1. Background
The Ministry of Education (MOE) created the Elite Scholarship Program in order to
encourage lecturers from countries in South and Southeast Asia to pursue a graduate
degree in Taiwan (with priority given to students enrolling in doctoral programs). One
hundred students an academic year over a period of three academic years may be
awarded this scholarship (i.e. a total of three hundred students).
This scholarship was created in accordance with the New Southbound Policy Work Plan
which was announced by the Executive Yuan in December, 2016, and to fulfill the
short-, medium-, and long-term plans of the MOE New Southbound Policy – Talent
Development Program.

2. Basis and Standards
(1) The scholarship program will be managed in accordance with the MOE Elite
Scholarship Program Action Plan.

(2) The Elite Scholarship Program provides each student with a monthly stipend of
NT$25,000. A master’s student may claim stipends up to a maximum of two
years; a doctoral student may claim stipends up to a maximum of three years.

(3) Stipends may be used to cover tuition and miscellaneous fees, thesis supervision,
insurance, accommodations, internet use and living allowance.

(4) Students will receive the stipend from the month they begin studies until the
scholarship expires; the student graduates, takes a leave of absence, or
discontinues studies; or the scholarship is suspended/terminated.

(5) Students will lose the scholarship if they fail to meet the standards required by
their school, violate ROC law, receive a demerit on their academic record, take
a leave of absence, or are expelled.

(6) The scholarship will be revoked if the student pursues studies abroad as an
exchange or dual-degree student. Remaining stipends may not be retained or
deferred. The student’s scholarship will be suspended if they depart Taiwan. A
student who departs Taiwan after the fifteenth day of a month is not required to
return the stipend for that month.

3. Eligibility

(1) Schools:
i. Offer full English-taught programs in which all courses are taught in
English, rather than just offering sufficient English courses to meet
graduation credits or requirements.

ii. At least twenty international students were enrolled in graduate programs
at the school during the previous academic year.

(2) Students:

A scholarship recipient must hold the position of lecturer at a public or private
higher education institution in a country of South or Southeast Asian. However,
students are ineligible for the scholarship if one of the conditions below applies.
Students may not apply if they:

i. Hold Taiwan (R.O.C.) nationality or have the status of an overseas Chinese
student.

ii. Are enrolled or have retained admission in a university in Taiwan. (This
restriction does not apply to students who are on course to graduate and
will be pursuing their next degree; however, they must still be a lecturer
from a South or Southeast Asian country.)

iii. Previously studied in Taiwan for a degree at the same level.

iv. Are exchange students or dual-degree students through a partnership
agreement with an institution overseas.

v. Has already received stipends through this program for more than three
years.

vi. Have been awarded another form of financial assistance or scholarship
from a Taiwan (R.O.C.) government agency to support their studies in
Taiwan