Definition of Overseas Compatriot Students and Application Information for Studies in Taiwan
1. According to the "Regulations Regarding Study and Counseling Assistance for Overseas Compatriot Students in Taiwan," the term "overseas compatriot student" refers to a student of Chinese/Taiwanese descent who has come to Taiwan to study, who was born and lived overseas until the present time, or who has been living overseas for six or more consecutive years in the immediate past and obtained permanent or long-term residency status overseas. Please note that a minimum of eight consecutive years of overseas residency is required if the person is applying to a department of medicine, dentistry, or Chinese medicine in universities in Taiwan.
2. The term "overseas" refers to countries or regions other than Taiwan, Mainland China, Macao, and Hong Kong.
3. Consecutive years of overseas residency is defined by calendar years in each of which an overseas compatriot student has not spent more than 120 days in Taiwan. When calculating the number of consecutive years spent overseas, if the initial or final year of the period is not a complete calendar year, any time spent in Taiwan in the initial or final year must not exceed 120 days. However, time that a person has spent in Taiwan is not subject to this restriction and is not counted when calculating how long they were in Taiwan in a particular year if in that period of time the overseas compatriot student has:
(1) attended an overseas youth technical training course conducted by the OCAC or a technical professional training program accredited by the central competent education administration authority;
(2) attended an activity held by the OCAC or by a government agency and recognized by the OCAC, or taken a language course provided by a Chinese language education institute which has been approved by the governing authority to recruit students overseas, and has spent a total period of less than two years undertaking such activities or courses;
(3) spent a total period of less than two years in Taiwan as an exchange student;
(4) spent a total period of less than two years undertaking an internship approved by the designated central competent authority;
(5) returned to Taiwan to serve compulsory military service;
(6) stayed in Taiwan because they were unable to return to their country of residence owing to war, natural disasters, or a major outbreak of infectious disease; or
(7) stayed in Taiwan because they were unable to return to their country that the student was not responsible for and they have documentary evidence of this.
4. Documentary evidence of having obtained permanent or long-term residency status overseas includes proofs of having citizenship or permanent residency in the applicant's country of residence, or having a Republic of China (Taiwan) passport which officially records the person's overseas compatriot status.
How to apply to study in Taiwan for overseas compatriot students:
1. Regarding five-year junior college programs, vocational high school or senior high school,
(1)Application Dates: from February 11 to March 10, applicants submit their application documents to the overseas offices or Culture Centers of TECO.
(2)For those who have already returned to the ROC (Taiwan), submit application forms and all related documents to the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) within 90 days of entering Taiwan. The OCAC will transfer the applications to the Ministry of Education for admissions placement after reviewing their qualifications.
2. Regarding the college programs,
(1)Application Dates: for personal applicants, please submit from November 1 to December 15 prior to the enrollment year; for joint assignment, please submit from February 1 to 28 in the enrollment year.
The application documents should be sent to the ROC (Taiwan) embassies and missions, or Culture Centers of TECO before due dates.
For more information, please visit the website of University Entrance Committee for Overseas Chinese Students (https://en.overseas.ncnu.edu.tw).
(2)Direct application to schools: overseas compatriot students may also apply directly to those colleges and universities permitted by the Ministry of Education for recruiting individually. For application information for specific colleges or universities, please contact schools respectively.
3. Regarding the Cooperative Education Program in Vocational High Schools,
(1)Application Dates: from February 15 to March 31.
(2)Applicants send their application documents to the ROC (Taiwan) embassies and missions, or Culture Centers of TECO, or to recommendation units authorized by the OCAC in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines.
