Article 1 This regulation is promulgated according to Article 25 of the University Act, Article 26 of the Junior College Act, Article 4-1 of the Vocational School Act, Article 3-1 of the Senior High School Act, and Article 6 ,Paragraph 3 of the Compulsory Education Act.
Article 2 An individual of foreign nationality, who has never held nationality status from the Republic of China (“R.O.C.”) and who does not possess an overseas Chinese student status at the time of their application, is qualified to apply for admission under this regulation.
An individual of foreign nationality, pursuant to the following requirements and who has resided overseas continuously for no less than 6 years is also qualified to apply for admission under this regulation. However, an individual who plans to apply for study at a department of medicine, dentistry or Chinese medicine must have resided overseas continuously for no less than 8 years.
1. An individual who also is a national of the R.O.C. , but does not hold or has had a household registration in Taiwan.
2. An individual who also was a national of the R.O.C. but has no R.O.C. nationality at the time of their application shall have an annulled status regarding their R.O.C. nationality for no less than 8 years after an annulment of R.O.C. nationality by the Ministry of the Interior.
3. Regarding individuals mentioned in the preceding 2 subparagraphs, they must not have studied in Taiwan as an overseas Chinese student nor received placement permission during the same year of the application by the University Entrance Committee for Overseas Chinese Students.
According to the Education Cooperation Framework Agreement, a foreign national who was selected by a foreign government, organization, or school, and does not hold a household registration from the time of their birth is not subject to the limitations as prescribed in the preceding 2 paragraphs after receiving the approval from the authorized educational government agencies. If the calculated calendar year is not one complete calendar year, their stay in Taiwan should not exceed 120 days within the calculated calendar year period.
The six and eight year calculation period as prescribed in Paragraph 2 shall be calculated from the starting date of the semester (February 1st or August 1st) as the designated due date for the time of study.
The term “overseas” as prescribed in Paragraph 2 is limited to countries or regions other than Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau; the term “ reside overseas continuously” means that an individual may stay in Taiwan for no more than a total of 120 days per calendar year.
The only exceptions to this method of calculation are for those who
fulfill one of the following requirements with written supported proof:
1. Attended overseas youth training courses organized by the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Council or technique training classes accredited by the Ministry of Education (the”Ministry”);
2. Attended a Mandarin Chinese language center at a university/college of which foreign student recruitment is approved by the Ministry, and to which the total length of stay is less than 2 years;
3. Exchange students, whose length of total exchange is less than 2 years; or
4. An Internship in Taiwan which has been approved by an authorized central government agency, to which the total length of stay is less than 2 years.
An individual, who has both foreign and R.O.C. nationalities and has applied for an annulment of their R.O.C. nationality before February 1, 2011, the effective date of this amendment, will then be qualified to apply for admission as an international student under the amendment effective before February 1, 2011 and will not be subject to the limitation as prescribed in Paragraph 2.
Article 3 An applicant of foreign nationality, concurrently holding a permanent residence status in Hong Kong or Macao, having no history of a household registration record in Taiwan and, at the time of application, has resided in Hong Kong, Macao, or another foreign country for no less than 6 years is qualified to apply for admission under these regulations. However, an individual who plans to apply for study at a department of medicine, dentistry, or Chinese medicine must reside overseas continuously for no less than 8 years.
The term “reside overseas continuously” mentioned in the preceding paragraph means an individual may stay in Taiwan for no more than a total of 120 days per calendar year. However, such a term may be exempt, if any of the conditions prescribed in Subparagraphs 1 through 4, Paragraph 5 of the previous Article applies and is supported with written proof, and the said domestic length of stay shall be excluded from the overseas length of residency.
An applicant being a former citizen of Mainland China and holds a foreign nationality, having no history of household registration record in Taiwan, and at the time of application, has resided overseas continuously for no less than 6 years is qualified to apply for admission under these regulations. However, an individual who plans to apply for study at a department of medicine, dentistry, or Chinese medicine must reside overseas continuously for no less than 8 years.
