Introduction to the Scholarship Program of Taiwan

2007-08-28

Provided by the Scholarship Program of Taiwan Steering Committee
December 2006

I. Purpose

Since 2004, four government agencies of the Republic of China ( Taiwan ) --- Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), and National Science Council of the Executive Yuan (NSC) ---have jointly established the Scholarship Program of Taiwan to encourage outstanding international students to undertake degree programs in Taiwan . While providing study opportunities for a wide range of disciplines, at Taiwan 's universities and colleges, this program also aims to:

a. Promote knowledge, understanding and friendship between Taiwan and countries around the world.

b. Explore opportunities to increase academic and educational links with international institutions of higher learning.

c. Develop outstanding professionals and experts to meet the needs from Taiwan 's business and industry sectors.

II. Types of Scholarships

In terms of recipients' nationalities and study programs, there are four participating agencies funding this program, each with a different focus:

a. MOFA Scholarship :

• Recipients from countries with diplomatic relations with the R.O.C. ( Taiwan ), or from those specified as diplomatically favorable by MOFA.
• Undergraduate or postgraduate programs. Pre-degree Mandarin Language Enrichment Program (LEP) is to be included as recipients' choice for improving their language abilities.

b. MOE Scholarship :

• Recipients from countries other than those specified in the MOFA Scholarship.
• Undergraduate or postgraduate programs. LEP is to be included as recipients' choice for improving their language abilities.

c. NSC Scholarship :

• Recipients from countries other than those specified in the MOFA Scholarship.
• Postgraduate programs.

d. MOEA Scholarship :

• Recipients from countries other than those specified in the MOFA Scholarship.
• Postgraduate programs, only for the areas involving scientific technology (such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, medicine and agriculture to name a few)

III. Value

Scholarship offerings vary from agency to agency as outlined below:

a. MOFA Scholarship:

• International airfare for economy-class, direct-route and roundtrip flights, plus a monthly stipend of NT$30,000 (approximately US$950).

b. MOE Scholarship:

• A monthly stipend of NT$25,000 (approximately US$790) for undergraduate or LEP study, and NT$30,000 for a postgraduate program.

c. NSC Scholarship:

• A monthly stipend of NT$30, 000.

d. MOEA Scholarship:

• A monthly stipend of NT$30, 000.

IV. Duration

The award period for each study program varies as follows:

a. Undergraduate program: maximum 4 years.

b. Master's program: maximum 2 years.

c. Doctoral program: maximum 3 years.

d. LEP program: maximum 1 year.

For any combination of these study programs, the length of the total award for each recipient is a maximum of five years . LEP study must be undertaken in the first year, if it is to be included in the total award period of the recipient's choosing.

Annual award periods are from September 1 st through August 31 st . If recipients fail to arrive in Taiwan to study during this period, their award status will be cancelled and cannot be extended for another year. If recipients begin studies after the semester/term/quarter starts, their award period will become effective from the month they arrive in Taiwan to matriculate at their individual universities/colleges/Mandarin training centers. Whether beginning in September or later, the LEP award period ends in August although its length may be less than the specified maximum of one year.

In terms of the actual award period for one study program, it will begin from the month that recipients arrive in Taiwan to matriculate at their intended educational institutions. All awards will end the month their specified award period is completed. However, if recipients graduate, drop out, are expelled from their institutions, or their scholarships are revoked, whichever comes first, the award will be terminated.

V. Eligibility

An applicant must meet all of the following criteria:

a. Possess prior excellent academic performance and be of good moral character.

b. Does not hold the Republic of China ( Taiwan ) nationality.

c. Does not have the status of an overseas Chinese student.

d. Is not currently enrolled at an educational institution in Taiwan , for the same study program that he/she intends to take for a SPOT scholarship.

e.  Is not an exchange student in accordance with a cooperation agreement between an international university/college and an educational institute in Taiwan , at the time of receiving a SPOT scholarship.

f.  Is not applying for a study program leading to the same-level degree as previously undertaken under the SPOT Program.

g. Has not received SPOT scholarships for a total of 5 or more years.

h. Has not previously had an award revoked either under the SPOT program or the program "Ministry of Education Huayu Enrichment Scholarship."

i. Is not a current recipient of a scholarship or subsidy being offered by any one of government or educational institutions in Taiwan .

Those who are undertaking degree programs at international universities/colleges may be eligible to apply for SPOT awards, if those degree programs are comparative with the same level of degree programs in Taiwan .

VI. Application and Selection Process

For application receipt, review and selection, applicants must send their completed documents to the Taiwan representative office, closest to their home countries' permanent residence . In principle, the application period is from February 1 st through March 31 st of each year, unless individual Taiwan 's representative offices specify otherwise. For application guidelines and forms, scholarship types and quotas, as well as information about the selection process and outcome announcement, applicants may directly contact the relevant representative offices at the end of January.

