There is a strong emphasis on education in Taiwan, and many people of all ages are enrolled in educational courses. There are nine years of compulsory education at elementary and junior high school level, followed by senior high school, vocational high school or junior college, leading to post-secondary education at universities and graduate schools. The educational system is very competitive and many students attend extra tuition classes. Mandarin is the medium of instruction in the Taiwan school system.

The children of expatriates living in Taiwan mainly attend international schools, or schools which cater for specific groups of foreign nationals. There are a number of international schools in Taipei, including the Taipei American School, located in Tienmu, and the Taipei European School, which includes separate British, French and German sections. There are also international schools in Hsinchu, Taichung and Kaohsiung.