INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

Universities

Colleges

Open University

Junior College

Institute of Technology

School leaving and higher education credentials:

Senior High School Leaving Certificate

Senior Vocational School Leaving Certificate

Junior College Diploma

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Doctorate

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Pre-higher education:

Duration of compulsory education:

Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 15

Structure of school system:

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Primary School

Length of program in years: 6

Age level from: 6 to: 12

Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificate

Lower Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Junior High School

Length of program in years: 3

Age level from: 12 to: 15

Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificate

Upper Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Senior High School

Length of program in years: 3

Age level from: 15 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Senior High School Leaving Certificate

Vocational Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Senior Vocational School

Length of program in years: 3

Age level from: 15 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Senior Vocational School Leaving Certificate

School education:

Primary education lasts for six years leading to a Certificate. Secondary education covers six years: three years' junior high school and three years' senior high school or senior vocational school. The study of English is compulsory. Successful Junior school graduates obtain a Certificate and may proceed to senior secondary schools or 5-year junior colleges. They take different entrance exams for the two different types of school. Senior high schools offer a more academic course. Students specialize in Natural Sciences or Social Sciences. They attend 3-year full time or 4-year evening-class courses. They are selected on the basis of their performance in the Senior School Entrance Examination. Senior vocational schools offer more practical education. There are day or evening courses.

Higher education:

Higher education is provided by universities, 4-year colleges, and junior colleges, both public and private. There are also institutes of technology, and national and municipal Open Universities. To qualify as a university an institute must consist of three or more colleges or faculties. Admission is based on the results obtained in the Universities and Colleges Joint Entrance Examination. Under the educational reform policy, all public universities have become autonomous. The Ministry of Education no longer allocates the totality of the budget to each public university. Instead it only allocates 80% of the funds, the universities having to seek the rest.

Main laws/decrees governing higher education:

Decree: Twelve Education Reform Mandate Year: 1998

Concerns: Extension of higher education system

Academic year:

Classes from: Aug to: Jul

Languages of instruction: Chinese

Stages of studies:

Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):

Non-university level:

Junior colleges provide two different types of programmes: five-year courses for students from junior high schools and two-year courses for students from senior secondary schools (both types). Admission is by entrance examination. Most colleges specialize in particular subject areas (e.g. Commerce, Technology, Industry). On successful completion of the course, students are awarded a Diploma. There are also institutes of technology which admit graduates from senior vocational schools. They graduate in four years after having earned at least 128 credits.

University level studies:

University level first stage: Bachelor's Degree:

Admission to the first stage is based on the results obtained in the Universities and Colleges Joint Entrance Examination. Most Bachelor's Degree courses last for  four years. The exceptions are Medicine (seven years), Dentistry (six years), Veterinary Medicine (five years). A total of 128 credits are required for a Bachelor's Degree.  At the Open University,  Bachelor's courses last  seven to eight years.

University level second stage: Master's Degree:

Further specialization leads to Master's Degrees which normally require two years study following upon a Bachelor's Degree.

University level third stage: Specialization and individual research, Doctorate:

The third stage leads to the highest university degree, the Doctorate, which requires a minimum of a further two years' study.

Teacher education:

Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers

Primary school teachers are trained in four years in teachers' colleges.

Training of secondary school teachers

Training, at post-secondary level, consists of a five-year course at a university. This includes one year of teaching practice.

Non-traditional studies:

Distance higher education

Distance education courses are offered at two Open Universities. There are two types: national and municipality Open Universities. They provide adults with advanced and continuing education through audio-visual media. Open university students can either be officially registered or auditing. Officially registered students, who must be 20 or more, are admitted after passing an entrance examination. There is no pre-requisite educational level for those who are auditing. However, they must be at least 18 years old. Officially registered students who complete the programme requirements are conferred a bachelor's degree.

Lifelong higher education

There are also supplementary and continuing education schools (either government or private-run), which are composed of six levels: adult basic education, primary and junior high supplement education, senior (vocational) high, junior college and university continuing education.

NATIONAL BODIES

Administration & co-ordination:

Responsible authorities:

Ministry of Education

Head: Cheng-sheng Tu, Minister

5 Chung Shan South Road
Taipei 10040
China - Taiwan

Tel: +862(2) 2356 6051

Fax: +862(2) 2397 6942/ 2397 6943

EMail: mail@mail.moe.gov.tw

WWW: http://www.moe.gov.tw

Role of governing body: Formulates policy and standards for all types of education in both the public and private sectors.

Bureau of International Culture and Educational Relations, Ministry of Education

5, Chung Shan South Road
Taipei 10040
China - Taiwan

Tel: +886(2) 2356 8863

EMail: higher@mail.moe.gov.tw

WWW: http://www.moe.gov.tw

Association of National Universities of Taiwan

EMail: anut@nncu.edu.tw

Association of Private Universities and Colleges

Association of Technical and Vocational Education

ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Admission to non university higher education studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Senior Vocational School Leaving Certificate

For entry to: Junior Colleges and Institutes of Technology

Entrance exams required:

Multi admission system, unified entrance exam.

Admission to university-level studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Senior High School Leaving Certificate

Foreign students admission

Entry regulations: Foreign students must be senior secondary school graduates.

Language requirements: Students must have a reasonable command of the Chinese language, which is the only medium of instruction.

Application procedures:

Apply to individual institution for entry to: University

References to further information on foreign student admissions and recognition of studies

Title: Higher Education in Taiwan

Publisher: http://www.edu.tw/english/index.htm

STUDENT LIFE

Student expenses and financial aid

Student costs:

Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 41500 (New Taiwan Dollar)

Maximum: 134220 (New Taiwan Dollar)

Publications on student services and financial aid:

Title: Study Abroad 2004-2005, 32nd Edition

Author: UNESCO

Publisher: UNESCO Publishing

Year of publication: 2003

GRADING SYSTEM

Usual grading system in secondary school

Full Description: A percentage grading system is in use at all levels.

Highest on scale: 80-100%

Pass/fail level: 59%

Lowest on scale: under 50%

Main grading system used by higher education institutions

Full Description: A percentage grading system is in use at all levels. 70% is the minimum pass mark in postgraduate courses and 60% in undergraduate courses.

Highest on scale: A 80-100%

Pass/fail level: B 70-79%;  C 60-69%

Lowest on scale: D 50-59%

NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

Data for academic year: 2002-2003

Source: Ministry of Education, Taipei, 2003 (except for governing bodies, updated 2005)

Note on Higher Education Institutions: Also Chinese Military Academy (www.cma.edu.tw), Chinese Naval Academy (www.cna.edu.tw), Chinese Air Force Academy (www.cafa.edu.tw), National Defence University (www.ndu.edu.tw), Fu Hsing Kang College (www.fhk.edu.tw), Central Police University (www.cpu.edu.tw) and Air Force Institute of Technology (www.afats.khc.edu.tw)