How Indians Can Apply for a Scholarship to Learn Mandarin in Taiwan: Huayu Enrichment Scholarship Guide

If you are an Indian student or young professional who wants to learn Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan, one scholarship worth knowing about is the Ministry of Education Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES).

The scholarship is funded by Taiwan's Ministry of Education and is designed to give international students an opportunity to study Mandarin in Taiwan while learning more about Taiwanese culture and society.

For Indian citizens, the scholarship can provide a monthly stipend while you attend an approved Mandarin Language Centre in Taiwan.

This guide is based on the 2026 Huayu Enrichment Scholarship Selection Guide for Indians issued through the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India.

Important: The 2026 application period ran from 1 February to 17 April 2026, so that application window has already closed. The dates in this article are useful for understanding the process and preparing for a future application. Always check the next official scholarship announcement before applying because deadlines, quotas, requirements, and procedures can change.

What Is the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship?

The Huayu Enrichment Scholarship, commonly called the HES, is a Taiwan Ministry of Education scholarship for international students who want to study Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan.

For Indian applicants, the stated purpose of the programme is to:

• Provide opportunities to learn Mandarin in Taiwan
• Increase understanding of Taiwanese culture and society
• Encourage interaction between India and Taiwan
• Support international educational exchange

Unlike a full university degree scholarship, the HES is focused specifically on Mandarin language study.

For the 2026 Indian selection cycle, applicants were instructed to choose only:

• 3-month Mandarin programme
• 6-month Mandarin programme

If your main goal is to improve Mandarin through an immersive environment, this can be an attractive option.

How Much Is the Taiwan Mandarin Scholarship?

For the 2026 Indian HES selection cycle, the scholarship offered:

NTD 28,000 per month

The official Indian selection guide estimated this at approximately ₹80,000 per month.

The guide also stated that a total of 660 scholarship-months were available to Indian citizens.

That does not necessarily mean 660 individual students. The quota is expressed in scholarship-months, and recipients may receive either a 3-month or 6-month award.

For example, a 6-month recipient uses more scholarship-month allocation than a 3-month recipient.

Does the scholarship pay tuition, airfare, and accommodation?

The 2026 selection guide specifically states the monthly stipend amount. It does not state in this guide that airfare, tuition, or accommodation are separately paid in addition to the stipend.

Therefore, before accepting the scholarship, check:

• Mandarin Language Centre tuition
• Registration fees
• Accommodation costs
• Food and transportation
• Insurance
• Visa expenses
• Airfare
• Personal living expenses

You should understand the full cost of studying in Taiwan rather than assuming that every expense is separately covered.

Who Can Apply?

According to the 2026 Indian selection guide, an applicant should be:

• An Indian citizen
• Above 18 years of age
• A holder of a senior high school diploma or higher qualification
• Someone with good academic performance
• Of good moral character

This means the scholarship is not limited to university graduates.

An eligible applicant may be a:

• Senior secondary school graduate
• Undergraduate student
• Graduate
• Postgraduate
• Working professional

However, you must also check the disqualification conditions.

Who Cannot Apply?

For the 2026 selection cycle, applicants were not eligible if they fell into certain categories.

You could not apply if you:

• Were an overseas Chinese student
• Were a national of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
• Were currently registered at a Mandarin Language Centre in Taiwan
• Had previously pursued a degree at a university or college in Taiwan
• Had already received a Huayu Enrichment Scholarship
• Had already received a Taiwan Scholarship
• Would be an exchange student in Taiwan during the scholarship period
• Were already receiving financial benefits from the Taiwan government or another educational institution

Do not assume that meeting the age and education requirements automatically makes you eligible.

Review the latest scholarship rules before submitting your application.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship from India

The process involves more than simply filling out one scholarship form.

You also need to apply to an eligible Mandarin Language Centre in Taiwan.

Here is the process.

Check the Official Application Announcement

For the 2026 cycle, online applications opened on 1 February 2026 and closed on 17 April 2026.

The online application system was:

MOE Taiwan Scholarship Application System

For future cycles, do not assume the dates will be identical.

Before preparing your application, check the latest announcement from:

• Taiwan Scholarship / Ministry of Education
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India
• Education Division of TECC in India

Start checking well before February so you have time to prepare language scores, transcripts, and recommendation letters.

Decide Whether You Want a 3-Month or 6-Month Programme

For Indian applicants in the 2026 cycle, only two durations were permitted:

• 3 months
• 6 months

Think carefully before choosing.

A 3-month programme may suit someone who:

• Has limited time away from college or work
• Wants an intensive introduction to Mandarin
• Wants international exposure without a long stay

A 6-month programme may suit someone who:

• Wants stronger Mandarin development
• Can commit to living in Taiwan longer
• Wants more time for language immersion

Remember that recipients are expected to study at least 15 hours of language courses per week.

Choose an Eligible Mandarin Language Centre in Taiwan

The scholarship application and your Mandarin school application are related, but they are not the same thing.

