China Medical University
中國醫藥大學
A Taichung medical university that has trained doctors in both Western and Chinese medicine since 1958.
- Students
- 7,217
- International
- 7%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 15.5:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- NT$112.7K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1958
About CMU
China Medical University was founded in Taichung on 6 June 1958 as China Medical College and became a university in 2003. It was set up to teach both Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, and that dual identity still defines it: alongside medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and nursing, it has a College of Chinese Medicine with degrees in Chinese medicine, acupuncture and Chinese pharmaceutical sciences.
The university is closely tied to China Medical University Hospital in Taichung, an academic medical centre since 2000 that gained Joint Commission International accreditation in 2018. It has about 7,200 students according to THE data. Colleges cover Medicine, Dentistry, Chinese Medicine, Pharmacy, Health Care, Public Health, Life Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, and Humanities and Sciences, spread across the Shuinan and Yingcai campuses in Taichung and a campus in Beigang, Yunlin County.
For international students, CMU's undergraduate degrees are mostly taught in Chinese and admit only in the fall; applicants without Chinese can start with a one-year International Foundation Program and must pass TOCFL level 2, then level 3, to continue. Graduate programmes offer English courses and several English-taught international master's degrees. There is no application fee, and it suits students set on a health-sciences career who are willing to study in Mandarin.
仁、慎、勤、廉
“Compassion, Prudence, Diligence, Integrity” — university motto
Why students choose CMU
CMU teaches both Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, including a seven-year Chinese medicine degree and a post-baccalaureate Chinese medicine school.
Students train alongside China Medical University Hospital, a JCI-accredited academic medical centre in Taichung.
The International Foundation Program lets students without Chinese spend a year learning Mandarin before starting a bachelor's degree in fields such as nursing, pharmacy or physical therapy.
There is no application fee for international students, and Taiwan's government scholarships can be applied for alongside admission.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (international student admission)
Selectivity
CMU does not publish an admit rate for international applicants. Medicine, Dentistry and Chinese Medicine are the most demanding programmes and interview applicants.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma | High school graduation, under Taiwan's Ministry of Education regulations for international students; certificates must be authenticated by a Taiwan mission before enrolment |
|---|---|
| Chinese language | Chinese ability for bachelor's programmes, or entry via the International Foundation Program (TOCFL level 2 after the foundation year, level 3 before year two) |
| Finances | Official bank statement showing at least USD 5,000 |
| English language | No English test for bachelor's programmes, which are taught mainly in Chinese. Master's and doctoral applicants need CEFR B2 or equivalent (e.g. TOEFL iBT 72 or IELTS 5.5). |
Deadlines
- International students, fall intake, 1st round (pattern from Fall 2025, past) Non-binding Passed16 February 2025, 17:00 Taiwan time (past)
Online system opened 25 November 2024; results 21 March 2025. Undergraduate programmes admit for fall only.
- International students, fall intake, 2nd round (pattern from Fall 2025, past) Non-binding Passed30 April 2025, 17:00 Taiwan time (past)
Online system opened 21 February 2025; interviews for Medicine, Dentistry, Chinese Medicine and Nursing are arranged by departments; results 13 June 2025.
- Overseas Chinese, Hong Kong and Macao students (September 2027 entry) Non-binding Next deadline · In 43 days14 November 2026, 00:00 Taiwan time
Applications from 21 September 2026; results 8 January 2027. This separate route is for overseas Chinese, Hong Kong and Macao applicants, not other international students.
CMU had not published Fall 2027 international student admission dates when checked. The application guideline currently linked from its How to Apply page is for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, with two fall rounds (25 November 2024 to 16 February 2025, and 21 February to 30 April 2025); expect a similar two-round window from late 2026 and check the Office of Global Affairs site.
How to apply
Apply through CMU's online system for international students, uploading the application form, declaration, graduation certificate and transcripts (with notarised translation if not in Chinese or English), a bank statement of at least USD 5,000, a study plan and at least one recommendation letter. There is no application fee, and CMU does not use external agents.
What admissions looks for
- A recognised high school qualification that meets Taiwan's Ministry of Education rules for international students.
- Chinese language ability for bachelor's study, or willingness to reach TOCFL level 2 and 3 through the foundation year.
- A clear study plan and a supporting recommendation letter.
- For Medicine, Dentistry, Chinese Medicine and Nursing, performance at interview.
Tips for applying to CMU
- 1 If you do not yet speak Chinese, look at the International Foundation Program, which covers departments such as Nursing, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine and Medical Laboratory Science.
- 2 Apply for Taiwan's MOE or MOFA government scholarships through a Taiwan mission at the start of the year, at the same time as applying to CMU.
