International Students (Beta Version)

Institute of Anthropology – International Admissions

Entry Requirements

Language Requirements (the Institute of Anthropology Standards)

One of the following English proficiency documents is required for both Master’s and Ph.D. applicants:

Evidence Type Department Requirement University Minimum Standard Notes
TOEFL iBT8071Department standard prevails
IELTS6.55.5Department standard prevails
TOEIC—750Department standard prevails
Passport from an English-speaking countryProvide proof of nationalityProvide proof of nationalitySame criteria
Previous degree obtained in an English-speaking countryProvide diploma/degree certificateProvide diploma/degree certificateSame criteria
Previous degree completed in an English-medium programProvide official certification issued by the institutionProvide official certification issued by the institutionSame criteria

Chinese Proficiency Requirements (Master’s / Doctoral Level):

Evidence Type Department Requirement University Minimum Standard Notes
TOCFLB1A2Department standard prevails
Nationality from a Chinese-speaking country—Accepted as proofDepartment standard prevails
Previous degree in a Chinese language-related field—Provide diploma/degree certificateDepartment standard prevails
Previous degree taught in Chinese—Provide official certification issued by the institutionDepartment standard prevails

How to Apply

Application Timeline

This program conducts reviews based solely on document evaluation and does not require interviews.

　Fall Admission　

Every year, around late November the admission brochure is announced → mid-December the online application opens → late February the application deadline → mid to late May admission results are announced → late May scholarship results are announced → mid-June deadline to confirm enrollment intention → early September registration/start of semester.

For example, based on the 2026 Fall admission information for international master's and doctoral applicants:

DateItem
November 21, 2025Announcement of the Application Guidelines
December 15, 2025Online Application Opens
February 25, 2026 15:00 (Taiwan Time)Application Deadline
May 21, 2026Admission Results Announcement
Late May 2026Scholarship Results Announcement
June 15, 2026Deadline to Confirm Intent to Enroll
Early September 2026Registration / Semester Begins

　Spring Admission　

Application guidelines are usually announced in early July → online application opens in early August → application deadline is at the end of September → admission results announced in late November → scholarship results announced in mid-December → enrollment confirmation deadline at the end of December → registration/classes begin in early February of the following year.

For example, based on the 2026 Spring Semester application information for international master’s and doctoral degree students:

DateItem
Early July 2025Announcement of the Application Guidelines
August 1, 2025Online Application Opens
September 30, 2025 15:00 (Taiwan Time)Application Deadline
Late November 2025Admission Results Announcement
Mid-December 2025Scholarship Results Announcement
December 20, 2025Deadline to Confirm Intent to Enroll
Early February 2026Registration / Semester Begins

Required Application Documents

Document ItemSchool RequirementDepartment Requirement
Application Fee ReceiptRequired－
Online Application FormRequired－
Copy of Diploma (Chinese/English)One copy－
Copy of Academic Transcript (Chinese/English)One copy－
Study PlanOne copy, up to three pages－
Recommendation LettersTwo letters－
Financial StatementRequired－
Financial AffidavitRequired－
Declaration FormRequired－
Proof of NationalityRequired－
English Proficiency CertificateTOEFL 71 / IELTS 5.5TOEFL 80 / IELTS 6.5
Chinese Proficiency CertificateTOCFL A2TOCFL B1

  • The documents required by the department generally follow the standards set by the Office of Global Affairs, with higher requirements for certain review items. The format and content of other documents should follow the university-level regulations.

  • Details of required document submission can be found on pages 5–8 of the Admissions Brochure:
    https://oga.site.nthu.edu.tw/var/file/524/1524/img/4520/847786807.pdf

Supervisor Policy

The department does not require applicants to contact or secure a prospective advisor before admission. After enrollment, an advisor will be assigned during the first semester by the Institute Chair.

Fees & Funding

Tuition and Fee Standards

Exchange rate based on May 2025: 1 USD = 30.5 TWD.

