I. Purpose

Since 2004, four government agencies of Taiwan --- the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), and the National Science Council of the Executive Yuan (NSC) ---have jointly established the Taiwan Scholarship Program to encourage outstanding international students to undertake degree study programs in Taiwan. While providing study opportunities in a wide range of disciplines at Taiwan’s universities and colleges, this program also seek to: a. Promote knowledge, understanding and friendship between Taiwan and countries around the world. b. Explore opportunities to increase academic and educational links with international institutions of higher learning. c. Develop outstanding professionals and experts to assist Taiwan’s business, industry and international cooperation sectors.

II. Types of Scholarships

There is one participating agency providing this program for Romanian students MOE Scholarship: undergraduate or postgraduate programs. LEP is to be included to improve the Scholarship recipients’ language abilities. III. Value Scholarship offerings as outlined below: MOE Scholarship: A monthly stipend of NT$25,000 (approximately US$790) for undergraduate or LEP studies, and NT$30,000 for a postgraduate program.

IV. Duration

The award period for each study program varies as follows: a. Undergraduate program: maximum 4 years. b. Master’s program: maximum 2 years. c. Doctoral program: maximum 3 years. d. LEP program: maximum 1 year. For any combination of these study programs, the length of the total award for each recipient is a maximum of five years. LEP study must be undertaken in the first year if it is to be included in the total award period of the recipient’s choosing. Annual award periods are from September 1st through August 31st. If recipients fail to arrive in Taiwan to study during this period, their award status will be cancelled and cannot be extended for another year. If recipients begin studies after the semester/term/quarter starts, their award period will become effective from the month they arrive in Taiwan to matriculate at their individual universities/colleges/Mandarin training centers. Whether beginning in September or later, the LEP award period ends in August, although its length may be less than the specified maximum of one year. In terms of the actual award period for one study program, it will begin from the month that recipients arrive in Taiwan to matriculate at their intended educational institutions. All awards will end the month their specified award period is completed. However, if recipients graduate, drop out, are expelled from their institutions, or their scholarships are revoked, whichever comes first, the award will be terminated.

V. Eligibility

An applicant must meet all of the following criteria: a.Possesses prior excellent academic performance and be of good moral character. b.Does not hold the Taiwan nationality. c.Holds the Nationality of Romania d.Does not have the status of an overseas Chinese student. e.Is not currently enrolled at an educational institution in Taiwan, for the same study program that he/she intends to take for a Taiwan Scholarship. f.Is not an exchange student in accordance with a cooperation agreement between an international university/college and an educational institute in Taiwan at the time of receiving a Taiwan Scholarship. g.Is not applying for a study program leading to the same-level degree as previously undertaken under the Taiwan Scholarship Program. g. Has not received Taiwan Scholarship for a total of 5 or more years. h. Has not previously had an award revoked either under the Taiwan Scholarship Program or the program “Ministry of Education Huayu Enrichment Scholarship.” i. Is not a current recipient of a scholarship or subsidy being offered by any other government or educational institutions in Taiwan. Those who are undertaking degree programs at international universities/colleges may be eligible to apply for Taiwan Scholarship awards if those degree programs are comparable to the same level of degree programs in Taiwan.

VI. Application and Selection Process

For application receipt, review and selection, applicants must send their completed documents to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Prague. In principle, the application period is from February 1st through March 31st of each year, unless the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Prague specifies otherwise. For application guidelines and forms, scholarship types and quotas, as well as information about the selection process and outcome announcement, applicants may directly contact the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Prague at the end of January. A complete application includes the following materials: a. A completed application form. b. Photocopy of passport or other nationality certificates. c. Photocopy of the highest-level diploma and a complete grade transcript. d. Supporting admission application material (e.g. photocopy of application form). e. Photocopy of a certificate of the acceptable levels of English or Chinese language proficiency, depending on which language will be used for instruction in class. f. Two letters of recommendation (Only applicants who are not recommended by the University where they are currently studying) In principle, selection priority will be given to those who intend to undertake a degree program and have successfully secured admission to a university/college.

