The 5 Best Places to Study Chinese in Taiwan

So you want to study Chinese. Congrats! You’ve chosen one of the most difficult languages to learn, according to Babel. Don’t let that scare you though. There are so many amazing places to learn Chinese in the world, none more so than where it’s actually spoken – like Taiwan!

In this post, we have ranked 5 of the best places to study Chinese in Taiwan. While there are certainly more than 5 places that offer Chinese language instruction in Taiwan, the following stand out for their reputation and effectiveness.

Why Study Chinese in Taiwan ?

Firstly, let’s consider the current Covid-19 restrictions. Though China is slowly opening up, Taiwan is now fully open to the rest of the world, and has been accepting Chinese language learners since summer 2021.

Secondly, Taiwan uses the OG version of Chinese – traditional Chinese. That said, some schools do provide teaching in both both simplified and traditional Chinese.

If you’re coming from a simplified background – like I was – traditional characters can look a little scary. Luckily, the difference between the two is not as large as you might expect. It can take a bit of getting used to, and a lot longer to write, but ultimately traditional characters are much easier to understand than simplified ones.

Think about it. Now you can fully see all the patterns, radicals, and elements that turn a symbol into a meaning. What’s more, learning traditional Chinese is like learning simplified Chinese at the same time. If you have the knowledge about how the FULL character looks, then it’s easier to see how you get from A to B.

Now let’s find out where the best places to study Chinese in Taiwan are!

Where to study Chinese in Taiwan

5. National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) Language Center

Located in Tainan (south of Taiwan), National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) is ranked #224 in QS World Rankings 2023 and is considered on par with National Taiwan University. Though its fame originates more from the degree side, its non-degree Chinese language programs are also fairly exceptional. And it’s one of the least expensive language schools in this post.

There are 4 semesters (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) that students can apply to individually or for the full year (四季班). Each semester lasts 11 weeks, aside from the Winter and Summer semester which are 10 weeks long. Classes take place from Monday to Friday, 15 hours a week, 3 hours a day.

Students intending to apply to NCKU’s Chinese language center will have two choices for their class structure: small group classes or individual classes. For the former, tuition is $29,000 NTD (which equates to roughly $973 USD). Those interested in the latter should know that the price is considerably higher, costing $71,000 NTD (this equates roughly to $2,367) for the Winter semester alone.

For more information about NCKU Language Center, please visit their website.

4. National Taiwan University (NTU) Language Center

Located in Da’an District (very expensive neighborhood) in Taipei, National Taiwan University is the best university in Taiwan and ranked #77 university in the world. Its language center caters to both degree and non-degree students, putting special emphasis on cultural understanding alongside language learning for Chinese language students.

There are 4 semesters that students can apply to individually, or for the full year (四季班). Each semester lasts 12 weeks, aside from the Winter semester which lasts 10 weeks. Classes take place from Monday to Friday, 15 hours a week, 3 hours a day. Students have the choice of taking in-person small group classes or individual classes. These are also available online.

In terms of fees, the Winter semester is actually the cheapest at $36,000 NTD (roughly $1,204 USD). The fees for all the other semesters is $42,000 (which equates to roughtly $1,405 USD).

For more information about NTU’s Language Center, please visit their website.

3. LTL Taiwan

With a center in Taipei’s Da’an District, LTL markets itself as one of the most flexible places to study Chinese in Taiwan. Offering students the opportunity to study Simplified or Traditional Chinese, as well as Taiwanese Hokkien, LTL Taiwan boasts a wider range of study options for Chinese learners with online/in-person and group/individual classes.

This Chinese language school also offers part-time or full-time courses for in-person students, including programs with a focus on spoken language or Business Chinese.

While LTL Taiwan may seem like a dream come true for full time students or workers in Taiwan, please be aware that this flexibility comes at a very high price. Online classes cost anywhere from $22,800 NTD (for 25 hours) to $154,000 NTD (for 200 hours). For the latter, this equates to just over one semester of Chinese learning at NTU’s Language Center, but for nearly $4,000 more USD. 

If you’re unfazed by this price, it’s worth checking out LTL Taiwan’s website for more insight into how they might offer Chinese courses that are more suited for your schedule.

