Ways and Means for Study in the R.O.C.

Article One

For the purpose of encouraging foreign students to study in the R.O.C, and provide guidance for their course of studies and livelihood, this code of regulations has been established.

Article Two

In this code of regulations, the term "foreign student" refers to students of non-R.O.C. citizenship who are recommended by foreign governments (or authorized schools and organizations) having cultural cooperation agreements with the R.O.C. and students of non-R.O.C. citizenship who are not of Chinese paternity or who are not overseas Chinese.

Article Three

If after foreign students complete course work at a Taiwan school and wish to continue, they will be expected to adhere to the normal application process native students follow.

Article Four

The quota of foreign students accepted by each junior college, college, university, and graduate department respectively may be one fifth the number of domestic students accepted by each department during that academic year, but may not exceed five students. Chinese departments or institutions acting on international academic cooperation programs may report their special needs for consideration by the Ministry of Education and be exempted from these limits.

Article Five

Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and graduate departments which admit foreign students should at their own discretion specify ways and means for admission of foreign students, should clearly list, together with admission standards, procedures for screening and selecting foreign students, and should report these standards and procedures to the Ministry of Education for reference. Admission standards should at least require applicants to have had passing grades every semester in their original school.

Article Six

Foreign students applying to enter junior colleges, colleges, universities, and graduate departments should, within the period of time determined by the institution, submit the following documents directly to the institution to which they are applying. Acceptances will be granted after the students have undergone the institution's screening and selecting.

1. Application for Admission Form (specified by the institution)
2. Photocopy of diploma (include a notarized Chinese version or notarized English version) and an English version of the complete school transcript.
3. Two letters of recommendation (including a letter of recommendation from a Chinese language instructor assessing the student's Chinese language ability).
4. Health certificate (including results of a blood test showing that the applicant is free from infectious disease).  Please see amendment to health insurance requirements.
5. Study plan written in Chinese.
6. Other documents required by the institution to which the student is applying.

Article Seven

Those junior colleges, colleges, universities, and graduate departments enrolling foreign students should before the end of November every year report for the Ministry of Education's reference a list of registered students (including name, nationality, and department).

Article Eight

If the junior college, college, university, or graduate department determines that accepting foreign students as non-degree students does not affect the teaching environment, the school should refer to its standards for admission of foreign students, and should accept for non-degree status only those foreign students who already have obtained Alien Resident Certificates. However, students who have undergone special approval by the Ministry of Education are not subject to this restriction.

Article Nine

According to various agreements on cultural and educational cooperation entered into by the Ministry of Education, students recommended by foreign governments, or by their specified schools and organizations, for study in the R.O.C. must submit the application documents listed in Article Five of this code before coming to the R.O.C. Admission to the desired school is granted after the school, having received the applicant's transferred application from the Ministry of Education, deems the applicant qualified. If after entering the school the student must transfer to another department or school, he or she must apply through the assigned school to the Ministry of Education for re-assignment. However, only one transfer is permitted.

Foreign students who, according to this article, are assigned to a junior college, college, university, or graduate department, must, if their school judges necessary, enter Chinese language training centers for the purpose of improving their Chinese level.

Article Ten

Foreign students of elementary school and middle school age who have legal guardians in the R.O.C. and who are applying to enter school should submit directly to the school in their area of residence the following documents, undergo a placement test and obtain approval to register in and enter the school, and then the school will report to the provincial (city) Department of Education or county (city) Department of Education. However, students applying to enter elementary school at the first semester first grade level do not need to submit documentation of their educational background.

1. Application Forms
2. Photocopy of Alien Resident Certificate.
3. Diploma or Certificate of Registration.
4. Complete transcript of grades.

Elementary and middle schools must consider the student's placement test results when deciding to assign the student to an appropriate class with or without probation status. Probation status is limited to one year, and if the student earns passing grades, he or she may become a student with full standing.

If the school to which the student is applying cannot accept the student because its quota has been filled, the student can apply with the local educational administrative authorities to be assigned a school.

Article Eleven

Students applying to come to the R.O.C. to study Chinese should submit the documents listed below directly to those Chinese language centers accredited by the educational administrative authorities.

1. Application for Admission Form (two copies)
2. Documentation of the applicant's highest level of education and complete grade transcript.
3. Teacher's recommendation letter (two copies)
4. Health certificate (including blood test showing that the applicant is free from infectious disease).  Please see amendment to health insurance requirements.
5. Study plan.
6. Other documents as required by the language school to which the student is applying.

Language schools should, after the start of classes every term, report to the educational administrative authorities a list of enrolled students.

Article Twelve

The Ministry of Education, in order to support foreign students of superior merit, has established the following scholarships.  (General scholarship information can be found here.)

1. General Scholarships: all foreign students who, in accord with this code of ways and means, study in the R.O.C. may apply on the basis of the relevant regulations.
2. Special scholarships: Those entering schools in accord with Article Eight above may qualify after consideration by the Ministry of Education.

The regulations respecting application for the above scholarships, as well as conditions and benefits, are separately specified by the Ministry of Education.

Article Thirteen

If at the time foreign students arrive at their institution more than one third of the semester shall have elapsed, they may not enter the institution for that year. However, graduate students who have obtained their dean's approval and the approval of the Ministry of Education may register in the second semester to enter the institution.

Article Fourteen

Foreign students who cannot follow class discussion due to the insufficiency of their Chinese level must apply for a leave of absence. Applications for resumption of studies will be processed according to the institution's relevant regulations. Students who, after applying to enter the institution, are unable to arrive in the R.O.C. at the time for when they applied, must apply with the original institution which accepted them to reserve their status.

Article Fifteen

Foreign students who are applying for non-degree status and who have according to regulations pursued a course of studies and passed examinations may through their institution obtain documentation of credit units.

Article Sixteen

After foreign students have been admitted for entry, their academic status and conduct, in addition to being subject to this code of regulations, are also subject to relevant legal provisions.

Article Seventeen

Each school should designate personnel responsible for acting on foreign student's applications, academic advising, general counseling, coordination, etc.

Article Eighteen

This code of ways and means will take effect from the day of announcement.