Announcement: Taiwan Scholarship Program 2025
(For applicants of Laos only)
Published by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam
The purpose of the Ministry of Education (MOE) Taiwan Scholarships created by the MOE of Taiwan is to encourage outstanding Laotian students to study and pursue degree programs at universities or colleges in Taiwan; to familiarize themselves with the academic environment in Taiwan and promote communication, understanding, and friendship between Taiwan and Laos.
I. Numbers of scholarship:
1 slot for Laotian students who plans to undertake a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate in Taiwan.
II. The MOE Taiwan Scholarship Program provides the following conditions for each outstanding Laotian recipient:
(i) Tuition and miscellaneous expenses (i.e. the course-credit fees, and miscellaneous basic study-related fees): The MOE will pay up to TWD 40,000 (roughly USD 1,290) each semester for each recipient’s approved tuition and miscellaneous expenses. If these exceed a total amount of TWD 40,000(around USD 1,290), the remaining amount must be paid to the university/college by the students themselves. The “miscellaneous expenses” do not include any of the following: administration fees, thesis supervision fees, insurance premiums, accommodation, or internet access. These are all the responsibility of the scholarship recipient.
(ii) Living allowance: The MOE provides each recipient undertaking university undergraduate studies a monthly stipend of TWD 15,000 (roughly USD 500); it provides each recipient undertaking a master’s degree or doctorate studies a monthly stipend of TWD 20,000 (roughly USD 670).
III. Scholarship Duration and Time Limits:
(i) The maximum period a Taiwan Scholarship may be held is: four years for undergraduate programs, two years for master’s degree programs, and four years for doctorate programs. A scholarship recipient is not permitted to hold a Taiwan Scholarship longer than the maximum total period of five years.
(ii) The Taiwan Scholarship year counts on each academic year basis that begins on September 1 until August 31 of the following year. Recipients must arrive in Taiwan and register at their university/college at the scheduled time. It is not permitted to defer taking up a Taiwan Scholarship until the following year. A student who is unable to arrive in Taiwan and register at their university/college at the scheduled time will be considered to have forfeited their scholarship eligibility, unless the student has notified the university/college and the MOE beforehand and been given permission for a delayed arrival and registration.
(iii) Living allowance payments begin from the month that the recipient actually begins attending the university/college, and will end when it reaches maximum scholarship period for which each recipient undertaking degree level studies, or when the recipient graduates, withdraws from their studies, is suspended or expelled, or has their Taiwan Scholarship revoked.
IV. Eligibility:
(i) Applicants must be a Laotian national with a secondary school graduation diploma or a post-secondary degree(s), and an excellent academic record, and be of good moral character.
(ii) A person in any of the following categories is ineligible to apply:
1. An R.O.C. national or an overseas Chinese student.
2. A person who already has and is continuing to maintain student status at any university/college in Taiwan or who has already registered to begin studies at such a university/college. This restriction does not apply to a student who will be graduating after completing a degree that year. They may apply for a Taiwan Scholarship to pursue a higher degree.
3. A person who has already studied in Taiwan for a degree at the same level as the one in which they currently intend to enroll.
4. An exchange student or dual/joint degree student who has been admitted to a university/college in Taiwan in accordance with an academic cooperation agreement between that university/college and an overseas university/college.
5. A person who has already been a Taiwan Scholarship recipient for a total of five years.
6. A person who has ever previously had their Taiwan Scholarship or MOE Huayu Enrichment Scholarship revoked.
7. A person who has received any other scholarship or subsidy from any Taiwan Government institution (organization) or any education institution in Taiwan, apart from any subsidies provided for a Taiwan Scholarship recipient by their university/college to cover the outstanding amount if the total amount of their tuition and other fees exceeds the scholarship limit.
(iii) Applicants must apply directly to the university/college for admission within the application deadline. Each university/college sets its own application deadline (the list of universities and programs in Taiwan can be found on “Study in Taiwan” website: http://www.studyintaiwan.org/university).
