Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology Foreign

Student Admission Regulations

Stipulated by the Admission Committee on February 26, 2016
Amendments approved by Tai Jiao Wen (V.) No. 1050031922 on March 18, 2016
Stipulated by the Admission Committee on September 14, 2017
Amendments approved by Tai Jiao Wen (V.) No. 1060149170 on October 24, 2017
Stipulated by the Admission Committee on August 30, 2019
Amendments approved by Tai Jiao Wen (V.) No. 1080152646 on October 21, 2019
Stipulated by the Admission Committee on July 9, 2021
Amendments approved by Tai Jiao Wen (V.) No. 1100099133 on July 26, 2021

Article 1 According to Article 6 of the Ministry of Education Regulations Regarding

International Students Undertaking Studies in Taiwan, Article 6 of the Tzu
Chi University of Science and Technology (TCUST) school regulation
outlines the foreign student admission regulations (hereafter referred as “this
regulation”).
Article 2 A person of foreign nationality who has never held Republic of China
(“R.O.C.”) nationality and who meets the following requirements is permitted
to apply for admission to TCUST, in accordance with the provisions of these
Regulations:
1. The person has never undertaken studies in Taiwan as an overseas Chinese
student.
2. The person has not been given a placement in the current academic year by
the University Entrance Committee for Overseas Chinese Students in
accordance with the Regulations Regarding Study and Counseling
Assistance for Overseas Chinese Students in Taiwan.
A person of foreign nationality who meets the following requirements and
who in the immediate past has resided overseas continuously for at least six
years is also permitted to apply for admission to an educational institution, in
accordance with these Regulations.
1. A person who at the time of their application also holds dual R.O.C.
nationality shall have never had a household registration in Taiwan.
2. A person who held dual R.O.C. nationality but no longer does at the time of
their application shall have renounced their R.O.C. nationality with the
approval of the Ministry of the Interior on a date at least eight full years
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 before making their application.
3. A person referred to in either of the preceding two subparagraphs shall meet
the requirements stipulated in Subparagraph 1 and Subparagraph 2 of the
previous paragraph.
A foreign national who was selected by a foreign government, organization, or
school to study in Taiwan in accordance with the Education Cooperation
Framework Agreement, and who has never had household registration in
Taiwan may be given exemption from the restrictions set out in the preceding
two paragraphs if the competent education administrative authority gives
approval.
The periods of six years stipulated in Paragraph 2 shall be calculated using the
starting date of the semester (February 1, or August 1) as the end date of the
period.
The term “overseas” used in Paragraph 2 refers to countries or regions other
than the Mainland Area, Hong Kong, and Macau; the term “reside overseas
continuously” means that an international student has stayed in Taiwan for no
more than a total of 120 days in each year. When calculating the number of
consecutive years spent overseas, if the initial or final year of the period is not
a complete calendar year, any time spent in Taiwan in the initial or final year
must not exceed 120 days. However, the time that a person has spent in
Taiwan is not subject to this restriction and it is not counted when calculating
how long they were in Taiwan in a particular year if the person has
documentary proof that they:
1. Attended an overseas youth training course organized by the Overseas
Compatriot Affairs Council or a technical professional training program
accredited by the Ministry of Education;
2. Spent a total period of less than two years undertaking Chinese language
classes at a Chinese language center at a university or tertiary college
which has Ministry of Education approval to recruit students overseas;
3. Spent a total period of less than two years in Taiwan as an exchange student;
or
4. Spent a total period of less than two years undertaking an internship that

