The International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) has officially released the 2026 Higher Education Application Guidebook, announcing a prestigious scholarship initiative aimed at empowering minds and opening doors to endless possibilities. Recognised as one of the premier scholarship opportunities offered by the R.O.C. (Taiwan), this programme serves as a crucial mechanism for training workforces in developing countries and assisting partner nations in achieving sustainable development goals.

Programme Overview

For the 2026 session, the TaiwanICDF is offering 32 specific programmes in collaboration with renowned partner universities under the Taiwan International Cooperation Alliance (TICA) framework. These include:

• Undergraduate (Bachelor’s) Programmes
• Graduate (Master’s) Programmes
• Ph.D. Programmes

All training and coursework are conducted entirely in English to enhance international communication and ensure professional competence on a global scale.

Scope of the Fully Funded Scholarship

The TaiwanICDF provides a comprehensive financial package for each student within their designated award period. The entitlements include:

• Airfare: Round-trip Economy Class tickets via the most direct route to and from Taiwan.
• Housing: Mandatory residence in student dormitories.
• Tuition and Credit Fees: Full coverage of fees as required by the host university.
• Insurance: Mandatory student safety insurance and additional medical/accidental coverage for the entire programme duration.
• Textbooks: Costs covered subject to approval by the student’s institute director.
• Monthly Allowance:
  • Bachelor’s Students: NT$15,000 per month.
  • Master’s Students: NT$18,000 per month.
  • Ph.D. Students: NT$20,000 per month.

General Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered:

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of a country on the Eligible Countries List and not a national of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) .
• Admission: Must satisfy the specific admission requirements of their chosen partner university.
• Visa/Residency: Must be eligible for a Resident Visa (Code: FS) and an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC).
• Scholarship History: Must not hold any other R.O.C. government scholarship in the same year. Previous scholarship holders (TaiwanICDF, MOFA, or MOE) must have graduated before 31 July 2025 to reapply.
• Academic Records: Must provide the highest-level diploma by 31 July 2026.

Eligible Countries

The scholarship is open to applicants from various regions, including Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and West Asia.

Application Procedure

Applicants must complete two parallel application processes:

1. Online Scholarship Application: Submit via the TaiwanICDF portal before 15 March 2026.
2. University Admission: Apply directly to the partner university and submit all requested documents before their respective deadlines.
3. Embassy Review: The R.O.C. (Taiwan) Embassy or Representative Office will conduct a first review and send a list of recommended applicants to the TaiwanICDF.
4. Final Selection: A Joint Recruitment Committee will make the final decisions. Successful recipients will be informed by the Embassy no later than 10 June 2026.

For more details, candidates are strongly advised to read the full Higher Education Application Guidebook thoroughly.