For those more inclined to take online classes, please be aware these are ONLY available as individual 1-on-1 classes. The school also offers programs for Heritage Speakers (for ABCs, BBCs, CBCs, etc.), Gap Year students, as well as those interested in Chinese immersion.

~ NOTE ~ ABC (American Born Chinese); BBC (British Born Chinese); CBC (Canadian Born Chinese)

2. International Chinese Language Program

Technically part of National Taiwan University, the International Chinese Language Program (ICLP) is the most prestigious place to study Chinese in Taiwan. Offering intensive language classes for a number of different programs, enrolling in ICLP is sure to drastically improve your Chinese ability.

With summer programs, customized group courses, customized 1-on-1 courses, and the famous academic year program, this is a Chinese language school that cannot be missed.

For the academic year program there are 3 semesters that can be applied to individually or for the full year. Those intending to apply to ICLP’s academic year program have two choices for their course method:

• In-person ‘physical track’

The physical track offers students 3 group classes and 1 1-on-1 class a day (Monday to Friday), equaling between 200 to 220 hours of class per semester

• Online ‘virtual track’

The online track consists of 2 group classes with 1 1-on-1 class daily, equaling between 150 to 165 hours of class per semester.

Please be aware that tuition is incredibly expensive, however the price does include the cost of textbooks/teaching materials and the cost of textbook shipping fees for online students. For in-person students, ICLP also offers help with visas and accommodation.

For more information about ICLP, please visit their website.

1. Mandarin Training Center

Located near Da’an District in Taipei, and not far from NTU, National Taiwan Normal University’s Mandarin Training Center (MTC) is renowned for its teaching of traditional Chinese.

From publishing the ‘A Course in Contemporary Chinese’ series to ‘The Ultimate Illustrated CHINESE Grammar Guide’, MTC publications are commonly used for Chinese language instruction in Taiwan.

If their reputation hasn’t convinced you yet, the center also offers fairly flexible options and reasonable prices for its courses. With a 3 month online group class, 3 week express program, and a 4 semester program (四季班), NTNU’s MTC has courses for everyone.

For the 4 semester program, students can apply to each semester individually or for the full year. Each semester lasts approximately 12 weeks, with students having 15 hours of class a week (Mon-Fri). Students have the option of taking normal or intensive courses within each semester, with the normal course costing $29,100 NTD (roughly $973 USD) and the intensive course costing $39,600 NTD (roughly $1,324 USD) for each semester.

For more information about NTNTU’s MTC, please visit their website.

Why Should You Study Chinese in Taiwan?

And what can studying Chinese in Taiwan help you with?

For starters, studying Chinese will tremendously help you if you’re thinking of coming to Taiwan to study a degree program, even if it’s taught in English. Students of international programs are expected to take Chinese language classes alongside their studies in the effort to pass TOCFL A2 (this is a requirement to graduate).

While prospective graduate students in Taiwan can start their degree in the Spring Semester, this is rarely an option for prospective undergraduates. For those thinking of taking an undergraduate degree, we recommend starting your Chinese language learning a bit early with one of the online courses mentioned. Not only will this make your transition to Taiwan easier, but you might even learn enough to pass the TOCFL exam before your degree starts – which means you won’t have to take those classes!

~ NOTE ~ Previous holders of the visa for Studying Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan are NOT eligible to apply for a student visa (for university degree).

Additional Information to Study Chinese in Taiwan

Good resources to use in your search for Chinese language courses include:

• Taiwan Mandarin Educational Resources Center
• TOCFL Steering Committee
  • TOCFL stands for Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language – it is the language examination for Taiwan. You cannot take HSK (漢語水平考試) in Taiwan.

✨Tip!✨
Most universities have language centers where they teach Chinese and English to their degree students. Some, not all, also offer non-degree programs (like NCKU and NTU), so it’s worth exploring these options.

Thanks for reading!

Thank you for reading this article about Studying Chinese in Taiwan. If you’re interested in finding out more about what life in Taiwan is like, or if you’re already here and want to explore more of this beautiful island, check out our other articles on the ‘Study and Travel‘ page.

♥️ Found something that you want to share? Leave a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!♥️