StudyDesk Scholarships
About the programme
The Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) is the doctoral programme of Academia Sinica, Taiwan’s national academy and premier research institution, run together with leading Taiwanese universities. For the Fall 2027 intake, the official online application system confirms a window of 1 November 2026 to 1 February 2027 (23:59 GMT+8). TIGP is not one degree course but 14 separate PhD programmes — from nano science and molecular medicine to bioinformatics and social networks — each with its own page, partner universities, and slightly different requirements, so you apply to exactly one programme per round.
Eligibility
- A bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in science, arts, or a related discipline — most programmes accept applicants holding only a B.S. (a few require a master’s; check your programme’s page).
- English proficiency is required for non-native speakers (TOEFL, IELTS or GEPT); it can be exempted if your university certifies that English was your primary language of instruction — exemption rules vary by programme.
- GRE scores are optional, but applicants who skip them are encouraged to submit other evidence of research potential (thesis, publications, research description).
- You may apply to only one TIGP programme per round, and each year’s cycle is for the fall semester only.
Benefits
- A full fellowship of NT$34,000/month tax-free for the first year, extended 2–3 years on good performance (central FAQ); after the stipend period, funding comes from the thesis advisor.
- No application fee — applying through the TIGP portal is entirely free.
- Tuition subsidised to the domestic rate: Academia Sinica partially subsidises international students’ tuition for five consecutive years, so you pay the Taiwanese domestic rate rather than the full international rate. Note this is a subsidy, not a waiver — tuition is still payable each semester.
- Training in Academia Sinica’s advanced labs, coursework at partner universities, and a PhD conferred by the partner university plus a certificate jointly signed by the Academia Sinica president and the TIGP director.
Documents required
Per the official programme pages (the Nano programme page is the most detailed public checklist; confirm against your chosen programme):
- Degree certificates (bachelor’s and master’s, in English).
- Academic transcripts with an explanation of any non-standard grading system.
- English proficiency certificate (or registrar’s certification of English-medium instruction, where your programme allows exemption).
- Three recommendation letters — some programmes require one to come from your academic advisor.
- CV, statement of purpose / plan for graduate study, and (where required) an abstract of your thesis with advisor details.
- Shortlisted applicants may be asked to send official transcripts and original language-test scores by post.
How to apply
- Pick one TIGP programme that matches your research interest — read its admission page carefully, since reference counts and degree rules differ between programmes.
- Apply online at tigp.apps.sinica.edu.tw between 1 November 2026 and 1 February 2027, 23:59 GMT+8. There is no application fee.
- Upload all documents marked with an asterisk in the system before submitting; no materials are returned once submitted.
- Wait for review: committees and partner universities review applications from February to April 2027, with admission offers typically announced in May–June 2027 for autumn entry.
FAQs
The Taiwan International Graduate Program is Academia Sinica’s PhD programme in Taipei, run with partner universities such as National Taiwan University and National Tsing Hua University. The Fall 2027 intake accepts applications from 1 November 2026 to 1 February 2027 (23:59 GMT+8) across 14 separate PhD programmes.
1 February 2027 at 23:59 GMT+8, per the official TIGP online application system. The window opens 1 November 2026; the central FAQ describes the cycle generally as November to February each year.
The central TIGP FAQ states NT$34,000/month (about US$1,130) for the first year, extendable 2–3 years on good performance, with advisor support afterwards. Some programme pages quote NT$40,000/month — treat NT$34,000 as the confirmed central figure.
No. Tuition is payable each semester, but Academia Sinica subsidises the international premium for five years so international students pay the Taiwanese domestic rate.
Holders of a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in a relevant discipline — most programmes accept applicants with only a B.S. English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/GEPT) is required unless your university certifies English-medium instruction. You may apply to only one TIGP programme per round.
Apply free of charge at tigp.apps.sinica.edu.tw within the window, choosing one programme and uploading all required documents (degree certificates, transcripts, English proof, three recommendation letters, CV, statement of purpose). Shortlisted candidates may be asked to post official transcripts and original test scores.
Verified 20 Oct 2026 against the official TIGP FAQ (tigp.sinica.edu.tw — NT$34,000/month first-year fellowship, up-to-3-year funding + advisor support, November-to-February window, no application fee, one programme per round, fall semester only), the official Nano programme admission page (NT$40,000/month figure, ~NT$58,000/semester tuition before subsidy, 5-year subsidy rule, three references, statement of purpose, PhD conferred by NTU/NTHU), and the TIGP central online application system’s stated 2027 window (1 Nov 2026 – 1 Feb 2027, 23:59 GMT+8). The tuition-not-waived fact and the outside-work prohibition are per the programme’s own stated rules. The 2026 cycle was re-scoped to the announced Fall 2027 intake.
