The Taiwan Scholarship from Taiwan's Ministry of Education (MOE) pays toward tuition and gives a monthly stipend to foreign students doing an undergraduate degree, a Master's or a PhD at a Taiwanese university. It is a good scholarship. It is also a capped one, and most of the disappointment around it comes from students who read "government scholarship" and assumed a full ride. This guide explains what it actually pays, how the application works (it does not go through the university), and where Pakistani applicants tend to slip up. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing as well.
The short version: if you have a B average or better, a clear plan for a specific Taiwanese program, and either some Chinese or a fully English-taught program lined up, this is worth applying for. If you need every rupee of your costs covered and have no backup money at all, read the funding section carefully before you commit.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE), via TECRO or Taiwan's overseas missions |
| Funding type | Partial funding (capped tuition subsidy plus monthly stipend) |
| Study levels | Undergraduate, Master's, PhD |
| Fields | Open, any field at a partner Taiwanese university |
| Application window | Around February 1 to March 31, every year |
| Country | Taiwan |
| Official site | taiwanscholarship.moe.gov.tw |
A capped award, not a blank cheque
The scholarship has two parts. The first is a tuition and fee subsidy, which is commonly cited as up to NT$40,000 per semester. The second is a monthly stipend, commonly cited at NT$15,000-20,000 depending on your degree level. Treat both figures as typical numbers rather than guarantees, and check the current amounts on the official Taiwan Scholarship portal before you build a budget around them.
The word that matters is "capped". The tuition support stops at a set amount per semester. If your program charges more than that, you pay the difference. Some programs will need a top-up, and you should find out which category your program falls into before you accept an offer, not after you land in Taiwan.
So how should a Pakistani family plan for this? Ask the university for its exact tuition and fee figure per semester, subtract the subsidy amount listed on the official portal, and you have your top-up. Then compare the stipend against what you expect to spend each month. Taiwan has a relatively low cost of living compared with Japan or Korea, which helps, but a stipend is still a stipend. It is meant to support you, not to fund trips home or send money back.
If your family can cover a modest gap, the funding works well. If the gap would be a real hardship, look at whether a cheaper program at another partner university would fit inside the cap.
Pakistani students are eligible, with one language catch
The scholarship is open to any nationality. The only nationality exclusion is for permanent residents of the PRC, Hong Kong or Macao. Pakistani citizens are not affected by that exclusion, so the nationality question is settled.
The other conditions are where people get filtered out:
- A B average or above, roughly 70/100 or a GPA of 3.0.
- Chinese proficiency at TOCFL Level 3 or higher, unless your program is fully English-taught.
- You cannot hold two Taiwan government scholarships at the same time.
The language rule is the one most Pakistani applicants misread. TOCFL is Taiwan's test of Chinese as a foreign language, and Level 3 is the general requirement. It is waived only when your specific program is fully English-taught. "Partly in English" or "English-friendly" is not the same thing. If a department teaches some courses in Mandarin, assume the requirement applies until the university confirms otherwise in writing.
There is good news here. Taiwan has a growing number of English-taught programs, particularly in technology and business. If you are aiming at engineering, computer science or a business degree, an English-taught route is realistic. If you are aiming at something more niche, check the language of instruction first, because it decides whether you need TOCFL at all.
On grades, the B average threshold is a minimum. Students who meet it with a lot of room to spare will have an easier time than those sitting right on the line. If your marks are on a Pakistani percentage scale, make sure the transcript you submit is clear about what the scale is.
You apply through Taiwan's overseas mission, not the university
This is the part that confuses people the most. The MOE scholarship is not applied for through the university's international office. You apply through Taiwan's overseas representative office that covers your country. That might be TECRO or a local trade or culture office that functions as Taiwan's embassy. Find out which office handles applications from Pakistan using the official portal, and contact them early.
At the same time, you need to secure admission to the university. University admission is required alongside the scholarship application, so you are running two applications in parallel. Missing either one sinks the whole thing.
