International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management
International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management
National Ilan University, Taiwan
Build an engineering career in Taiwan. Taught entirely in English, no Chinese required, with two years of unrestricted work rights after you graduate.
First intake: September 2027 | Version: 2026 Sep
Why Choose This Program
1. Up to two years to stay and work after you graduate
Graduates may stay and work in Taiwan for up to two years after completing the degree, full-time or part-time. You are not forced to line up a sponsoring employer before your student visa expires. You finish your degree, you stay, and you look for the right job.
2. Taiwan needs engineers
Taiwan's semiconductor, electronics, precision machinery, and green energy sectors face a persistent shortage of engineering talent. A master's degree from a Taiwanese university, earned in English, with two years of job-search time attached, is a direct route into that market.
3. Engineering plus management, in one degree
Most engineering master's programs make you choose. This one is built at the intersection: technology innovation, entrepreneurship, technology management, intellectual property and patent management, design thinking, computational thinking, applications of artificial intelligence, and engineering design and planning. Employers hiring for team lead, project manager, and product roles look for exactly this combination, and few graduates have it.
4. Supervision is available across the university
The program is not housed in a single department. Supervision is available across National Ilan University, so you choose a supervisor whose work fits your interests rather than one who happens to be in the department you were admitted to.
5. Taught entirely in English, with no Chinese requirement
Every course, seminar, and supervision meeting is in English, and there is no Chinese language requirement for admission. NIU's Languages Education Center offers Mandarin courses if you want them for daily life, but your degree does not depend on them.
6. A direct route to a doctorate
Graduates can continue into NIU's Doctor's Program of Intelligent and Sustainable Engineering, also taught entirely in English, and keep the same supervisor. The master's and doctoral programs are designed as one continuous path, not two separate applications with an unrelated faculty.
Building a Career in Taiwan
While you study. You may take paid work on or off campus once you hold a work permit, which the Office of International Affairs helps you arrange. The College of Engineering also offers research assistantships and part-time positions, and supervising professors may provide a research assistant stipend.
After you graduate. Graduates may stay and work in Taiwan for up to two years after completing the degree, full-time or part-time, without a sponsoring employer. That gives you two years to find the right role and prove yourself.
The Office of International Affairs at NIU advises students on visa and residency matters, and can confirm the current rules that apply to you.
Supervision Drawn From Across the University
The International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management is not housed in a single department. Supervision is available across National Ilan University.
This matters in a practical way. You choose the professional field you want to build depth in, and then a supervisor whose research fits that field, rather than being assigned to whichever department admitted you. The field you complete is named on the Certificate of Professional Accomplishment issued alongside your master's degree.
Professional fields available:
Engineering
Civil and structural engineering, architecture and sustainable planning, environmental engineering, water resources and hydraulic engineering, mechanical and electro-mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, materials engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, and environmental science and ecology.
Technology
Artificial intelligence and machine learning, computer science and information engineering, data science, smart manufacturing and automation, robotics, semiconductor and optoelectronic technology, Internet of Things and sensing systems, renewable energy and energy technology, UAV applications, and green building and smart construction technology.
Management
Technology and innovation management, engineering project management, applied economics, business administration and operations, intellectual property and patent management, entrepreneurship, sustainability and ESG management, and health promotion and service industry management.
Curriculum and Credits
Graduation requirements
| Item | Credits |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 2 (Two courses) |
| Elective courses | 24 (Eight courses) |
| Minimum graduation credits | 26 |
| Master's thesis |
Graduate students must also complete the university's Academic Research Ethics Education program before applying for the degree examination.
What the coursework covers
Whichever professional field you choose, the taught component is built around eight interdisciplinary themes: technology innovation, entrepreneurship, technology management, intellectual property and patent management, design thinking, computational thinking, applications of artificial intelligence, and engineering design and planning. Together these form a body of knowledge no single existing department covers, and they are what distinguishes this program from a conventional departmental master's degree.
