Taiwan – Education and Schools

How good is the education system in Taiwan?

Taiwan’s schools are recognised internationally as among the most effective, with particular strength in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The most authoritative measure of this performance is the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a triennial evaluation of 15-year-olds across member and partner countries, covering mathematics, science, and reading.

In the 2022 PISA cycle, Taiwan achieved a mathematics mean score of 547, placing it 3rd out of 80 participating countries and economies — significantly above the OECD average and ahead of virtually all European and North American systems. Taiwan also placed 4th in science and 5th in reading, demonstrating broad academic strength rather than excellence confined to a single domain.

Taiwanese students have maintained a strong track record in mathematics and science over successive PISA rounds, and reading results, though historically less dominant, have shown meaningful improvement. Notably, the Ministry of Education has highlighted that Taiwan was among only four countries and economies worldwide to demonstrate “overall resilience” in the face of COVID-19-related educational disruptions, as identified in the PISA results.

Grade repetition rates — the proportion of students held back during primary, lower secondary, or upper secondary school — are among the lowest of any PISA-participating system, while the proportion attending government-independent private schools is among the highest. These factors reflect a deeply engaged educational culture, though critics have long argued that the system’s competitive, exam-driven focus comes at a cost, and calls have been made for Taiwan’s education system to become more internationally oriented and to move away from ranking students through examinations.

For the most up-to-date official data and education statistics, visit the Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE) website and the OECD’s Education GPS portal, which publishes country-level PISA results.

At what age is education compulsory in Taiwan, and how is schooling structured by age?

Schooling is legally required for all children between the ages of six and fifteen. This compulsory period is divided into two distinct phases: six years of elementary education followed by three years of junior high school. Together, these nine years form the compulsory core within Taiwan’s broader 12-year basic education framework, which was introduced in 2014.

Before the elementary stage, children may attend preschool. Historically, early childhood education was split between “kindergartens” and “child care centres” operating under separate regulatory frameworks. Since 2012, these have been unified under the single designation of “preschools,” providing integrated education and care for children aged two up to the start of elementary school. Attendance at this stage is not compulsory but is widely practised.

The complete structure of schooling in Taiwan by stage is as follows:

The three-year Senior High School Education phase — governed by the Senior High School Education Act and open to students aged 15 and above — is free of charge and universally accessible, though voluntary and not compulsory. It is delivered through both government-run and private institutions, with generally open admissions and a variety of school types offering both general academic and vocational pathways.

Junior high school covers Grades 7 through 9 and represents the final stage of compulsory schooling. Students in this phase typically devote considerable effort to preparing for national senior high school entrance assessments at the end of Grade 9. In practice, the transition to senior high school has been made less stressful by an exam-free admission scheme through which approximately 75% of junior high graduates progress to senior high school or junior college without sitting a formal entrance examination.

What types of schools are available in Taiwan?

The Taiwanese school landscape spans a wide spectrum, from fully government-funded public institutions to independent private schools and alternative experimental programmes. A clear understanding of each category helps expat families identify the setting best suited to their children and circumstances.

• Public schools: Administered and funded by central, municipal, or county government bodies, public schools follow the national curriculum and are tuition-free throughout both the compulsory and senior high school years. They represent the most prevalent option and account for the majority of student enrolments across Taiwan.
• Private schools: These institutions operate independently but remain subject to MOE regulation. At the senior high level, private and public schools are treated on an equal footing; the government subsidises private schools on the same basis as public schools to maintain comparable teaching quality and operational standards. Private schools may levy additional fees and sometimes reflect a particular educational philosophy or religious orientation.
• Experimental (alternative) schools: At both senior high and lower school levels, non-mainstream experimental education serves as an alternative to the conventional system. This may be delivered on an individual, group, or institutional basis, and can incorporate approaches such as Waldorf or Montessori pedagogy. Students completing experimental education receive either a graduation diploma or a certificate of completion at the senior high level.
• Bilingual schools: Taiwan has expanded its bilingual education offer significantly under the government’s Bilingual 2030 initiative, which promotes concurrent fluency in Mandarin and English to enhance the country’s global competitiveness. A growing number of both public and private schools now operate bilingual programmes, making them an appealing option for expat families who wish their children to integrate into the local system while still receiving substantial English-medium instruction.
• International schools: Operating separately from the national system, international schools are designed primarily for the children of expatriate families and follow overseas curricula. These are addressed in detail in a dedicated section below.

