#54 in the world · QS 2027

National Taiwan University

國立臺灣大學

Taiwan's flagship comprehensive university, on a palm-lined campus in the middle of Taipei.

Taipei, Da'an District, Taiwan Public (national) research university Founded 1928 Official website

See my chances at NTU Admissions office

Photo: Daderot · CC0

Students: 34,935; 17,568 undergraduates
International: 9%; of students
Tuition: NT$100.9K; From · 2026-27
Founded: 1928

About NTU

National Taiwan University is Taiwan's flagship comprehensive university and its highest-ranked in QS 2027. It was founded in 1928 as Taihoku Imperial University under Japanese rule and became National Taiwan University after 1945. It is preparing for its centennial in 2028 and enrolled 34,935 students in 2025, roughly half of them undergraduates, on a 115-hectare main campus in Taipei's Da'an District. The university also manages a large network of teaching land, most of it the Experimental Forest in central Taiwan.

Teaching is organised into eleven traditional colleges: Liberal Arts, Science, Social Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Bioresources and Agriculture, Management, Public Health, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Law, and Life Science. Newer units sit alongside them, including the International College, the D-School, the School of Political Science and Economics and the Graduate School of Advanced Technology. Most undergraduate teaching is in Mandarin. The university also runs more than 1,900 English-taught classes and a small number of fully English-taught bachelor's programs, such as the Global Undergraduate Program in Semiconductors and an International Relations program.

NTU's alumni include five presidents of Taiwan and the Nobel chemist Yuan T. Lee. International undergraduates apply directly to departments through the university's own online system, with a document review in each department. That route fits students who either already read Chinese or are willing to learn it, and who want a research university with low tuition by international standards.

敦品勵學，愛國愛人

“Integrity, Diligence, Fidelity, Compassion” — university motto

Why students choose NTU

Annual undergraduate tuition for international students ranged from about TWD 100,920 to TWD 158,240 in 2026-27 (plus credit fees), much lower than comparable research universities in the US, UK or Australia.

The English-taught Global Undergraduate Program in Semiconductors, launched in fall 2024, combines coursework with thematic research and industry internship courses in Taiwan's chip sector.

One application covers up to five departments, and conditional offers let applicants who are short of the Chinese requirement study at NTU's Chinese Language Division before they enroll.

The main campus has Taipei Metro and bus stops on its doorstep, more than 400 student clubs, and 21 general dorms that house over 8,600 students.

Admissions

2027/2028 September entry (international degree students)

Selectivity

NTU does not publish an acceptance rate for international applicants. There are 345 undergraduate places for international students for September 2027 entry. Committees may admit fewer candidates than the quota if applicants do not meet a program's standards. Taiwanese students are admitted through the separate national entrance system.

Testing No entrance exam for most programs. Selection is by document review, and some departments add oral or written exams or interviews.

Grades Applicants upload their full high-school transcript with an explanation of the grading system. There is no published minimum GPA.

Typical entry requirements

High school diploma (any recognised national system)	A secondary school diploma recognised by Taiwan's Ministry of Education. Admitted students must have their credentials verified by an ROC overseas office.
Chinese proficiency (Chinese-taught programs)	At least CEFR A2, e.g. TOCFL Band A Level 2 or HSK Level 4. Many departments set higher levels.
Financial proof	A bank statement from the last 3 months showing at least TWD 200,000, or proof of a scholarship
English language	IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 72 This is the minimum for English-taught programs (CEFR B2). TOEIC 785 or GEPT High-Intermediate are also accepted. Applicants from listed English-speaking countries, or with a previous degree taught in English, are exempt. Some departments set higher levels.

Deadlines

First round (September 2027 entry) Non-binding Next deadline · In 30 days

November 5, 2026, 4pm Taiwan time

Applications open September 29, 2026 (11am). Results, including scholarship results, are released January 14, 2027, and admitted students must confirm by January 21, 2027.
Second round (September 2027 entry) Non-binding In ~3 months

January 19, 2027, 4pm Taiwan time

Applications open December 1, 2026. Results are released April 8, 2027, and admitted students must confirm by April 15, 2027.