Required courses
Seminar (1) and Seminar (2), one credit each, taken in the first year.
Core research competency courses
Five courses are offered on a two-year rotation from: Literature Reading and Seminar Discussion, Academic Thesis Writing, Applications of Artificial Intelligence, Research Methods, Experimental Design, Computational Thinking, and Special Topics in Management.
Note that Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Computational Thinking are treated as core competencies for every student, not as specialist electives.
Specialized elective courses
Four courses are offered on a two-year rotation from a catalog of approximately fifty, spanning civil, environmental, mechanical, materials, chemical, electrical, and computer engineering as well as architecture. Representative offerings:
- Special Topics in Management
- Smart Manufacturing Systems
- Robotics
- Machine Learning
- Data Science
- IoT Core Technology and Applications
- Additive Manufacturing Technology and Applications
- Special Topics in Renewable Energy
- Special Topics in Energy Technology
- Green Buildings and Ecological Communities
- Special Topics in Resilient Cities and Sustainable Infrastructure
- Engineering Economic Analysis
- Construction Planning and Schedule Management
- Special Topics in Hydrological Data Analysis and AI Applications
- Advanced Engineering Mathematics
- Digital Image Processing
Your Professional Field, Certified
Graduates of the International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management at National Ilan University receive two documents, not one.
Alongside the master's degree awarded by the university, the College of Engineering issues a Certificate of Professional Accomplishment. It is a bilingual Chinese and English certificate, signed by the Dean of the College of Engineering, that names the specific professional field you completed during the program, for example Chemical and Materials Engineering. It is issued as a diploma supplement to the Master of Science degree and carries a blockchain credential so that employers and admissions committees can verify it independently.
This matters because the program is deliberately interdisciplinary. A master's certificate alone says you studied engineering technology and management; the Professional Accomplishment Certificate says exactly which engineering field you built depth in. When you apply for a job or for doctoral study, that distinction is visible on paper rather than something you have to explain.
Continuing to a Doctorate
Graduates of the International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management can continue directly into the Doctor's Program of Intelligent and Sustainable Engineering at National Ilan University.
Both programs are taught entirely in English, both draw on the same College of Engineering faculty, and a supervisory relationship formed during the master's degree continues into the doctorate without renegotiation. The doctoral program is the first in eastern Taiwan dedicated to the intersection of intelligent technology and sustainable engineering.
For students who want a research career, or who want the strongest possible position in Taiwan's engineering job market, the master's and doctoral programs form a single continuous route.
Program Overview
The International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management at National Ilan University admits its first cohort in September 2027. It is a fully English-taught master's degree in the College of Engineering, built around the integration of engineering practice and management.
The program draws faculty from across the College of Engineering and the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, covering smart manufacturing and sustainable energy, advanced materials and chemical engineering, environmental engineering and net-zero carbon, smart buildings, and electrical and information technologies, complemented by engineering project management and technology innovation. Graduates leave with both technical depth and managerial perspective.
