Image
National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), a top-ranked comprehensive university based in Hsinchu, offers full scholarships to students from select universities (including Duke) to study Chinese language in Taiwan. The scholarship program, titled the Huayu Bilingual Exchange of Selected Talents—or simply Huayu BEST—provides opportunities for students to enhance their language proficiency and cultural understanding by attending 15 hours of formal language classes at NTHU each week while also participating in up to 5 hours of weekly service-learning and project-based language-learning activities, such as teaching English to local youths.
Eligible students can apply for funding to cover study for the program duration. Scholarships will be awarded in the form of monthly stipends of NT$28,000 (appx. $900 USD) that should be sufficient to cover tuition, room and board on campus, required insurance and miscellaneous fees. Duke students may also apply for an APSI Language Scholarship to help cover the cost of airfare, if needed.
Loading...
Students are encouraged to consult the NTHU Huayu BEST Program webpage for the latest information about program and scholarship eligibility, obligations, scholarship, and visa requirements.
Duke students interested in applying should submit the online application form by the listed deadline (all dates are subject to change; program dates may be flexible).
Process overview
Step 1.
Confirm eligibility and read the awardee guidelines. Important: students must be enrolled at Duke to be eligible for the Huayu BEST fellowship; students graduating before the program begins are not eligible to apply. Undergrads and graduate students may apply for this program.
Step 2.
Duke students should register their interest prior to submitting the application (link opens a Google Form). Specific program-related inquires can also be sent to best@my.nthu.edu.tw.
Step 3.
Submit the online application form by the listed deadline (all dates are subject to change; program dates may be flexible).
Step 4.
NTHU will confirm the recommendation from your home institution via the expression of interest form (linked above).
Loading...
Summer 2025
Explore the experiences of students in the 2025 Summer Mandarin Course at NTHU.
Students from Duke are eligible to apply for financial support from the Huayu BEST scholarship as well as APSI summer language scholarships.
| Program Term | Application Deadline | Course Dates | Weeks of Study | Tuition* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Summer Intensive | March 31, 2026 | June 1–August 21 | 12 | $1,538 |
Tuition is shown in USD; amounts are valid for summer 2025 and are subject to change for 2026.
*The Huayu BEST scholarship may be applied to this amount.
Please note: As of fall 2024, the NTHU summer program is “Duke approved;” petitions are not needed to obtain Duke credit for summer courses. Details can be found on the GEO website.