1,427 Graduate Spots for Mainland Students, Eligibility Restrictions Expected to Reduce Applicants

Central News Agency Report

(CNA reporter Hsu Chi-wei, Taipei, June 16) The University Joint Admission Committee for Mainland Chinese Students has released the 2026 admission guidelines for master's and doctoral programs, offering a total of 1,427 spots. Applications are limited to mainland students currently studying in Taiwan, and new restrictions prohibit applicants from applying to the same or lower-level programs they have already graduated from (e.g., master's degree holders cannot apply for another master's program). As a result, the number of eligible applicants is expected to be even lower than in previous years.

The committee's website recently announced the 2026 joint admission guidelines for master's and doctoral programs for students from mainland China. A total of 1,427 spots are offered: 236 for doctoral programs and 1,191 for master's programs, slightly fewer than the 1,437 spots available in 2025.

Among doctoral programs, National Taiwan University offers the most spots (34), followed by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (26) and National Cheng Kung University (18). For master's programs, National Taiwan University leads with 149 spots, followed by National Cheng Kung University (90), National Tsing Hua University (58), and National Taiwan Normal University (58).

According to the guidelines, eligibility is restricted to mainland Chinese citizens from eight provinces and municipalities: Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Hubei, and Liaoning. Applicants must hold a bachelor's or master's degree from a public or private university in Taiwan, or possess equivalent academic qualifications. Applications are accepted from now until 5:00 PM on June 29.

Since 2020, China has suspended the admission of mainland degree-seeking students to Taiwan. In his 2024 inauguration speech, President Lai Ching-te expressed hope for resuming reciprocal tourism and student exchanges, including degree students coming to Taiwan, but no such resumption has occurred to date.

Yu Chao-tang, the committee's chief director, told CNA today that only mainland students currently studying in Taiwan are eligible to apply for graduate programs. With undergraduate mainland student enrollment already at zero (excluding those extending their studies), and the new restriction on applying to the same or lower-level programs, the number of eligible applicants is expected to be fewer than last year's 612. (Editor: Lee Heng-shan) 1150616