The term “reside overseas continuously” means an individual may stay in Taiwan for no more than a total of 120 days per calendar year.
However, such a term may be exempted if any of the conditions prescribed in Subparagraphs 1 through 4, of Paragraph 5 of the previous Article, applies and is supported with written proof, and the said domestic length of stay shall be excluded from the overseas length of residency.
The six and eight years calculation period as prescribed in Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 3 shall be calculated from the starting date of the semester (February 1st or August 1st) as the designated due date for the time of study.
The term overseas as prescribed in paragraph 5 in previous article shall apply to paragraphs 1 to 4.
Article 4 International students applying for schools in Taiwan in accordance with the two previous articles shall be limited to one application only. Upon completion of the course of study, at a school in Taiwan, to which an international student has applied, the student's admission to another school’s academic level shall be handled in a manner identical to the admission procedures for local students. An exception is that an application for a master’s degree or higher levels of graduate studies can be processed under the procedures of each individual school.
Article 5 The number of international students that universities, 2-year colleges, 5-year colleges, high schools, and elementary schools may admit is limited to an additional ten percent of the number of local students approved on a case by case basis, for each educational institution each academic year, by the competent education administrative authority, and the number of international student admissions shall be incorporated into the total admission figure and reported to the competent education administrative authority for appraisal and ratification. Degree programs offered by collaborating domestic and foreign universities that have been approved on a case by case basis by the Ministry of Education are not subject to this restriction.
Universities and colleges may admit international students to take up places at their institution available to local students within the approved admission quota for that academic year which remain vacant.
The number for admission prescribed in Paragraph 1, do not include international students with a non-degree status.
Article 6 Universities/colleges are responsible for establishing international student recruitment guidelines and must get approval from the Ministry.
Universities/colleges shall set up accordingly a set of entrance procedures that outline the degree programs offered, the duration of study, quotas for admission, qualifications and requirements, reviewing or screening methods, along with other related information.
Article 7 International students applying for admission to universities/colleges shall submit their applications directly to the schools of their choice during the schools’ designated application periods. Those applicants that qualify through the review or screening process will be granted admission by the school. The following application documents need to be submitted:
1. Application form
2. Academic credentials:
（1）Academic credentials from Mainland China: The Regulations Governing the Accreditation of Schools in Mainland China shall apply.
（2）Academic credentials from Hong Kong or Macao: Academic Credential Verification and Accreditation Methods adopted in Hong Kong and Macao shall apply.
（3）Academic credentials from other areas:
A. Academic credentials earned at overseas Taiwan schools or Taiwan
schools in Mainland China shall be regarded as the same as those at
domestic schools with equivalent levels.
B. Academic credentials referred to the preceding 2 Items shall be
subject to the Regulations Regarding the Assessment and Recognition of
Foreign Academic Credentials for Institutions of Higher Education.
However, academic credentials earned from institutes or branches
established in Mainland China by foreign schools shall require public
notarization in Mainland China and be verified and examined by an
institute established or appointed by, or through a private agency
commissioned by the Executive Yuan.
3. Financial proof that shows financial sustainability for study in Taiwan, or proof of full scholarship provided by a government agency, university, college, or private organization.
4. Others as required by the respective schools.
A school that reviews the application documents without verification by overseas consulates, representative offices, agencies of the country or other bodies authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (hereinafter referred to as ‘Overseas Agencies’) or institutes established or appointed by, or a private agency commissioned by the Executive Yuan as prescribed in subparagraphs 2 and 4 of the preceding paragraph may request for verification by an Overseas Agencies. If the said documents have been verified, the school may request examination of the documents.
Article 7-1 An international student submitting forged, fabricated, or altered papers for the purpose of the their school application shall be subject to enrollment qualification cancellation; or a revocation of enrollment and denial to the request of any certificate pertaining to study, if the said student is already enrolled; or revocation of graduation qualifications and cancellation of the diploma by the student’s school, if the said student has been already graduated.
