Taipei Medical University
臺北醫學大學
A private health-sciences university in Taipei with Taiwan's top-ranked Nursing and joint top-ranked Dentistry.
- Students
- 6,154
- International
- 11%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 8.8:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- NT$113.9K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1960
About TMU
Taipei Medical University was founded in 1960 as Taipei Medical College by two doctors, Hu Shui-wang and Hsu Chien-tien, and took its current name in 2000. It is a private university focused almost entirely on medicine and the health sciences, with its main Xinyi campus in south-east Taipei and a second campus at Shuangho in New Taipei, next to its Shuang Ho Hospital. Its affiliated teaching hospitals, including Taipei Medical University Hospital and Wan Fang Hospital, give students clinical training close to where they study.
Undergraduate degrees for international students are taught in Chinese and span Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Oral Hygiene, Dental Technology, Nutrition, Food Safety, Public Health, Medical Laboratory Science, Health Care Administration and Biomedical Engineering. Medicine and Dentistry are six-year programmes; the others take four years. The planned international undergraduate intake for Fall 2026 was only 47 places, so each school admits a handful of foreign students.
TMU suits applicants who already read and speak Chinese well and know they want a health career. Its subject results are its strongest calling card: in the 2026 QS subject rankings its Nursing programme placed 33rd in the world and first in Taiwan, while Dentistry tied for first nationally. Most of its international students are master's and doctoral candidates, many taught in English.
誠樸
“Honesty” — university motto
Why students choose TMU
TMU Nursing was ranked 33rd in the world and first in Taiwan in the 2026 QS subject rankings, and Dentistry tied for first in Taiwan.
Students train through TMU's own affiliated hospitals, including Taipei Medical University Hospital, Wan Fang Hospital and Shuang Ho Hospital.
Thirteen health-focused undergraduate schools admit international students, from Medicine and Dentistry to Food Safety and Biomedical Engineering.
The main Xinyi campus is in Taipei's Xinyi District, a short trip from the city's business and transport hubs.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (international student undergraduate admission)
Selectivity
TMU does not publish an admit rate. The planned international undergraduate quota for Fall 2026 was 47 places across all schools, and each applicant may apply to up to two schools.
Typical entry requirements
| High school diploma | Senior high school diploma recognised by Taiwan's Ministry of Education, or expected graduation by July of the entry year; applicants must be foreign nationals who have never held overseas Chinese student status |
|---|---|
| Academic scores | SAT, ACT, AP, IB or A-Level results; Medicine requires high school Biology and Chemistry |
| Chinese proficiency | At least CEFR A2 for all applicants; B1 to B2 for most schools (e.g. Nursing B2, Public Health B2); C1 for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy |
| Finances | Bank statement of at least USD 8,000 at application; self-funded students admitted must show USD 15,000 in authenticated documents |
| English language | Undergraduate programmes are taught in Chinese, but applicants also submit an English certificate: CEFR B2 or above for Medicine, CEFR A2 or above for schools such as Respiratory Therapy (waivable with proof of English-medium schooling). |
Deadlines
- International undergraduate admission, Fall 2026 (past) Non-binding Passed12 February 2026, 17:00 Taiwan time (past)
Online application opened 17 November 2025; online interviews 30 March to 10 April 2026; results 30 April 2026; acceptance confirmation by 8 May 2026; authenticated documents by 30 June 2026.
TMU had not published its Fall 2027 international undergraduate guidelines when checked on 29 September 2026. The Fall 2026 cycle ran from 17 November 2025 to 12 February 2026, so expect applications to open around mid-November 2026; check the Office of Global Engagement admission page.
How to apply
Apply online through the TMU admission system for international students, choosing up to two schools. Upload transcripts and diploma, SAT/ACT/AP/IB/A-Level scores, Chinese and English certificates, a resume and statement of purpose (in Chinese and English for Medicine and Dentistry), recommendation letters (two for Medicine and Dentistry) and a bank statement, and pay the NT$2,000 (US$80) application fee. Shortlisted applicants for Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing and several other schools are interviewed online.
What admissions looks for
- Chinese proficiency matched to the programme: C1 for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy, and at least A2 for every applicant.
- Strong academic scores from recognised exams such as SAT, ACT, AP, IB or A-Levels, with Biology and Chemistry for Medicine.
- A resume and statement of purpose that explain your motivation for a health career.
- For interview programmes (weighted 50% to 60% of the decision), how well you perform in the online interview.
Tips for applying to TMU
- 1 Get your Chinese to the right CEFR level before you apply: C1 is required for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy, which is far above most foreign applicants' level.
- 2 Choose your two schools carefully; you cannot change them after submitting.
- 3 If you are shortlisted, do not miss your interview slot: TMU says missed interviews score zero and cannot be rescheduled.
- 4 Budget for double fees in Medicine and Dentistry: international students in those two schools pay twice the standard tuition and miscellaneous fees.
- 5 Apply for Taiwan government scholarships (MOE or MOFA) through a Taiwan mission, since TMU's guidelines say it does not offer entrance scholarships for undergraduates.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in TWD
TMU's admission guidelines say it offers no entrance scholarships for international undergraduates, who are pointed to Taiwan government scholarships from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2025 entry, enrolled international undergraduates with a previous-semester average of 80 or more can apply each semester for TMU's Academic Excellence Scholarship of up to NT$15,000.
