National Taiwan Normal University
國立臺灣師範大學
Taiwan's leading university for education, arts and languages, and home of the Mandarin Training Center in central Taipei.
- Students
- 18,470
- 8,374 undergraduates
- International
- 10%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 17.39:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- NT$94,360
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1922
About NTNU
National Taiwan Normal University traces its history to Taihoku Higher School, founded in 1922 under Japanese rule, whose alumni include former president Lee Teng-hui. The Taiwan Provincial Teachers College was set up on the same site on 5 June 1946, became Taiwan Provincial Normal University in 1955 and National Taiwan Normal University in 1967. It was Taiwan's main teacher-training university until reforms in 1994, and then grew into a comprehensive university.
Today NTNU has 10 colleges and 67 departments across three campuses in Taipei and New Taipei: the historic main campus on Heping East Road, Gongguan and Linkou. In June 2026 it had 18,470 students, including 8,374 undergraduates and 8,602 graduate students, with 1,858 international degree students. It ranks first in Taiwan for social sciences and humanities by its own count, and it is strong in education, music, arts and sport. Its Mandarin Training Center is one of the best-known Chinese language schools in the world.
International students can take most degrees in Chinese, and six bachelor's programmes are listed as English-taught, including Global Studies, Business Administration and English. Tuition is well below that of Western universities, and the university waives tuition for the first year for selected new international students. NTNU suits students interested in education, languages, the arts or sport who want to live in central Taipei.
誠正勤樸
“Sincerity, Integrity, Diligence, Simplicity” — university motto
Why students choose NTNU
Bachelor's programmes listed as taught in English include Global Studies, Business Administration (English-taught Program), English, Physics, Sport and Kinesiology, and a transdisciplinary programme in the College of Education.
International undergraduate tuition is NT$47,180–55,200 per semester (about NT$94,000–110,000 a year).
The NTNU International Student Scholarship waives tuition and miscellaneous fees for the first year for selected new undergraduates; you apply by ticking a box on the admission form.
The Mandarin Training Center, with about 1,700 students from more than 70 countries each quarter, lets you build Chinese alongside your degree.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (international students)
Selectivity
NTNU does not publish an acceptance rate for international applicants. Each department reviews applications on its own documents and criteria.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma or equivalent | Required for bachelor's programmes; applicants must qualify as international students under Taiwan's Ministry of Education rules (overseas Chinese students apply separately) |
|---|---|
| Department documents | Set by each department; for Global Studies: English autobiography, CV, study plan, language certificate, and a 1–3 minute English video introduction |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 72 English-taught programmes set their own CEFR level. Global Studies requires CEFR B2, which NTNU's conversion table equates to TOEFL iBT 72–94 or IELTS 5.5–6.5. Citizens of NTNU's listed English-speaking countries, and those who graduated there, are exempt. |
Deadlines
- Fall 2027, first round (selected master's and doctoral programmes only) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~2 months14 December 2026
Application period 2 November to 14 December 2026; results 2 March 2027. Not open to bachelor's applicants.
- Fall 2027, second round (bachelor's and most graduate programmes) Non-binding In ~5 months2 March 2027
Application period 11 January to 2 March 2027; review 4 March to 23 April; results 3 May 2027; semester begins 6 September 2027 (tentative).
- Spring 2028 Non-binding In ~11 months13 September 2027
Application period 2 August to 13 September 2027; results 22 November 2027; semester begins 21 February 2028. The spring 2027 round (3 August to 14 September 2026) has closed.
Dates are from NTNU's official Fall 2027 / Spring 2028 application calendar. The prospectus is released on 2 November 2026, and results and start dates are marked as tentative.
How to apply
Apply online through NTNU's International Student Application system: choose programmes, upload the documents each department requires (such as autobiography, study plan, CV, transcripts, language certificates and recommendation letters), and tick the scholarship box if you want the NTNU International Student Scholarship. Departments review files and announce results online.
What admissions looks for
- Language ability at the level your programme sets: Chinese for Chinese-taught programmes, English (for example CEFR B2) for English-taught ones.
- A clear autobiography and study plan explaining why you chose the programme.
- For Global Studies, interest in globalisation, Asian languages and cross-cultural issues, shown in the English video introduction.
- Supporting documents that show your achievements and fit with the department.
Tips for applying to NTNU
- 1 Use the International Student Status Eligibility Check on the application site before applying; anyone who has studied in Taiwan as an overseas Chinese student cannot apply as an international student.
- 2 Bachelor's applicants apply in the second round (11 January to 2 March 2027), not the first round.
- 3 Tick the NTNU International Student Scholarship box on the online form: there is no separate form, and each department picks its recipients.
- 4 Apply for the Taiwan Government (MOE or MOFA) Scholarship through the Taiwan office in your country, usually between February and March. Winning it rules out NTNU's own scholarship.
