Taiwan Sees Record-Breaking International Enrolment Growth

Taiwan's higher education institutions have seen a substantial surge in international student enrolment, reaching a record-breaking 140,420 students in 2025/26. This represents a 17% increase from the previous year.

## Meeting the Government's Target

While this growth is a step in the right direction, it still falls short of the Taiwanese government's ambitious goal of attracting 320,000 international students by 2030. To meet this target, foreign enrolment will need to more than double in the coming years.

## The Key Role of Vietnam

Vietnam has emerged as a major contributor to Taiwan's international student population, with 38% of students hailing from the country. In 2025/26, Vietnam sent 11,800 new students to Taiwan, with nearly half of the country's 53,000 students in Taiwan pursuing degree studies.

| Sending Market | Number of Students | Change from Previous Year | | --- | --- | --- | | Vietnam | 52,970 | +33% | | Indonesia | 18,740 | -3% | | Malaysia | 8,740 | -10% | | Japan | 8,730 | -1% | | Philippines | 5,540 | +24% |

Other growth markets for Taiwan include Myanmar and India, with 4,430 and 2,830 students respectively. Of the top 20 markets for Taiwanese institutions, nearly half experienced growth in 2025/26.

## The Attraction of Semiconductors

Taiwan's expertise in semiconductors has become a major draw for international students. The country produces over 60% of global semiconductors and over 90% of the most advanced chips. This competitive advantage is likely a key factor in the growth of students from Vietnam, which has an explicit strategy to build its semiconductor industry.

The composition of students from many top markets for Taiwan is increasingly concentrated in degree studies, with a strong focus on fields related to semiconductors. This trend is expected to continue, driven by the growing importance of semiconductors in the global economy.