Quick Facts
| Program name | International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management |
| Institution | National Ilan University (NIU), College of Engineering, Taiwan |
| Degree awarded | Master's degree in Engineering |
| First intake | September 2027 |
| Places per year | Approximately 30 |
| Supervision | Drawn from across the university, in engineering, technology, and management fields |
| Duration | 1 to 4 years |
| Credits to graduate | 26 coursework credits plus a master's thesis |
| Language of instruction | English (100%) |
| Chinese requirement | None |
| English requirement | CEFR B1 or equivalent (TOEFL iBT 47+, IELTS 4+, TOEIC 550+, Duolingo 85+) |
| Application system | https://ccsys1.niu.edu.tw/InterExam/ (online only) |
| Application deadlines | Fall Round 1: January. Fall Round 2: April. Spring: October |
| Selection | Document review plus a required video interview |
| Tuition (College of Engineering, graduate) | NT$45,390 per semester |
| Type A scholarship | NT$8,000 monthly stipend plus full dormitory fee waiver |
| Type C scholarship | Full tuition and fee waiver |
| Dormitory | NT$9,500 per semester |
| Estimated living cost | NT$6,000 to NT$8,000 per month (NIU official estimate) |
| On graduation | Master's degree plus a bilingual Certificate of Professional Accomplishment |
| Post-graduation work rights | Two years, no work permit required |
| Location | Yilan City, Yilan County, northeastern Taiwan |
| Program contact | College of Engineering Office, engineering@niu.edu.tw, +886-3-9357400 |
| Admissions contact | Office of International Affairs, isa@niu.edu.tw |
Fees and Funding
Type A scholarship
NT$8,000 monthly stipend and free accommodation. NT$8,000 per month, which is NT$96,000 over a full year, together with a full waiver of the NT$9,500 per semester dormitory fee. Approximately US$2,900 to US$3,600 per year at the exchange rate range NIU publishes.
Type C scholarship
Full tuition and fee waiver. Tuition and miscellaneous fees for College of Engineering graduate programs are NT$45,390 per semester. Type C is awarded to selected new students in the first year, and continues in the second year for students making normal academic progress with research underway.
Living costs and additional income
For reference, NIU estimates international student living costs at NT$6,000 to NT$8,000 per month.
Research assistantships and part-time positions are also available in the College of Engineering, and supervising professors may provide a research assistant stipend on top of the university scholarship.
Note: master's students may hold the NIU financial aid award for a maximum of 4 semesters. New students are awarded for one academic year; from the third semester onward, current students reapply each semester based on the previous semester's academic performance. The NIU award cannot be combined with a Taiwan Scholarship or other R.O.C. government scholarship.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted online only. There is no paper application.
Step 1: Contact the potential supervisors
You are eligible if you hold foreign nationality, do not hold Overseas Chinese Student status, and meet the Ministry of Education's Regulations Regarding International Students Undertaking Studies in Taiwan. Applicants for master's programs need a bachelor's degree.
Supervision is available across National Ilan University, so write to the professor whose research fits your interests rather than to a single department. Email engineering@niu.edu.tw if you would like help identifying one. Making contact early makes a real difference to your application and to your experience in the program.
Step 2: Prepare your documents
All documents are uploaded as PDF, one file per item. Merge multiple files into a single PDF where needed.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Online application form | Completed in the application system |
| Bachelor's degree certificate | Must be authenticated by a Taiwan Overseas Embassy or Mission. In Chinese or English, or with a translation |
| Bachelor's degree transcript | Must be authenticated, must show every semester's grades, and must include the grading scale |
| Copy of passport | As proof of nationality |
| English proficiency certificate | CEFR B1 or above. Accepted equivalents include TOEFL iBT 47+, TOEFL ITP 457+, IELTS 4+, TOEIC 550+, Duolingo English Test 85+, Cambridge Preliminary English Test (PET), Linguaskill Business 140+, GEPT Intermediate, FLPT 195+, and CSEPT 230+ (Level 1) or 240+ (Level 2). Certificates issued by your own institution are not accepted |
| Study plan | Approximately 300 words in English or Chinese, covering your background, why you are applying to NIU and this program, your study plan, and your plans after graduation |
| Financial certificate | Bank proof of at least US$3,000 in personal savings, dated within three months before the application period opens. A scholarship award letter may be used instead |
| Two recommendation letters | Submitted by your referees directly through the online system. Academic referees who can assess your academic ability and research potential are preferred |
| Declaration form | Print from the system, read, sign, and upload |
Start the document authentication early. Having your degree certificate and transcript authenticated by a Taiwan Overseas Embassy or Mission takes time and is outside the university's control. If you cannot obtain authentication before the deadline, you may still apply, but admitted students must present the original authenticated documents at registration.