What curriculum and qualifications do schools in Taiwan follow?

Taiwan’s public schools operate within a national curriculum framework developed and overseen by the Ministry of Education. This framework spans the full 12-year basic education period from elementary through senior high school. In overall scope it is broadly comparable to the national systems of other developed countries, though the emphasis placed on mathematics and the sciences is generally more pronounced than in many European equivalents.

At elementary school level, core subjects include Mandarin as the medium of instruction, mathematics progressing from foundational arithmetic to introductory algebra and geometry by Grade 6, a broad science curriculum encompassing biology, physics, and chemistry, and English, which becomes a compulsory subject from Grade 3 onwards. Classes in native languages such as Taiwanese (Hokkien) and Hakka Chinese are also offered.

The junior high curriculum expands considerably in scope. Students engage with literature, algebra and geometry, biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, history, geography, civics, and options for a second foreign language. At the conclusion of junior high school, students sit the Comprehensive Assessment Programme for Junior High School Students (CAP), the results of which determine pathways into senior high school.

Senior high school students ultimately sit the General Scholastic Ability Test (GSAT) and, in some cases, the Advanced Subjects Test (AST) — both nationally administered high-stakes examinations that determine university entry. These function in a broadly comparable way to A-levels in the United Kingdom or the French Baccalauréat. School types at the senior high level encompass academic high schools, the initial three years of junior college, special education schools, continuing education, and non-school-based experimental programmes.

For internationally portable qualifications, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is offered at a number of international and bilingual schools in Taiwan. Several international schools also deliver IGCSE (Cambridge) qualifications or American Advanced Placement (AP) courses. These are not available within mainstream public schools. Families seeking IB- or Cambridge-accredited institutions should consult the IB School Finder or the Cambridge International school finder for verified institutions in Taiwan.

What are typical school hours and holidays in Taiwan?

Elementary schools — covering Grades 1 through 6 — run classes Monday to Friday, generally from around 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with Wednesday typically finishing at noon. Junior high students face longer days, with school often concluding around 5:00 PM, and many students remaining afterwards for additional study sessions and exam preparation. A midday lunch break is standard, and students generally eat their meals on school premises.

Public schools at all levels maintain a structured daily routine, with school uniforms and formal morning routines being the norm. A distinctive feature of Taiwanese school culture is that students themselves are responsible for cleaning their classrooms and common areas each day — a practice that may come as a surprise to families from countries where this is not customary and is worth preparing children for before enrolment.

The academic year is organised into two semesters. The first semester begins in early September and concludes in late January or early February. Winter vacation, centred on the Lunar New Year, typically extends for three to four weeks. The second semester commences after the Lantern Festival in mid-February and runs until late June.

The summer holiday therefore spans late June to late August — a length broadly comparable to summer breaks in Australia or Canada. From middle school onwards, many schools schedule supplementary classes during both winter and summer holidays as well as outside regular school hours. Despite being nominally optional, attendance at these sessions is often effectively expected in practice. This aspect of Taiwan’s education culture is a significant consideration for families accustomed to unstructured holiday periods.

How do you enrol a child in school in Taiwan?

Registering a child in a Taiwanese public school is a relatively manageable process administered at the local level. School placement is determined by the family’s registered residential address, and expat families will typically need to liaise with their local district office or municipal education bureau. The process differs to some extent between public schools and private or international institutions.