International Students

Items Tuition & Fees (TWD / USD) Credit Fee (per credit) (TWD / USD)
Master’s in Anthropology 26,300 / ≈863 2,100 / ≈69
Ph.D. in Anthropology 26,300 / ≈863 2,100 / ≈69

Overseas Chinese Students & Students from Hong Kong and Macau

Items Basic Tuition Fee (TWD / USD) Credit Fee (per credit) (TWD / USD)
College of Humanities and Social Sciences 11,080 / ≈364 1,580 / ≈52

Mainland Chinese Students

Items Basic Tuition Fee (TWD / USD) Credit Fee (per credit) (TWD / USD)
College of Humanities and Social Sciences 26,300 / ≈863 2,100 / ≈69

  • Tuition standards for Mainland Chinese students can be found on the NTHU Office of Global Affairs website:
    https://oga.site.nthu.edu.tw/p/412-1524-18672.php?Lang=zh-tw

  • Tuition and fees are adjusted annually by the university. The amounts listed above reflect the rates for students admitted in the 114th academic year and are for reference only.

Additional Mandatory Fees

Items TWD USD
Student Safety Insurance (per semester) 195 ≈ 6.4
Choose one of
the two options		 International Student Insurance Fee (per semester) 3,000 ≈ 98
National Health Insurance (per month) 826 /月 ≈ 27 /月
Internet User Fee (per semester) 800 ≈ 26
Sports Facilities Fee (per semester) 200 ≈ 6.6

On-campus Housing Fees

1. Main Campus

Room Type NTD USD
Single Room 16,920–27,800 ≈555–912
2-person Room 10,920–16,600 ≈358–544
4-person Room 7,410–11,250 ≈243–369

    The above amounts are approximate; please refer to the university for the actual fees.

2. Nanda Campus

Room Type NTD USD
4-person Room 7,730 ≈254
6-person Room 7,030 ≈231

    The above amounts are approximate; please refer to the university for the actual fees.

Other Estimated Costs

Items TWD USD
Off-campus housing 7,000–12,000 ≈230–393
Meals 8,000–10,000 ≈262–328
Books and course materials (per semester) 3,000–5,000 ≈98–164
Transportation (e.g., intercity commute) 1,000–3,000 ≈33–98
Other expenses (e.g., personal items) 1,000–3,000 ≈33–98

  • These estimates represent the average monthly living expenses for students at NTHU. The monthly cost is approximately NTD 8,000–15,000 (≈ USD 262–492). Actual expenses may vary depending on individual lifestyle and needs.

Scholarship Resources

1. International Students

Category TWD USD Notes
Type (A) Full Scholarship (Master) 5,000 per month ≈164 Full tuition and fees waived
Type (B) Tuition Waiver (Master) － － Full tuition and fees waived
Type (A) Full Scholarship (Doctor) 10,000 per month ≈328 According to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Type (B) Tuition Waiver (Doctor) － － Full tuition and fees waived

  • Reminder (Award Period)

    • Master’s: The award is granted for two academic years. Recipients who pass the renewal review from the second year onward may continue receiving the scholarship each academic year. However, if a recipient’s academic performance in the current academic year does not meet the standards announced by the university, the scholarship will be suspended.

    PhD students: The award is granted for four academic years. Recipients who pass the renewal review from the second year onward may continue receiving the scholarship each academic year. However, if a recipient’s academic performance in the current academic year does not meet the standards announced by the university, the scholarship will be suspended. Recipients must reapply for the scholarship in their fifth year of study.

  • Please refer to pages 76–78 of the admissions brochure for details on international student scholarships:
    https://oga.site.nthu.edu.tw/var/file/524/1524/img/4520/847786807.pdf

  • Regulations for the National Tsing Hua University International Student Scholarship:
    https://oga.site.nthu.edu.tw/p/412-1524-18668.php?Lang=zh-tw

  • Eligibility: Applicants must be international degree students applying under the Ministry of Education’s Regulations Regarding International Students Undertaking Studies in Taiwan.

  • How to Apply: In the NTHU International Student Online Application System, go to “Personal Application Information” and check the option to apply for the NTHU International Student Scholarship.

  • Announcement of Results:
    Fall Semester: Scholarship recipients are usually announced on the website around late May.
    Spring Semester: Scholarship recipients are usually announced on the website around mid-December.

