National Science and Technology Council Graduate Research Fellowship Pilot Program-- NSTC Selection
(Revised based on NSTC Official Document NO. 1130063070 Sep 4, 2024)
- Purpose of the Program:
The program is established by the National Science and Technology Council (hereinafter referred to as NSTC), aiming to build a solid foundation of research talents and reserve talents for core strategic industries. The program awards outstanding first year Ph.D. students who have demonstrated their potential for significant research contributions and supports them to pursue full-time doctoral degree.
Applicant Institutions:
Applicant institutions are domestic public and private universities with Ph.D. programs approved by the Ministry of Education.
Recipient Eligibility:
- Eligible Recipients NSTC Selection
First-year doctoral students who enroll and begin their studies in February or September of the following year when the NSTC announces the Application. - Qualifications
The following individuals are not eligible to receive this fellowship:
- Those who are engaged in full-time paid employment in public or private sectors or who apply for admission as part-time students possessing responsibilities related to employment.
- Students with statuses from Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China.
- Those who have applied for leave of absence and retained their admission eligibility or have not completed registration after admission.
- Those who are concurrently in receipt of scholarship or subsidy offered by the ROC government.
Maximum Number of Award:
NSTC Selection: Applicants must submit their own application materials and select key research areas through the website (log in Academic Research Service Portal: https://www.nstc.gov.tw/?l=en). NSTC conducts academic reviews, selects 400 awards in accordance with national development and talent cultivation needs.
Amount and Duration:
Each fellowship recipient will be granted a monthly stipend of NT$40,000 for a period of up to 3 years, starting from the first year of the Ph.D. program. Stipend for those who graduate less than three years shall last until the month of graduation. The entire stipend is offered by NSTC.Submission Period and Procedure:
NSTC Selection: Applicants should log in and upload the required documents on the NSTC website within the specified period. Incomplete submission will be given a limited time for correction after the online submission. Failure to correct within the given time or incomplete corrections will result in rejection:- Information form
- Application Forms
- Academic credentials
- Transcripts from undergraduate or higher.
- Other review materials (Certificates of Language Proficiency Test or Recommendation letters).
- Review Process
- NSTC Selection:
- Evaluation criteria includes the applicant’s academic performance, development potential, project participation experience, and research topic, as reviewed by experts in relevant fields.
- The review Scoring items are as follows:
- Reasons for studying the major area and an introduction of past learning history (40%).
- The innovativeness of your research topic for the doctoral degree, the completeness and feasibility of the research proposal, and its significance for Taiwan ‘s future development (40%).Correlation between research capability, research expertise, and key research area (20%).
- After the evaluation process being completed within four months from the day of the submission deadline, the selection list will be finalized and announced. The process may be extended if necessary.
Award Title:
The recipient will be awarded “NSTC Graduate Research Fellowship (NSTC-GRF)” title and certificate.
Fund Disbursement:
Subsidies are distributed twice per academic year. Applicant institutions should submit list of awardees along with receipts of fund withdrawal in accordance with NSTC’s instruction.
Performance Assessment:
NSTC reserves the right to retrieve funds from the institution if the recipient is found to be ineligible. Applying institutions that arbitrarily withhold fellowship disbursements without adhering to their own set regulations may face deductions in research project overhead fee funded by NSTC, calculated at three times the amount of withheld fellowship funds. Additionally, depending on the severity of the situation, future fellowship quota might be reduced or revoked.
Recipients’ eligibility for fellowship renewal in each academic year is subject to review according to the regulations set by the applicant institutions. Recipients must continue to cooperate with NSTC to track their academic progress at school and professional accomplishment after graduation within three years.
Implementation Schedule:
This pilot program will be reviewed annually in a rolling manner to adjust its content as needed to align with policy requirements and fully realize its anticipated benefits.
For more details, please refer to the attached file (English version)’