- Up to NT$15,000 per semester
- Academic Excellence Scholarship (enrolled international undergraduates)
- NT$2,000 or US$80
- Application fee
- NT$5,800-9,000 per month
- TMU International House rooms
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (fall and spring)
Nursing (BSc)
Ranked 33rd in the world and first in Taiwan in the 2026 QS subject rankings; requires Chinese at CEFR B2 and an interview worth 60%.
Dentistry (DDS)
Tied first in Taiwan in the 2026 QS subject rankings; six years including a one-year internship, with an onsite interview.
Medicine (MD)
A six-year programme with clinical training, requiring Chinese at CEFR C1, English at B2, two recommendations and an interview.
Pharmacy (BSc)
Ranked second in Taiwan for Pharmacy and Pharmacology in the 2026 QS subject rankings.
Biomedical Engineering (BSc)
Taught on the Shuangho campus beside Shuang Ho Hospital, combining engineering with clinical settings.
Research
- TMU describes its research focus as clinical-oriented translational research built on interdisciplinary teams and its affiliated hospitals.
- Three TMU-affiliated hospitals (Taipei Medical University Hospital, Wanfang Hospital and Shuang Ho Hospital) reached HIMSS EMRAM Stage 7, the top level for electronic medical record adoption, in 2026.
- TMU hosts international doctoral programmes in areas such as cell therapy and regenerative medicine, biomedical engineering and translational science.
Schools & faculties
- College of Medicine
- College of Oral Medicine
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Nursing
- College of Public Health
- College of Medical Science and Technology
- College of Nutrition
- College of Management
- College of Biomedical Engineering
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Interdisciplinary Studies
Student life
Life at TMU centres on two compact urban campuses: Xinyi in south-east Taipei, around a plaza and clock tower, and Shuangho in New Taipei next to Shuang Ho Hospital. Health students spend a lot of time in the university's affiliated hospitals as they progress. The international community is mainly graduate students; more than 150 new international master's and doctoral students from 24 countries arrived in fall 2026, and the Office of Global Engagement runs orientation, campus tours by student Global Ambassadors and cultural trips, such as a visit to the National Palace Museum.
- Student Global Ambassadors help new international students find their way around the Xinyi and Shuangho campuses.
- The Office of Global Engagement organises cultural activities, from museum visits to trips around Taiwan.
- TMU International House offers rooms for single students from NT$5,800 to NT$9,000 a month.
- Clinical training runs through TMU's own hospitals in southern Taipei and New Taipei.
Housing. TMU International House offers rooms for single students at NT$5,800 to NT$9,000 per month; many students rent privately, for which TMU budgets NT$8,000 to NT$16,000 a month.
Location
TMU's main campus is on Wuxing Street in Taipei's Xinyi District, the capital's main business and shopping district, with wooded hills rising behind the campus. The Shuangho campus is in Zhonghe, New Taipei, and a smaller Daan campus is on Keelung Road. TMU estimates a single student's monthly budget in Taipei at roughly NT$21,000 to NT$29,000, with rent the biggest variable.
Nearest airport: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE); Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) is closer for regional flights
Notable alumni
- CS Chen Shih-chungMinister of Health and Welfare who led Taiwan's COVID-19 response; Doctor of Dental Surgery from TMU (1977)
- LT Lin Tzou-yienPaediatric infectious disease specialist and Minister of Health and Welfare (2016-2017); MD from Taipei Medical College (1973)
- HJ Hsueh Jui-yuanMinister of Health and Welfare (2022-2024); MD from TMU (1980)
- JW Jen-Tien WungColumbia University neonatologist who developed Bubble CPAP for premature babies; graduated from Taipei Medical College (1966)
- WD Winston DangHead of Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration (2007-2008); BSc in pharmacy (1967)
- CJ Chou Jih-hawDirector-General of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (2016-2023); dental degree from Taipei Medical College (1984)
Frequently asked questions
Are TMU's bachelor's degrees taught in English?
No. TMU states that all its undergraduate programmes are taught in Chinese, and applicants need at least CEFR A2 Chinese, rising to C1 for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy.
When is the TMU application deadline for international students?
Fall 2027 dates were not yet published in late September 2026. For Fall 2026, applications ran from 17 November 2025 to 12 February 2026, with results on 30 April 2026.
How much is tuition at Taipei Medical University for international students?
In 2026-27 most first-year undergraduates pay NT$56,940 per semester (about NT$113,880 a year). International students in Medicine and Dentistry pay double, up to NT$289,240 a year for first-year Medicine.
Does TMU interview applicants?
Yes, for some schools. Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Health Care Administration, Biomedical Engineering and Food Safety interview shortlisted applicants, and the interview counts for 50% to 60% of the decision.
Does TMU offer scholarships to international undergraduates?
Not at entry: TMU points undergraduates to Taiwan government scholarships (MOE, MOFA). Once enrolled, students with an average of 80 or more can apply for its Academic Excellence Scholarship of up to NT$15,000 per semester.
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.
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
- TMU Office of Global Engagement: Undergraduate (International Student)
- TMU: Fall 2026 Undergraduate Admission Guidelines for International Students (PDF)
- TMU Office of Global Engagement: Information about tuition and miscellaneous fees
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