National Tsing Hua University
國立清華大學
Taiwan's Tsing Hua, rebuilt in Hsinchu in 1956, with an English-taught international bachelor program and low fees.
- Tuition
- NT$46,100
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1911
- QS World Ranking
- #142
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Suburban
About NTHU
National Tsing Hua University traces its origins to Tsing Hua Academy, founded in Beijing in 1911, and was re-established at its current site in Hsinchu, Taiwan, in 1956. It shares its name and heritage with Tsinghua University in Beijing but is a separate institution. From its science and engineering core it has grown into a comprehensive research university covering science, engineering, electrical engineering and computer science, life sciences and medicine, humanities and social sciences, technology management, education and the arts. It graduated its first cohort of medical students in 2026.
NTHU counts Nobel physics laureates Chen Ning Yang and Tsung-Dao Lee (through the pre-1949 Tsing Hua lineage), Nobel chemistry laureate Yuan T. Lee (M.S. 1961 in Hsinchu) and mathematician Shiing-Shen Chern among its alumni. It rose to 142nd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, its best result ever. NTHU sits in Hsinchu, home of the Hsinchu Science Park, and has its own College of Semiconductor Research.
International undergraduates can apply to most departments through the university's international degree admissions, or to the International Bachelor Degree Program (IBP) in Tsing Hua College. The IBP has 180 places for international students and offers English-taught tracks in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Business Management, Engineering Technology and Education Sciences, plus a Chinese-taught track. Tuition is around TWD 46,000-53,000 a semester, and NTHU scholarships can cover all of it. It suits students who want a research university next to Taiwan's main science park at modest cost.
自強不息 厚德載物
“Constantly strengthen and cultivate ourselves” — university motto
Why students choose NTHU
The IBP offers English-taught bachelor's tracks in EECS, Business Management, Engineering Technology and Education Sciences, with 180 places for international students.
Tuition and miscellaneous fees for international undergraduates are TWD 46,100-53,200 per semester.
The NTHU International Student Scholarship can waive all tuition and fees, and its full version adds TWD 5,000 a month for bachelor's students.
The IBP has three application rounds for Fall 2027, running from October 2026 to April 2027, to fit different school-leaving calendars.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (IBP), plus Spring 2027 international degree admissions
Selectivity
NTHU does not publish acceptance rates for international applicants. The IBP quota is 180 international students. Under Ministry of Education rules, international admissions at each university are capped at 10% of places for local students.
Typical entry requirements
| Eligibility | Foreign nationals who have never held ROC (Taiwan) citizenship and do not have Overseas Chinese student status (special rules for dual nationals and former residents); high school diploma |
|---|---|
| IBP English-taught tracks | IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 82 (4.5 on the new scale), TOEFL ITP 530, TOEIC 820 or EIKEN Pre-1; exempt for nationals of, or graduates from, NTHU-recognised English-speaking countries |
| IBP Chinese-taught track | TOCFL A2 or HSK Level 4 minimum |
| Department degree programs | University minimum for English-taught programs: CEFR B2 (IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 71 / 4.0 new scale, TOEIC 750); Chinese-taught programs TOCFL A2 or HSK 4; departments may set higher requirements |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 82 IBP English-taught tracks require IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 82 (4.5 on the new scale), or TOEIC 820, TOEFL ITP 530 or EIKEN Pre-1. The general NTHU minimum for English-taught programs is CEFR B2 (IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 71). Nationals of NTHU-listed English-speaking countries are exempt. |
Deadlines
- International degree programs, Spring 2027 Non-binding PassedSeptember 30, 2026, 15:00 (Taiwan time)
Results by December 1, 2026; classes begin early February 2027.
- IBP Fall 2027, Round 1 Non-binding Next deadline · In 48 daysNovember 23, 2026, 12:00 noon (Taiwan time)
Applications open October 1, 2026; results December 28, 2026.
- IBP Fall 2027, Round 2 Non-binding In ~5 monthsMarch 3, 2027, 12:00 noon (Taiwan time)
Results April 16, 2027.
- IBP Fall 2027, Round 3 Non-binding In ~7 monthsApril 22, 2027, 12:00 noon (Taiwan time)
Results May 31, 2027.
Late or incomplete applications are not reviewed, and your recommenders must upload their letters by the deadline of your round. Application windows for the Fall 2027 department (non-IBP) programs had not been posted when checked; see apply.nthu.edu.tw.
How to apply
Apply online (IBP application system or the NTHU International Student Online Application System). Upload a photo, high school diploma and transcripts in English or Chinese, a 1-2 page statement of purpose and a 1-2 page study plan, two teacher recommendation letters (submitted by the recommenders), language certificates, a bank statement showing at least TWD 120,000 or USD 4,000, a financial responsibility form, a declaration form and proof of nationality. The fee is TWD 2,000 for up to two programs (free for nationals of Least Developed Countries).
What admissions looks for
- Your high school record, with semester grades, and class ranking where available.
- A statement of purpose covering your background, extracurricular activities or projects, motivation and career goals.
- A study plan setting out your academic interests at NTHU, learning strategies and growth goals, such as language learning.
- Recommendations from teachers who can speak to your attitude to learning and your ability, plus optional evidence like clubs, competitions, leadership or SAT scores.
Tips for applying to NTHU
- 1 Apply in IBP Round 1 (by November 23, 2026) if you can; you'll have a decision before the end of December.
- 2 You pay TWD 2,000 for up to two IBP majors, so a second choice costs nothing extra.