1. Establish residency: Obtain your Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) and register a fixed address in Taiwan. As public school placement is determined by your registered address, completing address registration before approaching schools is essential.
2. Identify your catchment school: Contact your local district education office or your city or county government’s Bureau of Education to establish which public school corresponds to your registered home address.
3. Gather required documents: Documents typically required include your child’s passport, the family’s ARC, a birth certificate (with a certified Chinese translation if the original is in another language), proof of your residential address (such as a tenancy agreement or utility bill), vaccination records, and any available school reports or transcripts from previous institutions.
4. Submit documents to the school: Take the required paperwork to the school administration office. Staff will process the enrolment and confirm a start date. A number of schools have a dedicated coordinator with experience helping foreign families navigate the process.
5. For private or bilingual schools: Contact the school directly to obtain an application package. Private schools establish their own admissions criteria and may require an interview or entry assessment. Early application is advisable, as places at popular schools can be taken quickly.
6. For international schools: Apply directly to the school, ideally six to twelve months before you intend your child to start. The most sought-after international schools in Taiwan frequently have waiting lists, so submitting an application as early as possible is strongly recommended.

Document requirements are subject to change, so always verify the current requirements directly with the relevant school or local education authority. The Taiwan Ministry of Education website is the official source for enrolment guidance and policies.

What international schools are available in Taiwan?

Taiwan has a well-established international school sector, with the greatest concentration of options in Taipei and further choices available in cities including Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Hsinchu. The range of institutions on offer includes American, Japanese, religious, secular, and European schools, catering to the diverse needs of the expatriate community.

Taipei hosts the widest selection of international schools, among them prominent institutions such as Taipei American School (TAS), Taipei European School (TES), Dominican International School, and a French lycée. These schools serve primarily expatriate children, though some Taiwanese families also choose them for the international educational environment they provide.

The curricula offered at international schools in Taiwan include:

• American curriculum — including Advanced Placement (AP) programmes and US high school diplomas
• International Baccalaureate (IB) — PYP, MYP, and Diploma Programme available at selected schools
• British curriculum — including IGCSE and A-level pathways
• European national curricula — Taipei European School offers IB, British, German, and French programmes for ages 3 to 18.
• Canadian curriculum — some schools offer authorised Canadian BC offshore high school programmes, enabling students to graduate with both Taiwanese and Canadian diplomas.

Fees at international schools in Taiwan differ considerably between institutions and year groups. Based on published 2025/2026 fee schedules as a general reference: Taipei American School charges an enrolment deposit of NT$50,000, with semester fees of approximately NT$453,385 per semester (equating to roughly NT$906,770 per academic year as of 2025 — always confirm directly with the school as fees are reviewed annually). Taipei European School’s first-year total cost including one-time charges is approximately NT$587,600 for a three-year-old child, based on 2025/2026 figures. Other schools such as Hsinchu International School and Dominican International School publish their own fee structures; all figures cited here are based on the 2025/2026 academic year, are illustrative only, and are subject to change.

To locate accredited international schools in Taiwan, the following resources are useful:

• Council of International Schools (CIS) school finder
• International Schools Database — Taipei
• IB World School finder

Always contact schools directly for current fee schedules, admissions criteria, and place availability.

What higher education options are available in Taiwan?

Taiwan’s higher education sector comprises 140 universities, colleges, and junior colleges. The landscape includes general research universities, universities of science and technology, technical colleges, and junior colleges. Tertiary education has expanded considerably in recent decades: those holding a technical college or university qualification now account for 50.6% of Taiwan’s population, an increase of 7.9% over the past decade.

Taiwan’s universities hold strong international standing. As of 2022, 26 Taiwanese universities appeared in the QS World University Rankings, with ten placing among the global top 500. The Times Higher Education (THE) Ranking 2022 included 43 Taiwanese universities, seven of which had featured within the top 500 over the preceding five years. According to Essential Science Indicators, 52 Taiwanese universities entered the list of the world’s top 1% of institutions, spanning 20 separate research areas. National Taiwan University (NTU) is consistently identified as the island’s leading institution and regularly features in global top-100 lists across multiple disciplines.

University entry is administered through two main routes: a recommendations pathway, in which students sit a national academic examination and nominate a list of preferred majors through a two-stage selection process; or a national university entrance examination taken after graduation, available to those who did not pursue the recommendations route or were unsuccessful through it.

