Taiwan ICDF Scholarship Program

The Taiwan ICDF Scholarship Program, in collaboration with top Taiwanese universities, offers full scholarships to excellent students from qualified partner countries, including Pakistan. The program's goal is to promote global development by cultivating highly trained individuals who can contribute to the progress of their home countries. It includes a diverse range of English-taught degree programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.
Since 1998, the Taiwan ICDF has worked with partner universities within the Taiwan International Cooperation Alliance (TICA) framework, ensuring that a wide range of academic disciplines and fields of study are covered.

Programs Offered

The Taiwan ICDF Scholarship collaborates with multiple top universities throughout Taiwan to provide a wide choice of English-taught graduate and doctoral programs. While the precise programs can vary by year and university, some popular areas of study include:

Tropical agriculture and agribusiness.
Business and Management: Business Administration, International Business and Trade.
Engineering and science: mechanical engineering, electrical power engineering, industrial engineering, and ICT.
Public health and tropical medicine
Humanities and Social Sciences: International Studies, Journalism and Mass Communication
Sustainable development
Disaster Management.

Each year, the official Taiwan ICDF Scholarship Application Guidebook and the websites of partner colleges must be reviewed to obtain the most up-to-date list of accessible programs.

Benefits

The Taiwan ICDF Scholarship is a really comprehensive and fully supported opportunity that relieves financial stress and allows students to focus solely on their education. Key advantages include:

Airfare: A round-trip economy class ticket on the most direct flights to and from Taiwan.
Housing: Accommodation in student dorms, which provides a comfortable and secure living environment.
Tuition expenses: Tuition expenses as specified by your university will be covered in full.
Credit Fees: Coverage for credit fees, which vary according on the amount of credits recorded.
Insurance: Comprehensive accident and medical coverage for the duration of the program.
Textbook Costs: Instructors request reimbursement for textbook fees.
Monthly Allowance: A substantial monthly allowance for food and other living needs.
- Undergraduate students get NT$12,000 a month, but keep in mind that these programs mainly cater to our diplomatic allies.
- For Master's students, it's NT$18,000 a month.
- PhD students receive NT$20,000 a month.

Eligibility Criteria

If you want to apply for the Taiwan ICDF Scholarship as a Pakistani student, you need to meet some general requirements as well as some specific ones from the university. Here’s what you need to know:

Citizenship: Be a citizen of one of the countries listed as eligible for the TaiwanICDF Scholarship.
Nationality: Not a Republic of China (Taiwan) citizen or an abroad compatriot student.
University Admission: Meet the admission requirements of the Partner University to which you are applying for the scholarship.
Visa conditions: Meet all of the conditions for a Resident Visa (Code: FS) and an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) provided by the ROC (Taiwan) government. Failure to complete these requirements may result in scholarship termination.
No Dual Scholarships: You cannot hold any other ROC (Taiwan) government-sponsored scholarship (such as the Taiwan Scholarship) during the same academic year that the Taiwan ICDF scholarship would begin.
No Consecutive Applications: Not apply for another Taiwan ICDF scholarship right after graduating from another program funded by the same scholarship. Previous recipients of Taiwan ICDF, MOFA, or MOE scholarships must have graduated by July 31 of the application year to be eligible for the following year's scholarship.
Highest Diploma: Submit your highest level diploma by July 31 of the application year. If you are unable to receive the certificate by this deadline, you may apply for the next year's scholarship.
No prior revocations or expulsions: I've never had a scholarship canceled by any ROC (Taiwan) government agency or affiliated institution, nor have I been expelled from a Taiwanese university.

Note for Pakistani Applicants: While Pakistan is an eligible country for Master's and PhD programs, undergraduate programs are typically only open to citizens of Taiwan's diplomatically countries. Pakistani applicants should primarily focus on Master's and PhD opportunities.

How to Apply

The Taiwan ICDF Scholarship is a fully-funded opportunity for Pakistani citizens to pursue Master's or PhD degrees in Taiwan. Here's a brief overview of the application process:

Check Eligibility: Ensure you meet all general and program-specific criteria. (Pakistani citizens are eligible for Master's and PhD programs).
Choose Program & University: Research English-taught programs at Taiwan ICDF partner universities. Download the latest "TaiwanICDF Scholarship Application Guidebook" from www.icdf.org.tw for program lists.
Complete Online Scholarship Application: Access the Taiwan ICDF Scholarship Online Application System (December-March). Fill out the form and upload all required supporting documents.
Apply for University Admission: Crucially, apply separately to your chosen partner university for admission. Meet university-specific deadlines and submit all their required documents (e.g., transcripts, English proficiency, recommendation letters, and study plan).
Submit Documents to Taiwan's Pakistan Office: After completing both online ICDF and university applications, submit hard copies of all documents to the ROC (Taiwan) Embassy/Representative Office in Islamabad. Adhere strictly to all deadlines.
Await Selection: The Embassy/Representative Office conducts a first review and forwards recommendations. Taiwan ICDF makes the final selection, issuing acceptance letters to successful applicants.

FAQs

1. Can I apply for an undergraduate program through the Taiwan ICDF Scholarship?

Generally, this scholarship is mainly for citizens of Taiwan's diplomatic ally countries to pursue undergraduate programs. If you're from Pakistan, it’s better to apply for Master’s or PhD programs.

2. Do I need an IELTS or TOEFL score to apply?

While the Taiwan ICDF doesn’t strictly require an English test score, most universities that offer courses in English will ask for a TOEFL or IELTS score. If you studied where English was the main language, some universities might accept a letter from your school as proof. It’s a good idea to check what each university needs.

3. Can I apply for more than one program or university?

No, you can only apply for one program at one TICA partner university each year through the Taiwan ICDF Scholarship.

4. Can I change my program after submitting the application?

No, you can't change your program once you've submitted your application. If you get accepted and then want to switch, you might lose your scholarship.

5. Is there an age limit for the scholarship?

No, there isn’t an age limit for the Taiwan ICDF Scholarship. They evaluate applicants based on their overall profile and qualifications.

6. What if my country doesn’t have a ROC (Taiwan) Embassy/Representative Office?

Pakistan has a representative office. If it didn't, you'd be told to send your documents to the nearest ROC (Taiwan) Embassy, Consulate General, or Representative Office in your area.

7. Can I work part-time while studying in Taiwan?

Yes, scholarship recipients are generally allowed to work part-time as long as they follow Taiwan's employment laws.

8. Can I stay and work in Taiwan after graduating with the scholarship?

Yes, after you graduate, you can look for job opportunities in Taiwan, but you'll need to follow the local immigration and employment rules.

9. What is the deadline for applications?

The application period usually goes from December to March each year, with the deadline around March 15th. Always check the official Taiwan ICDF website and the specific university’s deadlines for the most current info.

10. What documents are most important for the application?

All required documents are important, but it's especially crucial to have your academic transcripts and diploma in order, proof of English proficiency (if needed by the university), and an interesting study plan to boost your application.