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 they came to Taiwan to undertake with the approval of the designated
central competent authority.
A person who held both foreign and R.O.C. nationalities and applied for
annulment of their R.O.C. nationality before the date of effect of the February
1, 2011 amendment to these Regulations may apply for admission as an
international student in accordance with the provisions in place before the
amendment and is not subject to the restrictions set out in Paragraph 2.
Article 3 An applicant of foreign nationality, who is eligible for permanent residence in
Hong Kong or Macao, who has never had household registration in Taiwan,
and who at the time of their application has resided in Hong Kong, Macao, or
elsewhere overseas continuously for at least six years may apply for
admission in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations.
The term “resided […] continuously” in the preceding paragraph means that a
person did not spend more than a total of 120 days in Taiwan in each calendar
year. However, this restriction does not apply if a person can present
documentary proof that any of the circumstances listed in Paragraph 5,
Subparagraphs 1 to 4 of the previous article apply. The time that they spent in
Taiwan in the ways listed is not counted when calculating the period of
continuous residence referred to in the previous paragraph.
A person who was formerly from the Mainland Area and who has foreign
nationality and has have never had household registration in Taiwan, and who
at the time of their application has resided overseas continuously for at least
six years may apply for admission to an educational institution, in accordance
with the provisions of these Regulations.
The term “resided […] continuously” in the preceding paragraph means that a
person did not spend more than a total of 120 days in Taiwan in each calendar
year. However, this restriction does not apply if a person can present
documentary proof that any of the circumstances listed in Paragraph 5,
Subparagraphs 1 to 4 of the previous article apply. The time that they spent in
Taiwan in the ways listed is not counted when calculating the period that they
resided continuously overseas referred to in the previous paragraph.
The periods of six years stipulated in Paragraph 1 and in Paragraph 3 shall be

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 calculated using the starting date of the semester (February 1, or August 1) as
the end date of the period.
The definition of “overseas” given in Paragraph 5 of the previous article also
applies, mutatis mutandis, to Paragraphs 1 to 4.
Article 4 An international student applying to study at an educational institution in
Taiwan in accordance with the provisions of the two previous articles is
limited to only applying once. If a student wants to continue studying in
Taiwan, their application shall be handled in the same manner as the
admission procedures for domestic students. However, this requirement does
not apply to an international student in either of the following circumstances:
1. If an international student is applying for admission to a master’s degree or
higher level program after completing the course of study at the
educational institution to which they originally applied, the institution to
which the student is now applying shall handle the application in
accordance with its regulations;
2. If an international student applied to come to Taiwan to undertake a
bachelor's degree or lower level program in Taiwan, stayed in Taiwan for
less than one year and for some reason then discontinued their studies or
forfeited their student status, that student may lodge another application to
come to Taiwan to study, but only ONE such re-application is permitted.
If an educational institution in Taiwan where an international student was
studying considers that their conduct or academic performance was
unsatisfactory, or if the student seriously violated any ordinances or the
regulations of the educational institution and the circumstances were serious
and as a result, in accordance with the provisions of its regulations governing
student awards and penalties had to discontinue their studies or forfeited their
status as a registered student, the student is not permitted to re-apply to study
in Taiwan on the basis of the provisions of the previous paragraph.
Article 5 The actual number of places available for international students to be admitted
to TCUST is limited to an additional 10% above the admission quota that was
approved for the institution for the previous academic year by the Ministry of
Education, and that number shall be incorporated into the total admission

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 quota and reported to the Ministry of Education for approval. TCUST
applying to recruit more than an additional 10% shall submit a report of the
planned increment (including associated quality control strategy and
supportive measures) to the Ministry of Education for approval. TCUST may
augment the number of places at TCUST available to international students by
the number of places that were available to local students within the
admission quota that was approved for the institution for the previous
academic year. The admission quotas do not include international students
who are not officially registered as a current student.
The actual number of international students that may be admitted to a
five-year program at a junior college in TCUST is limited up to an additional
10% above the admission quota that was approved for TCUST for the
previous academic year that was approved by the competent education
administrative authority, and that number shall be included in the total
number of students admitted for that academic year and be reported to the
competent education administrative authority for approval.
Article 6 The TCUST Admission Committee is responsible for planning the admission
guidelines and hosting international student admission affairs under the
principles of justice, impartiality, and transparency. The admission guidelines
should outline details of the degree programs admitting international students,
admission quotas, application eligibility requirements, review and screening
methods, and any other related regulations.
Article 7 International students applying for TCUST admission should attach the
following documents with the admission application and submit the
application within the designated period. Applicants who qualify via the
review or screening process will be granted TCUST admission:
1. Admission application form.
2. Education history certification documents:
(1) Academic credentials from Mainland China: The Regulations Governing
the Accreditation of Schools in Mainland China shall apply.

