by Luna Erica
Taiwan (China) offers English-taught Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programmes. But how much money will you need to study there?
As an international student, you should budget approximately 20,000–35,000 TWD (545–955 EUR) per month for living costs, excluding tuition. Your actual spending will depend mainly on your city, accommodation and lifestyle.
Tuition fees vary widely between universities and programmes. They are usually published in New Taiwan dollars and charged by semester.
| Cost disclaimer: The estimates in this article are based on university and public-service information checked in September 2026. EUR conversions use an approximate exchange rate of 1 EUR = 36.7 TWD. Fees and exchange rates can change, so check the latest amounts before applying. |
Find Master’s degrees in Taiwan (China)
1. Tuition fees in Taiwan (China)
Universities in Taiwan (China) normally charge tuition per semester. Your fees will depend on:
- the university
- your degree level
- your subject
- the number of credits you take
- whether your programme charges separate credit or laboratory fees
- your student category
Based on current programme information, international tuition fees can fall within these broad annual ranges:
| Degree level | Indicative annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degrees | 40,000–275,000 TWD, or about 1,100–7,500 EUR |
| Master’s degrees | 22,000–569,000 TWD, or about 600–15,500 EUR |
| PhD degrees | 26,000–257,000 TWD, or about 700–7,000 EUR |
These ranges are only a starting point. Specialist degrees, including some medical, business and international programmes, may cost considerably more.
For example, National Taiwan University’s current international tuition fees include:
- 50,460–62,100 TWD per semester for most undergraduate subject areas
- 51,280–100,000 TWD per semester for many graduate programmes
- up to 150,000 TWD per semester for certain specialist graduate programmes
Some graduate programmes also charge by credit. Always check the official fee page for your exact programme and academic year.
Photo: Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (China) (Shutterstock).
Finding an affordable degree
You can filter programmes on Studyportals based on their tuition fees. You can also use the BestFit tool to compare your academic profile and budget with programme information.
Programme fees may change each academic year. Confirm the final amount on the university website and check whether it includes registration, credit, laboratory or other compulsory fees.
Explore universities in Taiwan (China)
You can start by exploring programmes at universities such as:
You can also compare universities in Taiwan (China) included in global rankings.
2. Student living costs in Taiwan (China)
You should normally budget around 20,000–35,000 TWD per month, or approximately 545–955 EUR, excluding tuition.
Your costs may be lower if you live in university accommodation or share a flat. Private accommodation in Taipei can push your monthly spending above this range.
Your budget will depend mainly on:
- your city
- university or private accommodation
- whether utilities are included
- how often you cook or eat out
- your daily commute
- books and course materials
- travel and personal spending
National Taiwan University estimates that students in Taipei may spend approximately 66,000–157,000 TWD over a four-month semester, excluding tuition. The wide range is mainly caused by differences in accommodation. You can consult NTU’s cost-of-living estimates for an official example.
3. Student accommodation costs
Your housing choice will usually have the greatest effect on your monthly budget.
University accommodation
Student halls are often the least expensive option. They can also place you close to teaching buildings, libraries and other students.
At National Taiwan University, current examples range from:
- 7,900–12,900 TWD per semester for general university halls
- 11,900–12,900 TWD per semester for Guo Qing Dormitory
- 22,480–42,280 TWD per semester for Prince House residences
Prices and semester lengths vary between universities. Accommodation may be limited and is not always guaranteed, even after you receive an admission offer.
Private accommodation
NTU estimates private housing in Taipei at approximately 48,000–72,000 TWD for a four-month semester, equal to around:
- 12,000–18,000 TWD per month
- 325–490 EUR per month
A private room or studio can cost more, especially in central Taipei. Sharing a flat can reduce your rent.
When comparing rentals, check whether the price includes:
- electricity
- water
- gas
- internet
- building-management fees
You may also need to pay a rental deposit and buy basic household items when you move in.
4. Food costs in Taiwan (China)
A reasonable student food budget is approximately 8,000–15,000 TWD per month, or around 220–410 EUR.
You may spend less if you use university canteens, cook regularly and eat at inexpensive local restaurants. Your costs will be higher if you often visit international restaurants or order food.
Instead of relying on individual supermarket prices, plan for:
- groceries
- university canteen meals
- inexpensive local meals
- drinks and snacks
- occasional restaurant meals
Food prices vary between Taipei, other large cities and smaller university towns.
5. Public transport costs
Cities in Taiwan (China) offer combinations of metros, buses, local trains, taxis and bicycle-sharing services. The available transport depends on where you study.
In Taipei, the official public-transport options include:
- 150 TWD for a one-day Taipei Metro pass
- 180 TWD for a 24-hour Taipei Metro pass
- 210 TWD for a one-day transport pass covering the metro and bus services
You can check current ticket coverage and prices on the Taipei Metro website.
For regular journeys, compare single fares, stored-value cards and monthly or regional passes. Intercity trains and high-speed rail should be budgeted separately from your daily commute.
6. Health insurance and medical costs
Check your university’s health-insurance requirements before travelling. International students may initially need private insurance or insurance arranged through their university.
Foreign students with a valid residence document generally become eligible for Taiwan’s National Health Insurance after completing the required period of residence. Under the current rules, international students normally enrol after living in Taiwan for six months.
The standard individual contribution for many Category 6 members is currently 826 TWD per month, although the amount and payment arrangements can change. Your university may collect several months of contributions together.
Read the latest information from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration and ask your university how you will be insured before becoming eligible.
7. Other costs to include in your budget
Remember to budget for costs beyond tuition, rent and food. These may include:
- visa and residence-document fees
- a health examination
- private or university insurance
- flights
- books and course materials
- laboratory or equipment fees
- phone and internet
- electricity and other utilities
- rental deposits
- household items
- personal travel
- an emergency fund
For example, National Taiwan University estimates books at approximately 5,000–8,000 TWD per semester. Your costs may be higher if your degree requires specialist software, equipment or materials.
8. Example monthly student budget
The following example can help you plan your initial budget. It excludes tuition, flights and one-off deposits.
| Expense | Lower monthly budget | Higher monthly budget |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 5,000 TWD | 18,000 TWD |
| Food | 8,000 TWD | 15,000 TWD |
| Local transport | 1,000 TWD | 2,000 TWD |
| Phone and utilities | 1,500 TWD | 4,000 TWD |
| Books and personal costs | 3,000 TWD | 6,000 TWD |
| Estimated total | 18,500 TWD | 45,000 TWD |
| Approximate EUR total | 505 EUR | 1,225 EUR |
Most students should plan for around 20,000–35,000 TWD per month, but private accommodation in Taipei can raise the total.
9. Scholarships and grants
You may be able to reduce your study costs through a government, university or external scholarship.
Common options include:
- Taiwan government scholarships
- university tuition waivers
- university merit scholarships
- research or teaching assistantships
- external grants
- the Studyportals Scholarship
Scholarship deadlines and eligibility rules vary. Some scholarships require a separate application, while some universities assess applicants automatically during admission.
Use the official Study in Taiwan scholarship database to explore government and university funding.
You can also search for scholarships for Master’s degrees in Taiwan (China) and check the eligibility rules and next deadline for the €10,000 Studyportals Scholarship.
Before accepting a scholarship, confirm:
- how much funding it provides
- whether it covers tuition, living costs or both
- how long it lasts
- whether it can be combined with other funding
- the academic results needed to keep it