Dates are from NTU's official 2027/2028 September-entry admission guidelines. Some first-round results may show as "Postponed"; those applicants are considered in the second round. Undergraduates enter only in September.

How to apply

Apply through NTU's Office of International Affairs online application system. You can choose up to five departments and pay a fee of TWD 2,000 or USD 80 per department (TWD 1,500 or USD 60 from the third one). Upload your diploma or proof of expected graduation, your transcripts, passport, language certificate, study plan and financial statement, and arrange online recommendation letters if your department requires them.

What admissions looks for

Academic record: department committees review full transcripts and choose the strongest candidates. Seats can stay empty if applicants do not meet a program's standard.
Language readiness for the program's medium of instruction. Departments can set Chinese or English levels above the university minimum.
A clear study plan and, where a department requires them, recommendation letters from teachers.
Performance in department-specific oral or written exams or interviews, for programs that use them.

Tips for applying to NTU

1 Apply in the first round, which closes November 5, 2026. Results come out in mid-January, and a "Postponed" result still gives you a second look in round two.
2 Check each department's page in NTU's Available Degree Programs list for its language of instruction, required Chinese or English level and extra documents, because these vary more than the university minimums suggest.
3 If your Chinese is below a department's level, a Chinese conditional offer lets you study at NTU's Chinese Language Division for up to a year before enrolling. Undergraduates can use this only for September entry.
4 Tick the NTU scholarship box in the online application, which needs no extra documents. Note that Taiwan Scholarship holders cannot also receive NTU scholarships.

Costs & financial aid

2026-27 · figures in TWD

International undergraduates, tuition and fees per year (2 semesters, 2026-27 rates; 2027-28 rates not yet published). The lowest rate is for Liberal Arts, Social Sciences and Law; the highest is for the Department of Medicine. Credit fees are charged on top. Tuition NT$100,920 – NT$158,240

+ low end of ntu's estimate for housing, books, living expenses and health insurance (twd 66,000–157,000 per semester) NT$132,000 ≈ from NT$232,920 per year

Tuition Low end of NTU's estimate for housing, books, living expenses and health insurance (TWD 66,000–157,000 per semester)

Financial aid

International applicants can apply for NTU scholarships in the same online application. The NTU Scholarship for International Degree Students offers a tuition waiver of up to TWD 65,000 plus TWD 8,000 a month. Taiwan government awards include the MOE Taiwan Scholarship (tuition waiver up to TWD 40,000 plus TWD 15,000 a month for undergraduates) and the MOFA Taiwan Scholarship (TWD 33,000 a month, with MOFA scholars paying roughly half the international tuition rate).

Tuition waiver up to TWD 65,000 + TWD 8,000/month
NTU Scholarship for International Degree Students: Tuition waiver up to TWD 40,000 + TWD 15,000/month
MOE Taiwan Scholarship (undergraduate): TWD 33,000/month plus reduced tuition
MOFA Taiwan Scholarship

Academics

Academic calendar: Semesters (fall from September, spring from February)

Global Undergraduate Program in Semiconductors (International College)

This fully English-taught four-year bachelor's degree, launched in fall 2024, includes thematic research and industry internship courses in Taiwan's semiconductor sector.

English-taught International Relations Program (Department of Political Science)

An undergraduate track in international political economy and geopolitics, with overseas internships and international mentorships.

Classics and Ancient History (College of Liberal Arts)

Ranked 6th in the world in the QS 2026 subject rankings, NTU's first subject to reach the global top 10.

College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

NTU's dedicated college for electrical engineering and computer science, in a city at the centre of the global semiconductor supply chain; English-taught semiconductor study is also offered through the International College.

College of Bioresources and Agriculture

Teaching and fieldwork use NTU's 32,791-hectare Experimental Forest and its Highland Experiment Farm.

