Cost of Studying and Living in Taiwan
Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) as its currency.
Tuition fees in Taiwan will depend on what course you take, and your institution of choice. If you choose to study at a private institution, you will be charged more than a public institution. Subjects such as medicine will also cost more. On average, international students should expect to pay between TWD 50,000 and TWD 65,000 per semester. If you wish to study a programme such as an MBA, you should expect to pay around TWD 150,000 per semester. There are two semesters per academic year.
Visas
If you wish to study in Taiwan as an international student, you will need a visa. The application process can be viewed as complex, but there will be plenty of assistance if you require it. Once you have been accepted by an institution, you will need to apply for a student visa. Then once you have entered Taiwan, you will need to apply for a resident visa. If you do need more assistance for this process, you institution will be able to help.
Language
The official language of Taiwan is Taiwanese Mandarin. There are also two recognised national languages; Formosan languages and Hakka.
Courses in Taiwan are offered in either Mandarin or English. No matter which language you choose to study, you will have to provide evidence of proficiency if it is a non-native language. If you do not meet the required standards of teaching, you may be able to take a language preparation course to help you improve.
Even if you are studying in English, you should make an effort to learn as much Taiwanese Mandarin as possible. Communicating with locals and other students will be a perfect way to practice. Having an extra language is a skill that looks fantastic on your CV/resume, and can increase your chances of employment!
Cities
Taipei
Officially known as Taipei City, Taipei is the capital city of Taiwan. It is located on the northern tip of the island and is home to over 2.6 million people. The city is the political, economical, educational and cultural centre of Taiwan and is a global city. Taipei is part of a high tech industrial area, and is connected to the rest of the island by a large and developed network of railways, high speed rail and highways. You will find many museums in the city, all displaying artefacts from the long history of Taiwan.
Located in Taipei you will find the campuses of 24 higher education institutions. One of these is the National Taiwan University (NTU). NTU was founded in 1928, when the island was under Japanese rule, and was originally called the Taihoku Imperial University. It was then renamed in 1945, after World War II. It consists of 11 colleges, 54 departments and 107 graduate institutes. Also located in Taipei there are universities that offer courses in specialised areas, such as business, education and technology, among others.