- 3 Remember that first-year students in most non-medical programmes study at the Beigang campus in Yunlin before moving to Taichung.
- 4 Apply directly: CMU states it does not use external agents for international admissions.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in TWD
Full-time international undergraduates who have completed one semester with a GPA above 3.0 can compete for CMU scholarships of NT$10,000-50,000 each semester. International students can also apply for Taiwan government scholarships (MOE, MOFA) through Taiwan missions abroad, and CMU offers Chinese language proficiency incentives.
- NT$10,000-50,000 per semester
- CMU international student scholarship (after first semester)
- About NT$8,300 per semester
- Dormitory, Beigang campus (4-person room)
- About NT$22,700-25,700 per semester
- Dormitory, Shuinan campus (2-4 person room)
- None
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters; undergraduate intake in fall only
Chinese Medicine
A seven-year undergraduate degree at the heart of CMU's founding mission to teach traditional Chinese medicine alongside Western medicine.
Medicine
A six-year MD programme taught with China Medical University Hospital, with an interview for applicants.
Pharmacy
Offered as a five-year BS or six-year PharmD, with a separate department of Chinese pharmaceutical sciences and Chinese medicine resources.
Dentistry
A six-year programme in the College of Dentistry, which also runs master's and doctoral degrees.
International Master Program in Acupuncture
An English-friendly graduate route into CMU's acupuncture research, alongside the International Master Program in Integrative Health.
Research
- CMU's Center of Excellence for Chinese Medicine (2014) and its new drug development centre (2018) were named top-notch research centres by Taiwan's Ministry of Education.
- The CMU-SINOWELL TCM Research Center of Excellence focuses on traditional Chinese medicine research.
- China Medical University Hospital has been an academic medical centre since 2000 and received JCI accreditation in 2018.
Schools & faculties
- College of Medicine
- College of Dentistry
- College of Chinese Medicine
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Health Care
- College of Public Health
- College of Life Sciences
- College of Biomedical Engineering
- College of Humanities and Sciences
Student life
CMU's main teaching happens in Taichung, at the Shuinan campus in Beitun District and the Yingcai campus in North District, while most non-medical undergraduates spend their first year at the Beigang campus in Yunlin County. The Office of Global Affairs runs events for international students, from tea culture outings and summer gatherings to career workshops on staying and working in Taiwan, and it forwards TOCFL test dates and scholarship calls. New international undergraduates get first priority for on-campus housing.
- Career workshops and job fairs help international students find work in Taiwan after graduation.
- Cultural activities include experiences of Taiwan's tea culture.
- First-year non-medical undergraduates live and study at the Beigang campus in Yunlin County.
- An international student handbook and FAQ are published each fall.
Housing. Dormitories are for undergraduates only, with new international undergraduates given first priority; rooms cost about NT$8,300 per semester at Beigang and NT$22,700-25,700 per semester at Shuinan.
Location
Taichung is a large city in central Taiwan, with lower living costs than Taipei; CMU estimates students need NT$6,000-10,000 a month. The Office of Global Affairs is on the Shuinan campus in Beitun District, and CMU also has the Yingcai campus in Taichung's North District. The Beigang campus, where most first-year non-medical undergraduates study, is in Yunlin County, south of Taichung.
Nearest airport: Taichung International Airport (RMQ); Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) for most international flights
Notable alumni
- LT Lo Ta-yuInfluential Taiwanese singer-songwriter; graduated in medicine from China Medical College
- CT Chiu Tai-yuanPhysician and Minister of Health and Welfare (2024-2025); MD 1983
- WC Wang Cheng-hsuHaematologist-oncologist and Legislative Yuan member; MB 1982
- CL Chen Li-chenPolitician; master's degree in environmental medicine
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at China Medical University in English?
Not at bachelor's level: undergraduate courses are mostly in Chinese. Graduate programmes offer English courses, including international master's programmes in biomedical sciences, acupuncture and integrative health.
How much is tuition at China Medical University Taiwan?
At 2026-27 rates, most undergraduate programmes cost NT$56,371 per semester (about NT$113,000 a year); international students in Dentistry pay NT$131,095 and in Medicine or Chinese Medicine Division A NT$143,223 per semester.
Can international students study medicine at CMU?
Yes. Medicine (6 years), Dentistry (6 years) and Chinese Medicine (7 years) are listed for international undergraduates, taught mainly in Chinese, and applicants are interviewed.
What if I don't speak Chinese yet?
You can apply to the International Foundation Program: a year of Chinese study, after which you must pass TOCFL level 2 to start your bachelor's degree and level 3 before your second year.
Is there an application fee at CMU?
No. CMU charges no application fee for international students and does not use external agents.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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