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 (2) Academic credentials from Hong Kong or Macao: Academic Credential
Verification and Accreditation Methods adopted in Hong Kong and
Macao shall apply.
(3) Academic credentials from other areas:
A. Academic credentials earned at overseas Taiwan schools or Taiwanese
schools in Mainland China shall be regarded as equivalent to those at
domestic schools, with equivalency between levels.
B. Academic credentials referred to the preceding two items shall be
subject to the Regulations Regarding the Assessment and Recognition
of Foreign Academic Credentials for Institutions of Higher Education.
However, academic credentials earned from institutes or branches
established in Mainland China by foreign schools shall require public
notarization in Mainland China and shall be verified and examined by
an institute established or appointed by or through a private agency
commissioned by the Executive Yuan.
3. Proof of applicant’s having sufficient funds to live on while studying in
Taiwan, or proof of having a full scholarship or grant provided by a
government, TCUST, or private organization.
4. Other documents that should be submitted according to the TCUST
admission handbook.
5. For International students applying for Nursing College program in
TCUST are required to hand in the additional documents as the following:
A. Documentary evidence of the eligibility of a guardian in Taiwan.
B. A power of attorney from the student’s parents or other legal
representative, which has been authenticated by an overseas mission,
appointing the guardian in Taiwan.
C. A letter of agreement from the guardian in Taiwan which has been
notarized by a notary public in Taiwan.
When TCUST reviews an international student’s admission application, if any
of the documents specified in Subparagraphs 2 and 4 of the preceding
paragraph have not been authenticated by an overseas mission, agency
established or designated by the Executive Yuan, or by a private organization

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 commissioned by the Executive Yuan—and if the educational institution has
any doubts regarding their authenticity—authentication by an overseas agency
may be requested. If documents that have already been authenticated raise any
doubts, the educational institution may request examination of the documents.
An international student submitting, as part of their application for admission
to an educational institution, any certificate or document that is found to be
forged, fabricated, or altered in some way shall have their enrollment
eligibility revoked. If the student has already registered and commenced
classes, their registration as a current student shall be cancelled and no
certification for relevant academic undertakings awarded. If such
circumstances are first discovered after a student has already graduated, the
educational institution shall revoke the former student’s eligibility to graduate,
shall require any degree already awarded to be returned, and shall rescind
their qualification.
International students applying with an education level of Form-5 are required
to obtain 12 more graduation credits in addition to those from their original
courses. These additional credits shall be assigned by each program.
Article 8 An international student who has completed a bachelor’s degree or a higher
degree in Taiwan and is applying to be admitted to do a master’s degree
program or a higher degree may submit copies of their graduation certificate
from a university or tertiary college in Taiwan and transcripts for each year of
their studies and apply in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 and is
not subject to the provisions of Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2.
An international student who has graduated from a school for international
residents in Taiwan, or from a bilingual division (program) affiliated to a
domestic senior secondary school, or from a program offering a foreign
curriculum at a division of a domestic private senior secondary school may
submit copies of their graduation certificate, and their transcripts for each year,
and apply for admission in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 and is
not subject to the provisions of Article 4, Paragraph 1, or the provisions of
Article 7, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 2.
Article 9 TCUST international students are not permitted to apply for any recurrent or

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 continuing education bachelor’s degree programs, in-service master’s degree
programs, or any other programs taught only in the evenings or during
vacations. However, an international student already holding legitimate
resident status or undertaking a program approved on a case-by-case basis by
the Ministry of Education is not subject to this restriction.
Article 10 An international student who reports to register at TCUST before it is already
one-third of the way into the first semester of the current academic year shall
be registered for the first semester. If it is already more than one-third of the
way into the first semester, the international student shall register for the
second semester or the next academic year. However, this restriction does not
apply if each competent education administrative authority has some
provision that overrides it.
Article 11 An international student who with Ministry of Education approval is
undertaking an internship after graduating from undergraduates and above in
TCUST may have their international student status extended for up to one year
after graduation.
An international student who has been permitted to undertake initial
household registration, resident registration, naturalization, or restoration of
R.O.C. nationality procedures during the course of their studies in Taiwan will
forfeit their international student status and shall be dismissed by their
educational institution. However, student whose application was handled in
the same manner as the admission procedures for domestic students and who
apply for naturalization to acquire the nationality of the ROC in accordance
with Subparagraph 1 to 3, Paragraph 1, Article 4 of the Nationality Act is not
subject to this requirement.
If international student who studies in university or tertiary college in Taiwan
want to transfer to TCUST in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation.
However, an international student who has been dismissed by the educational
institution that admitted the student as a result of unsatisfactory conduct or of
a conviction in criminal case proceedings is not permitted to transfer to
TCUST. After the transfer student register in school, students shall apply for a
credit transfer in accordance with the TCUST Academic Policies and

