Universities, Colleges in the Republic of China

The Chinese people traditionally value education as one of life's most worthwhile pursuits. The high priority which the Chinese have assigned to education throughout their history remains to this day very much in evidence in the Republic of China on Taiwan, where over 94.66 percent of the population are literate and over 24 percent are in school in 1996.

Education has been universally available in Taiwan since 1945. Today education for the first nine years is compulsory, and that of the first twelve years is free of charge. The ROC's education system follows a basic 6-3-3-4 pattern. As a result of dramatic economic growth, public and private sector commitment to education has expanded rapidly. Total government expenditure on education in the 1996-97 fiscal year exceeded NT$537 billion, while in the 1997-98 fiscal year it exceeded NT$554 billion.

The ROC has developed comprehensive research facilities and an extensive higher education system. Basic research is carried out by the National Science Council and Academia Sinica in the natural sciences, engineering, biology, medicine, agriculture, the humanities, social sciences, and science education.

University education is the most important element in further education in the ROC. It covers universities, colleges, universities of technology, institutes of technology and graduate schools. The aim ofuniversity education is to allow young people to broaden their knowledge, develop their abilities, and become leaders of national reconstruction in the future. Currently, the total number of universities and university students is:

The independent colleges generally focus on specific disciplines such as fine arts, medicine, technology, and teacher training.

Among these institutions, the universities of technology and institutes of technology have been established to train high-level technical personnel. These accept senior vocational school and junior college graduates. Currently, the total number of universities of technology and institutes of technology and the total number of students at these schools are:

The Ministry of Education is responsible for determining whether schools meet standards for establishment and continued accreditation. It arranges regular visits by committees of professors in the appropriate field to each department, transmits the suggestions and comments of the committee to the school, and follows up on what action is taken. All the institutions and programs listed here are accredited by the Ministry of Education.

To be admitted to a university or college, high school graduates must take the highly competitive Joint College Entrance Examination (JCEE) set each summer by a board composed of university presidents. Successful candidates are assigned to a university based on their preference and examination results. In the academic year 1998-99, the JCEE was taken by a total of 118,827 students, of whom 71,826 scored high enough to enter university or college. Engineering and medicine were the most competitive fields for admission until recent years, when the fields of business administration and international trade started to attract more interest.

The academic year is divided into two semesters, the first of which begins in early or mid September and continues until late January. Following the winter vacation (three or four weeks), the second semester begins in February and normally continues until late June. Summer sessions are rare.

Chinese is the language of instruction in all schools. English textbooks are used in many departments, although lectures are in Chinese unless given by the occasional visiting foreign professor.

In most departments, 128 credits taken over four years are the minimum requirement for completion of the Bachelor's degree. While course content generally tends to be closely focused on a student's major subject, the current trend towards wider choice means that students at several universities and colleges are being offered a larger selection of electives. The Bachelor's degree is awarded in most fields after four years of study. Evening School usually requires five years. The Bachelor of Medicine requires seven years, the Bachelor of Dentistry sins years, and the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine five years. Some law and architecture departments require five years.

For Master's programs, 24 credits and a thesis are generally the minimum requirements, followed by a written examination and an oral defense. A minimum residence of two years is required.

For the Doctoral degree, 18 credits and a thesis are the minimum requirements together with a written examination and an oral defense. The Doctoral degree ususlly takes four to six years to complete.

The most frequently awarded degree include the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Science and Englineering, Bachelor of Science and Agriculture, Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy.

UNIVERSITY / National

University/ Municipal

University/ Private

COLLEGE / National

College/ Municipal

College/ Private

Sources:

• School Name of Universities, Colleges and Junior Colleges in the Republic of China (Ministry of Education, ROC)
• Higher Education in The Republic of China: A Guide for Foreign Students ((Ministry of Education, ROC)
• Taiwan Update (Julie Hu's handouts in the NAFSA 52nd Conference, San Diego, CA)

Notes:

• Compiled by the Cultural Division, TECO in Los Angeles (Representative office of the Ministry of Education, ROC). Posted on August 7, 2000.
• All information subject ot prior verification. For verification, please contact the nereast Cultural Division office.
• * stands for "website is in Chinese only".