You may not need an English test. If you hold nationality of a country where English is an official or commonly used language, or you earned your previous degree in an English-speaking country, a copy of your passport may be submitted instead.
Accepted English proficiency tests
All scores below are equivalent to CEFR B1, the level required for admission.
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| CEFR | B1 Threshold |
| TOEFL iBT | 47+ |
| TOEFL ITP | 457+ |
| IELTS | 4+ |
| TOEIC | 550+ |
| Duolingo English Test | 85+ |
| Cambridge Main Suite | Preliminary English Test (PET) |
| Linguaskill Business | 140+ |
| GEPT | Intermediate |
| FLPT | 195+ |
| CSEPT | 230+ (Level 1) or 240+ (Level 2) |
Certificates issued by your own institution are not accepted. If you hold nationality of a country where English is an official or commonly used language, or you earned your previous degree in an English-speaking country, a copy of your passport may be submitted instead.
Step 3: Apply online before the deadline
Submit at https://ccsys1.niu.edu.tw/InterExam/ before 5:00 PM Taiwan time (GMT+8) on the closing date.
| Intake | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall Round 1 (September entry) | January |
| Fall Round 2 (September entry) | April |
| Spring (February entry) | October |
Admission requirements are identical across all three rounds. If places fill in an earlier round, the remaining quota is announced at isa.niu.edu.tw.
What happens next
- Document review.
- Video interview. A video interview is required for all applicants to this program.
- Admission announced on the NIU website and in the application system.
- Admission letter mailed to the address you provided.
- Confirm your acceptance in the application system by the stated deadline. Failing to reply is treated as declining the offer.
- Airport pick-up is available, arranged one week before the semester begins.
An admission letter does not guarantee a visa. Visas are issued by Taiwan's Bureau of Consular Affairs or an overseas Taiwan mission.
If you are admitted but cannot start, you may apply in writing to defer for one semester or one academic year at no cost, subject to approval.
Visa and Arriving in Taiwan
Getting your visa
Apply for a Resident Visa at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office or equivalent Taiwan mission in your country, using your NIU admission letter. After arriving, convert it to an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) at the National Immigration Agency. Allow roughly six to ten weeks from admission to holding an ARC.
You cannot enter Taiwan on a tourist or visa-exempt entry and then switch to student status. Obtain the Resident Visa before you travel.
Insurance and health cover
At registration you must present proof of medical and injury insurance valid for at least six months from your date of entry, authenticated by a Taiwan overseas mission. After six months of residency you join Taiwan's National Health Insurance at NT$826 per month, which covers most clinic visits, hospital stays, and prescriptions at heavily subsidized rates.
Practical matters
Taiwanese banks do not offer student loans to international students, so arrange any loan in your home country before you arrive. Bring enough cash in NTD or USD for your first fees and expenses, and open a local account at a bank or post office near campus after you settle in. NIU provides an airport pick-up service, arranged one week before the semester begins.
Career Outcomes
Engineering roles in Taiwan's core industries
Taiwan's semiconductor, electronics, precision machinery, and green energy sectors are among Asia's largest employers of engineering graduates. Typical roles include R&D engineer, process engineer, systems integration engineer, and automation engineer.
Technology and project management
The management side of the curriculum opens roles that pure engineering degrees do not: technology project manager, product manager, technical team lead, IP and patent specialist, and innovation or business development roles in technology firms.
Sustainability and green technology
Demand is growing as Taiwan pursues its 2050 net-zero target and as the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism reshapes export supply chains across Asia. Roles include ESG planner, carbon management analyst, and green energy project engineer.
Doctoral study
Continue into NIU's Doctor's Program of Intelligent and Sustainable Engineering with the same supervisor, or apply elsewhere with a completed English-language master's thesis behind you.
Living in Yilan
Yilan City is in northeastern Taiwan, about one hour from Taipei by train or coach. The campus sits in the city's education district, a fifteen-minute walk from Yilan railway station and the Yilan bus terminal.
