Taiwan Government Scholarships for International Students

Overview

The Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship Programme is a fully funded government scholarship for outstanding international students pursuing Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degrees at universities and colleges in Taiwan. It is one of the most accessible government scholarships for Nepali students — Taiwan is increasingly popular as a study destination, and the scholarship covers both tuition and living expenses.

Nepal is eligible with no specific country restrictions. Applications are submitted through Taiwan's overseas representative office — for Nepal, this is through the nearest Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) or relevant ROC overseas mission, as Taiwan and Nepal do not have formal diplomatic relations. Nepali applicants should check the official MOE Taiwan Scholarship website for the designated submission office for Nepal.

The MOE scholarship is separate from individual university scholarships in Taiwan. Many Taiwanese universities also offer their own merit-based awards in addition to the government scholarship — Nepali students can potentially benefit from both.

Bonus for university lecturers: Nepal is also explicitly eligible for the MOE Elite Scholarship Programme, which provides a monthly stipend of NT$25,000 for up to three years specifically for university lecturers from Nepal who want to pursue a PhD in Taiwan. If you are a current university lecturer at a Nepali institution, this is a separate and highly relevant opportunity worth checking alongside the main MOE scholarship.

Eligibility

General Eligibility

• Not a national of the Republic of China (Taiwan), not an overseas Taiwanese student, and does not hold a Taiwan Alien Permanent Resident Certificate
• Not currently enrolled at or registered to begin studies at any university in Taiwan
• Has not previously studied in Taiwan for the same level of degree being applied for
• Not a Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau citizen
• Demonstrates excellent academic performance and good moral character
• Has a high school diploma or above

Academic GPA Requirements

• Undergraduate applicants: GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.5 scale in prior studies
• Graduate (Master's/PhD) applicants: GPA of 3.5 or above on a 4.5 scale
• TECO/ROC offices apply conversion guidelines for Nepali grading systems

Who is Not Eligible

• ROC (Taiwan) nationals and overseas Taiwanese students
• Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau citizens
• Students currently enrolled at a Taiwanese university
• Students who previously had a Taiwan Scholarship or MOE Huayu Enrichment Scholarship revoked
• Recipients of other scholarships or subsidies from Taiwan government institutions (except top-up subsidies from universities for excess tuition)

How to Apply

The Taiwan Scholarship application runs in parallel with your university admission application — both processes must be completed by their respective deadlines.

1. Choose your university and programme — research participating universities and colleges in Taiwan at taiwanscholarship.moe.gov.tw. Confirm with your chosen institution that they participate in the MOE Taiwan Scholarship Programme.
2. Apply directly to the university — submit your university admission application directly to your chosen Taiwanese institution. Each university sets its own admissions deadline — start early as these often close before the scholarship deadline.
3. Apply for the scholarship — the official Taiwan Scholarship application window runs from 1 February to 31 March each year. Apply through the Taiwan Scholarship portal at taiwanscholarship.moe.gov.tw.
4. Submit documents to the designated ROC office — mail or submit the following documents postmarked by 31 March to the designated TECO or ROC overseas mission for Nepal:
   • Completed application form
   • Photocopy of highest academic award and transcripts (documents not in Chinese or English must be translated and authenticated)
   • Reference letters
   • Health certificate (Form B)
   • Other documents as specified in the current year's guidelines
5. Interview — shortlisted applicants are interviewed in person or virtually. Results are notified by email no later than 31 May.
6. Submit admission letter — successful candidates must submit a copy of their university admission letter to the designated ROC office by 30 June. Missing this deadline is treated as waiving the scholarship.

Note: Some ROC overseas missions have earlier local deadlines than the official 31 March date. Always check the specific deadline from your country's designated TECO/ROC office — their deadline is final.