Bachelor’s degree programmes at universities, colleges, universities of science and technology, and technical colleges typically have a maximum study duration of four years, except for two-year bachelor’s programmes. Work placements and internships can range from half a year to two years depending on the field of study. Master’s degree programmes run for one to four years, while doctoral candidatures extend from two to seven years.

International and expat applicants can generally access Taiwan’s universities on broadly equivalent terms to domestic students, though tuition fees may vary. The Taiwanese government actively welcomes international enrolments; the Study in Taiwan portal is the primary official resource for prospective overseas applicants, covering entry requirements, scholarships, and university listings. The MOE has also established the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship to encourage international students to study Mandarin in Taiwan, with courses available at 65 university-affiliated language learning centres across the country. For precise tuition fee information, check directly with individual universities or through the Study in Taiwan portal, as costs vary by institution and programme.

What should expat parents know about language of instruction in Taiwan?

Mandarin Chinese is the language in which virtually all instruction is delivered within Taiwan’s mainstream school system. This is the single most important practical consideration for expat families whose children do not yet speak Mandarin. In public schools, all core subjects — mathematics, science, social studies, history — are taught entirely in Mandarin.

English is a compulsory part of the curriculum from Grade 3 of elementary school onwards, but this does not translate into school life being conducted in English. For younger children especially, entering a fully Mandarin-medium environment can be daunting at first, though many families find that young children adapt with surprising speed — often gaining functional fluency within one to two years through sustained daily classroom and social exposure.

The level of language support available to non-Mandarin-speaking students in public schools varies from one institution to another. Some schools in larger cities have developed experience working with foreign-language students, but Taiwan does not operate a nationally standardised language acquisition support programme of the kind found in parts of Europe. Before enrolling, families should ask specific schools what provision exists for children who arrive without any Mandarin ability.

For families who wish to avoid a fully Mandarin-medium environment — or who want their children to develop both Mandarin and English simultaneously — bilingual schools represent a growing and increasingly accessible middle ground. The government’s Bilingual 2030 policy has driven a significant expansion of bilingual programmes at both public and private schools, particularly in Taipei and other major urban centres. International schools, by contrast, deliver instruction primarily in the language of their curriculum — English, French, German, and so on — making them the most immediate solution for children who are not yet Mandarin speakers.

Over the longer term, children who complete a substantial portion of their schooling within Taiwan’s public system will develop a high level of Mandarin literacy — an outcome that many families regard as a significant benefit in its own right. The trade-off is the adjustment period, which can be both linguistically and socially demanding, particularly for older children joining the system.

What financial support or subsidies are available for education in Taiwan?

Taiwan’s public education system provides substantial financial support, most prominently at the compulsory and senior high school stages. Expatriate families with legal residency in Taiwan are generally entitled to access the same public school provisions as Taiwanese nationals, though entitlement may be influenced by visa category and household registration status. Always confirm your specific eligibility with the local education authority or the MOE before making enrolment decisions.

Public elementary and junior high school education — covering the nine years of compulsory schooling — is provided free of tuition charges. The subsequent three-year senior high school phase is equally free of charge, universally accessible, and delivered through both government-run and private institutions, with generally open admissions. In practice, families at all levels may encounter minor ancillary costs for materials, activities, or uniform items, but the core cost of public schooling is zero.

At the preschool stage, Taiwan has made substantial investment in affordable early childhood provision. From August 2022 onwards, parents whose children attend affordable preschools pay a maximum monthly fee of NT$3,000, with additional reductions for second or subsequent children. Families on lower or middle incomes are fully exempt from fees. Parents who care for their children at home or send them to private preschools are eligible for a monthly childcare subsidy, or a NT$5,000 subsidy for children commencing preschool at age five, with supplementary support for additional children. These figures reflect policy in place from 2022 through 2024; consult the Ministry of Education website for the latest figures under the current National Child Care Policy 2.0.

