National Chengchi University
國立政治大學
Taiwan's flagship university for the humanities, social sciences, law, business and communication, in southern Taipei.
- Students
- 16,000
- Tuition
- NT$98,040
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1927
- QS World Ranking
- #613
- 2027 edition
About NCCU
National Chengchi University was founded in Nanjing in 1927 to train officials for the Republic of China government and was re-established in Taipei in 1954, the first national university to be restored in Taiwan. Its hillside campus sits in Wenshan District in the south of the city, and it has about 16,000 students.
NCCU is Taiwan's best-known university for the humanities and social sciences. It is organised into 12 colleges plus a College of Global Banking and Finance, covering liberal arts, social sciences, commerce, communication, foreign languages, law, science, international affairs, education, informatics and the International College of Innovation. Across them it runs 49 undergraduate programmes, 63 master's programmes and 44 doctoral programmes. Its Department of Diplomacy is the only one of its kind in Taiwan, the College of Foreign Languages teaches rarer languages such as Arabic, Turkish and Slavic languages, and the College of Commerce holds AACSB and EQUIS accreditation.
For international students, most bachelor's degrees are taught in Chinese and need TOCFL or HSK results, but the Bachelor Program in Global Studies at the International College of Innovation is taught fully in English. NCCU suits applicants aiming at diplomacy, public service, media, law or finance who want to study in Taipei at a fraction of Western tuition.
和諧、自主、均衡、卓越
“Harmony, Independence, Balance and Preeminence” — university motto
Why students choose NCCU
The Department of Diplomacy is the only one of its kind at a Taiwanese university, and its graduates include former Vice President Vincent Siew and Taipei mayor Chiang Wan-an.
International undergraduate tuition was NT$49,020 to NT$56,860 a semester in 2026-27, roughly NT$98,000 to NT$114,000 a year.
The English-taught Bachelor Program in Global Studies (ICIGS) admits international students without any Chinese requirement.
In Global Views' 2023 employer survey, NCCU was first in the humanities, law and business fields for the sixth year running and first for the financial services sector.
Admissions
Academic year 2027-28 (116學年度), entry February or September 2027
Selectivity
NCCU does not publish an admission rate for international students. Each department reviews application documents against a fixed quota (for example, 30 places in round 1 for the Bachelor Program in Global Studies), and some hold interviews.
Typical entry requirements
| Eligibility | Foreign nationals who meet Taiwan's Ministry of Education Regulations Regarding International Students; high school graduates (expected graduation no later than 31 August 2027) for bachelor's programmes |
|---|---|
| Chinese-taught programmes | TOCFL A2 (Level 2) or above, or HSK Level 4 or above; departments may set higher levels |
| Financial proof | Bank statement from the last three months showing at least NT$200,000 (US$7,000) |
| English language | IELTS 4 · TOEFL iBT 42 English-taught programmes require at least CEFR B1 (TOEFL iBT 42 or IELTS 4.0 on NCCU's conversion chart); only TOEFL, IELTS or TOEIC are accepted. The Bachelor Program in Global Studies (ICIGS) requires CEFR B2 (TOEFL iBT 72 or IELTS 5.5 on the same chart). Native speakers and applicants whose previous degree was taught in English can be exempt. |
Deadlines
- Round 1 (116學年度 first round) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 daysOctober 15, 2026, 5pm Taiwan time
Applications open September 22, 2026. Results November 27, 2026; admitted students confirm online November 27 to December 4, 2026. Only some departments admit bachelor's students in this round, including the Bachelor Program in Global Studies (ICIGS).
- Round 2 (116學年度 second round) Non-binding In ~5 monthsMarch 4, 2027
Applications open January 19, 2027. Departments that did not recruit in round 1 open in round 2, and unused round 1 places carry over to September 2027 entry.
- Taiwan Scholarship (MOE/MOFA) Non-bindingMarch 31, 2027 (usual window February 1 to March 31)
Apply through the Taiwan embassy or representative office in your home country; exact dates are set by each office. For September entry.
Round 1 and round 2 dates are from NCCU's 2027-28 international admissions announcement (published August 31, 2026). Documents must be complete by October 22, 2026; incomplete round 1 applications are rejected without further notice.
How to apply
Apply online at admission.nccu.edu.tw/intladmission: fill in the form, pay the NT$1,600 (US$60) application fee and upload PDFs of your passport, diploma or expected-graduation certificate, transcripts, bank statement, language certificate and the department's own materials. For the Bachelor Program in Global Studies these are a resume, a personal statement of up to 1,000 words, a study plan and high school transcripts, with two recommendation letters optional.
What admissions looks for
- A completed high school education, shown by an official transcript and diploma or expected-graduation certificate.
- Language proficiency at the level the department sets: TOCFL A2 or HSK 4 for Chinese-taught degrees, CEFR B1 or above in English for English-taught ones (B2 for ICIGS).
- For the Bachelor Program in Global Studies, a personal statement, study plan and resume written in English, plus evidence of achievements such as awards or scholarships.
- Sufficient funds, shown by a bank statement of at least NT$200,000.
Tips for applying to NCCU
- 1 Check which round your department recruits in: round 1 (closing October 15, 2026) opens only a few bachelor's programmes, and the rest open in round 2 (January 19 to March 4, 2027).
- 2 If you want the NCCU scholarship, apply in the round that fits you: the department nominates admitted students, and the full award waives tuition and pays NT$150,000 a year for living costs.
- 3 Choose Chinese-taught degrees only if you can reach TOCFL A2 or HSK 4 by June 30, 2027, when admitted students must submit missing language certificates.
