan to have the certificate authenticated.

The NHI six-month clock. Leaving Taiwan more than once, or for more than 29 days, in your first six months can delay NHI eligibility. Plan trips home around it.

Work permit renewal. Your student work permit lapses each year. An expired permit makes your job illegal even if nothing else has changed.

The two-year extension is not automatic. You must apply for the extension of stay yourself. Check the filing window with the National Immigration Agency or Talent Taiwan well before your student ARC expires, and do not let it lapse while you wait for results.

Dorm places are limited. The gap between a dorm (from NT$7,900 a semester at NTU) and an off-campus room (from NT$48,000) is the largest item in your budget. Apply for housing as soon as you accept your offer.

Where these numbers come from

Rules change, sometimes at short notice. Every figure above carries the date we checked it. Check the official source before you rely on it, and confirm your visa fee with the Taiwan representative office where you will apply.