A complete application includes the following materials:

a. A completed application form.

b. Photocopy of passport or other nationality certificates.

c. Photocopy of the highest-level diploma and a complete grade transcript.
< N.B . These documents must be authenticated by a Taiwan 's overseas representative office, if issued by international educational institutions. >

d. Supporting admission application material (e.g. photocopy of application form).
< N.B. LEP applicants must submit documents for admission, not only to a Mandarin training centre, but also to the next-stage university/college. The exact academic years that applicants would be enrolled full-time at these two institutions must be clearly specified on these documents. The study period for these two programs must not be discontinued. >

e. Photocopy of a certificate of the acceptable levels of English or Chinese language proficiency, depending on whichever language will be used for instruction in class.
< N.B . Only applicants for degree programs must submit this document. >

f. Additional documents, if any, to be specified by individual representative offices.

In principle, selection priority will be given to those who intend to undertake a degree program and have successfully secured admission to a university/college.

VII. Re-Applying

Upon completion of a degree program , recipients may re-apply for a SPOT Scholarship to undertake another degree program , by following the rules of the application process as specified above . Each recipient's total award period cannot exceed 5 years.

only a LEP scholarship may be granted the next-stage award period for a degree program , through the universities/colleges they will be attending , upon completion of their LEP study. For this processing, the required documents are a photocopy of admission to a university/college and that of an acceptable English or Chinese language certificate attesting to proficiency for their degree studies. >

VIII. Renewal

To review recipients' award qualifications for the next academic year, individual universities/colleges will conduct an evaluation process for the SPOT scholarship renewal by February 28 th ofeach year.

Each educational institution may set grading criteria for the minimum academic average for a semester, or may take the common criteria--- 60 out of 100 for undergraduates and 70 for postgraduates. For recipients in grade 3 of their doctoral programs, this evaluation should be done by the way as specified by individual institutions, since systems vary from discipline to discipline, in terms of requirements for session credits and scheduling of dissertation writing.

Recipients will be permanently disqualified from receiving any SPOT awards, effective September of the new academic year, if they fail to achieve a specified minimum academic average for two single consecutive semesters of study.

VIIII. Suspension and Revocation

(I) Suspension

A. Degree Programs:

If a recipient fails to achieve a specified minimum academic average for a semester, stipends for one month will be suspended in the following semester.

B. LEP Program:

a. Attendance Records:
With the exception of a serious illness or accident, if a recipient is absent from his/her required Language sessions for 12 or more hours within a single month, stipends for the following month will be suspended.

b. Academic Performance:
Beginning from the second study term/quarter in Taiwan , if a recipient's academic average for a study term/quarter is less than 80 out of 100, stipends for one month will be suspended in the following term/quarter.

c. TOP Mandarin Proficiency Rating ( http://www.sc-top.org.tw/ ) :

(a) A one-month-stipend suspension will be imposed if a recipient fails to submit to his/her individual Mandarin training center, a photocopy of a TOP (Test of Proficiency---Huayu) certificate with results rated at the basic level or above, by July 31 st , one month before his/her LEP award period is due. Registration fees for this TOP test are the full responsibility of the recipient.

(b) However, if the recipient succeeds in this TOP test during his/her next-stage award period for a degree program, the suspended one-month stipends as stated above will be reimbursed, by his/her application with the university/college that he/she will be attending.

(II) Revocation:

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

A. Degree Programs :

a. Failure to submit at the time of matriculation for each semester, an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) with the reason "Study," on the deadlines as specified by his/her university/college.

b. Failure at the evaluation for annual renewal of his/her SPOT scholarship.

c. Failure to submit a photocopy of an acceptable English /Chinese language proficiency certificate, if he/she transfers to a new program of study, for which the other language is to be used for instruction.

d. Dropping out or being expelled from school.

e. In receipt of another scholarship or subsidy, offered by one of Taiwan 's government or educational institutions.

B. LEP Program:

a. Failure to submit at the time of matriculation for each study term/quarter, an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) with the reason "Study," on the deadlines as specified by his/her Mandarin training center.

b. Failure to achieve an academic average of 80 or above out of 100 for two single consecutive terms/quarters of study, beginning from the second term/quarter after studying in Taiwan .

c. Absence from exams as a result of missing a score for a study term/quarter, with the exception of a serious illness or accident.

d. Dropping out or being expelled from school.

e. In receipt of another scholarship or subsidy, offered by one of Taiwan 's government or educational institutions.

X. Transfer

After studying for a semester/term/quarter at a university/college/Mandarin training center, a recipient may be allowed to transfer once during the course of a degree/LEP program, only if the pertinent educational institutions approve this request.

A recipient, who undertakes degree study, must submit the new institution a photocopy of an acceptable English/Chinese language proficiency certificate, if he/she transfers to a new program of study, for which the other language is to be used for instruction.

XI. Scholarship Granting

In principle, stipends are granted before the 5 th day of each month, through the universities/colleges/Mandarin training centers which the recipients attend, and by a method as specified by the individual institutions.

It is mandatory that recipients participate in the National Health Insurance Plan and purchase the policies of the 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 the processing of the fund granting to them.