Awards to Taiwan

NDHU Mandarin-Taught Master’s Degree Program Award in Ethnic Relations and Cultures

Program Introduction

The partner universities offer the opportunities for U.S. students to apply for scholarships that will enable them to continue full-time studies in Taiwan beyond the Fulbright award. The award is initially granted for 12 months, and renewal for a second and third year are dependent upon the grantee’s academic success. The award provides recipients with full tuition support and student dormitory at the co-sponsored universities. The program is taught in Chinese. The program combines one year of intensive studies of the Chinese language with a two-year master’s degree program. The award must begin no earlier than September 1, 2024 and end no later than August 31, 2025.

AWARD

Up to 1 award

ACTIVITY

Study/Research

LENGTH

12 months

DEADLINE

October 10, 2023

Program Profile

National Dong Hwa University is a national research university located in Hualien, Taiwan. It is the first comprehensive university in eastern Taiwan. It covers an area of 251 hectares which is the largest of Taiwan’s universities and colleges. NDHU is well regarded as a top 10% university in Taiwan. The University enrolls approximately 10,000 undergraduate & graduate students, and over 1,000 international students from more than 50 countries pursuing degrees and joining exchange programs with more than 120 universities around the world. The Department of Ethnic Relations and Cultures in the College of Indigenous Studies is the first department in Taiwan dedicated to the study of ethnic relations and cultures. Also, it is the only full college dedicated to Taiwanese Indigenous Studies in Taiwan. An interdisciplinary program, faculty members have a wide range of expertise, including anthropology, sociology, political science, history, and art history.

 

The Master’s Degree Program in Ethnic Relations and Cultures program curriculum emphasizes: 1.) Inter-disciplinary training: Faculty members have expertise in the fields of anthropology, sociology, history, law, art, and culture administration; 2.) Focus on ethnic relations: Reflecting the needs of students, our curriculum is designed to explore a wide variety of related topics, including (but not limited to) cultural studies, ethnic histories, environmental sustainability, political economy, multicultural education, and the study of sex/gender issues; 3.) Practical courses: Through fieldwork, case studies, and service learning, students are given the opportunity to work in close collaboration with indigenous communities and non-profit organizations.

 

The program will take 3 years to earn a master’s degree. International students spend their first year in studying Chinese in order to improve their Chinese language and study skills to the level needed for the program study. After completing a Chinese language program, international students will continue their studies toward their master’s degree. NDHU offers full tuition waivers and student dormitory as long as the candidate maintains satisfactory academic standards.

Benefits

  1. Total Monthly Payment: NT$25,000
    Base Stipend: NT$18,000
    Living Allowance: NT$7,000
  2. Settling-in & Baggage Allowance (A one-time-only allowance): NT$36,000
  3. Tuition Waiver (provided by the University: tuition waiver for the number of credits required for graduation are granted to graduate students.)
  4. Student Dormitory (provided by the university)
  5. Round-trip Air Ticket
  6. National Health Insurance

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants are eligible who:

  1. Must be U.S. citizens. Permanent resident status is not sufficient.
  2. Hold a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctoral degree. 
  3. Have strong academic credentials in an academic field of specialization.
  4. Meet the Grant Conditions and Provisions

Applicants are Ineligible who:

  1. Currently residing in Taiwan (or those who will be living in Taiwan during the 2023-2024 academic year) will not be considered. 
  2. Has lived outside the United States for five or more consecutive years in the six-year period preceding. An applicant who has lived outside the United States for nine months or more during the calendar year is deemed to have resided abroad for that year. 
  3. Have dual U.S.-Taiwan nationality or permanent residency.

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 must also 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 at the university.

 

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

Notice

Apply online no later than October 10, 2023. For more application information, please see the IIE website for details which provides general information about awards for Taiwan, as well as application instructions.

Application Procedure

1

Apply online no later than October 10, 2023. For more application information, please see the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website, which provides general information and application instructions about awards for Taiwan, for details.

2

Submit the following all required application components for the 2024-2025 U.S. Student Program by the application deadline: October 10, 2023.

  1. Statement of Grant Purpose
  2. Personal Statement
  3. Three letters of recommendation 
  4. Transcripts

Please refer to the Application Components section for details of application requirements

3

Application process has been completed! Wait for the notification letter!

If there are any questions with regard to the Fulbright Student Program, please direct your inquiry to:  FBstudent.EAP@iie.org

4

Submit the application to National Dong Hwa University at the same time. 

Please make sure you complete the application in the two different application systems.