Article 8 An international student who has completed a bachelor’s degree or a higher degree in Taiwan and applies for a master’s program shall be exempt from the rules listed in Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2, provided that a graduation certification and transcript for each consecutive semester issued from the educational institutions in Taiwan shall be enclosed.
International students who have graduated from private high schools, lower grade schools for International Residents in Taiwan, or from bilingual programs affiliated with senior high schools, or from a foreign curriculum department and classes at private senior high schools or below must submit credentials and transcripts for each academic semester to apply for admission under Article 7, and are exempt from the rules listed in Article 4, Paragraph1, Subparagraph 2, of the preceding Article.
Article 9 Universities/colleges offering admission to international students shall promptly register into the international student data management information system designated by the Ministry the following: school entrance, transfer, suspension or dismissal and any change or loss of student status.
Article 10 International students may not apply for Extension Programs at universities/colleges designed for returning education students, parttime, in-service courses of Master programs, or other programs, which are restricted to night classes and classes during holidays. International students who have obtained legal resident status of Taiwan, or are enrolled in a program ratified by this Ministry, are exempted from this Article.
Article 11 An international student reporting to a university, college, 5-year junior college, junior colleges affiliated with universities, elementary schools through senior high schools for registration at the time not beyond one-third of the first semester of the current school year shall register for the first semester; or at the time beyond onethird of the first semester of the current school year shall register for the second semester or the next school year, unless otherwise stipulated by the authorized educational government agencies.
Article 12 An international student who has been approved for an internship after their graduation from a university in Taiwan may have his or her international student status may be extended for one year at most after graduation.
During the course of study in Taiwan, international students, who have undertaken initial household registration, resident registration, naturalization or restoration of the R.O.C. nationality, will lose their international student status and shall be dismissed by the school.
International students who are dismissed from university/college after admission due to behavior issues, poor academic performance or a conviction under the Criminal Law may thereafter not apply for admission under this regulation.
A university or college shall integrate the procedures regarding how to accept international students transferring into its international recruitment guidelines, which will be subject to the Ministry’s approval. However, an international student that has been dismissed by a school that accepts the said student, due to behavior issues or a conviction under the Criminal Law may not transfer to another university or college.
Article 13 Universities/ colleges may sign education cooperation agreements with foreign schools and recruit international exchange students. Universities/ colleges may apply this regulation to accept international students as non-degree seeking students with the condition that it will not compromise normal teaching routines.
With approval from the authorized educational government agencies , elementary schools through senior high schools may recruit international students for short-term periods of study of less than one year in Taiwan.
Article 14 Schools of all levels establishing special international student programs under international academic cooperation programs or special circumstances shall comply with their respective total quantity development scale and follow the regulations governing resource conditions, in addition to filing an application with the authorized educational government agencies which will be subject to approval from the Ministry.
Article 15 In order to grant support to outstanding international students at universities/colleges, the Ministry may set up or subsidize universities/college to set up international student scholarships.
Universities/colleges shall provide funds for setting up scholarships or financial aid to encourage international students that are studying in Taiwan.
Article 16 Universities/colleges shall designate units or personnel to handle international student applications, consultation, liaison, and other related matters. In addition, these units or personnel shall reinforce the arrangement of home stay lodging for international students, and assist them to learn Mandarin Chinese and Taiwan culture in order to better enhance their understanding about Taiwan.
Universities/colleges shall host activities to foster international exchange, globalization on campus, or other events helpful to interactions between international and local students, during each school year.
Article 17 5-year junior colleges, junior colleges affiliated with universities, elementary schools through senior high schools offering admission to international students shall, in addition to complying with Article 20 which concerns recruitment of international students with legitimate resident status in Taiwan shall prepare their respective international student recruitment plan and submit the said plan to the authorized educational government agencies for approval no later than November 30th of each year before their respective recruitment begins. The authorized educational government agencies at the respective municipality, county, and city shall submit their respective approved lists of schools to the Ministry for review no later than December 31th of each year.
