Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) Guide — Funding Mandarin Study in Taiwan

What the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship is

The Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) is a Mandarin-language scholarship funded by Taiwan's Ministry of Education (MOE). It supports international students and others who want to study Mandarin Chinese at an approved Mandarin Training Center — a university-affiliated language centre — in Taiwan. It is a language scholarship, not a degree scholarship: it does not fund a bachelor's, master's or PhD. If you want to fund a full degree, see the separate MOE Taiwan Scholarship guide instead.

Award length and what it covers

HES recipients are awarded a study period of 2, 3, 6, 9 or 12 months (the shortest options are typically tied to summer programmes), during which they receive a monthly stipend to support Mandarin study. The exact stipend figure and any conditions are set by the MOE for each year, so confirm the current amount on the official HES guidelines rather than relying on any third-party number.

• Choice of award periods: 2, 3, 6, 9 or 12 months
• A monthly stipend during the study period — verify the current amount on the official HES guidelines

Who is eligible

Eligibility details can differ slightly by country and year, so always read the guidelines published by the Taiwan representative office that serves your country.

• Aged 18 or older, with at least a high-school diploma and a good academic and character record
• Not a Taiwanese national or an overseas-Taiwanese compatriot
• Not currently enrolled at a Mandarin Training Center or in a degree programme in Taiwan
• Meeting any additional criteria set by your local Taiwan representative office

How to apply (two steps)

HES uses a two-step process. First, apply and register for Mandarin courses at an approved Mandarin Training Center for the period you want to study. Second, submit the HES application online during the application window and through the Taiwan overseas representative office (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, TECO) responsible for your country; selection is made by that office. The application window is commonly around February to March, but the exact dates and required documents vary by office and year — verify them on the official channel.

Obligations and things to know

Recipients are expected to study Mandarin full-time at their chosen centre, maintain attendance and progress, and follow the programme rules; failing to do so can end the award. HES is generally not held together with another Taiwan government scholarship at the same time. It is administered free of charge through official channels.

Avoiding scholarship scams

No agent, consultant or website can guarantee you an HES award, and you should never pay a third party a fee to secure one. The scholarship is applied for directly through your Mandarin Training Center and the official Taiwan representative office. Treat any guarantee, or any demand for payment to 'process' or 'lock in' the scholarship, as a scam.