Taiwan: The number of Filipino students studying in Taiwan has surged by nearly 80 percent over the past three years, reflecting expanding educational cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines, the Ministry of Education (MOE) stated on Tuesday.
According to Focus Taiwan, at a recent Taiwan-Philippines education task force meeting, officials from the MOE and the Philippine Commission on Higher Education agreed on initiatives to strengthen bilateral education ties. Key measures include the creation of a database to track Filipino students in Taiwan and the establishment of a regional Mandarin training center in the Philippines.
The two countries also plan to expand dual-degree programs and recognize academic credits under transnational higher education arrangements. Additionally, there will be more flexible learning programs and lifelong education opportunities for Filipino migrants and overseas workers in Taiwan.
The MOE reported that the number of Filipino students in Taiwan reached 5,536 in 2025, up from 3,098 in 2022, marking an increase of 2,438 students, or 78.7 percent. Among these students, 3,590 were pursuing degrees, making the Philippines the sixth-largest source of international degree students in Taiwan, following Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Myanmar.
Filipino students in Taiwan are primarily enrolled in programs related to engineering, manufacturing, information and communications technology, business administration, and health. To attract and retain international talent, Taiwan has established the Taiwan-Philippines International Industry-Academia Talent Circulation Centers in Manila, Bulacan, Iloilo, and Mindanao. These centers offer Mandarin courses and promote enrollment in specialized academic programs.
Moving forward, the MOE plans to work with the Philippines to develop dual-degree programs and short-term faculty training workshops in semiconductors, smart agriculture, and fisheries. Taiwan is also encouraging outstanding Filipino students to study in the country through scholarship programs. For 2026, 24 Taiwan Scholarship slots and 38 Huayu Enrichment Scholarship slots have been allocated for students from the Philippines.