VII. Re-Applying

Upon completion of a degree program, recipients may re-apply for a Taiwan Scholarship to undertake another degree program by following the rules of the application process as specified above. Each recipient’s total award period cannot exceed 5 years.

VIII. Renewal

To review the recipients’ award qualifications for the next academic year, individual universities /colleges will conduct an evaluation process for the Taiwan Scholarship renewal by February 28th of each year. Each educational institution may set grading criteria for the minimum academic average for a semester, or may take the common criteria--- 60% for undergraduates and 70% for Postgraduates. For recipients in grade 3 of their doctoral programs, this evaluation should be done as specified by individual institutions since systems vary from discipline to discipline in terms of requirements for session credits and scheduling of dissertation writing. Recipients will be permanently disqualified from receiving any Taiwan Scholarship award, effective September of the new academic year, if they fail to achieve a specified minimum academic average for two single consecutive semesters of study.

VIIII. Suspension and Revocation

(I) Suspension A. Degree Programs: If a recipient fails to achieve a specified minimum academic average for a semester, stipends for one month will be suspended in the following semester. B. LEP Program: a. Attendance Records: With the exception of a serious illness or accident, if a recipient is absent from his/her required Language sessions for 12 or more hours within a single month, stipends for the following month will be suspended. b. Academic Performance: Beginning from the second study term/quarter in Taiwan, if a recipient’s academic average for a study term/quarter is less than 80%, stipends for one month will be suspended in the following term/quarter. c. TOP Mandarin Proficiency Rating (http://cpt.mtc.ntnu.edu.tw/Eng/index.asp): A one month stipend suspension will be imposed if a recipient fails to submit to his/her individual Mandarin training center a photocopy of a TOP (Test of Proficiency---Huayu) certificate with results rated at the basic level or above by July 31st one month before his/her LEP award period is due. Registration fees for this TOP test are the full responsibility of the recipient. However, if the recipient succeeds in this TOP test during his/her next-stage award period for a degree program, the suspended one month stipends as stated above will be reimbursed following his/her application with the university/college that he/she will be attending. (II) Revocation: A recipient may be permanently disqualified from receiving a Taiwan Scholarship and the remaining stipends will be cancelled if one of the following situations arises: A. Degree Programs: a.Failure to submit at the time of matriculation for each semester an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) with the reason “Study” according to the deadlines specified by his/her university/college. b.Failure at the evaluation for annual renewal of his/her Taiwan Scholarship. c.Failure to submit a photocopy of an acceptable English /Chinese language proficiency certificate if he/she transfers to a new program of study for which the other language is to be used for instruction. d.Dropping out or being expelled from school. e.Receipt of another scholarship or subsidy offered by one of Taiwan’s government or educational institutions. B. LEP Program: a.Failure to submit at the time of matriculation for each study term/quarter an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) with the reason “Study” according to the deadlines specified by his/her Mandarin training center. b.Failure to achieve an academic average of 80% or above for two single consecutive terms/quarters of study, beginning from the second term/quarter of study in Taiwan. c.Absence from exams as a result of missing a score for a study term/quarter with the exception of a serious illness or accident. d.Dropping out or being expelled from school. e.Receipt of another scholarship or subsidy offered by one of Taiwan’s government or educational institutions.

X. Transfer

After studying for a semester/term/quarter at a university/college/Mandarin training center, a recipient may be allowed to transfer once during the course of a degree/LEP program, but only if the pertinent educational institutions approve this request. A recipient who undertakes degree study must submit to the new institution a photocopy of an acceptable English/Chinese language proficiency certificate if he/she transfers to a new program of study for which the other language is to be used for instruction.

XI. Scholarship Granting

In principle, stipends are granted before the 5th day of each month through the universities/ colleges/Mandarin training centers which the recipients attend and by a method specified by the individual institutions. It is mandatory that recipients participate in the National Health Insurance Plan and purchase the policies of the Student Accident Insurance during the period of their residence and study in Taiwan. The recipients’ educational institutions will deduct fees for these insurance plans from the recipients’ stipends before granting these to them.