- Pick your program and confirm whether it is fully English-taught or Chinese-medium.
- Check the tuition per semester and work out any top-up beyond the subsidy cap.
- Apply to the university for admission.
- Apply for the scholarship through the Taiwan overseas mission responsible for your country during the window.
- Wait for the award notification.
Because the two tracks run side by side, start the university application well before the scholarship window opens if the university's own timeline allows it.
The six documents and how to make them count
The scholarship asks for six documents:
- Application form
- Transcripts
- Recommendation letters
- Study plan
- Language certificates
- Passport copy
Most of these are routine, but two deserve more effort than students usually give them.
The study plan is your chance to show why Taiwan and why this particular program. A generic essay about "global exposure" will not stand out. Name the program, say what you want to study in it, and connect it to what you have already done and what you want to do afterwards. For a Master's or PhD, talk about the research area in concrete terms.
The language certificates matter differently depending on your route. If your program is Chinese-medium, a TOCFL result at Level 3 or above is central to your file. If your program is fully English-taught, include the English certificate you have and make it easy for the reviewer to see that the program does not require Chinese.
Recommendation letters should come from teachers or supervisors who actually know your work. A short, specific letter beats a long, vague one on a letterhead. For transcripts and degrees, check whether the mission wants attested copies. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains how that process works in Pakistan, and the international scholarships documents checklist covers the general preparation.
Timing the February to March window
The application window usually runs from around February 1 to March 31 each year, and it is expected to open in February. The dates can shift slightly from year to year, so confirm the exact deadline on the official portal and with the overseas mission handling your application.
Two months sounds like plenty. It is not, if you only start then. A realistic plan for a Pakistani applicant looks something like this:
- Autumn: choose programs, confirm language of instruction, check tuition against the cap.
- Before February: take TOCFL if you need it, request recommendation letters, get documents attested, draft the study plan.
- February to March: submit the scholarship application through the mission and keep the university application moving.
- After the window: wait for the award notification.
Language tests and attestation are the slow items. Leave them to February and you will be rushing the rest.
Where applicants go wrong
The most common mistake is assuming the scholarship covers the full cost. It does not. The tuition subsidy is capped, and some programs need a top-up. Do the arithmetic before you apply.
The second is assuming an English-taught program without checking. The TOCFL requirement is waived only for fully English-taught programs. Read the program page, then email the department if anything is unclear.
The third is sending the scholarship application to the university. It goes to Taiwan's overseas mission. The university handles your admission, which is a separate process.
The fourth is holding, or planning to hold, another Taiwan government scholarship. You cannot hold two at the same time, so if you are weighing two Taiwanese awards, you will have to choose.
Who should skip this? Students below a B average, students who need fully covered costs with no family support at all, and students set on a Chinese-medium program who have no realistic path to TOCFL Level 3 before the deadline. Everyone else with a clear program in mind should take it seriously. If you are comparing options, see all Taiwan scholarships in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for the Taiwan MOE Scholarship?
Yes. It is open to any nationality, and the only exclusion is for permanent residents of the PRC, Hong Kong or Macao.
Does it cover full tuition regardless of the program?
No. The tuition subsidy is capped at a set amount per semester, commonly cited as up to NT$40,000. Some programs will still need a top-up payment beyond that cap.
Do I need to speak Chinese?
Generally yes. TOCFL Level 3 or higher is required, unless your specific program is fully English-taught.
Do I apply to the university or to the Taiwan office?
Both, for different things. The scholarship application goes through Taiwan's overseas mission (TECRO or the trade or culture office acting as its embassy). University admission is a separate application that you need to secure at the same time.
How much is the monthly stipend?
It is commonly cited at NT$15,000-20,000 per month, depending on your degree level. Check the current figure on the official portal.
What grades do I need?
A B average or above, which is roughly 70/100 or a GPA of 3.0.
Before you apply, check the current amounts, dates and office contacts on the official Taiwan Scholarship website, and keep the Taiwan Scholarship (Ministry of Education) page handy for the key details.