This partnership award sits within the Fulbright U.S. Student Program in Taiwan and is run with National Cheng Kung University (NCKU). One award is offered per competition.
The grantee enrolls full-time in NCKU’s two-year master’s in Creative Industries Design in Tainan, taught in English, from September 2027. The institute has three groups: brand and marketing planning, media and interaction design, and industry and service innovation.
Benefits & funding
- NT$25,000 a month (NT$18,000 stipend plus NT$7,000 living allowance), and NT$36,000 for settling in and baggage on arrival.
- Full NCKU tuition, a student dormitory place, round-trip airfare and national health insurance.
- Awarded for 12 months; the second year is renewed only with a GPA of at least 3.0.
- No support for dependents, who may not accompany the grantee.
- 12 months of U.S. federal non-competitive hiring eligibility.
Eligibility
- U.S. citizens or nationals at the deadline; permanent residents are not eligible, nor are dual U.S.–Taiwan citizens or Taiwan permanent residents.
- A bachelor’s degree before enrollment (final-year undergraduates may apply); Ph.D. holders are not eligible.
- Not living in Taiwan now or during the 2026–27 academic year.
- If born in the PRC: U.S. citizenship for at least four years, proof of four or more years’ U.S. residence, and proof of losing PRC citizenship (Taiwan visa rules).
- Not eligible if you lived abroad five or more of the six years before the deadline.
- Mandarin or Taiwanese is useful but not required.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Applicants with completed doctorates at the time of the start of the award are not eligible. … Candidates currently residing in Taiwan (or those who will be living there during the 2026-2027 academic year) will not be considered. … Candidates who have lived outside the United States for five or more consecutive years in the six-year period preceding the date of application is ineligible.” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
USA
Residence required
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Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Apply online through the Fulbright application, choosing “NCKU Creative Industries Design” as the award.
- 2Apply separately for admission to NCKU on the university’s own timeline.
- 3Submit by the national deadline: 6 October 2026 for 2027–28 (closed).
- 4If selected, forward NCKU’s admission offer to Fulbright Taiwan; the grant depends on acceptance by both.
Program timeline
6 October 2026
2027–28 application deadline (closed)
First notification
End of January 2027
Spring 2027
Final selections, on a rolling basis; 2028–29 application launches
Grant begins
September 2027