How to Study in Kaohsiung for International Students

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Kaohsiung, one of the beautiful cities in Taiwan, is a city that needs to be considered when planning on studying abroad. Here, you can immerse yourself in a rich local culture and learn about its history and the factors that make it unique.

When it comes to the choices that are available, Kaohsiung currently has 12 universities, from which 5 universities are a part of the public sector and 7 universities are private institutions.

Suppose you’re not just looking for any school but a well-performing school. In that case, the top universities in Kaohsiung you should definitely check out are National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung Medical University, and I-Shou University.

Being able to study in Kaohsiung as an international student starts with planning ahead of time, as the process of researching your institution, filling out forms, and completing your paperwork can take a vast amount of time. In this article, you will find out the application process to study in Kaohsiung, along with information on tuition, language requirements, and visa applications. So, let’s dig in!

1. Cost of Studying in Kaohsiung

When choosing a university, you also need to consider the tuition fees and your budget. Before applying to a university in Kaohsiung, it’s best to have a general knowledge of the tuition fees there. The annual tuition fees for international undergraduate students range from 31,800 TWD to 145,000 TWD, while for master’s degree studies, the yearly tuition fees are between 22,300 TWD and 145,000 TWD.

Cost of Studying in Public Universities in Kaohsiung

To give you an idea of how much it costs to study in Kaohsiung, here are the tuition fees in these public and private universities:

Institution Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee Master’s International Tuition Fee
National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism 46,000 TWD 46,000 TWD
National Kaohsiung Normal University 91,400 TWD - 106,400 TWD 52,800 TWD - 66,000 TWD
National University of Kaohsiung 92,000 TWD - 108,000 TWD 88,800 TWD - 106,000 TWD
National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology 31,800 TWD - 32,100 TWD 22,300 TWD - 26,200 TWD
National Sun Yat-sen University 99,000 TWD - 115,800 TWD 107,600 TWD - 127,300 TWD

Cost of Studying in Private Universities in Kaohsiung

Institution Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee Master’s International Tuition Fee
Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages 104,500 TWD - 105,900 TWD 104,500 TWD - 105,900 TWD
Shu-Te University 76,200 TWD - 79,700 TWD 76,200 TWD - 79,700 TWD
Cheng Shiu University 95,200 TWD - 109,500 TWD 95,200 TWD - 109,500 TWD
Kaohsiung Medical University 95,300 TWD - 115,300 TWD 97,100 TWD
I-Shou University 96,000 TWD - 145,000 TWD 96,000 TWD - 145,000 TWD

If you’re looking for the most affordable universities in Kaohsiung, check out the Cheap Universities in Kaohsiung!

Besides tuition fees, you also need to consider other expenses like books, accommodation, and living expenses.

2. Requirements to Study in Kaohsiung for International Students

Once you have an idea of how much tuition fees are to study in Kaohsiung, it’s time to consider preparing the paperwork to apply to those universities. Academic institutions have varying admission requirements, but the ones you should always prepare in advance are your academic records, such as a transcript of records or diploma from a previous academic level, and travel documents, such as your passport and visa.

Some institutions that offer master’s programs might also ask for a statement of purpose, a curriculum vitae or résumé, and letters of recommendation. There are also degree programs where you need to take an admissions test before you can apply. Besides these, universities might also require you to submit proof of language proficiency.

In Kaohsiung, English and Chinese are the languages of instruction. If you’re looking to study in any of the academic institutions here, you might need to prove language proficiency by taking standardized tests, such as TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo for English. Depending on the institution and the language of instruction for your program, you might also have to prove your language proficiency by submitting TOCFL for Chinese.

To give you an idea, here are some universities in Kaohsiung and their required minimum scores for each program level.

National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism

Master’s degree

National Kaohsiung Normal University

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

National University of Kaohsiung

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Typically, you can find information about language requirements on the admissions requirements page of the university. You can also check out if the university has a dedicated language requirements page for international students.

Application Procedure to Study in Kaohsiung

The specific admission process may vary depending on the university. The good news is that most institutions in Kaohsiung have online applications available on their websites, like National Sun Yat-sen University and Kaohsiung Medical University. To help you with this, we also compiled the official websites and admission pages of some of the top institutions in Kaohsiung.

National Sun Yat-sen University

Kaohsiung Medical University

I-Shou University

Make sure to gather all the information you need for the admission process. As you apply to these institutions, expect that they may ask for additional requirements depending on your nationality, degree, or program. So, it’s best to keep your lines active.

After completing your academic and language requirements, it’s time to apply!

The admission process in Kaohsiung differs from one university to another, so it’s best to contact your chosen school beforehand. Please note that the admission process for international students may take some time, so be sure to know the application dates and apply early.

The application process may take weeks or months, depending on your timing, nationality, degree, and other factors. To make the most of your application, make sure to completely follow the admission steps and submit the necessary requirements to ensure that you’ll be accepted to your chosen university in Kaohsiung.

The key to being admitted to your chosen school will depend on your punctuality and the quality of your application. So make sure to complete the requirements beforehand and follow the steps in applying. After this, you’ll wait for a week or a month for the results.

4. Visa Application for International Students in Kaohsiung

If you’re going to study in Kaohsiung, you will need to apply for a student visa in Taiwan

In this section, let’s briefly discuss the requirements needed and how you can apply for a student visa in Taiwan. If you’re going to stay here for your studies, you will need to obtain a Student’s Resident Visa.

To start your student visa application in Kaohsiung, you will need to present the following:

  1. Application form
  2. Two passport-style photographs
  3. The original passport and one copy
  4. Proof of financial means (original and photocopy)
  5. The original health insurance certificate and one copy
  6. Proof of acceptance into a study program or a record of enrollment (both the original and photocopies)
  7. The original diploma and transcripts for each year of your highest education, along with one photocopy of each

Kindly take note that these requirements may vary depending on your nationality. So, please expect that may ask for additional requirements. Moreover, you will be required to pay a student visa application fee. The visa application fee in Taiwan is NT$1,000.

After preparing your requirements and application fees, it’s time to apply for a student visa! The first steps in getting your student visa are:

  1. Submit all the required documents at the level of an R.O.C. (Taiwan) overseas Mission

For more information regarding the specific steps in applying for a student visa, visit or contact the nearest embassy or consulate in your home country. They are the ones responsible for processing your student visa application.

That’s it! After getting your student visa, you can now officially study in Kaohsiung. Make sure to book a flight early, before your classes start, so that you’ll have ample time to explore and familiarize yourself in your new place!