The plan mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall include the establishment of the dedicated units responsible for international students, curriculum with emphasis on our language and culture learning, and measures regarding accommodation for international students.
The countries and quota for international student recruitment pertaining to Paragraph 1 may be stipulated by the Ministry after consulting with the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, if necessary.
Article 18 Unless otherwise specified in Article 20, international students applying for admission to schools under the level of senior high schools shall submit the following papers and directly apply for admission to the respective school during the period designated by the respective school. Admission letters will be issued if the review or examination finds the applicant qualified after submitting:
1. Application form.
2. Academic credentials:
（1）Academic credentials from Mainland China: The Regulations Governing Accreditation of Institutes in Mainland China shall apply.
（2）Academic credentials from Hong Kong or Macao: Academic Credential Verification and Accreditation Methods adopted in Hong Kong and Macao shall apply.
（3）Academic credentials from other areas:
A. Academic credentials earned at overseas Taiwan schools or Taiwan
schools in Mainland China shall be regarded as the same as earned in
domestic schools of equivalent levels.
B. Academic credentials referred in the preceding 2 Items shall be
subject to the Regulations Regarding the Assessment and Recognition of
Foreign Academic Credentials for Institutions of Higher Education.
However, academic credentials earned from institutes or branches
established in Mainland China by foreign schools shall require public
notarization in Mainland China and be verified and examined by an
institute established or appointed by, or a private agency commissioned
by the Executive Yuan.
3. Financial proof of applicant’s sufficient funds to support them while studying in Taiwan.
4. Documents of the eligibility of a legal guardian in Taiwan.
5. Power of Attorney by student’s parents or any other legal representative to the guardian in Taiwan, which must also be verified by overseas agencies.
6. Letter of Agreement from a legal guardian in Taiwan, which must be notarized.
7. Additional documents, as required by respective schools.
Academic credentials stipulated in Subparagraph 2 of the preceding Paragraph may be exempted if the enrollment application is filed for the first semester for the first grade of elementary school.
A school reviewing the application documents without verification as prescribed in Subparagraphs 2, 3, and 7 of Paragraph 1 for verification by ‘Overseas Agencies’. If the said documents have been verified, the school may request examination of the documents.
Article 19 The legal guardian in Taiwan referred in the preceding Article shall mean a R.O.C. citizen who has passed a police criminal record check and who has a tax report for the latest fiscal year issued by a tax administration office showing a general annual income more than TWD 900,000.
A person that qualifies in accordance to the prescribed qualifications in the preceding Paragraph 1 will be able to serve as a guardian in Taiwan for one international student.
Article 20 International students who have acquired legitimate resident status in Taiwan and are applying to study at an elementary school, junior high school and senior high school may directly apply to a school near his or her residency by submitting the following papers. The school which approves the said application shall submit a roster to the authorized educational government agencies as a reference:
1. An enrollment application form;
2. A photocopy of a legitimate resident certificate;
3. Academic credentials:
（1）Academic credentials from Mainland China: The Regulations Governing Accreditation of Institutes in Mainland China shall apply.
（2）Academic credentials from Hong Kong or Macao: Academic Credential Verification and Accreditation Methods adopted in Hong Kong and Macao shall apply.
（3）Academic credentials from other areas:
A. Academic credentials earned at overseas Taiwan schools or Taiwan schools in Mainland China shall be regarded as the same as earned at domestic schools of equivalent levels.
B. Academic credentials referred in the preceding 2 Items shall be subject to the Regulations Regarding the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Academic Credentials for Institutions of Higher Education. However, academic credentials earned from institutes or branches established in Mainland China by foreign schools shall require public notarization in Mainland China and be verified and examined by an institute established or appointed by, or a private agency commissioned by the Executive Yuan.
Academic credentials stipulated in Subparagraph 3 of the preceding Paragraph may be exempt if the enrollment application is filed for the first semester of first grade of elementary school.
A school reviewing the application documents without verification as prescribed in Subparagraphs 3 of Paragraph 1 may request verification by ‘Overseas Agencies’. If the said documents have been verified, the school may request examination of the documents.