No government subsidy is directed specifically toward international school fees, which are entirely privately funded. Employers transferring staff to Taiwan sometimes include an education allowance as a component of the relocation package — a point worth raising during pre-move negotiations. In certain circumstances, tax relief on education costs may be available; a qualified tax adviser with expertise in Taiwan’s Income Tax Act should be consulted for advice applicable to your individual situation.

Frequently asked questions: education in Taiwan for expats

Can my child attend a public school in Taiwan if we are not Taiwanese citizens?

In most cases, yes. Children of foreign nationals holding legal residency in Taiwan (ARC holders) are generally entitled to enrol in public schools on the same basis as local children. School placement is determined by your registered home address. To confirm eligibility based on your particular visa and residency situation, contact your local district education authority or the Ministry of Education before finalising any plans.

How quickly do children typically pick up Mandarin in a local school?

Children who enter Taiwan’s public school system at a young age — broadly, under ten — commonly achieve functional Mandarin within one to two years thanks to sustained daily immersion. Older children tend to take longer and may find the social dimensions of settling in more challenging. While some schools in larger cities have developed approaches to supporting non-Mandarin-speaking newcomers, a nationally standardised language support framework does not exist, so it is worth enquiring directly with individual schools about the assistance available before enrolling.

Are there waiting lists for international schools in Taiwan?

Yes. The most in-demand international schools — Taipei American School in particular — are regularly oversubscribed and maintain waiting lists. Families are strongly advised to apply at least six to twelve months ahead of their intended start date, ideally as soon as their relocation to Taiwan is confirmed. Contact schools directly to enquire about current availability and waiting list procedures, as these vary between institutions and year groups.

Will qualifications my child gains in Taiwan be recognised abroad?

This depends on which qualification is in question. Taiwan’s public system senior high school diploma may not be directly equivalent to secondary leaving certificates in every other country, so families who anticipate returning home or relocating elsewhere should investigate recognition requirements with universities or education authorities in their intended destination. Internationally portable credentials — the IB Diploma, Cambridge IGCSE and A-levels, or the American high school diploma from an accredited international school — are broadly recognised around the world and generally represent the most reliable choice for families expecting further moves.

Are there childcare options for children under two in Taiwan?

Yes. Taiwan’s government has invested considerably in childcare provision for infants and toddlers from birth to age two. Under the National Child Care Policy 2.0, the aim is to expand the number of affordable childcare places and extend subsidy support to eligible families. Private nurseries and registered family daycare providers (childminders) are also available. The Ministry of Education and local government websites list registered providers and current subsidy arrangements — always verify current rates and eligibility criteria directly, as the policy framework continues to develop.

Can expat adults study at Taiwanese universities?

Yes. International and expatriate students are eligible to apply to Taiwanese universities. The government’s Study in Taiwan portal (www.studyintaiwan.org) is the principal resource for overseas applicants and covers entry requirements, scholarship opportunities, and available programmes. A growing number of universities now deliver courses in English, particularly at postgraduate level, reducing the language barrier for adult learners who are not yet Mandarin proficient. The MOE’s Huayu Enrichment Scholarship additionally supports international students who wish to study Mandarin in Taiwan.

Are foreign qualifications recognised for admission to Taiwanese universities?

Generally, yes. Taiwanese universities accept a range of internationally recognised qualifications — including the IB Diploma, A-levels, US SAT scores and high school transcripts, and other recognised foreign secondary leaving certificates — for undergraduate admission purposes. Specific requirements differ between institutions, so it is advisable to check with individual universities or consult the Study in Taiwan portal. Departments teaching in Mandarin may additionally require evidence of language proficiency through a test such as the TOCFL.

What is cram school culture in Taiwan, and will it affect my child?

Cram schools — known locally as buxiban (補習班) — are private supplementary tutorial centres attended by students after regular school hours or at weekends, typically aimed at examination preparation or general academic improvement. They are deeply woven into the fabric of Taiwanese educational life and are used by a large share of junior and senior high school students. Expat children enrolled in the public system may encounter peer pressure to attend, particularly as significant examinations approach. Students at international schools are less commonly drawn into this culture, though some buxiban do provide English-language tuition or specialist subject classes that can benefit students across all school types.