Research

NTU placed in the global top 100 in all five broad subject areas of the QS 2026 subject rankings, with seven subjects in the top 50.
Research is organised through top-level university centres, including the Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, the Center for Biotechnology and the Center for Biodiversity Research, plus the Graduate School of Advanced Technology.
NTU manages 34,149 hectares of land across Taiwan, including the Experimental Forest, the Highland Experiment Farm and campuses in Yunlin and Zhubei, which support long-term field research.

Schools & faculties

College of Liberal Arts
College of Science
College of Social Sciences
College of Medicine
College of Engineering
College of Bioresources and Agriculture
College of Management
College of Public Health
College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
College of Law
College of Life Science
International College

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, NTU scored a perfect 100 on the Employment Outcomes indicator (NTU announcement, June 2026).

Student life

Campus life centres on the main campus in Taipei, a green space in the city built around Royal Palm Boulevard, Drunken Moon Lake and the Main Library. NTU says it has more than 400 student clubs, from business consulting to balloon art. International students often find their community through cultural clubs, which run the annual NTU World Carnival Festival with food and traditions from members' home countries. The Azalea Festival each March, when the azaleas (NTU's school flower) bloom, combines a departments fair with club showcases. International students get priority for on-campus housing, and the cafeterias near the dorms and the many convenience stores keep daily costs low.

More than 400 student clubs
NTU World Carnival Festival run by the international cultural clubs
Azalea Festival each spring
21 general dorms housing more than 8,600 students, plus the Prince House residences

Housing. International students get priority for on-campus housing. The Prince House residences (Shui-Yuan and Chang-Hsing) cost TWD 22,480–42,280 per semester, and the general dorms TWD 7,900–12,900 per semester.

Location

NTU sits in Da'an District, a residential and university neighbourhood in Taipei, Taiwan's capital. Taipei Metro and bus stops are right at the campus edge (some are on campus), so the rest of the city is easy to reach. NTU describes Taipei as relatively affordable for a modern metropolis; its own estimate for off-campus rent is TWD 48,000–72,000 per semester, with a similar range for other living expenses.

Nearest airport: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), about 40 km west of Taipei

Notable alumni

TI
Tsai Ing-wen

President of Taiwan, 2016–2024
LC
Lai Ching-te

President of Taiwan since 2024
MY
Ma Ying-jeou

President of Taiwan, 2008–2016
LT
Lee Teng-hui

President of Taiwan, 1988–2000, and agricultural economist
YT
Yuan T. Lee

Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1986
AY
Andrew Yao

Computer scientist; Turing Award, 2000
PH
Pai Hsien-yung

Novelist and National Award for Arts winner; professor emeritus at UC Santa Barbara

Frequently asked questions

When is the NTU application deadline for international students for 2027?

For September 2027 entry, the first round runs from September 29 to November 5, 2026, with results on January 14, 2027. The second round runs from December 1, 2026 to January 19, 2027, with results on April 8, 2027.

Can I study at NTU in English as an undergraduate?

Yes, but the choice is limited. Most bachelor's programs are taught in Mandarin. English-taught options include the Global Undergraduate Program in Semiconductors and the English-taught International Relations program, and each department's page lists its language of instruction.

What language scores does NTU require?

English-taught programs need at least CEFR B2, for example TOEFL iBT 72 or IELTS 5.5. Chinese-taught programs need at least CEFR A2, for example TOCFL Band A Level 2 or HSK 4. Individual departments may ask for more.

How much is NTU tuition for international students?

For 2026-27, international undergraduates paid TWD 50,460 to 79,120 per semester depending on the college, or about TWD 100,920 to 158,240 a year. The 2027-28 rates will be published by the Office of Academic Affairs.

What is NTU's acceptance rate?

NTU does not publish an acceptance rate for international applicants. For September 2027 entry it has 345 undergraduate places for international students, and departments may admit fewer than the quota.

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.