  • For other on-campus and external scholarship opportunities, please refer to the following website:
    http://sa.site.nthu.edu.tw/p/404-1480-168291.php?Lang=zh-tw

2. Overseas Chinese Students

Scholarship Name Program Level Award Amount per Recipient Academic Requirements Relevant Links
國立清華大學優秀僑生研究生獎學金 Master’s Program / Doctoral Program 10,000 per month Average academic score GPA 3.38 (80分) Related Links
僑務委員會受理捐贈僑生獎助學金 Undergraduate Students / Graduate Students (Year 2 and above) 5,000–25,000 per award Average academic score GPA 2.93 (75分) －
南山人壽優秀僑生獎學金 Undergraduate Students (Year 3 and above) and Master’s Students 10,000 per award Average academic score GPA 3.5 (81.5分) －
全國緬甸僑生急難救助金 Doctoral, Master’s, and Undergraduate Students Determined by the reviewing authority － Related Links

3. Mainland Chinese Students

4. Scholarships and Work Opportunities Offered by the Department

Category Amount Granted Notes
Summer Fieldwork Grant According to departmental announcements Eligible for application upon completion of Methodology, Fieldwork Practicum, and passing the qualifying examination
Graduation Fieldwork Grant According to the Regulations for Fieldwork Funding Applications, Department of Anthropology, NTHU Must pass the proposal oral examination
魏捷茲教授暨陳昱仁校友獎學金 According to the scholarship application regulations Must pass the thesis proposal defense and obtain a minimum grade of A– in all departmental courses
林淑蓉教授紀念論文獎 According to the scholarship application regulations Completion of the master's or doctoral thesis is required
TA / RA According to departmental announcements A Work Permit is required

Study & Life

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

The Institute has recently offered the following courses taught entirely in English:

Course Title Course Description
Ethnographies of Oceania Ethnographers working in Oceania have frequently been the driving force of anthropological theories. In this course, we will be reading and discussing contemporary classic ethnographies of Oceania from the 80s that built on these pioneering endeavors. Writings by historian and indigenous scholar are also included. Through these works, we will be able to see the fascinating human complexity in this vast region that inspired these intellectual quests.
Ethnography of Environment and Society in China and Taiwan China represents nearly one-quarter of the world’s population and has exerted a powerful influence on the modern world and the natural environment, both domestically and abroad. Course topics and readings will draw from a variety of ecological questions and perspectives from the social sciences including ethnoecology, historical ecology, political ecology, multi-species studies, and science and technology studies. Through these approaches, we will survey some of the most important environmental issues in China such as sustainability, air and water pollution, dams and hydropower, ecosystem conservation, rural livelihood transitions, food safety, and recent government campaigns developed to create an "ecological civilization."
Contemporary Archaeological Theories and Methods 1. Familiar with important contemporary archaeological theories relating to students’ research topics
2. Critical reading
3. Academic English for Archaeology
Advance Cultural Anthropology This seminar aims at providing an overview of cultural anthropology. We will start with an intensive review of some core concepts of the discipline and then we will introduce the basic research methods and the major theoretical orientations that were formulated since the late nineteenth century. Having a good understanding of the major schools of anthropological theory, we will then focus on the cultural institutions and examine how different cultural anthropologists employed various theories to explain variations and similarities of these institutions as they were found across time and spaces.
Austronesian Taiwan This seminar provides an overview of the studies on the Austronesian-speaking peoples in Taiwan, whose linguistic diversity has been described as “Taiwan’s Gift to the World”. It will start briefly with the archaeological and linguistic importance of Taiwan in the theories of Austronesian Expansion and then explore themes that are common to indigenous peoples of Taiwan and the greater Austronesian world (e.g. house ideology, emplacement, status competition and precedence, origin and ancestry etc.). Students will be exposed to the Formosan cultural diversity and research potentials that are crucial and current to the life of indigenous peoples on the island.
Cultures and Societies of Southeast Asia This is a graduate seminar dedicated to the exploration of classic and contemporary ethnographic texts about Southeast Asian societies. Designed for graduate students whose area focus is Southeast Asia, or whose theoretical concerns merit a close reading of key texts on the syllabus, the course will engage with canonical work, such as the writings of Clifford Geertz, Edmund Leach, James C. Scott, Benedict Anderson, Anna Tsing, and others, as well as with emerging voices in Southeast Asian studies such as Erik Harms and Andrew Johnson. The course is particularly well suited to students in Anthropology and Asian Studies interested in writing ethnographically about the region, and in gaining a sense for the particularities of Southeast Asia through intimate ethnographic narratives. Students will engage not only with the theoretical insights advanced by core texts, but also with the relationship between ethnographic research and the production of “theory”, and with questions of tone, voice and style in ethnographic writing. Finally, the course provides students with the opportunity to write their own theoretical and/or ethnographic texts, and will include writing workshops for course participants.
Archaeology of Taiwan This course introduces students to the cultural history of Taiwan, archaeological topics, and contemporary practices in Taiwanese archaeology, while also drawing parallels with archaeological developments in other regions of the world. The first half of the course offers an overview of the development of the discipline of archaeology in Taiwan, followed by the cultural history from the Paleolithic period, Neolithic period, Metal Age, to the historical periods through archaeological studies to establish a chronological framework for students. The later part of the course delves into various topics and current issues in Taiwan archaeology, exploring their connections to neighboring regions and global archaeological trends. By examining the historical and social contexts that have shaped Taiwanese archaeology, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of its development. Furthermore, the course addresses ethical considerations in contemporary archaeology, fostering an understanding of best practices in the field.
  • Non-major Course-taking Requirements
    For detailed regulations for the Master’s/Ph.D. programs, please refer to the Regulations for the Master’s Program in Anthropology, National Tsing Hua University:
    https://anth.site.nthu.edu.tw/p/405-1394-227091,c19528.php?Lang=zh-tw
    https://anth.site.nthu.edu.tw/p/405-1394-227100,c19528.php?Lang=zh-tw