- 5 Check each department's rules in Programs and Requirements: documents such as a video or portfolio differ by programme.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in TWD
The NTNU International Student Scholarship waives tuition and miscellaneous fees for one academic year for selected new undergraduates who hold no Taiwan government scholarship; you apply on the admission form, and departments choose recipients. The MOE Taiwan Scholarship pays undergraduates NT$15,000 a month plus up to NT$40,000 of tuition per semester for up to four years, and the MOFA Taiwan Scholarship pays NT$33,000 a month; both are applied for through Taiwan's overseas offices.
- Tuition and miscellaneous fees waived for the first year
- NTNU International Student Scholarship (bachelor's)
- NT$15,000 a month plus tuition support, up to 4 years
- MOE Taiwan Scholarship (bachelor's)
- NT$33,000 a month
- MOFA Taiwan Scholarship (bachelor's)
- NT$5,950–25,930 per semester
- Dormitory (2–6 person room)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (fall from September, spring from February)
Undergraduate Program of Global Studies
Taught entirely in English, with foundation courses in globalisation, Taiwan studies and international relations and a second Asian language.
Education
NTNU's founding strength; it reports ranking 27th in the world for Education and Training in QS subject rankings.
Department of Business Administration (English-taught Program)
An English-taught bachelor's in the College of Management.
Chinese as a Second Language
Linked to the Mandarin Training Center and to TOCFL, the national Chinese test run at NTNU.
Music and Fine Arts
NTNU says it is first in Taiwan for music, arts and sport.
Research
- NTNU reports 1,145 research projects worth about US$99.47 million in 2024.
- The Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) is run by the Steering Committee for the Test of Proficiency-Huayu at NTNU.
- NTNU says it worked with Nvidia and Gigabyte to build Taiwan's first metaverse motion-capture lab.
Schools & faculties
- College of Education
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Science
- College of Technology and Engineering
- College of International Studies and Social Sciences
- College of Sports and Recreation
- College of Arts
- College of Music
- College of Management
- College of Industry Academia Innovation
Student life
NTNU's main campus sits among the historic red-brick buildings of the old Taipei High School, with Gongguan campus a short distance south and a third campus at Linkou. The university has 12 dormitories across the three campuses and 196 student clubs, and it runs an Olympic-size swimming pool and sports facilities. Annual events include a sports exhibition before the summer break, an arts festival, and the Watermelon Festival on 5 June, the founding anniversary, when students give watermelons to friends. The brochure also lists prayer facilities on all three campuses.
- 196 student clubs in categories from academic and arts to sports and service.
- The Watermelon Festival on the 5 June founding anniversary.
- The Mandarin Training Center, which NTNU says has about 1,700 students from over 70 countries each term.
- Prayer facilities on the main, Gongguan and Linkou campuses, with two mosques within 2 km of the main campus.
Housing. NTNU has 12 on-campus dormitories across its three campuses; rooms for 2–6 people cost NT$5,950–25,930 per semester.
Location
NTNU's main campus is on Heping East Road in Da'an District, central Taipei. Taipei is Taiwan's capital, and NTNU's brochure highlights its high standard of living, excellent transport and rich environment for Chinese culture and language learning. The Gongguan campus is also in Taipei, while the Linkou campus is in New Taipei City. Two mosques are within 2 km of the main campus.
Nearest airport: Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA); Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) for most international flights
Notable alumni
- LT Lee Teng-huiPresident of the Republic of China (1988–2000); studied at the predecessor Taihoku Higher School
- KR Kevin RuddPrime Minister of Australia; studied Chinese at NTNU's Mandarin Training Center in 1980
- RH Ryutaro HashimotoPrime Minister of Japan (1996–1998); studied Chinese at NTNU
- JH Jon Huntsman Jr.US Ambassador to China and Governor of Utah; studied Chinese at NTNU
- WC Wu Ching-jiTaiwan's Minister of Education (2009–2012); bachelor's (1973) and master's in education from NTNU
- WH Wen-Pin Hope LeeComposer and professor; bachelor's in music from NTNU
Frequently asked questions
Does NTNU offer bachelor's degrees in English?
Yes. NTNU lists six bachelor's programmes in English: Global Studies, Business Administration (English-taught Program), English, Physics, Sport and Kinesiology, and the Transdisciplinary Program in the College of Education. Its brochure notes that for some of them English-only study depends on enough English courses being offered to meet graduation requirements; most other programmes are taught in Chinese.
How much is NTNU tuition for international students?
International bachelor's students pay NT$47,180–55,200 per semester, about NT$94,000–110,000 a year, depending on the programme.
When is the NTNU application deadline for fall 2027?
Bachelor's applicants apply in the second round, from 11 January to 2 March 2027. Results are expected on 3 May 2027.
Does NTNU offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. The NTNU International Student Scholarship waives first-year tuition and fees for selected new undergraduates, and the MOE and MOFA Taiwan Scholarships pay monthly stipends. You cannot hold NTNU's scholarship together with a Taiwan government one.
Do I need to speak Chinese to study at NTNU?
Only for Chinese-taught programmes, which need proof of Chinese proficiency. English-taught programmes need English proof instead, for example CEFR B2 (TOEFL iBT 72 or IELTS 5.5) for Global Studies.
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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