The Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) is Taiwan's premier language grant. It is not for degree-seeking students. It is strictly designed for foreigners who want to move to Taiwan for 2 to 12 months to study Mandarin Chinese at a university-affiliated language center.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- No Minimum Requirement
- Offer Degrees
- Subjects
- Arts
- Seats Available
- Hundreds annually
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- No
- Work Experience
- No
- Age Range
- 18 - No Max
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- No
- TOEFL
- No
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- Mandarin
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- Mandarin
Financial Details
- Type
- Partial
- Fund Details
- Fixed monthly stipend of NT$28,000 to cover all expenses (tuition, rent, living).
- Monthly Stipend
- TWD 28000/mo
- Tuition
- No
- Living Costs
- Partial
- Travel & Health
- No / None
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
It is simply the best funded language study program in Asia. You are handed a flat cash stipend of NT$28,000 per month. From this stipend, you must pay your own language center tuition, your apartment rent, and your food.
Because university language classes in Taiwan are relatively cheap (approx. NT$30,000 per 3-month term), the math works heavily in your favor. You will have plenty of cash left over to rent a nice room and eat out every day, effectively getting paid to learn Mandarin.
Application Process
Like the MOE degree scholarship, you apply through your local Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO). You must choose a recognized Mandarin Training Center in Taiwan (like NTNU's Mandarin Training Center, or NTU's ICLP) and apply to them directly for admission. You submit your TECO application in the spring, wait for the award notification, and then provide TECO with your admission letter.
How to Win This Scholarship
The competition varies wildly by country. In the US and Europe, it is highly competitive. Your study plan is the deciding factor.
You must convince the TECO officers exactly why learning Traditional Mandarin in Taiwan is critical to your future career trajectory. Do not say 'I like bubble tea and anime.' Frame it around regional diplomacy, semiconductor supply chain analysis, or cross-strait political studies. Furthermore, if you are a complete beginner, applying for the 3-month summer program is much easier to win than asking for a full 12 months of funding.
Benefits After Completing Study
It is an incredible gap-year experience and serves as a perfect stepping stone if you plan to apply for the MOE Taiwan Scholarship for a Master's degree later.
You do not get the money upfront. You must pay for your flight, your first month's rent, and your first term of tuition out of your own pocket. The university will wire the NT$28,000 to your Taiwanese bank account at the end of your first month.
You must have at least $2,500 USD in startup capital to survive the first month.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source