MOE Taiwan Scholarship Application for Canadian Students

What the MOE Taiwan Scholarship covers

Taiwan's Ministry of Education runs the Taiwan Scholarship jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the National Science and Technology Council. It funds two to four years of study at a Taiwanese university, in any academic field, at bachelor's, master's or doctoral level. Award packages include a monthly stipend, and many recipients also receive a tuition contribution and other benefits depending on the specific award terms for that intake year.

Roughly 400 scholars are selected worldwide each year , and most attend National Taiwan University or National Chengchi University in Taipei, National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, or other major institutions across Taiwan. The scholarship looks for a strong academic record and good conduct rather than a narrow set of grades or test scores.

Who can apply

You need Canadian citizenship or permanent residency status that qualifies as non-Taiwanese under the program's rules, along with a solid transcript from your current or most recent school. The scholarship is not limited to countries with formal diplomatic ties to Taiwan, so your Canadian citizenship on its own does not create any barrier.

You cannot hold this scholarship at the same time as another government-funded scholarship or a paid job in Taiwan. If you already receive Canadian federal or provincial student aid for the same period of study, check with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada about how that interacts with your Taiwan Scholarship application before you submit.

Step 1: Decide your degree level and target university

Pick the degree level and field you want to study, then research which Taiwanese universities offer it in English or Mandarin depending on your language level. Many applicants apply for university admission and the scholarship at the same time, since missions typically ask for either a formal admission letter or proof that you have applied. Check your target university's international admissions office for its own deadline, since it usually runs separately from the scholarship deadline.

English-taught or Mandarin-taught: check before you apply

Taiwanese universities run some programs fully in English, particularly at the graduate level in fields like business, engineering and international studies, while many undergraduate programs run in Mandarin. Confirm the language of instruction for your target program before you apply, since the Taiwan Scholarship itself does not require Mandarin fluency, but your actual coursework does. If your Mandarin needs work, look at pairing your scholarship application with a term at a Mandarin Training Center before your degree starts, or check whether your target university runs a bridging language year for incoming international students.

Step 2: Gather your documents

• Completed Taiwan Scholarship application form

• Copy of your Canadian passport

• Highest diploma or degree certificate you have earned so far

• Official academic transcripts from every school you attended after secondary school

• A study plan or research proposal explaining what you want to study and why

• Two letters of recommendation from professors or academic supervisors

• Proof of application to, or admission from, a Taiwanese university

Request your transcripts and recommendation letters early. University registrars and professors often need several weeks to process these requests, especially during exam periods.

Step 3: Apply through TECO in Canada

Canadians do not apply to the Ministry of Education directly. Submit your full application package to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office covering your region of Canada. Confirm which office serves your province, since Canada is split between multiple TECO jurisdictions, and each one posts its own submission instructions and deadline for that intake year on its website.

Step 4: Wait for results and confirm admission

TECO reviews applications and forwards eligible candidates to the Ministry of Education for final selection. If you have not secured university admission before applying for the scholarship, keep pursuing it in parallel, since you need a confirmed spot at a Taiwanese university before your scholarship funding can start. Once you receive both your scholarship notice and your university admission letter, follow your university's instructions for enrollment and your pre-departure resident visa.

Keeping the scholarship once you have it

Maintain full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress each semester. Universities and the ministry can withdraw funding from students who fall behind, change to a different program without approval, or take on paid work while receiving the award. Read your award letter closely for the specific renewal conditions attached to your intake year, since terms are set annually.

Practical tips for Canadian applicants

• Contact your target university's international office and your regional TECO office at the same time, since their timelines rarely match exactly

• Draft your study plan around a specific research interest or career goal rather than a general statement about wanting to study in Taiwan

• Ask professors for recommendation letters at least a month before your deadline

• Confirm the current award amount and any tuition contribution directly with TECO for your intake year, since scholarship terms are reviewed annually