Applying for Scholarship in Taiwan

Taiwan offers several scholarship opportunities for Filipinos intending to pursue higher education. Here's Scholarship 101: Taiwan based on my experience and updated based on current developments since my own admission for PhD.

Information Sources:

As a student, the best place to go in person for scholarships is your school's Student Guidance and/or Career Office. The staff in those offices are always nice and helpful in any school, so don't hesitate to go.

Aside from that, for specific Taiwan scholarships offered to Pinoys, you can check out:

• roc-taiwan.org -  the official site of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines. This will be your go-to aside from information. You will be going here for your education documents authentication, scholarship application, and VISA. 
• Taiwan Scholarships in the Philippines - FB page run by TECO education division, a good spot to follow for announcements.
• Taiwan in the Philippines - the TECO general FB page.
• Manila Economic and Cultural Office - FFB page of the Philippine equivalent of TECO.

Time Management:

Be sure to take note of dates, times, periods, or seasons. Here are important tips:

• Make sure that you have ample time to process your documents. For example, do you already have your transcript? Is it already internationally authenticated? 
• The two main semesters are the Fall and Spring seasons. make sure to check announcements during this time for calls for admissions and the opening of scholarship applications.

Documents to Prepare:

Each scholarship has its own requirements list, but I'll be taking note here of significant items that one needs to know as one applies to study abroad. Also, these documents are used when you apply for school admissions, which is usually before the scholarship application process.

• Authenticated Transcript and Diploma: Since you'll be studying in another jurisdiction, you need to have your education documents authenticated. The process goes as follows:

1. Make a request through your school.
2. Get the authentication from CHED Philippines.
3. Get the authentication from the Department of Foreign Affairs Philippines.
4. Get the authentication from TECO.

Note: TECO has had a requirement of using A4, so make sure that your documents are in A4, also photocopies should be colored. Just make sure to double check at the TECO website.

• English Language Competency: usually TOEFL or IELTS, or if your school uses English as an official mode of instruction, you can just request this from your register.
• Make sure to check out the international admissions office website and social media of the school you are applying to. Schools do not process the scholarship, but they provide updates, announcements, forms, and info sessions that can be of great help.

THE SCHOLARSHIPS:

I'm reposting the exact wording from TECO's website. These are details for scholarship applications 2024. Please note that some logistic details change per year, i.e. the time period of applications. It's always best to check the updated list at the website. I'm just reposting here so that you have a general idea.

Begin Repost

1.Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship : Grants a 4-year scholarship for undergraduate studies, a 2-year scholarship for Master's, and a grant of up to 4 years for Doctoral Degree. The MOE will shoulder up to 40,000 NTD each semester for the corresponding tuition and miscellaneous expenses. The remaining costs will be shouldered by the scholarship recipient. An additional 15,000 NTD will be given to recipients undertaking university undergraduate studies, 20, 000 NTD for those pursuing their Master's and Ph.D. as the monthly stipend. 

The application is from February 1 to April 30, 2024. 

Website:  https://edu.law.moe.gov.tw/EngLawContent.aspx?lan=E&id=250

2. Huayu (Mandarin) Enrichment Scholarship : Allows applicants to choose to pursue either 3 or 6 months of Mandarin courses, subject to TECO's approval. The grant provides a monthly stipend of 25,000 NTD to cover all the expenses (tuition, miscellaneous, etc.) 

The application is from February 1 to March 31, 2024. 

Website:  https://edu.law.moe.gov.tw/EngLawContent.aspx?lan=E&id=70

3. International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF): The grant covers the full tuition fee, living expenses, economy class airfare tickets, and textbook costs. Scholars pursuing Master's will receive a monthly stipend of 18, 000 NTD and 20, 000 NTD for those pursuing Doctoral degrees.  

The application is from December 1, 2023 to March 15, 2024. 

Website: https://www.icdf.org.tw/wSite/np?ctNode=31561&mp=2

Each applicant can only apply for one scholarship program among these offerings and must process first their university admission to their preferred university in Taiwan. They also have to comply with and submit necessary scholarship requirements to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines for review and recommendation based on the indicated deadlines of each program. It is important to note that it is ineligible to apply if the applicant currently has enrolled in another program in Taiwan .

End Repost

Source: https://www.roc-taiwan.org/ph_en/post/5713.html

Here's to a successful scholarship application! May you graduate and enter history.

Photo Credit: https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=79179