An international student as mentioned in Paragraph 1 being denied enrollment due to the selected school’s filled recruitment quota may apply for assistance from the authorized educational government agencies to enroll in a school with available recruitment quotas. Elementary through senior high schools may arrange the said international student to an appropriate grade level or to have an audit student according to the examination results of the applicant referred in Paragraph 1. The said audit student shall be limited to no longer than one year; the respective student’s enrollment status will be recognized if the student successfully passes the examination.
Article 20-1 Special consideration for an international student’s application to junior high school may be granted if the foreign school to which the said student is attending becomes inoperable due to war, major disaster, or major epidemic, of which these outbreaks are documented by our government’s consulate office or the student’s country’s consulate office or authorized institute in our country with sufficient and adequate data for evaluation, followed by the recognition by our central competent authority governing education administration, jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior.
It is a principle that the additional student admission quota under special consideration mentioned above shall be one percent of the total student recruitment quota approved for the respective schools.
Article 21 Fees that are to be paid by international students in Taiwan should be calculated by using the following:
1. Students who are admitted to study in Taiwan pursuant to the previous 2 articles, or are recipients of MOFA Taiwan Scholarships, under the recommendation of the designated overseas agencies, or holders of the status of permanent residents in our country shall pay their tuition and other fees in accordance with the same standards that apply to Taiwan nationals.
2. Students admitted to educational institutions in Taiwan in accordance with an education cooperation agreement shall pay their tuition and other fees that are specified in the agreement.
3. A school that accepts an international student who does not qualify to the preceding 2 Subparagraphs may apply its own tuition and other fees standard to the said student, and the said standard may not be lower than the standard adopted by other private schools at the same level.
Students that were admitted to study in Taiwan before the effective date of the February 1, 2011 amendment shall pay for their own tuition and other fees in accordance with the previous standards.
Article 22 At the time of registration a new international student shall present proof of a medical and injury insurance policy which is valid for at least 6 months from the date the student enters Taiwan. Current student shall present written proof that they have joined Taiwan’s the National Health Insurance Plan.
The abovementioned written proof of insurance issued in foreign country shall be verified by the ‘Overseas Agencies’.
Article 23 If international students violate the Employment Services Act, Schools or authorized authorities shall immediately handle the cases in accordance with the related regulations after investigation.
Article 24 If international students discontinue their schooling or because of any other reason that causes them to change or lose their student status at the school, the school must notify the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, the Service Center of National Immigration Agency, the Ministry of the Interior, and send copies of these notifications to the Ministry of Education.
Article 25 The authorized educational government agencies may, if necessary, visit schools that admit international students. Any institutions found in violation of the regulations herein shall be subject to penalty, pursuant to the pertinent laws and regulations. The authorized educational government agencies may adjust schools’ enrollment quotas for international students, as conditions require, if schools are not pursuant to Article 23.
Article 26 Subparagraphs 1, 3, and 4 of Paragraph 4 of Article 7, Articles 9, 15, 16, 22, and 24 shall apply to the application procedures, scholarships or subsidies, discipline and guidance, absence for more than one fourth of total class hours of a semester, and reporting of change or loss of student status regarding international students that are attending Mandarin Chinese language centers at a university/college in Taiwan.
Article 27 The format of the forms referred to in Subparagraph 1, of Paragraph 1 of Article 7, Subparagraph 1, Paragraph 1 of Article 18, and Subparagraph 1, of Paragraph 1 of Article 20 shall be defined by the respective schools. The format of the forms referred in Subparagraphs 5 and 6, of Paragraph 1 of Article 18 shall be defined by the Ministry of Education.
Article 28 The Regulations shall take effect on August 1, 2012.
The Articles of this Regulation amended on December 24, 2012 take effect on January 1, 2013.
The Regulations are amended on August 23, 2013 and shall be implemented since September 1, 2013.
Amendments to these Regulations were promulgated June 23, 2014 and took immediate effect.
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