The Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) is an all-English PhD route run by Academia Sinica with top national research universities in Taiwan. It recruits young researchers from Taiwan and abroad.
Based at Academia Sinica in Taipei, students train in one of 14 programs, from molecular biology and AI of Things to East Asian history, and pick a thesis advisor by the end of year one.
Benefits & funding
- Tax-free stipend of NT$40,000 a month (NT$34,000 + NT$6,000) in year one, extended one more year for students who perform well (stipend page).
- The FAQ calls it a full fellowship for up to three years; after the stipend period, support depends on the thesis advisor.
- Tuition is not waived: international students pay domestic rates, about NT$28,000–31,000 per semester for the first four semesters.
Eligibility
- Bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in science, arts or a related field; most programs take bachelor’s holders, but check your program’s own requirements.
- English: TOEFL iBT 79–80, IELTS Academic 5.5, GEPT High-Intermediate or TOEIC 785, taken within two years; waived for applicants from English-speaking countries, with 2+ years of full-time English-medium study, or whose highest degree was taught fully in English. EAMW has its own rules.
- No nationality bar is published; the program admits students from Taiwan and abroad.
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.
Education required
Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Apply online from 1 November 2026 to 1 February 2027 (GMT+8); there is no application fee.
- 2Apply to ONE TIGP program only.
- 3Submit a statement of purpose, transcripts, an English score and three reference letters (referees upload through the portal); the GRE is optional.
- 4After preliminary review, mail original or notarized transcripts and scores on request; review includes an interview.
Program timeline
Applications open
1 Nov 2026
Application deadline
1 Feb 2027
Review and interviews
Feb – 15 Apr 2027
Decisions by email
30 Apr – 15 May 2027
Semester starts
First week of Sep 2027