Cost of living. Yilan is considerably cheaper than Taipei, which means the same funding goes further. NIU estimates monthly living expenses for international students at NT$6,000 to NT$8,000.
Do I need Chinese? Not for your studies. Basic Mandarin helps with daily life, and NIU's Languages Education Center offers courses for international students. Many international students in Taiwan arrive with no Chinese at all.
Is Taiwan safe? Taiwan consistently ranks among the safest places in Asia for international students, with low crime rates and reliable public infrastructure.
Community. National Ilan University hosts an international student community drawn from across Asia, including Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I stay and work in Taiwan after I finish this master's degree?
Yes. Graduates may stay and work in Taiwan for up to two years after completing the degree, full-time or part-time, without a sponsoring employer. This is a central reason many applicants choose the International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management at National Ilan University. The Office of International Affairs advises students through the process.
Q2: Do I need to find an employer before my student visa expires?
No. You may remain in Taiwan for up to two years after completing the degree and look for work without a sponsoring employer.
Q3: Do I need to speak Chinese?
No. The International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management at National Ilan University is taught entirely in English, including coursework, seminars, supervision, and the thesis. There is no Chinese language requirement for admission. The requirement is English at CEFR B1 or above, demonstrated by TOEFL iBT 47+, IELTS 4+, TOEIC 550+, Duolingo 85+, or another accepted equivalent.
Q4: How is this different from a normal engineering master's degree?
Conventional master's programs sit inside one department. This program is built at the intersection of engineering and management, covering technology innovation, entrepreneurship, technology management, intellectual property and patent management, design thinking, computational thinking, applications of artificial intelligence, and engineering design and planning. Supervision is available across National Ilan University rather than in one department, so you choose a supervisor by research fit.
Q5: Where do the supervisors come from?
Supervision for the International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management is available across National Ilan University, not in a single department. You choose a supervisor by research fit rather than by the department that admitted you.
Q6: What professional fields can I specialise in?
Supervision for the International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management is available across National Ilan University, in three groups of fields. The engineering fields are civil and structural engineering, architecture and sustainable planning, environmental engineering, water resources and hydraulic engineering, mechanical and electro-mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, materials engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, and environmental science and ecology. The technology fields are artificial intelligence and machine learning, computer science and information engineering, data science, smart manufacturing and automation, robotics, semiconductor and optoelectronic technology, Internet of Things and sensing systems, renewable energy and energy technology, UAV applications, and green building and smart construction technology. The management fields are technology and innovation management, engineering project management, applied economics, business administration and operations, intellectual property and patent management, entrepreneurship, sustainability and ESG management, and health promotion and service industry management. The field you complete is named on the Certificate of Professional Accomplishment issued with your degree.
Q7: What qualification do I receive on graduation?
Graduates of the International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management at National Ilan University receive a master's degree from the university and, in addition, a Certificate of Professional Accomplishment issued by the College of Engineering. The certificate is bilingual in Chinese and English, signed by the Dean, names the specific professional field you completed, and carries a blockchain credential so employers and admissions committees can verify it independently. It is issued as a diploma supplement to the Master of Science degree. Graduation also requires one publication, so you finish with a paper on record as well as the degree and certificate.
Q8: Do I need to publish to graduate?
Yes. Graduation from the International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management at National Ilan University requires one full paper published in a conference or journal, in addition to the master's thesis. It means you leave the program with a publication already on record.
Q9: When does the program start, and how many places are there?
The first cohort enters in September 2027. The program admits approximately 30 students per year, with three application rounds annually.
Q10: How long does the degree take and how many credits are required?
The program runs from 1 to 4 years. Graduation requires 26 coursework credits, consisting of 2 required credits from Seminar (1) and Seminar (2) plus a minimum of 24 elective credits, a master's thesis, and one full paper published in a conference or journal. Students must also complete the university's Academic Research Ethics Education program before applying for the degree examination.