* Certain universities/colleges in Taiwan give scholarship recipients discounts for tuition and/or miscellaneous expenses. Applicant may refer to the List of “Universities/Colleges Providing Tuition & Miscellaneous Expense Discounts for MOE Taiwan Scholarship Recipients 2025 Academic Year.”
* Certain universities/colleges in Taiwan offer programs completely taught in English. Applicant may refer to the list of “Universities/Colleges Offering Degree Programs Taught in English 2025 Academic Year.”
V. Application Documents
Applicants must submit the following documents within the specified period to Education Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam:
(i) A Taiwan Scholarship Application Form.
(ii) A photocopy of the applicant’s passport or other documentary evidence of nationality.
(iii) A photocopy of their highest academic award and of the associated academic transcripts. Documents in a language other than Chinese or English must be translated into Chinese or English and the translated documents must be authenticated by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Laos.
(iv) Photocopies of documentary evidence that the applicant has already applied to a university/college in Taiwan (for example, photocopies of the application fee remittance, the application form, and a notice or email from the university/college acknowledging receipt of the application.)
(v) Universities that have the degree programs completely taught in English. Applicants may refer to the list of “Universities/Colleges Offering Degree Programs Taught in English 2025 Academic Year.” If the English-language degree program has not been not one of the aforementioned programs then the applicant must obtain a document formally issued by the university/college (not a subsidiary department or unit) that the applicant wants to attend certifying that the degree program in question is fully taught in English.
(vi) A photocopy of a language proficiency certificate. Education Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam must oversee this requirement in accordance with the following provisions:
1. For applications to undertake a program not completely taught in English:
An applicant must submit a copy of results or certificate which means passing the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) at Level 3 or above (HSK is not accepted).
2. If the applicant wants to undertake a program completely taught in English, they have to submit copies of English language test scores within the effective period that meet the standards of TOEFL PBT 500, TOEFL IBT 60, IELTS 5.5, TOEIC 600 or any other equivalent levels that they can provide evidences.
(vii) Two reference letters – from a principal, a college or university president, professors, and/or supervisors – personally signed, and placed in sealed envelopes.
(viii) A Study Plan that details each applicant’s motivation and plan for studying in Taiwan.
*The application form must be fully completed and the application form and other documents will not be returned.
VI. Application Date and Contact Information:
The application period is from Feb 1 to March 31, 2025 for applicants of Laos (the deadline for submission is based on the postmark date). Applicants should send their scholarship application ducuments to the following address:
Education Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam is in charge of the Application.
Addrees: 20A(KT) Floor PVI Building, No. 1 Pham Van Bach Street, Cau Giay District, Hanoi,Viet Nam.
Email: tweduvn@gmail.com; Website: https://depart.moe.edu.tw/VN
Contact: Tel:+84-24-3833-5501 ext. 8456; Fax: +84-24-3226-2114
VII. Selection Criteria:
(i) The evaluation criteria primarily refer to the applicant's submitted:
1. study plan,
2. academic performance,
3. language proficiency,
4. recommendation letters, and
5. interview performance.
(ii) Scholarship recipients wanting to do a bachelor’s degree must have an average GPA of at least 3.0, those wanting to do a master’s degree must have an average GPA of at least 3.5 or above during their studies so far (where 4.5 is the highest score).
VIII. The Tentative Schedule for Application and Selection Process:
(i) Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam will conduct paper reviews and interviews during April and May, 2025 and then select the successful candidates and place some candidates on a waiting list. In principle, each successful candidate has to provide admission letters by the end of June, and attend the pre-departure orientation in July. If the scholarship recipient is a recent graduate, he/she must submit an official graduation certificate or temporary graduation proof and a complete academic transcript for all years, translated into Chinese (or English) and authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Laos before July 20. Failure to submit these documents on time will result in the inability to receive the scholarship certificate.