You need to apply to a Mandarin Language Centre at an eligible Taiwanese university.

The 2026 guide directs applicants to the official list of eligible Chinese language centres:

Eligible Mandarin Language Centres in Taiwan

When comparing language centres, consider:

• City
• Tuition
• Course schedule
• Housing options
• Living expenses
• University environment
• Transportation
• Programme start date
• Application deadline

Do not choose a centre simply because the university name is famous.

Choose a programme that fits your scholarship period and personal goals.

Apply to the Mandarin Language Centre

Follow the individual university's admission procedure.

The HES selection guide required scholarship applicants to provide a copy of their application to a Mandarin Language Centre in Taiwan as part of the scholarship application.

If selected for the scholarship, you must later obtain the official admission letter from the language centre.

For the 2026 cycle, the deadline to submit the approved admission letter was:

30 June 2026

Recipients who failed to submit the admission letter by that deadline would be disqualified from the scholarship selection process.

This means you should not wait until the last minute to apply to the language centre.

Prepare Your Scholarship Documents

The 2026 online application required the following supporting documents:

• Completed HES application form
• Copy of Indian passport or another document verifying nationality
• Copy of highest degree
• Academic transcripts
• Proof that you applied to a Mandarin Language Centre in Taiwan
• Two signed reference letters
• Signed HES Terms of Agreement form
• Required language-proficiency evidence

The guide states that academic certificates must be in English.

Create a folder on your computer before the application opens.

For example:

HES_Taiwan_Application/
├── Passport.pdf
├── Degree_Certificate.pdf
├── Academic_Transcript.pdf
├── Mandarin_Centre_Application.pdf
├── Reference_Letter_1.pdf
├── Reference_Letter_2.pdf
├── Language_Certificate.pdf
└── HES_Terms_of_Agreement.pdf

Use clear filenames instead of uploading files called scan001.pdf or document-final-new2.pdf.

Meet the Language-Proficiency Requirement

The 2026 Indian guide provided two main pathways.

Option 1: Mandarin proficiency

You could submit:

TOCFL Level 1 (A1) certificate

TOCFL stands for Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language.

If you already know some Mandarin, obtaining TOCFL A1 can strengthen your application.

Option 2: English proficiency

The guide accepted one of the following:

• IELTS score of 5.0 or above
• TOEFL iBT score of 35-45 or above
• TOEFL pBT score of 450-477 or above
• An official school, college, or university transcript showing a minimum grade of 90/100 for a programme taught in English

Read the latest announcement carefully because proficiency requirements can change in future cycles.

Try to Strengthen Your Application Beyond the Minimum

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee selection.

The 2026 guide states that applications are evaluated through:

• Document review
• Personal interview

It also states that preference is given to applicants who:

• Study in a Taiwan Education Center
• Have a TOCFL A1 certificate
• Have an IELTS score of 5.5 or above

Notice the difference:

The basic English eligibility threshold listed in the guide is IELTS 5.0, while IELTS 5.5 or above is mentioned as a selection preference.

If you have enough preparation time, aim to submit a stronger profile rather than only meeting the minimum.

Ask for Two Strong Reference Letters

The application requires two signed reference letters.

Choose recommenders who actually know your academic or professional work.

Good options may include:

• College professor
• Department head
• Research supervisor
• Internship supervisor
• Employer or manager
• Mandarin teacher

Ask early.

Give your recommender enough information to write a meaningful letter, such as:

• Your academic background
• Why you want to learn Mandarin
• Why you want to study in Taiwan
• Your future career goals
• Relevant projects or achievements
• Application deadline

The 2026 guide also allowed reference letters to be emailed directly to the selection committee.

Do not wait until the final week to request them.

Convert Your CGPA If Required

The 2026 Indian guide includes a specific formula for converting a 10-point CGPA to a 4.0 GPA scale:

GPA (4.0 scale) = (CGPA ÷ 10) × 4

Example provided in the guide:

CGPA 7.8 → GPA 3.12

Calculation:

(7.8 ÷ 10) × 4 = 3.12

Use the conversion method requested by the scholarship application.

Do not assume this formula is the standard conversion method for every university or scholarship.

Submit the Online Application Before the Deadline

For the 2026 cycle, applicants submitted through:

MOE Taiwan Scholarship Application System

Before clicking submit:

• Check your name against your passport
• Verify email address
• Verify contact details
• Check programme duration
• Confirm all documents are readable
• Check reference letters
• Verify language certificate
• Review academic information
• Save a copy of your submission

Never plan to submit at the last minute.

A technical problem on the final day is not a good application strategy.

What Happens After You Apply?

The 2026 selection process involved document review and personal interviews.

Prepare to explain:

• Why you want to learn Mandarin
• Why you chose Taiwan
• How Mandarin fits your future plans
• What you know about Taiwan
• Why you selected your Mandarin Language Centre
• How you will use the experience after returning to India

Avoid giving a generic answer such as:

"Mandarin is an important language and Taiwan is a good country."

