NCHU Secures Over NT$43 Million in MOE Doctoral Scholarships, Ranks Fifth Nationwide in Supporting PhD Talent Development

To encourage outstanding students to pursue doctoral studies and to establish a supportive framework for PhD training, Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) have each launched dedicated scholarship programs for doctoral candidates. Beginning in the 2024 academic year, the MOE introduced the Doctoral Student Scholarship Program, which provides monthly stipends of NT$40,000 to eligible full-time PhD students in their first to third years—comprising NT$20,000 from the MOE and NT$20,000 jointly funded by universities and industry partners.

On June 19, 2025, the MOE announced the latest funding allocations for the 2025 and 2026 academic years. In total, 49 universities across Taiwan were selected to receive funding for 2,413 doctoral students per year. National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) was awarded 150 fellowship slots for each academic year, receiving a total grant of NT$43.2 million (including NT$36 million in base funding and an additional NT$7.2 million in performance-based bonuses). This ranks NCHU fifth nationwide and marks a 2.5-fold increase in awarded slots compared to the previous year.

In line with the MOE’s emphasis on integrating career development planning and a selective evaluation mechanism, NCHU has actively aligned its doctoral training approach with President Fuh-Jyh Jan’s educational vision of “Embracing Interdisciplinary Learning and Nurturing Individual Talents to Cultivate Global High-Level Professionals.” The university is committed to “aligning teaching with global standards and bridging the gap between academia and industry,” with continued efforts to strengthen hands-on, practice-oriented courses and deepen industry engagement.

These efforts include participation in the ESG Talent Development Program through the National University System of Taiwan (NUST), and the Semiconductor Talent Cultivation Program in partnership with TSMC. NCHU has also partnered with leading enterprises to launch the Industry Mentor Program, offering students practical learning opportunities and exposure to cutting-edge industry trends. At the same time, the university has optimized its incentive mechanisms to encourage faculty involvement in industry-academia collaboration and foster stronger partnerships across government, academia, and industry within the region.

During its first year of participation in the MOE scholarship program (2024 academic year), NCHU’s PhD recipients exceeded expectations in research publication output and engagement in cooperative education projects. The successful implementation of this initiative is expected to increase student interest in doctoral study, enhance academic and professional competencies, narrow the gap between research and application, and promote deeper integration of doctoral students into the industrial ecosystem. These outcomes will help supply Taiwan’s industries with highly capable, innovation-ready R&D talent—supporting both digital transformation and long-term industrial advancement.

In addition, the NSTC’s Graduate Research Fellowship Pilot Program provides funding for 1,000 PhD students annually (400 selected via direct NSTC review and 600 through institutional allocation). To complement this initiative, NCHU offers an additional incentive: students who earn the NSTC review-based award and enroll in NCHU’s PhD programs will receive an extra NT$20,000 monthly stipend during their fourth year of study, contingent upon passing the PhD candidacy qualification examination.

Through these scholarship programs spearheaded by the MOE and NSTC, doctoral students are gaining more stable and reliable financial support, allowing them to fully focus on research and applied training. These initiatives are expected to significantly enhance the quality and competitiveness of Taiwan’s higher education research talent.