National Central University
國立中央大學
A Taoyuan university, rebuilt from a geophysics institute, that runs Taiwan's largest general-purpose telescope.
- Students
- 12,586
- 6,214 undergraduates
- Tuition
- NT$91,382
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1915
- QS World Ranking
- #659
- 2027 edition
About NCU
National Central University traces its roots to Nanjing, where it was officially established in 1915 and renamed National Central University in 1928. Before 1949 it was one of China's leading universities, remembered in the saying "In the North, Peking University; in the South, Central University." Alumni re-established it in Taiwan in 1962 as a graduate institute of geophysics. It moved to Shuanglianpo in Zhongli, Taoyuan, in 1968 and took back its full name in 1979.
Today NCU has about 12,600 students, split roughly evenly between 6,214 undergraduates and graduate students (autumn 2025). Its colleges are Liberal Arts, Science, Engineering, Management, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Hakka Studies, and Health Sciences and Technology, plus a Graduate College of Sustainability and Green Energy. Its geophysics origins still show: NCU runs the Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research and the Lulin Observatory, which has Taiwan's largest general-purpose optical telescope.
For international students, NCU is mainly a graduate destination. The bachelor's programmes open to foreign applicants are Chinese-taught, and they admit students in the autumn intake only. It suits students who already read and speak Mandarin and want a quiet, green campus 35 km from Taipei. Tuition is low: about NT$91,000 to NT$106,000 a year for international undergraduates.
誠樸
“Sincerity and Simplicity” — university motto
Why students choose NCU
The Department of Space Science and Engineering admits international undergraduates and sits alongside NCU's Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research.
NCU's Institute of Astronomy runs Lulin Observatory at 2,862 m in Yushan National Park, home to Taiwan's largest general-purpose optical telescope (the 1-metre LOT).
International undergraduate tuition in 2026-27 is NT$45,691–53,183 per semester, and there is no application fee.
Applicants are automatically considered for the NCU Scholarship, worth up to NT$9,000 a month for bachelor's students and/or a tuition waiver, by ticking one box on the application.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (international degree students; bachelor's programmes admit in the fall only)
Selectivity
NCU does not publish an acceptance rate for international applicants. Quotas are set each year by Taiwan's Ministry of Education. Selection is mainly by document review, and some departments add a written test or a phone or video interview.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma | A high school diploma recognised under Taiwan's Ministry of Education rules, plus a full official transcript with grade descriptions, GPA and class ranking. Documents must be authenticated by a Taiwan overseas office after admission. |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Foreign nationals who have never held ROC (Taiwan) nationality or studied in Taiwan as an overseas Chinese student, under the MOE Regulations Regarding International Students Undertaking Studies in Taiwan |
| Chinese proficiency | At least CEFR A2 (e.g. TOCFL Band A Level 2) for Chinese-taught programmes; Chinese Literature requires TOCFL Band C Level 5 |
| Proof of funds | A bank deposit certificate in the applicant's own name showing at least US$5,000, issued within the last three months (a scholarship of US$5,000 or more also counts) |
| English language | English-taught and English-sufficient programmes need at least CEFR B1, e.g. TOEFL iBT 42, IELTS 4 or TOEIC 550. Applicants from listed English-speaking countries are exempt. In the fall 2026 guideline these programmes were all at master's and PhD level; the bachelor's programmes open to international students were Chinese-taught. |
Deadlines
- Fall 2027 intake (bachelor's, master's, PhD): not yet announced; fall 2026 dates shown for reference Non-binding PassedMarch 15, 2026 (fall 2026 cycle, closed)
For fall 2026, the online application ran January 1 to March 15, 2026, results came out May 20, 2026 and the semester began September 1, 2026. Expect a similar window for fall 2027.
- Spring 2027 intake (master's and PhD only) Non-binding PassedSeptember 30, 2026
Not open to bachelor's applicants. Results on November 24, 2026; the semester begins in February 2027.
Bachelor's programmes admit international students in the fall intake only. NCU's latest published schedule is for fall 2026 (applications January 1 to March 15, 2026). The fall 2027 guideline had not been released as of September 29, 2026.
How to apply
Apply online through NCU's Degree Program Application system (no application fee). Upload PDFs of your diploma and transcripts, passport, language certificate, a bank statement showing at least US$5,000 and a photo. Add your department's documents: usually an autobiography and study plan, plus one or two recommendation letters submitted by your referees through the online reference system. You can apply to up to three departments and must pick one if you get several offers.
What admissions looks for
- Academic records: a recognised high school diploma and a full transcript showing grades, GPA and class ranking.
- Language ability that matches the language of instruction; for bachelor's programmes that means a recognised Chinese proficiency certificate.
- Department materials, typically an autobiography and a study plan, plus recommendation letters from teachers.
- For some departments, performance in an interview: Chinese Literature interviews every applicant by phone or video and wants the autobiography and study plan written in Chinese.
Tips for applying to NCU
- 1 Check which programmes are open in your intake: bachelor's programmes take international students in the fall only, and the list changes each year.
- 2 Most bachelor's programmes open to international students (e.g. Business Administration, Information Management, Economics, Mathematics) teach mainly in Chinese, so build your Mandarin before you apply.
- 3 Ask your referees early. Recommendation letters must be submitted by the referees themselves through NCU's online system before the deadline.
- 4 Tick "yes" for the NCU Scholarship on the application form; there is no separate scholarship application.
- 5 Your bank certificate must be in your own name, in US dollars and less than three months old. Screenshots and sponsor letters are rejected.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in TWD
Tick one box on the application to be considered for the NCU Scholarship. It gives bachelor's students a monthly stipend of up to NT$9,000 and/or waivers of tuition and credit fees, set by the committee according to academic performance. You can also apply through Taiwan's overseas offices for the Taiwan Scholarship. The MOE version gives undergraduates NT$15,000 a month plus waivers of tuition and selected fees for up to four years; the MOFA version pays NT$33,000 a month plus air tickets.