A stronger explanation connects Mandarin to a specific goal.

For example:

"I want to develop Mandarin proficiency because I am interested in India-Taiwan business and technology collaboration. Studying in Taiwan would allow me to combine classroom learning with daily language immersion."

Your answer should reflect your real goals.

2026 HES Timeline for Indian Applicants

The timeline in the 2026 selection guide was:

The guide states that results would be published on the TECC website and applicants would not be individually informed of their outcome.

Therefore, applicants must actively check the official result announcement.

For future cycles, use this timeline only as a planning example and verify the new dates.

What Happens If You Receive the Scholarship?

Receiving the award comes with responsibilities.

According to the 2026 guide, recipients must:

• Take at least 15 hours of language courses each week
• Maintain acceptable academic performance
• Maintain satisfactory attendance
• Follow the rules of the Mandarin Language Centre
• Purchase student accident and relevant medical insurance
• Avoid receiving another Taiwan scholarship at the same time
• Submit reports and photos about their Taiwan learning experience to the Education Division of TECC in India

Recipients are not allowed to transfer to another Mandarin Language Centre during the scholarship.

The guide also states that recipients are not allowed to work in Taiwan during the award period.

Academic performance, attendance, or conduct problems can result in the scholarship being terminated or revoked.

Visa for Indian Students Studying Mandarin in Taiwan

After receiving admission and completing the scholarship process, you will also need to follow Taiwan's visa requirements.

The 2026 guide provides a visa information page specifically for Indian passport holders studying Mandarin:

Student Visa for Studying Mandarin in Taiwan

Visa procedures can change, so follow the latest instructions from the official Taiwan representative office rather than relying on old blogs or social-media posts.

A Practical Preparation Plan

If you want to apply for a future HES cycle, do not wait for applications to open.

6-12 Months Before

• Start learning basic Mandarin.
• Research TOCFL.
• Improve English proficiency if necessary.
• Research eligible Mandarin Language Centres.
• Keep your passport valid.
• Maintain good academic records.

3-6 Months Before

• Shortlist language centres.
• Prepare transcripts and certificates in English.
• Contact potential recommenders.
• Consider taking TOCFL A1 or IELTS.
• Research the cost of living in Taiwan.

When Applications Open

• Apply to your selected Mandarin Language Centre.
• Complete the HES application.
• Upload supporting documents.
• Submit two reference letters.
• Check every field carefully.

After Submission

• Prepare for the interview.
• Monitor the TECC website for results.
• Follow your Mandarin centre application.
• If selected, submit the admission letter before the stated deadline.
• Begin visa and travel preparation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these application mistakes:

• Applying without checking eligibility
• Waiting until the deadline to request reference letters
• Forgetting to apply separately to a Mandarin Language Centre
• Uploading unreadable transcripts
• Assuming the scholarship application itself gives you admission to a language centre
• Missing the admission-letter deadline
• Using an expired language certificate if the new rules do not accept it
• Claiming Mandarin ability you do not actually have
• Ignoring the interview
• Assuming you can work in Taiwan during the scholarship
• Assuming every living or tuition expense is separately covered
• Using old dates without checking the new scholarship announcement

The most successful application is usually the one that is prepared early and follows the instructions precisely.

Quick Checklist for Indian Applicants

• Confirm Indian citizenship and eligibility.
• Check the latest HES application dates.
• Choose a 3-month or 6-month programme if those options remain available.
• Choose an eligible Mandarin Language Centre.
• Apply separately to the language centre.
• Prepare passport copy.
• Prepare highest degree and transcripts in English.
• Arrange two signed reference letters.
• Prepare TOCFL or accepted English-proficiency evidence.
• Complete and sign the HES Terms of Agreement.
• Submit the online HES application.
• Prepare for a possible interview.
• Check the official website for results.
• Submit the language-centre admission letter by the required deadline if selected.
• Review visa requirements.
• Budget for expenses not explicitly covered by the scholarship guide.

Build a Professional Resume for Your Next International Opportunity

A resume was not listed as a required document in the 2026 HES Selection Guide for Indians, so do not upload one unless the application or Mandarin Language Centre specifically asks for it.

However, having a strong professional resume can still be useful when you:

• Ask professors or managers for recommendation letters
• Apply to language centres or other academic programmes
• Apply for internships after improving your Mandarin
• Apply for future Taiwan scholarships
• Apply to companies working with Taiwan, China, or East Asian markets
• Present your international education and language experience to employers

Your resume should clearly show:

• Education
• Internships
• Projects
• Work experience
• Language proficiency
• Certifications
• International exposure
• Relevant achievements

ResumeChamak can help you turn these experiences into a clear, professional, job-ready resume.

Build my professional resume

A scholarship can help you learn Mandarin in Taiwan. A strong resume can help you explain how that experience makes you more valuable when you return to the job market.