Taiwan is making steady progress in its bid to become a hub for international education, with a 7% year-over-year growth in foreign student enrollments in 2024. According to the latest figures, a total of 123,190 international students pursued degrees in Taiwan’s colleges and universities last year, marking a five-year high.
The island nation’s higher education sector has been actively courting international students, with a focus on diversifying its student body beyond traditional markets like China. Taiwanese universities are offering a unique blend of benefits that resonate with Asian families, including a lower cost of living compared to Western countries, proximity, safety, strong university-industry linkages, and an education system influenced by Western and Japanese academic models.
As a result, Taiwan is attracting students from an increasingly diverse range of countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. In fact, students from these three countries accounted for 76% of international students who obtained valid employment permits in Taiwan in 2024.
The Taiwanese government has set an ambitious target of attracting 320,000 international students by 2030, with a goal of seeing roughly two-thirds of foreign graduates stay on in the country to work after graduation. To achieve this goal, the government is investing in various initiatives, including scholarship programs and streamlined visa policies.
One of the key drivers of Taiwan’s international education strategy is the New Southbound Policy (NSP), which was established in 2016 to promote close ties with Southeast Asian nations, Australia, and New Zealand. The NSP includes student exchange programs, cooperation agreements between Taiwanese and NSP-country universities, and scholarship initiatives.
The Taiwan Scholarships offered by the Ministry of Education (MOE) are a key part of the NSP. These scholarships are available to international students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral studies, and cover most tuition and living fees, as well as airfare.
Taiwan’s push to attract more international students is also driven by demographic concerns. The country has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world, and its population is rapidly aging. By 2025, Taiwan is expected to become a “super-aged” society, with those aged 65 and older composing more than 20% of the population.
In this context, attracting and retaining international talent is seen as a key strategy for addressing Taiwan’s demographic challenges. The government hopes that by providing a welcoming and supportive environment for international students, it can encourage them to stay on in Taiwan after graduation and contribute to the country’s economic and social development.
With its unique mix of cultural, economic, and educational attractions, Taiwan is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious goals for international student enrollments. As the country continues to invest in its higher education sector and streamline its visa policies, it is likely to become an increasingly popular destination for students from around the world.
