Taiwan Scholarships

Separatism, Culture and Language

The island of Taiwan, sitting off the southern coast of China, blends the ancient and the ultra-modern in a diverse landscape limited by its geographical but global in its reach. The government of Taiwan openly invites foreign students to experience its culture, heritage and language. International programs also provide an excellent environment for business majors who are interested in Asian markets and the rapid and profitable growth of high-tech industries.

The issue of whether Taiwan falls under Chinese rule or not remains a bone of contention. Some Taiwanese want to maintain the status quo; others are advocating for independence. Either way, it’s become part of mainstream, civil discourse. Mandarin Chinese is the official language, spoken along with the minority Taiwanese and local dialects.

U.S. Government Scholarships

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships support Pell Grant recipients in good academic standing with a commitment to studying in Taiwan for at least four weeks, or up to an academic year. The Gilman Scholarship Program fund students who have been traditionally under-represented in study abroad programs: students with high financial need; community college students; students in under-represented fields such as the sciences and engineering; students with diverse ethnic backgrounds; and students with disabilities. More than 2,300 scholarships of up to $5,000 annually are given for study programs around the globe, including Taiwan.

Offered through the  National Security Education Program, the David L. Boren Scholarships are competitive scholarships. Taiwan is one of the eligible  countries open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Scholarships of up to $20,000 are awarded for up to a year of study abroad. Boren Fellowships of up to $30,000 allow American graduate students to study abroad for up to 24 months. Recipients must be willing to pay back the scholarship with a predetermined term of service with the federal government. Applicants for Taiwan must study Chinese or Taiwanese while abroad, and will be given preference if they are already studying it. They should also be interested in cultural studies, business, law, the sciences or agriculture, and identify how the study abroad program, and their career goals, will contribute to U.S. national security.

The Fulbright Program offers generous grants for fresh American senior graduates and graduate students to study in Taiwan for a full academic year. The program has different programs tailored for Taiwan. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers 8,000 grants annually for graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study, conduct research, or teach English for six months to a year. The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends about 800 American scholars and professionals abroad for two months to a year to lecture and conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields each year.

Taiwanese Government Scholarships

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, in partnership with the Taiwanese embassy, offers a large menu of study and work opportunities for American students wanting to experience Taiwan, in all levels of academic study. See what’s available for you.

Private Funds

Language students who want to study Mandarin or Taiwanese in Taiwan may apply for the Blakemore Freeman Fellowships for Advanced Language Study. The Blakemore Foundation is an example of a private organization whose goal is to promote Asian studies by Western students. Qualified candidates must have an undergraduate degree and be pursuing an academic, professional or business career that involves the regular use of Mandarin or Taiwanese. Candidates must also be near an advanced level in the language as defined by the Blakemore Foundation.

College Scholarships

The Krannert School of Management at Purdue University is heavily invested in encouraging business majors to travel abroad. Hot spots are Asian destinations, including Taiwan, where high-tech business and industry have transformed formerly agricultural societies into booming cosmopolitan business centers within the scope of a couple of decades. Business students who want to study at National Chengchi Universityin in Taipei can apply for the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) Undergraduate Travel Awards. Purdue offers several of these grants, which award up to $1,750 in monetary assistance for a semester.

Penn State University offers the Intensive Chinese Language and Culture studies programs in Taiwan, and students can apply for various scholarship funds. For example, the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship provides $800 per month for students studying Mandarin in Taiwan.