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 Regulations Governing Credit Waiver and Credit Transfer.
Article 12 The TCUST may sign an education cooperation agreement with a foreign
educational institution and may recruit and admit international exchange
students, provided that this does not affect normal teaching. The TCUST may
also apply, mutatis mutandis, its own international student admission
regulations to accept suitable international students as non-degree students.
Article 13 To achieve an international academic cooperation scheme or to work with
students with special needs, the TCUST must file an application with the
Ministry of Education for ratification in accordance with the regulations
regarding the Student Admissions Quotas and Resources Standards for
Schools above Junior College.
Article 14 The tuition related fees that international students in Taiwan shall pay are
determined as stipulated below.
A. Students who have been admitted to study in Taiwan in accordance with the
provisions of the previous two articles, or who have received a MOFA
Taiwan Scholarship following recommendation by an overseas mission, or
who have the status of permanent residents in Taiwan shall pay tuition and
other fees in accordance with the standard fees that their educational
institution applies to domestic students.
B. Students admitted to an educational institution in Taiwan in accordance with
an education cooperation agreement shall pay their tuition and other fees as
specified in the agreement.
C. If an international student is not covered by the provisions of either of the
preceding two subparagraphs, an educational institution may charge the
student based on the standard tuition and other fees for international students
that it has determined, and these are not permitted to be lower than the fees
levied by other private educational institutions at the same level.
A student who was admitted to an educational institution in Taiwan before the
date of effect of the February 1, 2011 amendment to these Regulations shall pay
tuition and other for this stage of education fees in accordance with the
pre-amendment provisions.
Article 15 The TCUST has established scholarships or financial aid at its own expense to

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 encourage international students to study in Taiwan. Students with outstanding
academic performance may submit applications according to Ministry of
Education or TCUST regulations regarding scholarships or financial aid
regulations for international students to receive scholarships.
Article 16 The TCUST Office of Academic Affairs is responsible for handling the
admission applications. The Chinese Language Center is responsible for
Chinese language education, and cultural education of international students.
The Office of Student Affairs manages homestay family arrangements and
provides international students with relevant information about the school.
The Office of International and Cross-Strait Affairs is responsible for the
counseling and contacts for international students. In addition, The Office of
International and Cross-Strait Affairs sporadically hosts international student
events and promotes campus internationalization to assist Taiwanese students’
interaction and engagement with international students and to cultivate
international students’ appreciation of Taiwan.
Article 17 Registering international students must attach medical and injury insurance
policies valid for a period of at least 6 months starting from the day of entry
to Taiwan. Returning international students must attach policies regarding
Taiwan National Health Insurance and other pertinent coverage plans.
International students who attach medical and injury insurance policies
purchased in foreign countries must have the document validated by the
embassy.
Article 18 TCUST will immediately handle cases in accordance with the regulations if
international students are found to have violated the Employment Services
Act after investigation.
Article 19 When international students are suspended, discontinue their schooling, or lose
their student status for any other reason, TCUST will immediately register the
incident in the international student information management system
designated by the Ministry of Education; notify the Bureau of Consular Affairs,
Ministry of the Interior, and National Immigration Agency service centers; and
send copies of the notification to the Ministry of Education.
Article 20 Throughout their stay in Taiwan, international students must follow ROC laws

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 and abide by TCUST regulations.
Article 21 Affairs not covered by this regulation are governed by the Ministry of
Education Regulations Regarding International Students Undertaking Studies
in Taiwan and related TCUST regulations.
Article 22 The regulation is implemented after approval by the admission committee and
the president and after approval and announcement by the Ministry of
Education. The same process is required for amending the regulation.

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