- 4 ICIGS may interview shortlisted applicants by phone or video; the round 1 interview list is posted on October 23, 2026, with interviews on November 9, 2026.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in TWD
Newly admitted international students can be nominated by their department for NCCU's New Incoming International Students Scholarship: the full award waives tuition and pays a NT$150,000-a-year living allowance, the half award waives tuition. There is also a four-year tuition waiver for bachelor's students, and the government Taiwan Scholarship (MOE/MOFA) is applied for through Taiwan's overseas offices. MOFA Taiwan Scholarship holders pay domestic tuition rates.
- Tuition waiver plus NT$150,000 per academic year
- New Incoming International Students Scholarship (full)
- Up to 4 years for bachelor's students
- New International Student Tuition Waiver
- NT$1,600 (US$60)
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (February and September intakes)
Diplomacy (BA)
The only diplomacy department at a Taiwanese university; alumni include former Vice President Vincent Siew and Governor of Taiwan Province James Soong.
Bachelor Program in Global Studies (ICIGS)
Taught fully in English, with 30 international places in round 1 for 2027 entry.
Commerce
The College of Commerce is accredited by AACSB and EQUIS, and runs Taiwan's first English-taught MBA with both accreditations (IMBA).
Foreign Languages and Literature
Offers languages rarely taught elsewhere in Taiwan, including Arabic, Turkish and Slavic languages, with Korean dual degrees with Sungkyunkwan and Hanyang universities.
Communication
A separate College of Communication with an English-taught master's in International Communication Studies (IMICS).
Research
- The Institute of International Relations is a university-level research centre on the Zhinan campus.
- The Election Study Center is one of NCCU's named university-level research centres.
- Other centres include the Taiwan Studies Center, the Center for Mind, Brain and Learning, the Center for Aboriginal Studies and the Center for AI Interdisciplinary Research.
Schools & faculties
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Social Sciences
- College of Commerce
- College of Communication
- College of Foreign Languages and Literature
- College of Law
- College of Science
- College of International Affairs
- College of Education
- International College of Innovation
- College of Informatics
- College of Global Banking and Finance
In Global Views magazine's 2023 survey of employers' favourite graduates, NCCU ranked first in the humanities, law and business fields for the sixth year in a row and first in financial services.
Student life
NCCU's campus spreads from the flat lower campus by the Zhinan River up a forested hillside, linked by campus buses. First- and second-year undergraduates are guaranteed dormitory places, usually in four-person rooms, and international students can use the International House on the Hua Nan campus. Sport has a following: the rugby team has run for about sixty years, and the NCCU basketball team (政大雄鷹) won the UBA men's first division in 2020-21 and 2021-22. About 1,000 international degree students and 800 exchange students give the campus a mixed feel.
- Guaranteed on-campus housing for freshmen and sophomores.
- NCCU basketball team (政大雄鷹): UBA men's first division champions in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
- A long-running rugby team and an International Student Association.
- The NCCU Chinese Language Center offers Mandarin courses on campus.
Housing. New undergraduates are assigned quadruple rooms at NT$9,057 to NT$16,210 a semester (2026-27 rates), with on-campus housing guaranteed for the first two years.
Location
NCCU is in Wenshan District at the southern edge of Taipei, where the city meets green hills and the Zhinan River. It is a residential, quieter part of the capital, while central Taipei is reachable by bus and metro. Costs in Taipei are higher than elsewhere in Taiwan: NCCU estimates off-campus rent at about NT$45,000 a semester, so most new students start in university dorms.
Nearest airport: Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA); Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) for most international flights
Notable alumni
- VS Vincent SiewVice President of the Republic of China (2008-2012); bachelor's in diplomacy
- JS James SoongGovernor of Taiwan Province; LL.B. specialising in diplomacy, 1964
- CW Chiang Wan-anMayor of Taipei; studied international relations
- YC Yang Chin-longGovernor of Taiwan's Central Bank; bachelor's in banking and master's in international trade
- LC Lin ChuanPremier of the Republic of China (2016-2017); LL.M., 1978
- AL Ariel LinActress; BA in Korean literature
- CC Cheer ChenSinger-songwriter; Bachelor of Philosophy
- LY Lee Yung-teMinister of Culture (2020-2023) and later chairman of the Central News Agency; bachelor's in political science
Frequently asked questions
When is the NCCU application deadline for international students for 2027?
Round 1 runs from September 22 to October 15, 2026 (5pm Taiwan time) and round 2 from January 19 to March 4, 2027. Only some bachelor's programmes recruit in round 1, so check your department.
Does NCCU have English-taught undergraduate programmes?
Yes. The Bachelor Program in Global Studies at the International College of Innovation is taught fully in English and needs CEFR B2 English. Most other bachelor's degrees are taught in Chinese.
How much is NCCU tuition for international students?
In 2026-27, international undergraduates paid NT$49,020 to NT$56,860 per semester in tuition and fees, about NT$98,000 to NT$114,000 a year depending on the college.
What Chinese level do I need for NCCU?
Chinese-taught programmes require at least TOCFL A2 or HSK Level 4, and departments can set higher levels. Only TOCFL and HSK are accepted.
Does NCCU offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. Departments nominate admitted students for NCCU's scholarship, whose full award waives tuition and adds NT$150,000 a year. You can also apply for the Taiwan Scholarship through your local Taiwan office between February and March.
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.
- NCCU international admissions: 2027-28 round 1 announcement
- NCCU Application Brochure for International Students 2027 (round 1, PDF)
- NCCU international admissions: application timeline
- NCCU international admissions: estimated expenses
- NCCU international admissions: features and strengths
- NCCU international admissions: about NCCU
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