Study in Taiwan

Taiwan is a country popular amongst students who want to study abroad. It is a country filled with culture, history, food, nature, and great outdoor activities.

One of the reasons why students prefer to study in Taiwan is because there is always ‘green mother nature’ somewhere around the corner.

While some areas are known for the remarkable mountains for hiking trips, other areas are known for the forests, sandy beaches, lagoons, and architectural history.

In terms of their higher education, the low tuition fees in universities and colleges in Taiwan are also big pull-factors for a number of international students. Due to new government policies, it is now possible to receive high-qualitative study programs in Taiwan for a more affordable price. Currently, there are more or less 163 universities, colleges and junior colleges in Taiwan.

The Ministry of Education of Taiwan has launched programs for higher education, providing ease in application, as well as studies for foreign students to study in the country. Taiwan also has scholarships on offer even to international students and are awarded to those with a proven record of excellence.

The best universities from Taiwan are mostly in Taipei or nearby this city such as The National Taiwan University, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei Medical University, National Taiwan Normal University.

Top universities cannot only be found in Taipei but across the country as well. In Hsinchu City, you will find great science and technology institutions that are internationally acclaimed as one of the competitive education establishments in the globe. Two universities Hsinchu City are ranked among the world’s top 200 universities such as the National Tsing Hua University and National Chiao Tung University.

International students whose native language is not English will need evidence for their English proficiency so that they too can qualify to study in any of the universities in Taiwan. For the TOEFL a minimum score of 500 is required and a minimum IELTS score of 5.5.

It is highly recommended to contact the universities of consideration to ask about their requirements. For the Master’s degree programs, students need to meet a minimum knowledge requirement in English and a second foreign language.

Below is the average price range for universities in Taiwan:

*Bachelor's Degree NT$ 51.000 – NT$ 78.000 USD$ 1.650 – $ 2.500

*Master's Degree NT$ 50.000 – NT$ 79.000 USD$ 1.600 – $ 2.550

*Doctorate's Degree NT$ 142.000 USD$ 4.560

The Taiwan government is keen to attract more international students and has set the ambitious target of reaching 150.000 international students by 2020. To try and hit this target, many universities in Taiwan are increasing the number of degree courses taught partly or entirely in English, and the government is also offering a series of scholarships for international students.

Many of Taiwan’s top universities also offer their own international scholarships. There are a number of reasons that make Taiwan a viable option for study.

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About Taiwan

Taiwan’s lively multiparty democracy operates under a 1947 Constitution that was drawn up originally to include all of China. Its economy is one of the wealthiest in Asia. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) returned to power when Tsai Ing-wen was elected President in 2016 but was defeated decisively in local elections held in 2018.

It is expected that the Presidential election scheduled for 2020 will be very competitive. China’s ongoing attempts to isolate Taiwan diplomatically place pressure on the country’s long-term ability to maintain its presence in overseas markets. Taiwan’s dynamic capitalist economy is driven largely by industrial manufacturing, especially exports of electronics, machinery, and petrochemicals.

Taiwan was returned to Nationalist Chinese control in 1945 following Japan’s defeat in World War II. China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, when the defeated Nationalist government fled to the island as the Communists, under Mao Zedong.

The Nationalist government and armies fled to Taiwan, again resulting in the parting of Taiwan from China. In the ensuing years, the ROC claimed jurisdiction over the Chinese mainland as well as Taiwan, although in the early 1990s Taiwan’s government dropped this claim to China.

The Chinese government in Beijing has maintained that it has jurisdiction over Taiwan and has continued to propound a one-China policy, a position that few countries in the world dispute. There has been no agreement, however, on how or when, if ever, the two entities will be reunified

China insists that nations cannot have official relations with both China and Taiwan, with the result that Taiwan has formal diplomatic ties with only a few countries. The US is Taiwan's most important friend and protector. Despite its diplomatic isolation, Taiwan has become one of Asia's major economic players, and one of the world's top producers of computer technology.

Prior to the 1600s, Taiwan was a self-governing state, although there was no central ruling authority. It was a colony of the Netherlands for about 40 years in the early to mid-17th century and was subsequently independent again for about two decades. China gained control there in the late 17th century and ruled Taiwan for some two centuries. Japan acquired Taiwan in 1895 following the first Sino-Japanese War, and it became a colony.

The vast majority of the Taiwan population of 23.2 million is concentrated in the western lowlands, with the main cities of Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, accounting for over 15 million people.

More people live in the North as compared to the South, and the population of the Western half outnumbers that of the East by over ten to one. Also, Taiwan’s human population is much more diverse than you might think when you step off the airplane.

Many Taiwanese have mixed ancestry because intermarriage was common in the 17th and 18th centuries and has become very common again recently. However, individuals are still usually placed in one of four categories, including the island’s original inhabitants and those who settled in Taiwan over the past 400 years. There are also 300 000 (plus) immigrants from other Asian countries.

The New Taiwan dollar (code: TWD; symbol: NT$, also abbreviated as NT) is the official currency used in Taiwan. Formally, one dollar (圓) is divided into ten dimes (角), and to 100 cents (分), although cents are never used in practice.

Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language in Taiwan today. Mandarin Chinese began its true takeover of the island in the 1940s, during the Chinese Civil War which found, for the first time, massive amounts of the Chinese elite making their way across the Taiwan Strait.

About Taiwan Economy

The economy of Taiwan is a developed capitalist economy that ranks as the seventh-largest in Asia and 22nd largest in the world by purchasing power parity (PPP). The economy is very diversified with several different industries.

Some of the most important of these include: communications and information technology, electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, armaments, chemicals, food processing, and textiles.

The state-owned portion of the economy is less than 10% in Taiwan, so it is most definitely a market economy. While every practical economy is mixed, according to the index of economic freedom the Taiwan economy is ranked at fourteenth among the nations, and is classified as mostly free.

Taiwan's economy currently faced a low economic growth due to lower demand from trade partners, as well as because of tensions that took place between China and the U.S. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at 2.7% in 2019, while Coface forecasts 2% in 2019.

According to their analysis, the slowdown is due to trade tensions, massive relocations, lack of competitiveness in the service sector, and a growing isolation from the global diplomatic scene. However, Taiwan enjoys a good financial position, is the 4th electronic producer in the world and support R&D.

According to the updated IMF forecasts from 14th April 2020, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19, GDP growth is expected to fall to -4% in 2020 and pick up to 3.5% in 2021, subject to the post-pandemic global economic recovery.

The unemployment rate remained steady at 3.8% in 2019 and it is expected to increase slightly to 4.4% in 2020 and decrease to 4% in 2021, because of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to national statistics, the unemployment rate reached 3.67% in December 2019.

The labor force participation rate was equal to 59.22% during the same period. Social challenges include an aging population, low birth rates, and a tense political agenda about elections in 2020: in which expected to focus on Taiwanese independence vs reunification with mainland China.

In 2014, its nominal gross domestic product (GDP) was $529.6 billion and GDP per capita was $22,598. This country has a workforce of 11.54 million and an unemployment rate of only 4%. Of these employed individuals, 58.9% work in the services industry. This is followed by 36.1% in industry and 5% in agriculture.

As evidenced by its employment pattern, the services sector is the leading industry in Taiwan. In fact, it contributes 73% of the GDP. Overall, the economy is very diversified with several different industries. Some of the most important of these include communications and information technology, electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, armaments, chemicals, food processing, and textiles.

Despite the apparent health of this economy, Taiwan does face some significant challenges to continued growth. The economy has recently stagnated. Its exports have been decreasing over the past few years, and worker wages have not kept up with the cost of living.

Additionally, the GDP only increased by 7% in 2015 which is significantly less than the 3.9% growth the country saw in 2014. Unfortunately, this country relies on exports for economic growth, and other countries like Hong Kong and South Korea have become more competitive in this area.

Why Study in Taiwan

Affordable Tuition Fees in Taiwan
Safety

It is no exaggeration to say that Taiwan is one of the safest countries in the world. The high level of education, low exposure to crime, economic freedom, and good healthcare system are a few examples of why Taiwan is ranked second on the annual Global Peace Index. It may come as a surprise to many that this island is even safer than Germany, Finland, and Sweden.

Taiwan’s infrastructure is advanced, and its law enforcement and transportation, communication, medical, and public health systems are excellent. In Taiwan, international students live and study in safety and comfort.

Affordable Accomodation in Taiwan
Technology

The 2016 Times Higher Education ranking put three Taiwanese universities on its global list of 150 for having the most employable graduates in technology. The highly ranked STEM programs combined with their industry partners give students a competitive edge. In tech-based careers, having both classroom know-how and industry savvy can push you to the forefront of opportunity.

Tuition at each university is more affordable than in other developed countries because of innovative government policies. International students do not have to pay high “out of country” tuition as required by many other international universities and colleges.

International Environment in Taiwan
Rich & Colourful Culture
In Taiwan, ancient Chinese culture is uniquely interwoven in the fabric of modern society. Cell phones, luxury sedans and skyscrapers coexist with traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting, with tea culture and ornate temples, and with ancient holidays such as Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Lantern Festival.
Great Weather in Taiwan
Availability of work permits
Taiwan provides work permits to international students. In a bid to enhance national competitiveness, Taiwan has allowed international students to apply for work permits.

Scholarships

Taiwan has on offer over 2000 scholarships that cater for Masters and Ph.D. programs in all fields. The Taiwan Scholarship Program was established jointly by three government agencies of the Republic of China (Taiwan) inclusive of: the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the National Science Council of the Executive Yuan (NSC) with the aim of encouraging outstanding international students to undertake degree programs in Taiwan.

Taiwan Student Visa

Visit the Embassy of Azerbaijan's website for the most current visa information. An E-Visa is typically issued within 3 (three) working days of the online application and is valid for 30 days.

Keep in mind that if your stay in Azerbaijan exceeds 10 days, you are also required to register your visit at the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan. However, you can ask about this at the front desk of your hotel, and you will be informed of what you need to do.