Tunghai University

About Tunghai University

Tunghai opened in 1955 after educators and the United Board for Christian Colleges in China developed plans for a new university in Taiwan. Its founding principles emphasized liberal education, community life, service, and dialogue between cultural traditions. The university’s early educational experiments included general education, open library stacks, an honor code, and a Student Labor Program. That history still helps distinguish the institution, although applicants should evaluate present-day departmental offerings rather than choose it solely for its heritage. The university describes itself as Taiwan’s first private university. Its official academic structure currently comprises nine colleges: Arts, Science, Engineering, Management, Social Science, Agriculture and Health, Fine Arts and Creative Design, Law, and International College. The official overview reports approximately 15,000 students, more than 500 full-time faculty members, 38 departments, 41 master’s programs, and 16 doctoral programs; these are institutional figures displayed in 2026, not independently audited enrollment statistics for a particular semester. Tunghai is a broad university rather than a narrowly specialized institution. That breadth may suit students seeking interdisciplinary options or a campus where humanities, professional subjects, design, science, and technology coexist. International applicants should distinguish the university’s regular departments from designated English-medium programs and special pathways, since the language and curriculum experience can differ substantially.

International degree applicants use a dedicated process distinct from Taiwan’s domestic admissions routes and from channels for overseas Chinese, Hong Kong, and Macau students. For the 2026–2027 cycle, the international brochure set a fall application period of January 21 through May 27, 2026, ending at 5:00 p.m. Taiwan time. The spring application window is October 1–31, 2026. These dates apply specifically to that published international cycle and should not be generalized to domestic, transfer, or special-program admissions. Applications are submitted online, with no application fee stated for this cycle. Candidates may apply to as many as two departments or graduate institutes. Core eligibility documentation includes the generated application form, a recent passport-style photograph, the signed international-student recognizance, evidence of nationality, and the appropriate academic credential: a high-school diploma for bachelor’s admission, bachelor’s diploma for master’s admission, or master’s diploma for doctoral admission. Applicants still completing a qualification may initially provide expected-graduation or enrollment evidence, but official credentials are required for registration. Departmental materials and language requirements vary. Some programs request autobiographical statements, study plans, portfolios, interviews, recommendations, or test evidence. Documents not in English may require an authenticated Chinese or English translation under the brochure’s rules. Applicants should therefore follow both the university-wide eligibility section and the entry for their chosen department rather than relying on a single university-wide language threshold.

Tunghai’s academic portfolio extends from Chinese literature, foreign languages, history, philosophy, physics, chemistry, and life sciences to engineering, management, economics, political science, social work, agriculture, health, architecture, design, music, and law. The university’s official academic directory should be the starting point for checking whether a subject is offered at bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level; not every department awards all three degrees. For students who need instruction in English, Tunghai publishes a separate English-medium list. At bachelor’s level, examples include Computer Science–International Division, International Business Administration, Sustainability Science and Management, and an Interdisciplinary Degree program. Listed graduate options include the Global MBA and selected programs in foreign languages, architecture, science, and engineering. These offerings demonstrate meaningful English-medium access, but they do not make the whole university English-taught. Applicants should verify the language used in required courses, thesis supervision, placements, and electives within their intended program. The International College organizes English-immersion undergraduate study around multidisciplinary and global themes. The university also advertises exchange and double-degree relationships, but availability and progression conditions depend on the program and partner. Students comparing options should inspect the current curriculum, graduation requirements, language rules, laboratory or studio expectations, and department-specific admissions criteria. International students whose Chinese needs development are offered four hours of free Chinese study per week under the 2026–2027 admissions guidance, with additional paid instruction available through the Chinese Language Center.

Key Highlights

• Founded in 1955 and currently operating in Taichung
• Private university with nine colleges across humanities, sciences, professions, and design
• Official materials list bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral study
• Educational traditions include general education and the Student Labor Program

Student Life & Environment

Tunghai offers on-campus accommodation in single, double, and four-person configurations. Rooms are furnished with basic items such as beds, desks, storage, bookshelves, and chairs, and include internet access. Shared facilities include bathrooms, laundry equipment, common areas, and nearby convenience services. The 2026–2027 international admissions brochure says all international degree students may apply for campus housing and guarantees accommodation for new undergraduate students, but the university cannot arrange family or married-couple housing. Campus services described by the university include dining, convenience stores, a bookstore and postal agency, banking facilities, wireless networking, and a health center providing basic nursing care and consultations during published hours. A hospital is located opposite the university for needs beyond campus care. Students can also participate in extracurricular clubs and associations through the student-affairs structure. The Student Labor Program is a longstanding feature of Tunghai’s educational model, involving team-based environmental service and emphasizing responsibility and cooperation. Prospective students should understand its current participation requirements through their program or student-affairs office. International students considering off-campus housing should also consult the Housing Counseling Division because the university requires exchange and foreign students to complete its housing-related procedures before checking out of university accommodation.

Location & Surroundings

Tunghai’s main address is No. 1727, Section 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung. The campus occupies a plateau on Tatu Mountain in western Taichung and is known for extensive green space and the Luce Memorial Chapel. Its scale creates a more self-contained campus environment than a compact city-center institution, while shops, hospitals, malls, and other services are available nearby. Several bus stops stand outside the main entrance, with routes serving central Taichung and Taichung Railway Station. The university’s current campus-life page estimates a trip to downtown Taichung or the railway station at NT$26 when paying cash or NT$21 with an electronic ticket; fares may change and should be checked with the operator. The campus is also near the Chaoma intercity bus area. Travelers arriving by Taiwan High Speed Rail can connect from Taichung HSR Station by local transport. For prospective students, the practical tradeoff is a spacious campus with daily services on site versus travel time to some central-city destinations. Housing location and class distribution should be considered when estimating commuting needs.

Costs & Career Outcomes

The 2026–2027 international admissions brochure lists program-specific semester charges rather than one universal tuition figure. Illustrative totals shown for undergraduate fields range from approximately NT$57,860 in several social-science, management, and law areas to NT$78,741 for listed Global Elite business programs. Other examples fall between those amounts. These figures should not be treated as a complete cost of attendance: the selected department, degree level, laboratory or program charges, insurance, accommodation, food, books, transportation, and personal spending can change the total. Applicants should use the current tuition table linked from the admissions system for their exact program. The university’s campus-life page lists on-campus accommodation from NT$10,560 to NT$41,360 per semester, depending on room type. The page does not clearly label that range with a specific academic year, so students should confirm the applicable 2026–2027 rate before committing. Family accommodation is not provided through the international housing arrangement. International applicants who do not receive the Taiwan Scholarship may request the Tunghai international scholarship by selecting the scholarship option in their admission application; the brochure says no additional documents are required. Awards are not guaranteed, and university scholarship information notes that assistance offsets tuition but not miscellaneous costs and must be reconsidered annually based on performance. Career preparation is likely to differ substantially by discipline. Tunghai advertises exchange, double-degree, and selected industry-linked programs, but it does not provide a single verified institution-wide employment or salary outcome in the sources used here. Students should ask their intended department about internships, professional accreditation, language expectations in Taiwan’s labor market, and recent graduate destinations.