(ii) A Taiwan Scholarship recipient who has completed their degree program within the prescribed period may then apply for a Taiwan Scholarship to undertake a higher degree at the next level. Such applications must be submitted by February 28 each year and in accordance with the provisions of Article 5, the new application and all the required documents must be submitted to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam (Education Division) that awarded their first Taiwan Scholarship. This will be treated as a completely new application and be subject to the same selection process. They are not permitted to apply for a second Taiwan Scholarship to do another degree at the same level or another degree at a lower degree level. A scholarship recipient is not permitted to hold a Taiwan Scholarship longer than the maximum total period of five years.
IX. Important Provisions for Scholarship Recipients:
(i) Scholarship recipients are responsible for the payment of all other expenses apart from tuition and miscellaneous expenses. A scholarship recipient who is experiencing financial hardship may apply to the university/college at which they are registered for payments for any other expenses to be deducted from their living allowance.
(ii) If a scholarship recipient’s academic performance, or conduct, or their attendance record falls below the standard required by the university/college at which they are registered, their scholarship will be suspended or revoked, in accordance with the rules and regulations of their university/college.
(iii) If a scholarship recipient is found to be in simultaneous receipt of any other award or subsidy from any Taiwan Government institution (organization) or any education institution in Taiwan, and this has been verified, their scholarship will be revoked and the student must pay back all the living allowance payments and the tuition and miscellaneous expenses paid during the period when they were also receiving the other award or subsidy.
(iv) All scholarship recipients are required to join the National Health Insurance plan in accordance with Taiwan’s national legislation. Before doing so, they must purchase other medical and accident insurance.
(v) After enrolling at a university/college in Taiwan, a scholarship recipient is not permitted to travel to any other country as an exchange student or as a dual/joint degree student. If they do so, their Taiwan Scholarship will be revoked. They are not permitted to retain the still unused part of their Taiwan Scholarship or have the award period extended for them to be able to resume receiving the original scholarship when they return to Taiwan.
(vi) Scholarship recipients are not permitted to work illegally in Taiwan.
(vii) Any scholarship recipient who submits any application document or any document when they are enrolling that is found to be fake, misleading, has been altered in some way, or contains any falsehood will have their scholarship revoked and must pay back all the living allowance payments and the tuition and miscellaneous expenses provided by the scholarship from the date the scholarship began until the date it was revoked.
(viii) Scholarship recipients must sign the "Terms of Agreement for the MOE Taiwan Scholarship Program" and comply with Taiwan's laws, regulations, and the relevant provisions of the Taiwan Scholarship program.
(ix) Scholarship recipients’ average semester results must achieve the standards set out below to be permitted to continue to receive their scholarship benefits:
1. Undergraduate students must achieve a minimum average semester mark of 70, postgraduate students must achieve a minimum average semester mark of 80; if the university/college has set a higher standard, then that standard must be met.
2. If a scholarship recipient is in the 3rd year or later year of a doctoral program, the manner in which their results are assessed and the criteria used to determine their semester results will be in accordance with the regulations of their university/ college.
(x) Transfers:
1. A scholarship recipient who has completed one semester or more of studies at a particular university/college or in a particular department or institute there is allowed to transfer to another university/college or department/graduate school, if the two educational institutions involved approve the request. The transfer is handled in accordance with the regulations formulated by the educational institutions. A transfer to another university/college or department/graduate school to a degree program at the same level may only be undertaken once while receiving a Taiwan Scholarship.
2. A scholarship recipient who wants to transfer to a different degree level program at another university/college/department/graduate school is not allowed to continue to receive scholarship benefits and must re-submit scholarship application to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam (Education Division) that awarded their Taiwan Scholarship.
(xi) Scholarship recipients must act in concert with the MOE’s policies for students who have a Taiwan Scholarship and participate in language and culture related teaching, exchanges, and activities.
X. Scholarship Announcement Website:
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam
http://www.taiwanembassy.org/vn
Education Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam
https://depart.moe.edu.tw/VN