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Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org.

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

Taiwan


1 Master's Degree Program Award: National Tsing Hua University Award in Austronesian Studies

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Grant Period
September Start
Grant Length
12 Months
Award Type
Special Study/Research
Fulbright Graduate Degree Grants
  • Yes
CLEA Availability
  • Yes
Award Profile

Awards are available to pursue a full-time Master’s degree in Austronesian Studies at the Institute of Anthropology, National Tsing Hua University (NTHU). The program is taught in English.

NTHU is one of Taiwan’s most prestigious comprehensive research universities, and is widely known as an incubator for future leaders, with prominent alumni including Nobel laureates. NTHU is located in Hsin-chu, a historical city south of Taipei, and has one of the most beautiful campuses on the island. The city is surrounded by magnificent terrain that are home to indigenous peoples with great cultural diversity. Hsin-chu is also known as the Silicon Valley of Taiwan which blends the cultural depth and high-tech modernity nicely.

NTHU has ten colleges – Science, Engineering, Nuclear Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Life Science, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Technology Management, Education, Arts, and Tsing Hua College. NTHU hosts hundreds of international students from over forty nations across the globe. The university is ranked highly in the QS World Rankings and has agreements for cooperative research, exchange and other joint activities with more than 100 universities around the world. NTHU receives the highest ratio of award winning faculty among all universities in Taiwan. 

The English-taught Master’s Program in Austronesian Studies at NTHU is the first of its kind in the region and is well situated among the top humanities and social sciences colleges in Taiwan. It is also supported by the Center for World Austronesia and Indigenous Peoples (CWAIP).

This Center promotes interdisciplinary studies on Austronesian speaking groups and indigenous peoples, which covers anthropology, linguistics, history, literature, education, and law. Launched in 2021, this MA program seeks to promote and enhance the study of indigenous peoples in Taiwan within the greater context of the Austronesian-speaking world across Southeast Asia and Oceania, in areas such as environmental studies, gender and sexuality, state and indigenous relations, multicultural education, multispecies studies, religion and material cultures. It offers an English taught program that will attract non-Mandarin speakers to pursue their studies. Students may conduct independent research and fieldwork which are essential for personal learning and professional development.

NTHU has one of the most distinguished linguistics programs in Taiwan in theoretical linguistics as well as in the fields of Chinese and Austronesian linguistics. There is also a Hsin-chu Learning Center for Indigenous Languages which offers various indigenous language courses every semester.

The award is co-sponsored by National Tsing Hua University.

Grant Length
12 Months
Grant Period
September Start

The grant is initially awarded for 12 months; renewal for the second year is dependent upon the grantee’s academic success with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale.

Grants begin in September, 2024, prior to the FSE Welcome Reception (usually the Friday after Labor Day).

Orientation
In-Country Orientation

The post-arrival orientation is usually held the Friday after Labor Day.

Candidate Profile

Candidates must have received a Bachelor's degree prior to enrollment and intend to pursue a two-year Master’s degree. Strong academic credentials in their area of specialization are expected. A good capacity for studying and living in a cross-cultural setting is necessary. Grantees cannot be accompanied by dependents.

Eligibility
Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant
Indicate how many months is considered residency:
9 Months
Dual citizens of this country are NOT eligible
  • Candidates currently residing in Taiwan (or those who will be living there during the 2023-2024 academic year) will not be considered.
  • A candidate who has lived outside the United States for five or more consecutive years in the six-year period preceding the date of application will be ineligible.
  • Individuals with dual U.S.-Taiwan citizenship or permanent residency are not eligible.
Degree Level of Applicant
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Special Application Instructions

Applicants must select “National Tsing Hua University Award” in the Award Name field of the application.

Foreign Language Proficiency
Not Required

A working knowledge of Mandarin or Taiwanese is useful, but not required. Mandarin study in Taiwan is highly encouraged.

Critical Language Enhancement Award

The Critical Language Enhancement Award (CLEA) provides an opportunity for Fulbright U.S. Student Program grantees to receive intensive language study in addition to their research/study grants. The award provides tuition reimbursement for grantees to pursue language training in the host countries. Application for CLEA is made in conjunction with the Fulbright U.S. Student application. However, being awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student grant does not guarantee receipt of CLEA since review of each award is conducted separately and is contingent upon several factors. In Taiwan, only degree-seeking students pursuing Master's studies taught in English will be eligible for CLEA. For additional information and requirements on the award, please see Critical Language Enhancement Award details.

Acceptable Language: Mandarin

Prior Language Study: Prior language study is not required.

Dates and Timing: 16 weeks, beginning from the first semester; the start date of CLEA is the same as the start date of the Master’s degree program award in the fall semester. CLEA recipients will be expected to arrive in the first week of September to begin intensive language with private tutoring arranged by the Foundation for Scholarly Exchange (Fulbright Taiwan). CLEA languages classes will take place through an exclusive, close partnership with FSE-approved language tutors. All instructors are well-trained in TECL pedagogy, and they offer all levels of language instruction from beginner to advanced.

Fulbright Proposal Types
Independent Study/Research:
No
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
Yes
Affiliation
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
Letter of acceptance required prior to grant start

No letter of affiliation is required upon application. Candidates must be accepted by both the Fulbright Commission in Taiwan and the university program.

APPLICANTS ALSO MUST BE ACCEPTED BY THE UNIVERSITY. A separate application to the university is required. Applicants not only have to apply to the Fulbright award, but also MUST be accepted by the university. Please look up and respect the program application deadline for the university program.

Once a Fulbright Finalist gains admission to the master’s degree program, a copy of the admission letter must be provided to the Commission.

Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Affiliation Fees/Tuition covered in grant benefits

The grant provides recipients with full tuition support at National Tsing Hua University, housing in a student dormitory, round trip airfare, a monthly living allowance, and national health insurance for three years as long as the candidate maintains satisfactory academic standards. Please visit the Fulbright Taiwan website for more financial information.

Dependents
Dependent financial support is NOT available
Housing Arrangements

The Foundation for Scholarly Exchange (Fulbright Taiwan) will book the grantees in a hotel for first four nights close to the office. The grantees are offered a one-time-only settling-in allowance and a stipend.

The host institution will offer grantees a student dormitory at their university in a two-person dorm room.

Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Additional Online Resources
Education in Taiwan: https://www.taiwan.gov.tw/content_9.php
Learn Chinese in Taiwan: https://ogme.edu.tw/Home/tw
List of Universities and Colleges in Taiwan: https://english.moe.gov.tw/cp-21-14441-4EC5E-1.html