Q11: What does it cost, and what funding is available?
Tuition and miscellaneous fees for College of Engineering graduate programs at National Ilan University are NT$45,390 per semester. Two scholarships apply. The Type C scholarship is a full tuition and fee waiver, awarded to selected new students in the first year and continuing in the second year for students making normal academic progress with research underway. The Type A scholarship adds a monthly stipend of NT$8,000, which is NT$96,000 over a full year, together with a full waiver of the NT$9,500 per semester dormitory fee. Master's students may hold an award for a maximum of 4 semesters.
Q12: Will the stipend cover my living costs?
For reference, National Ilan University estimates international student living expenses at NT$6,000 to NT$8,000 per month, covering meals, books, and travel. The Type A scholarship stipend is NT$8,000 per month.
Q13: Can I work part-time while studying?
Yes, once you hold a work permit. The Office of International Affairs at National Ilan University handles these applications and can advise you. The College of Engineering also offers research assistantships and part-time positions, and supervising professors may provide a research assistant stipend.
Q14: What documents do I need to apply?
The International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management at National Ilan University requires: the online application form; your bachelor's degree certificate and transcript, both authenticated by a Taiwan Overseas Embassy or Mission; a copy of your passport; an English proficiency certificate at CEFR B1 or above; a study plan of approximately 300 words; financial proof of at least US$3,000 in personal savings dated within three months of the application opening; two recommendation letters submitted online by your referees; and a signed declaration form. All are uploaded as PDF.
Q15: When are the application deadlines?
The program admits in three rounds each year. For fall admission (September entry), Round 1 closes in January and Round 2 closes in April. For spring admission (February entry), the deadline is October. All rounds close at 5:00 PM Taiwan time, and requirements are identical across rounds. Apply at https://ccsys1.niu.edu.tw/InterExam/.
Q16: Is there an interview?
Yes. A video interview is required for all applicants to the International Master's Program in Engineering Technology and Management at National Ilan University.
Q17: What visa do I need, and how do I get it?
You need a Resident Visa, applied for at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office or equivalent Taiwan representative office in your country, using the admission letter from National Ilan University. After arriving in Taiwan you convert it to an Alien Resident Certificate. You cannot enter Taiwan on a tourist or visa-exempt basis and switch to student status afterward. Allow six to ten weeks from admission to holding an ARC.
Q18: Can I continue to a Ph.D. at National Ilan University afterwards?
Yes. Graduates can continue into the Doctor's Program of Intelligent and Sustainable Engineering, also taught entirely in English, and keep the same supervisor. The two programs draw on the same College of Engineering faculty and are designed as one continuous path from master's to doctorate.
Q19: Where is Yilan and how far is it from Taipei?
Yilan City is in northeastern Taiwan, roughly one hour from Taipei by train or coach, with frequent services. The campus is a fifteen-minute walk from Yilan railway station and the Yilan bus terminal. Living costs in Yilan are considerably lower than in Taipei, which makes the funding package go further, and Taoyuan International Airport is accessible for international travel.
Q20: What if I am admitted but cannot start that semester?
Admitted students may submit a written application to the NIU Office of Academic Affairs to defer admission by one semester or one academic year, before the official start of the semester. No fee is charged. Deferral is valid only once approved by the university.
Contact
- Program enquiries: College of Engineering Office, National Ilan University. engineering@niu.edu.tw, +886-3-9357400
- Admissions and application enquiries: Office of International Affairs. isa@niu.edu.tw, https://isa.niu.edu.tw
- Visa, ARC, and work permit enquiries: International Student Affairs Division, Office of International Affairs. isa@niu.edu.tw
- Address: No. 1, Section 1, Shennong Road, Yilan City, Yilan County 260, Taiwan
- Apply at: https://ccsys1.niu.edu.tw/InterExam/
