Reasons For Studying Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan

September 20, 2007

A Complete Education System

Taiwan possesses a diverse and flexible education system since lifelong learning is an important aspect of life. In addition to a nine-year compulsory education and a variety of options for entering senior high schools and vocational schools, Taiwan colleges and universities offer a high quality of education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Taiwan is committed at all levels of education to enhancing academic research and fostering talent by instilling creativity and global perspectives.

Taiwan is world-renown for its research in physics, engineering, agriculture, medicine, biotechnology, literature, and art history just to name a few. If you come to study Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan, you can opt to stay and pursue further studies after passing the Mandarin Chinese Proficiency Test. You can complete both your undergraduate and graduate degrees in Taiwan.

Tuition for higher education in Taiwan is relatively low compared to other countries, but equal in quality. In addition, the government of Taiwan provides various kinds of scholarships for international students with the intent of supporting and encouraging international students who wish to study in Taiwan. The "Taiwan Scholarship Program" makes available scholarships for students interested in Mandarin Chinese studies as well as those who wish to pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees. If you are interested in applying for these scholarships, you may contact the Cultural Divisions of Taiwan's Embassies/Representative Offices.

Reasons For Studying Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan

There are twenty-six Mandarin training centers located at universities throughout Taiwan. Offering classes year round, these centers provide a variety of courses for students of different proficiency levels. In addition, these centers are staffed by faculty members who have received professional training in teaching Mandarin to international students.

Reason 1: Best Teaching and Learning Environment

Taiwan has for years been home to numerous institutions devoted to the study of Mandarin Chinese language. This is one of the reasons why the number of international students coming to Taiwan for all levels of language study has shown a steady increase.
Students coming to Taiwan can enjoy the benefits of high-quality teaching and a rich learning environment. In addition, there is much to be learned from experiencing the blend of tradition and modernity found in Taiwanese society.

Reason 2: A Rewarding Learning Experience

International students studying in Taiwan will learn to speak Mandarin Chinese using clear, standard pronunciation, and will learn to write using traditional Mandarin Chinese characters, which is one of the oldest writing systems in the world. Traditional Mandarin Chinese characters are very unique and were developed from pictographs. Most traditional Mandarin Chinese characters contain a "form", "sound", and "meaning", so you can roughly guess their meaning and/or pronunciation after having acquired a basic working vocabulary. Traditional Mandarin Chinese characters are also an art form of calligraphy. When you learn to write traditional Mandarin Chinese characters, you are also learning how to appreciate their beauty and aesthetic qualities.

Reason 3: National Test Of Proficiency: Huayu

The Test Of Proficiency: Huayu (TOP) is to determine the Mandarin Chinese listening and reading comprehension of international students. There are three levels: basic, intermediate, and advanced, with a total of seven ranks. Examinees who achieve a passing score will receive a certificate issued by the Mandarin Training Center (MTC) at National Taiwan Normal University and the Association of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language (ATCSL).
Since 2005, TOP has been open to international students around the world. The test can measure a student's Mandarin Chinese proficiency and weaknesses and serve as a reference for further improvement.

Reason 4: Various Types of Scholarships

The Taiwan government provides the following scholarships to eligible international students who are interested in studying Mandarin Chinese in non-degree programs.

University-based Mandarin Studies Programs
Setting	International students study at college-affiliated Mandarin Chinese training centers.
Application Requirements	•  Successful candidates will be able to receive a stipend of NT$25,000 monthly, for a maximum study term of one year. •  Under its “Ten-plus Short-term Mandarin Study Program,” the Ministry of Education offers subsidies for each international group of ten or more students coming from institutions of higher ducation overseas for 6 to 8 weeks. Subsidies of US$5,000 will be awarded to each qualified group.

Community-based Mandarin Studies Programs
Setting	International students study Mandarin Chinese at learning centers in the community.
Application Requirements	Information on community-based program is available at the Cultural Division of the Taiwan representative office in your country.

For more information on these programs, please consult the following websites:
‧ Ministry of Education 
‧ Overseas Service Offices of the Ministry of Education     

Reason 5: Opportunities for Further Study

Many students, after completing their studies in Mandarin Chinese, decide to go on for further study in an undergraduate or graduate program. Those who have good academic standing can apply for the scholarships listed below. The amount of the scholarship varies from institution to institution.

Type	Description
Taiwan Scholarship	This scholarship is sponsored by the Ministry of Education. All applications must be submitted to a designated Taiwan overseas mission, in the country of the applicant’s citizenship, before the end of March of each year. Passports and documents must be valid for more than six months. For more information, please consult the following website: http://www.studyintaiwan.org/.
General Scholarship	This scholarship is sponsored by the Ministry of Education and can be applied for, at the beginning of each semester. More information can be found at http://www.studyintaiwan.org/.
The Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP)	The Taiwan International Graduate Program of the Academia Sinica provides full fellowship support for 3 years for all fully-matriculated students. The stipend levels are approximately US$950 (NTD$32,000) per month. For further information, please consult the TIGP website at http://tigp.sinica.edu.tw/.
MediaTek International Student Fellowship	The MediaTek Foundation has established this scholarship in order to encourage outstanding international graduate students to study and undertake research in Taiwan, thereby promoting international academic exchange. For further information, please visit the website at http://www.mtk.com.tw/.

If you would like to learn about how to study Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan, please consult the information in this handbook.