2026 MOE “Study Abroad Scholarship Program / Study Abroad Scholarship for Financially Disadvantaged Students” - Call for Applications

Applications are now open for the University’s 2026 Ministry of Education (MOE) Study Abroad Scholarship Program / Study Abroad Scholarship for Financially Disadvantaged Students。
Applicants must prepare all required documents and submit them to their respective program office before January 30, 2026. After review and endorsement by the program, applications will be forwarded to the applicant’s college for nomination review.

Full guidelines (including application forms) are available for download: 學海飛颺、學海惜珠

Eligibility

General Eligibility

• Must be a citizen of the Republic of China (Taiwan) with household registration in Taiwan.

• Must have studied at the University for at least one semester at the same academic level.
  (Excludes in-service master’s programs and overseas in-service programs.)

• Each student may receive this subsidy only once per academic level.

Academic Requirements

• Undergraduate students:
  Minimum average grade of 77 (inclusive) in the previous semester, or ranked within the top 50% of the class/department.

• Graduate students:
  No minimum GPA requirement; advisor’s consent is required.

Foreign Language Proficiency

Applicants must meet one of the following language requirements and provide a valid test score obtained within the past two years (test date after February 1, 2024):

• TOEFL iBT: 72 or above

• IELTS (Academic): 5.5 or above

• TOEIC: 785 or above

Alternatively, applicants may provide proof of meeting the language requirement of the host institution, provided the score meets the host university’s minimum threshold.

Study Period Requirements

• Students must depart after the official announcement of subsidy approval (around mid-June 2026) and no later than October 31, 2027, participating as exchange students earning academic credits.

• Upon completion, students must submit proof of credits earned abroad.
  Each semester, students must pass at least three courses, including one course related to their major field of study at NCKU.

Additional Eligibility for “Study Abroad Scholarship Program / Study Abroad Scholarship for Financially Disadvantaged Students” (Financially Disadvantaged Students)

Applicants must meet at least one of the following disadvantaged-status qualifications officially recognized by municipal/county governments or the MOE (certification issued by village chiefs or elected representatives is not accepted):

• Low-income or middle-to-low-income household

• Special family hardship assistance

• Living allowance for persons with disabilities

• Living allowance for disadvantaged children and youth

• Emergency living assistance for disadvantaged children and youth

• Middle-to-low-income senior living allowance within the same household registration

• Eligible for the MOE Financial Aid Program for Disadvantaged Students (must qualify in the current year to apply for the following year’s program)

• Father or mother holding a disability certificate

Application Timeline：

• Important Notes

  • Once admission results are announced and award confirmation is submitted, students may not change the host country or institution.
    Departure must occur after the official subsidy announcement. Failure to enroll on time will result in cancellation of admission (no deferral allowed).

  • To ensure timely receipt of funding, students are advised to plan exchange during the first semester.
    Those planning exchange in the second semester should note that host institution admission may not be confirmed until late in the year; changing schools may affect eligibility. Students confirmed for second-semester exchange are advised to apply for the University’s Cross-National Bilateral Exchange Scholarship instead.

  • Students planning to extend graduation for exchange must ensure they maintain active student status during the exchange period. Credit transfer issues should be confirmed with the department in advance.

  • Upon completion of the exchange period, students must return and register at NCKU under their original student status. Failure to do so will result in full repayment of the subsidy.

  • Recipients may not concurrently receive other scholarships or subsidies from the MOE, NSTC, or other Taiwanese government agencies during the same funding period. Violations will result in cancellation and full repayment.

  • Students may apply for both the Xuehai Program and the University’s Cross-National Bilateral Exchange Scholarship; however, if admitted to both, only one subsidy may be accepted.

  • The subsidy may include one round-trip economy-class airfare and living expenses. Reimbursement will follow University accounting regulations.

  • Any matters not specified herein shall be handled in accordance with the MOE’s Guidelines for Subsidizing Domestic Universities to Send Students Abroad for Study or Professional Internships.