- 3 Tick the NTHU International Student Scholarship option on the application form. For bachelor's students it is awarded for one year and must be reapplied for annually.
- 4 Line up a bank statement of TWD 120,000 (USD 4,000) dated within three months; the scholarship application does not count as financial proof.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in TWD
The NTHU International Student Scholarship for bachelor's students has two types. Type A waives tuition, miscellaneous and credit fees and adds a TWD 5,000 monthly living allowance; Type B waives tuition and fees. It is awarded for one academic year and must be reapplied for annually. Taiwan government scholarships (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education Taiwan Scholarships) are applied for through Taiwan's overseas missions and cannot be combined with the NTHU scholarship.
- TWD 2,000 for 1-2 programs; free for LDC nationals
- Application fee
- Full fee waiver, plus TWD 5,000/month for Type A
- NTHU scholarship (bachelor's)
- TWD 7,410-11,250 per semester (4-bed) to 16,920-27,800 (single)
- Dormitory (main campus)
- Bank balance of TWD 120,000 / USD 4,000
- Required funds
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fall from September, spring from February)
IBP: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (English-taught)
An English-taught route into NTHU's EECS strengths in Hsinchu.
IBP: Business Management (English-taught)
Taught in English within Tsing Hua College, at the lower TWD 46,100 fee band.
IBP: Engineering Technology (English-taught)
An interdisciplinary engineering track for international students.
IBP: International Chinese Language with Multiple Disciplines
A Chinese-taught track for students with at least TOCFL A2 or HSK 4 who want to build Mandarin alongside a field of study.
Nuclear Science
A dedicated College of Nuclear Science, charged at the TWD 53,200 per semester science and engineering fee band.
Research
- NTHU researchers reported the world's brightest single-photon source for quantum technologies (2026).
- NTHU joined a European space mission studying galaxy evolution (2026).
- A College of Semiconductor Research in Taiwan's chip hub of Hsinchu.
Schools & faculties
- College of Science
- College of Engineering
- College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- College of Nuclear Science
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Technology Management
- College of Education
- College of Arts
- College of Semiconductor Research
- Tsing Hua College
- Hsinchu Teachers College
NTHU's international admissions site reports that 90% of graduates are employed right after graduation.
Student life
NTHU's main campus in Hsinchu is green and spacious, with Cheng Kung Lake and Kun Ming Lake among its landmarks, and there is a second campus, Nanda, with its own dormitories. Undergraduates can live in campus dormitories in single, double or four-bed rooms, from about TWD 7,400 a semester for a four-bed room. The Office of Global Affairs runs orientation, Mandarin study, events and support for international students. The IBP mixes international and overseas Chinese students in one cohort.
- Cheng Kung Lake and Kun Ming Lake on the main campus.
- Main campus and Nanda campus dormitories, with 4- and 6-bed rooms at Nanda costing around TWD 7,000-7,700 a semester.
- Mandarin study and international student events run by the Office of Global Affairs.
- An on-campus shuttle bus connects the campus.
Housing. Admitted undergraduates can get dormitory rooms shared by 1, 2 or 4 students on the main campus (TWD 7,410-27,800 per semester depending on room type), excluding deposit and air conditioning.
Location
Hsinchu, in northwest Taiwan, is home to the Hsinchu Science Park, the heart of Taiwan's technology industry. NTHU's main campus is at 101 Kuang-Fu Road, Section 2. The city is smaller and calmer than Taipei, and the campus itself, with its lakes and wooded paths, is a big part of daily life.
Nearest airport: Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
Notable alumni
- YT Yuan T. Lee1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry; M.S. from NTHU (1961)
- CN Chen Ning YangNobel Prize in Physics; counted by NTHU among its alumni from the Tsing Hua lineage
- TL Tsung-Dao LeeNobel Prize in Physics; counted by NTHU among its alumni from the Tsing Hua lineage
- HT H. T. KungHarvard computer scientist; B.S. in mathematics (1968)
- WS Wei ShyyAerospace engineer and former president of HKUST; undergraduate degree (1977)
- NC Nancy ChangCo-founder of the biotech company Tanox; undergraduate at NTHU
- TL Typhoon LeeAcademia Sinica geochemist and nuclear astrophysicist; B.S. in physics
Frequently asked questions
Does NTHU have undergraduate programs taught in English?
Yes. The International Bachelor Degree Program (IBP) in Tsing Hua College has English-taught tracks in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Business Management, Engineering Technology and Education Sciences, plus a Chinese-taught track.
What is the NTHU IBP deadline for Fall 2027?
There are three rounds: November 23, 2026, March 3, 2027 and April 22, 2027 (all at 12:00 noon Taiwan time), with results on December 28, April 16 and May 31.
How much is NTHU tuition for international students?
For 2026-27, tuition and miscellaneous fees are TWD 53,200 per semester in science, engineering and EECS colleges and TWD 46,100 in humanities, technology management and Tsing Hua College, with small extra fees for insurance, internet and sports facilities. IBP students pay TWD 46,100 in their first year; the 2027-28 rates have not been set yet.
What IELTS or TOEFL score does NTHU require?
IBP English-taught tracks need IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 82 (4.5 on the new scale). The university-wide minimum for other English-taught programs is IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71, but departments may set higher bars.
Can international students get a scholarship at NTHU?
Yes. The NTHU International Student Scholarship can waive all tuition and fees, and Type A adds TWD 5,000 a month for bachelor's students. It is awarded for one year at a time and must be reapplied for annually.
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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