  • Doctoral students are required to complete certain prerequisite courses.
    If a student has not previously taken the institute’s designated doctoral prerequisite courses during their master’s studies—Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology, Anthropological Methods or Archaeological Methods, Ethnographic Fieldwork or Archaeological Fieldwork, and Area Studies—the student must make up these courses after admission. These prerequisite courses do not count toward the 30 credits required for the doctoral degree.

Thesis Language Requirement

The thesis may be written in English.

Institute Faculty

　Full-time Faculty　

Name Position Research Areas Personal Website
邱鴻霖 Chiu, Hung-Lin Associate Professor / Director of the Institute (1) Archaeology
(2) Physical (Biological) Anthropology
(3) Prehistory of Taiwan 		Personal Website
臧振華 Tsang, Cheng-hwa Distinguished Professor 1. Taiwanese, Chinese and Southeast Asian archaeology
2. Settlement archaeology, Social archaeology
3. Historical archaeology
4. Cultural Resources Management
5. Underwater archaeology 		Personal Website
黃芊妤 C. Julia Huang Professor Religion, Globalization, Gender, Civil society and the State, Charity, Bodily Donations Personal Website
顧坤惠 Ku, Kun-Hui Associate Professor Anthropology of Religion, Anthropology of History, Austronesian Societies and Cultures, Material Culture Personal Website
許瀞文 Hsu, Ching-Wen Associate Professor Urban Anthropology, Space, Transnationalism Personal Website
呂玫鍰 Lu, Mei-Huan Associate Professor Anthropology of Religion, Anthropology of History, Society and Culture of Han Chinese Personal Website
李威宜 Lee, Wei-I Associate Professor Museum and cultural assets, Environmental Anthropology, Ethnic groups and politics, History of Taiwan Personal Website
方怡潔 Fang, I-Chieh Associate Professor Migration, Youth, Education and Learning, Labour/Work, Economic Anthropology, Social Change, Gender Personal Website
林浩立 Hao-Li Lin Associate Professor Environment, Agriculture, Development, Conservation, Sovereignty, Sports, Popular Music, Hip-Hop Personal Website
謝艾倫 Ellen Hsieh Associate Professor Historical Archaeology, Maritime Archaeology, Global History, Colonialism, Archaeometry Personal Website
王儷螢 Li-Ying Wang Assistant Professor Pericolonial studies, Archaeology of food, Organic geochemistry, Computational archaeology, Data science Personal Website