- Up to NT$9,000 a month and/or tuition and credit fee waivers
- NCU Scholarship (bachelor's)
- NT$15,000 a month plus tuition waiver, up to 4 years
- MOE Taiwan Scholarship (undergraduate)
- None
- Application fee
- Overseas student insurance NT$6,000 for the first 6 months; then National Health Insurance NT$826 a month
- Insurance
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fall September to January, spring February to June)
Space Science and Engineering (BS)
Open to international undergraduates, in a college that also houses the Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research.
Mathematics: Computational and Data Sciences division (BS)
One of two mathematics tracks open to international applicants; some courses are taught fully in English, but Chinese is required.
Economics (BA)
NCU's Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development publishes Taiwan's monthly consumer confidence index.
Hakka Language and Social Sciences (BA)
NCU has a dedicated College of Hakka Studies, with bachelor's tracks in Hakka language and communication and in Hakka social and policy sciences.
Astronomy (Graduate Institute)
The institute operates Lulin Observatory, where Comet Lulin was discovered in 2007.
Research
- Lulin Observatory (2,862 m, Yushan National Park) is run by NCU's Institute of Astronomy with the Taiwan Astronomical Research Alliance and houses the 1-metre Lulin One-meter Telescope. Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3), found there in 2007, was the first comet discovered by a Taiwanese researcher.
- The Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research is one of NCU's main research centres.
- Other research centres include the Earthquake Disaster & Risk Evaluation and Management Center (E-DREaM), the Research Center for Hazard Mitigation and Prevention, and the Hydrogen Energy Research Center.
Schools & faculties
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Science
- College of Engineering
- School of Management
- College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- College of Earth Sciences
- College of Hakka Studies
- College of Health Sciences and Technology
- Graduate College of Sustainability and Green Energy
- Songtao School of Holistic Education
Student life
NCU's hillside campus at Shuanglianpo is green and quiet, laid out around lawns, pine groves and water. Students walk the 2 km pine-lined "Lovers' Path" around the campus and cross the Hundred Blossoms Brook every day. They relax by NCU Lake, which was modelled on Nanjing's Xuanwu Lake as a nod to the university's origins. One tradition: on a male student's birthday, his friends throw him into the Turtle Fountain in front of Dormitory No. 9. The Student Association organises departmental and campus-wide clubs, and there are dorms for international degree students.
- The "Top 10 Sights" include the kapok-lined Zhongda Road, NCU Lake and Ju Ming's Taiji sculpture beside the College of Liberal Arts.
- The Turtle Fountain birthday dunking is a long-running student tradition.
- An NCU-led team won three silver and four bronze medals for Taiwan at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) 2026.
- The NCU History Museum tells the story from Nanjing to Taoyuan.
Housing. International degree students can apply for on-campus dormitories (not for couples or families); in 2025-26, undergraduate rooms cost NT$1,400–6,500 a month.
Location
NCU is in Zhongli District of Taoyuan City in northern Taiwan, about 35 km from Taipei and 3.5 km from Zhongli railway station. It is 13 km from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, so it is easy to reach from abroad. Zhongli is a busy satellite city with lower costs than Taipei. The campus sits on a hill and has a separate observatory site in Yushan National Park.
Nearest airport: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
Notable alumni
- CW Chien-Shiung WuExperimental physicist famous for the Wu experiment on parity violation; studied mathematics and then physics at National Central University in Nanjing, 1930-1934
- LK Li Kwoh-tingEconomist and minister credited with shaping Taiwan's economic and tech development; BS in physics from National Central University in Nanjing (1930)
- YF Yuan-Cheng FungFounder of modern biomechanics; bachelor's (1941) and master's (1943) from National Central University
- KH Kenneth HsuGeologist and paleoclimatologist; BSc from National Central University (1948)
- HN Hualing Nieh EngleNovelist who helped lead the University of Iowa's International Writing Program; graduated in English from National Central University (1948)
- WL Wen-Hsiung LiMolecular evolution and genomics scientist; MS in geophysics from NCU in Taiwan (1968)
- WM Wu Ming-yiNovelist (The Stolen Bicycle, The Man with the Compound Eyes); PhD in Chinese Literature from NCU
- PC Peng Chi-mingMeteorologist and Taiwan's Minister of Environment; BS, MS and PhD in atmospheric science from NCU
Frequently asked questions
Can international students study a bachelor's degree in English at NCU?
Not really. In the fall 2026 guideline, all bachelor's programmes open to international students were Chinese-taught. English-taught programmes were at master's and PhD level. You need at least a CEFR A2 Chinese certificate, and some departments ask for much more.
When is the NCU application deadline for fall 2027?
The fall 2027 dates have not been published yet. For fall 2026, applications ran from January 1 to March 15, 2026, with results on May 20, so plan for a similar window. Bachelor's programmes do not admit students in spring.
How much is tuition at National Central University for international students?
In 2026-27, international bachelor's students pay NT$45,691 to NT$53,183 per semester depending on the college, or about NT$91,000 to NT$106,000 a year. There is no application fee.
Does NCU offer scholarships to international undergraduates?
Yes. Tick the NCU Scholarship box on the application and you are considered for up to NT$9,000 a month and/or tuition and credit fee waivers, depending on your academic record. You can also apply for the government Taiwan Scholarship through a Taiwan overseas office.
Does NCU require an entrance exam or interview?
There is no entrance exam. Admission is mainly by document review, but some departments add a written test or a phone or video interview. Chinese Literature interviews all applicants.
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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