Application FAQ

The application for Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards opens in early April and closes in early October every year. For more details about application criteria, application deadlines, application guidelines, grant benefits, etc., please visit IIE’s website.

Fulbright “students” are participants in the Fulbright Student Program, which enables graduating college seniors, graduate students, early career professionals and artists to study, teach, or conduct research. A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) is generally required by the start of the Fulbright grant period. Some exceptions may apply, especially for artists.

Fulbright “scholars” are participants in the Fulbright Scholar Program, which enables college and university faculty members with a Ph.D. (or equivalent terminal degree) to teach and/or conduct research. The Fulbright Scholar Program is also open to artists and professionals. A small number of grants are also offered annually to U.S. international education administrators through the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Fulbright Program does not have age limits for applicants.

Contact a Fulbright Program Advisor on your campus or visit the Fulbright Student Program website for application information. The application cycle opens in the first week of April each year.

A GPA of 3.0 or higher is required usually. In general, GPA is not the deciding factor. Reviewers look for cogent and feasible projects, well-written proposals, and candidates who demonstrate in their proposals that they understand the purpose of Fulbright.

We recommend that you allow a minimum of 4-6 month’s preparation. Start early! Also, if you plan to start your Fulbright student program immediately following graduation, prepare your application in your junior year and submit at the beginning of your senior year. 

A GPA of 3.0 or higher is required usually. In general, GPA is not the deciding factor. Reviewers look for cogent and feasible projects, well-written proposals, and candidates who demonstrate in their proposals that they understand the purpose of Fulbright.

Click here to view the Online Application Portal and Application Period for the Master’s Degree Program Award. 

No, you cannot defer your Fulbright award.

No. Previously unsuccessful applicants are strongly encouraged to re-submit.

Yes. You can travel outside Taiwan for a maximum of two weeks (14 days), excluding weekends, based on a 10 to 12-month grant period. The actual maximum # of days is calculated on a pro-rata basis depending on the approved grant period.

For all trips outside of Taiwan during the grant period, prior approval is required from FSE. In addition, host institutions/professionals must also agree to grantee travel plans to release grantees. Trips outside Taiwan cannot occur during the first or the last month of the grant period.

Fulbright Taiwan will provide you with detailed information, required documents, and visa cable number provided from MOFA to process once you are selected as a grantee. Please see the website for details.

U.S. grantees who are in Taiwan with a resident visa are eligible for Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI). FSE pays the NHI cost for grantees. Also, all U.S. Grantees are offered an additional group insurance coverage for emergency/accident treatment at FSE’s expense. The group insurance helps strengthen compensation packages. The goal of a group insurance plan is to provide some basic additional insurance protection if something unexpected happens.

Nevertheless, all U.S. grantees are still encouraged to retain their own health insurance.

Selection Procedure

Early January

Regional Peer Review (First Run Selection) 

Reviewers screen applications based on a comprehensive match to each award and recommend candidates for further consideration. Regional reviewers evaluate and rate applicants within each award. Regional reviewers consider criteria, award requirements, regional fit, language requirements, J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) policy, and cultural adaptability and sensitivity. After this stage, all applicants are notified by IIE of their review status (recommended or not recommended). Recommended applicants are then sent forward for review abroad and to the FFSB.

End of January

Recommended Applications from the IIE Received

Recommended applicants are received from the Institute of International Education (IIE).

Middle February

Review in Host Country/Countries (Second Run Selection) 

A Selection Committee (academic peers from a variety of disciplines, board members, and staff) reviews all documents and research proposals and recommends a slate for final selection by Fulbright Taiwan’s Board.

End of February

Submit the Nominee List

Provide the selected applicants (nominee/non-nominees list) to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) after the board meeting.

April of the grant year

Final Approval from FFSB

Review and official selection of recommended candidates for Fulbright grants by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB). Selected applicants receive a letter from the FFSB chair as official notice of selection for a U.S. Fulbright Scholar award. Alternates and applicants not selected will receive a letter regarding status from IIE.

Final approval is then normally received by Fulbright Taiwan in April. Then, Fulbright Taiwan will contact the grantees and send them the grant packets.

Note:  All Taiwan grantees must hold a J-type visa to enter Taiwan for educational and cultural exchange programs

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Additional Comments

A working knowledge of Mandarin or Taiwanese is useful, but not required. Mandarin study in Taiwan is highly encouraged. Also, a good capacity for studying and living in a cross-cultural setting is necessary.

Candidates must also 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 also be accepted by the university. Please look up and respect the program application deadline at the university.

Contact

East Asia and the Pacific Team:
FBstudent.EAP@iie.org