　Jointly Appointed Faculty　

Name Position Research Areas Personal Website
劉紹華 Liu, Shao-Hua Jointly Appointed Faculty Anthropology, Health Care, Globalization, Modernity, Gender, Social Disaster and Community Resilience Personal Website
賴婉琪 Lai, Yuen-Ki Jointly Appointed Faculty Cultural Anthropology, Gender and Queer Studies, Migrant Labor, Social Movements, Gerontology Personal Website

　Adjunct Part-time Faculty　

Name Position Research Areas Personal Website
黃樹民 Huang, Shu-min Adjunct Faculty Ecological Anthropology, Sustainable Agriculture, Medical Anthropology, Land Reform & Community Development －
陳中民 Chen, Chung-Min Adjunct Faculty Ecological Anthropology Personal Website
Wilkerson, James R. 魏捷茲 Adjunct Faculty Anthropology of Religion, Symbolical Anthropology, Performance, Kinship Studies －
何翠萍 Ho, Tsui-Ping Adjunct Faculty Jingpo People, Personhood and Kinship Studies, Exchange, Historical Anthropology －
謝一誼 Hsieh, I-Yi Adjunct Faculty Environmental Humanities, Anthropology of Art, Urban Anthropology, Neo-materialism －
王冠文 Wang, Kuan-Wen Adjunct Faculty Archaeological Science, Glass Archaeology, Transactions and Interactions in the Iron Age of Taiwan －

International Student Testimonials from Our Program

Terry
Austronesian is the second most widely distributed language group in the world geographically, and the study of Indigenous peoples in its best outcome, honors what is, as it recognizes what is possible within our common humanity. To say it another way, history may repeat or rhyme, but Anthropology shows us what can be. Our program, taught in the most widely spoken language in the world, is a rigorous scholarship blending the fundamentals of respect with the promise of change and mutual understanding.

Ruthie
I appreciate the small class size so we get personalized teaching. I feel that the professors have provided a robust and academically rigorous curriculum. My most unexpected class that I liked was Archaeology. As a Native American, I was apprehensive about taking the class, but my professor was well-versed, up-to-date with community based archaeology and was very knowledgeable and aware about accommodations working with Indigenous people and it gave me confidence about the field as a whole and reversed some of the negative stereotypes I held about Archaeology specifically. I enjoyed that the department had English language presentations throughout my time here, notably bringing in Scott Simon, Dana Powell and DJ Hatfield. And even though I was not able to fully appreciate the Chinese speakers, a lot of them were able to answer me in English when I asked specific questions. I really liked my classmates and even though our cohort is small and has had a unique experience within Anthropology, I think that has bonded us together and made a good community.

Sam
As a scholar that focuses on affairs in Taiwan and the Sinosphere, being in a country where Chinese is the language of use has been great. I can improve my Mandarin here while studying both the language and the people who use it.

Kallen
Being in the Anthropology program has challenged me in the best of ways. I have been able to listen to multiple lectures regarding a variety of topics and engage in classroom debate with my peers where I always come away knowing something new. I like being able to see what new fields and theories anthropology is intertwining with--from political ecology and environmental anthropology and Indigenous studies and articulation. I've enjoyed taking classes here across a wide range of disciplines and topics from archaeology to specific classes on the wider Austronesian literature.

Photos

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The Institute and Research Rooms

Institute of Anthropology
Research Room C304
Research Room C304
Research Room C303
Research Room C303

On-campus Dormitories

Dormitory Exterior
Common Lounge
Common Lounge
Common Lounge
Hot/Cold Water Dispenser
Washer / Dryer
Bathroom
Each room is equipped with a shared bathroom unit
Infirmary Bathroom
Double Room
Single Room
Single Room

Campus

Main Lawn
Chenggong Lake
Main Gate
Learning Resource Center (Main Library)
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Shuimu Student Center (includes dining options and daily necessities)
Cafeteria / Food Court
Fengyun Building (Shuimu Bookstore & restaurants)

Institute Activities

Regularly holds academic lectures
Regularly holds academic lectures
Orientation activities
Department student association handover ceremony
Fall 114 Presentation Session
Fall 114 Presentation Session
2025 Annual Meeting of the Taiwan Society for Anthropology and Ethnology【好勢（hó-sè）】
2025 Annual Meeting of the Taiwan Society for Anthropology and Ethnology【好勢（hó-sè）】