Introduction to the Ministry of Education Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES)

January 4, 2010

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December 2009
Ministry of Education
Republic of China (Taiwan)

I. Purpose

To encourage international students and individuals to undertake Mandarin Chinese language study in Taiwan, the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China (Taiwan) established the Ministry of Education Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) Program in 2005.  While providing language study opportunities for Mandarin Chinese and opportunities to learn about Taiwan's culture at university- or college-affiliated Mandarin training centers, this program also aims to:

1. Help scholarship recipients acquire a better command of Mandarin Chinese, and hence a greater understanding and appreciation of Taiwan's culture;
2. Promote friendship between people in Taiwan and in countries around the world; and
3. Generate opportunities to increase exchange with international educational institutions.

II. Amount of Scholarship 

The monthly stipend is NT$25,000 (approximately US$735).  Recipients are responsible for their own expenses.   

III. Duration of Award 

• Duration

1. In general, the duration of award is one year.
2. Taiwan Representative Offices can also grant recipients an award period of 9 months, 6 months or 3 months.  

• Annual award periods

1. The yearly award period is from September 1 through August 31 of the following year.  If recipients fail to undertake their study in Taiwan during this period, their award status will be cancelled and cannot be extended for another year.  
2. Recipients should be matriculated for the study term/quarter at the individual Mandarin training center as specified in the award. Recipients may defer their matriculation if approved by the selected Mandarin training center and the Ministry of Education; in any case, the yearly award period expires on August 31.
3. If recipients begin their study after the intended study term/quarter has started, their award period will become effective from the month they matriculate at their individual Mandarin training centers in Taiwan.

• A recipient's award period will end when his/her specified award period has finished.  However, the award will terminate as soon as a recipient drops out, is expelled from a language training center, or if his/her scholarship is revoked, whichever comes first.

IV. Eligibility

An applicant must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Be of 18 years of age or older, a high school graduate or above, have an excellent academic performance in his/her most recent formal educational study experience and be of good moral character.
2. Is not an ROC (Taiwan) national.
3. Does not have the status of being an overseas compatriot student.
4. Is not currently a registered student at a Mandarin training center, and never been a degree-seeking student at any university or college in Taiwan. 
5. Is not an exchange student in accordance with an agreement of cooperation between an international university/college and an educational institute in Taiwan, at the time of receiving a HES
6. Has never received an award either under this scholarship program nor the Taiwan Scholarship Program.
7. Is not a recipient of any other scholarship or subsidy offered by the Taiwan government or any other educational institutions in Taiwan.    

V. Application and Selection Process

For the application, the applicant must send completed documents to the nearest overseas Taiwan Representative Office in his/her home country; see website for nearest representative office: http://www.mofa.gov.tw/webapp/lp.asp?ctNode=1864&CtUnit=30&BaseDSD=30&mp=6

• Application period:

In principle, the yearly application period is from February 1 through March 31. Hower, actual application period will be in accordance with the general regulations of the local Taiwan Representive Offices. 

For application guidelines and forms, scholarship quotas, as well as information regarding the selection process and outcome announcement, applicants may directly contact the relevant representative offices, by the end of January.

• Application documents:

A complete application includes the following materials:

1. One copy of the completed application form.
2. One photocopy of the passport or other nationality certificates.
3. One photocopy of the highest-level diploma and a complete grade transcript.
4. Supporting admission application materials (e.g. photocopies of application forms for Mandarin training centers).
5. Additional documents as specified by individual representative offices (e.g. letters of reference).

VI. Suspension and Revocation

Suspension:

• Attendance Records:

With the exception of a serious illness or accident, if a recipient is absent from his/her required language sessions for up to12 hours within a single month, the award will be suspended for one month and the stipend cannot be reclaimed.

• Academic Performance:

Beginning from the second term/quarter of his/her study in Taiwan, if a recipient's academic average scores for a study term/quarter are less than 80 out of 100, the award will be suspended for one month and the stipend cannot be reclaimed.

• Recipients' whose award periods are 6 months or longer must submit their TOP(Test of Proficiency-Huayu) score transcripts to the institutions where they are studying within their award period. It should be noted that the test's level will depend on the test taker's teacher's suggestion based on their in-class performance. Deadline for submission of the test score transcripts are before June 30^th. Recipients who fail to do so will lose one month's stipend. Recipients have to pay their own fees for TOP.

Revocation: 

        A recipient will be permanently disqualified from receiving a HES and any remaining stipends will be cancelled, if one of the following situations arises:    

1. Failure to submit at the time of matriculation for each study term/quarter, an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) with the reason "Pursuing Studies," by the deadlines as specified by his/her Mandarin training center. (Note: This applies only to recipients who carry an award period of six or more months.)
2. Failure to achieve an average academic score of 80 or above out of 100 for two consecutive terms/quarters of study, beginning from the second term/quarter of his/her study in Taiwan.
3. Missing a final achievement score for any study term/quarter, with the exception of a serious illness or accident.
4. Dropping out or being expelled from school.
5. Simultaneously in receipt of another scholarship or subsidy offered by the Taiwan government or educational institutions. However, this does not include round trip economy class airfare/ tickets for international students from specially designated areas or countries. 

VII. Transfer

After studying for a term/quarter at a Mandarin training center in Taiwan, a recipient with an award period of one year may be allowed to transfer once during the course of his/her study, only if the pertinent educational institutions approve this request. Recipients who carry an award period of less than one year may not apply for a transfer.

VIII. Scholarship Payment Schedule

In principle, stipends will be disbursed to recipients by the 10^th day of each month, through the Mandarin training centers where the recipients attend classes, and by a method as specified by the individual institutions.

IX. Medical/Health Insurance Requirements

It is mandatory that recipients, who carry an award period of six or more months, participate in the National Health Insurance Plan and purchase policies for Student Accident Insurance during the period of their residence and study in Taiwan. The recipients' educational institutions will deduct fees for these insurance plans from the recipients' stipends, before processing and granting funds to them.

As a requirement for matriculation at their intended educational institutions, recipients must prepare medical/health insurance policies before their departure for Taiwan, and these documents must be valid for a minimum of 4 months, beginning from the date of their arrival in Taiwan. The policies must bear the authentication of a Taiwan overseas representative office.