American Institute in Taiwan

National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)

The U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program provides critical language study overseas for U.S. high school students through full, merit-based scholarships to participate in intensive summer and academic year programs. Participants study a language while immersed in the culture and day-to-day life of the host city. NSLI-Y is part of the National Security Language Initiative, a multi-agency U.S. government initiative launched in 2006 to improve Americans’ ability to engage with people from around the world. NSLI-Y plays an important role in preparing U.S. students for the 21st century’s globalized workforce, increasing American competitiveness, and contributing to national security. NSLI-Y participants also serve as citizen ambassadors, representing the diversity of the United States abroad and building lasting relationships with people in their host location. This program partnered with Tamkang University (Taipei) and Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages (Kaohsiung) in Taiwan. Learn More

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship 

The Gilman Scholarship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is an undergraduate program for U.S. undergraduates of limited financial means to enable them to study abroad, thereby internationalizing their outlook and better preparing them to thrive in the global economy. The program aims to encourage students to study and intern in a diverse array of countries or areas and world regions. The program also encourages students to study languages, especially critical need languages (those deemed important to national security). Learn More

Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS)

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of 15 critical languages. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains. CLS, a program of the U.S. Department of State, is part of a wider government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity. CLS plays an important role in preparing students for the 21st century’s globalized workforce and increasing national competitiveness. This program partnered with National Cheng Kung University (Tainan) and Tamkang University (Taipei) in Taiwan. Learn More

Project Go, a Defense Department initiative sponsored by the Defense Language and National Security Education Office and administered by the Institute of International Education, provides grants to U.S. colleges and universities with large Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) student enrollment. In 2019, “Project Go”scholarship recipients from Norwich University, studied in Soochow University in Taipei for 7 weeks. According to the “Project Go” website, the following American schools offer summer language programs to study in Taiwan, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Indiana University, Norwich University,the Citadel, University of Mississippi and Virginia Military Institute. Learn More

The MOE has been actively promoting TOCFL across the US and US government recognition of TOCFL certification as an educational qualification. In 2019, 49 TOCFL rounds were held across the US, drawing a total of 2,114 candidates—a 15 percent increase from 2018. TOCFL has been adopted as an important reference in applications for the MOFA Taiwan Fellowship, the MOE Huayu Enrichment Scholarship, jobs that require Mandarin proficiency, and Taiwan’s universities and colleges. Learn More

MOE Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES)

The MOE established the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship program in 2005. HES recipients can study at one of Taiwan’s Mandarin learning centers for two, three, six, nine, or 12 months. Each student receives a monthly stipend of NT$25,000 (approximately US$830). In 2019, 925 people from all over the world received the HES, including 187 recipients from the US. Learn More

Global Ambassador Scholarship Program

Since 2010, the MOE has collaborated with the Taiwan-United States Sister Relations Alliance to establish the Global Ambassador Scholarship Program. Each year, around 55 students are given the opportunity to study Mandarin in Taiwan during summer break on a monthly stipend of NT$25,000 (approximately US$830). Learn More

American Councils for International Education Taiwan Intensive Summer Language Program

In 2016, the MOE signed an MOU with the American Council for International Education to establish the Taiwan Intensive Summer Language Program and the Tradition and Modernity in Taiwan program, which enable dedicated students of Mandarin to complete a year of academic study in eight weeks. Over the last five years, the number of students applying for the two programs per year has grown from nine to over 50. Learn More
Foreign Student Short Term Chinese Study Group

MOE subsidies are available for groups of Mandarin students who wish to study in Taiwan. In 2019,there were five student groups came to Taiwan through this program. Learn More

Half-day, one-day, or longer Chinese courses created by universities in Taiwan combine travelling with Chinese lessons and unique culture experiences. Learn More

The U.S. government offers diverse programs that can help U.S. citizens learn foreign languages. You may use the filters to find a federally funded language program that meets your needs. Higher education institutions can also apply to host some of these language programs. There are more about the personal and professional impacts of government-sponsored language programs for you to find out. Learn More