Admission Requirements

The TIGP Program admits students to the fall semester only. Detailed admission requirements and application materials are available in the TIGP website (URL: http://tigp.sinica.edu.tw).? The application deadline for MST Program Early admission in fall 2009 is January 31, 2009, and regular admission deadline is March 31, 2009.

Either international students or domestic students from within Taiwan with a B.S. and/or a M.S. degree from an accredited institution will be considered for admission. The applicant’s qualification for admission will be based mainly, but not exclusively, on the following certified/notarized documents provided by the applicant:

1. Undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) academic records or transcripts,course content.
   
   
2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores: General Test is required while Subject Test in applicants’ area of academic specialty is optional (but highly recommended).
   
   Applicants who cannot provide the GRE scores due to inaccessibility of the GRE General Test in their native countries must submit a request letter (together with application materials) to request permission for late submission or exemption. The board of admission committee will examine each request individually. Upon approval by further notification, the deadline for later submission of GRE scores is by the end of the first year of graduate study. Only applicants who clearly demonstrate research capabilities for graduate study are eligible for the exemption of GRE test.
   
   
3. English Proficiency: Applicants whose first or native language is not English are required to submit one of following English proficiency test report (the listed scores are strongly recommended):
   
   (i)  TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language): scores 550 on the paper-based (or 213 on the computer-based or 79 on the New Internet-based TOEFL (TOEFL-iBT)) or higher (Our institution CODE & NAME are: 7142 Academia Sinica);
   
   (ii) GEPT (General English Proficiency Test): applicants in Taiwan may take the General English Proficiency Test (GEPT) administered by the Language Training and Testing Center. Applicants are required to submit their High-intermediate level certificate when applying for admission;
   
   (iii) IELTS (International English Language Testing System): score 5.5 or higher is required.
   
   

   Applicants who have completed a degree program in an English speaking country, or who graduated from university where English is the primary language of instruction, maybe be exempted from the test of English proficiency with an official certification issued by the Office of Registrar.

4. Three letters of recommendation commenting on the applicant’s personal character, and qualifications for independent study, including intellectual ability, research potential, and scientific motivation.
5. A statement of purpose or plan for graduate study.

The above submitted application materials will not be returned to applicants under any circumstances. The complete application materials must reach TIGP before March 31, 2009. Applicants should send their application materials to:

Admissions Office Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) Academia Sinica No.128 , Sec. 2 ,Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei 11529, Taiwan, Republic of China

 

Student Status and Degree Conferral Policy Based on the Regulations of the Ministry of Education in Taiwan, our degree candidates must be officially registered students of either the Chemistry Department of National Tsing Hua University, or alternatively, the Physics Department of National Central University. Students who enter the MST program with a B.S. degree should enroll first as a pre-Ph.D. student till they are approved by a committee to enroll in the Ph.D. program (see below). Upon successful completion of the program, each student will be conferred a Ph.D. degree by the partner university and a certificate jointly signed by the President of Academia Sinica and the Director of TIGP.   Cost of Study The payments of tuition fees (about US$1,000 per semester) are due upon registration.

 

Fellowship and Stipends The TIGP will provide full fellowship for all graduate students for the first two years. The stipend is about NT$ 32,000 (about US$1030) per month. A student get the same amount of stipend for the 3rd year if he/she has chosen an advisor before the end of the 2nd year. Otherwise, the stipend will be terminated. In subsequent years (after the 3rd year), the financial support will be provided by the student’s thesis advisor(s).

 

Medical Insurance As soon as the students receive their student I.D., they are qualified to join the “Taiwan National Health Insurance Program”. The students are expected to pay the same premium (about US$210 per year) as all the Taiwan citizens and will be entitled to the same medical coverage.

 

Living and Housing Costs Options include on-campus housing and off-campus housing. A dormitory for TIGP graduate students near the Academia Sinica campus is available. This on-campus student housing facilities will be available to the TIGP graduate students at reasonable costs. Off-campus private housing is generally more expensive. Rents for off-campus apartments range from NT$ 5,000-15,000 per month. Meals are also available at modest cost at the Activity Center Cafeteria/Dining Hall, the Cafe, located in the Academia Sinica campus and/or assorted restaurants nearby to the IAMS.