🧧 Taiwan MOFA Scholarship – Study Abroad with Mandarin Chinese Learning Opportunities

hummblylife
Sep 22
4 min read

What is MOFA Taiwan? MOFA stands for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan. This institution is responsible for promoting diplomacy, international cooperation, and cultural and academic exchange with other countries. Due to Taiwan’s political situation, its overseas representations are usually called Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (TECO) rather than embassies or consulates.

What is the MOFA Taiwan Scholarship? The MOFA Taiwan Scholarship is a financial aid program offered by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for international students. Its goal is to foster educational and cultural exchange, providing the opportunity to study Mandarin Chinese or pursue degree programs (undergraduate, master’s, or PhD) at Taiwanese universities.

Our experience with the MOFA Taiwan Scholarship 🇹🇼

This is how our Taiwan adventure began: six months living in Kaohsiung, thanks to a program that opened the doors of this wonderful island to us. We are deeply grateful that one of us was able to study Mandarin Chinese through the scholarship, while as a family we had the opportunity to adapt to this new environment (so different from Chile!).

Later, we were able to change the student visa to a work visa, sponsored by a local company, and also apply for the corresponding ARCs (Alien Resident Cards): one for work and the rest of us had dependent ARCs. It was a long process: paperwork, adjustments, learning, but certainly we look back and there's so much gratitude.

If you’re considering applying, the first step is to gather all the documents well in advance, since the application deadline is in March (at least for Chileans). It may seem like a long road and a complicated process but trust us: it’s completely worth it!

We are so thankful to have been recipients of the Mandarin Language Enrichment Program (LEP) scholarship for 6 months. 🥹 — We are so thankful to have been recipients of the **Mandarin Language Enrichment Program (LEP)** scholarship for 6 months. 🥹

Key Dates

Application period: until the end of March of the year you plan to begin your studies in Taiwan
Interview: April
Results: late June
Arrival of scholarship recipients in Taiwan: August

What the Scholarship Covers

Monthly stipend:
- LEP (Mandarin Language Enrichment Program): NT$28,000 (~USD 850)
- Degree programs (undergraduate/master’s/PhD): NT$33,000 (~USD 1,000)
One round-trip economy-class plane ticket
Reduced tuition and benefits at Taiwanese universities
Any additional expenses beyond the stipend must be covered by the recipient.

Main Requirements

Be a citizen of a country that maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan (check this link to see if your country qualifies).
Have a strong academic record and no criminal history.
Not have studied previously in Taiwan at the same level you are applying for.
Submit documents such as diploma, transcripts, proof of admission, language certificate, etc.

Application Tips

Prepare all documents in advance, legalized and translated.
Contact your country’s Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) for details.
Always check the official website, as requirements may change each year.

Application Process

Applicants must apply simultaneously to both the university or language center in Taiwan and to the scholarship program.

From our personal experience, we highly recommend choosing the two major cities in southwestern Taiwan: Kaohsiung and Tainan. They are more affordable in terms of living costs (rent, food, transportation), which makes your monthly stipend stretch further.

Recommended universities with language centers:

If you prefer to be in the capital, Taipei, consider:

Taichung is also recommended, although we didn’t live there ourselves. You can check the full list of language centers.

Eastern Taiwan (Yilan, Hualien, Taitung) offers a more relaxed lifestyle with all the basic services, but there may be fewer expats, events, or activities compared to the western coast. If what you’re looking for is being surrounded by nature, experiencing indigenous culture, surfing, or living by the coast, it might be the right fit for you!

Required Documents

Application form
Copy of passport or other proof of nationality
Copy of highest diploma and transcript
Proof of application to a Taiwanese university (receipt of payment, submitted application form, or school’s confirmation email, etc.)
Language proficiency certificates:

If applying for the LEP (Mandarin program):

TOEFL scores or other English proficiency documents recognized by the local government, or graduation proof from a bilingual English institution.

If applying for a degree program:

For English-taught programs: TOEFL or equivalent proof of English proficiency.
For Mandarin-taught programs: academic transcript or TOCFL Level 2 (basic) or higher.

If You Get the Scholarship 🎉

Congrats! 🥳

Next steps:

Join Facebook groups of Expats, Latinos, or Spanish speakers in Taiwan. These communities are extremely helpful when it comes to finding housing, opening a local bank account (to receive your stipend each month), choosing mobile data providers, getting general tips for adjusting, or simply making new friends.