📅 Last Updated: 8 November 2026
Taiwan International Internship Program 2027 — Paid Research at Academia Sinica
The Taiwan International Internship Program (TIIP) 2027 gives overseas students a paid two-month summer research internship at Academia Sinica, Taiwan’s leading national research institution, or one of its partner universities. Interns receive a stipend of NTD 30,000 a month (about USD 1,000, before tax), get half of their cheapest economy return airfare reimbursed (up to NTD 15,000), can rent low-cost on-campus housing, and work in a real lab under a host scientist they choose. There is no application fee.
The programme is run by Academia Sinica’s Department of International Affairs together with the Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP), which also offers funded PhDs. That makes TIIP a strong first step for Pakistani BS and MS students who are thinking about a PhD in Taiwan. This guide covers the stipend and real costs, who can apply, the documents, how to pick your three mentors, the batches and dates, and how to apply.
| 🏛️ Host | Academia Sinica, Taipei (and TIGP partner universities) |
| 🎓 Programme | Taiwan International Internship Program (TIIP / TIGP-IIP 2027) |
| 🔬 Type | Pre-doctoral summer research internship |
| ⏳ Duration | 2 months |
| 💰 Stipend | NTD 30,000/month before tax (about USD 1,000) |
| ✈️ Airfare | Half of cheapest economy return fare, max NTD 15,000 |
| 🏠 Housing | On-campus rooms from about NTD 4,000/month (intern pays) |
| 👥 Who Can Apply | Final-year BS students, MS students, BS or master’s graduates |
| 💵 Application Fee | None |
| 📅 Application Window | 15 Dec 2026 – 15 Jan 2027, 23:59 Taiwan time |
| 🗓️ Internship Batches | May–June, June–July or July–August 2027 |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistani Students | Eligible (open to overseas candidates) |
| 🔗 Official Page | TIGP: Taiwan International Internship Program |
What Is the Taiwan International Internship Program?
TIIP is an intensive pre-doctoral research training programme for overseas students, started in 2009. Interns join a research group at Academia Sinica or a TIGP partner university, work on a real project under a host scientist (called a host mentor or PI), and present their results at the end.
Academia Sinica is Taiwan’s national academy and its most important research institution, with institutes across the life sciences, mathematics and physical sciences, and humanities and social sciences. Which fields are open to interns depends on the 2027 Host Mentor List, so check that list for your subject (verify on official website).
Beyond lab work, the programme includes:
- An orientation to Academia Sinica and TIGP
- Visits to TIGP partner institutions, plus sightseeing and field trips
- Free basic Chinese (Mandarin) classes, which you can skip if you already speak Mandarin or your mentor agrees
- A final report or poster presentation on your research
- A certificate ceremony
Your host scientist also writes an evaluation report, which can support a later application to a TIGP PhD.
Stipend and Financial Support
- 💰 Stipend: NTD 30,000 a month before tax, for two months. TIGP pays NTD 20,000 and your host mentor pays NTD 10,000.
- 💵 Payment: in cash, after the 15th of each month
- ✈️ Airfare: half of the cheapest economy return fare from your hometown to Taipei, up to NTD 15,000
- 🏠 Housing: help arranging affordable on-campus rooms at Academia Sinica
- 📚 Training: free basic Chinese classes, orientation and field trips
- 🆓 Application fee: none
Read the airfare rules carefully:
- Airfare is reimbursed only after you successfully complete the internship, about one week before it ends. You must buy your ticket yourself first.
- Only the cheapest route counts. Compare fares before you book.
- If several interns come from the same place in the same batch, everyone is reimbursed based on the lowest fare among them.
What isn’t covered: food, local transport, accommodation rent, visa costs and personal expenses. TIGP also doesn’t provide airport pickup, so you must be able to travel to the campus on your own.
A Realistic Two-Month Budget
Here is a rough picture of the money for one intern based in Taipei. Figures are in New Taiwan Dollars (NTD); check current exchange rates and fares.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Stipend (2 months, before tax) | + NTD 60,000 |
| Airfare reimbursement (paid near the end) | + up to NTD 15,000 |
| On-campus room (about NTD 4,000 × 2) | − about NTD 8,000 |
| Return flight Pakistan–Taipei (paid upfront) | − your actual fare |
| Food, transport, phone, personal costs | − depends on lifestyle |
The stipend should cover rent and modest living costs in Taipei, but bring enough money for your ticket and your first few weeks. Your first stipend payment comes only after the 15th of your first month, and the airfare reimbursement comes at the end.
Who Can Apply? Eligibility for 2027
TIIP 2027 is open to overseas candidates, including Pakistani students, who are:
- Undergraduates who will have received their BS (or a BS+MS dual degree) by August 2028. In practice this means students in the third or final year of a BS.
- Master’s students (MS/MPhil) who already hold a BS
- Graduates holding a BS or master’s degree
You can’t apply if you are:
- Currently enrolled in a PhD programme
- A previous TIIP/TIGP-IIP participant
- A current employee or research assistant at Academia Sinica
English test: IELTS or TOEFL is not required, but the FAQ recommends including a score if English isn’t your first language. There’s no nationality restriction stated for overseas applicants.
✅ Great Fit For
- BS students in their 3rd or 4th year in science, engineering or related fields
- MS/MPhil students who want research experience abroad
- Students planning a PhD in Taiwan or elsewhere
- Students who want a paid summer abroad with no application fee
- Anyone who can travel independently and cover upfront costs
❌ Not For
- PhD students
- Past TIIP interns
- Students who need a fully funded trip with all costs paid upfront
- Students who can’t be in Taiwan for the full two months
- Students whose field has no mentor on the 2027 list
Documents You Need
Everything is submitted online. Paper or emailed applications aren’t accepted.
- Completed online application form, including the survey and the policy agreement (you type your name to accept)
- CV
- Statement of Purpose
- Official transcript with your university’s stamp and the registrar’s signature. Self-printed or portal-generated transcripts are not valid.
- Two recommendation letters, uploaded as PDFs by your referees through the portal before the deadline
- Optional: degree certificates, publications, awards and an English test score
Recommendation letters are the most common reason applications fail. Without both letters by the deadline your application is invalid. Hard copies and emailed letters aren’t accepted. TIGP won’t contact your referees for you, so you must remind them. You can log in to check: a date next to a referee’s name means their letter has arrived.
Each letter has no set format, but your full name must appear and match your application.
Choosing Your Three Host Mentors
This is the most important part of the application. According to the official FAQ:
- You must choose exactly three different mentors from the drop-down list in the application form.
- Only mentors on the 2027 Host Mentor List can host interns. If your preferred scientist isn’t on the list, you can’t choose them.
- Don’t email scientists who aren’t on the list. Contacting listed mentors is optional, and you shouldn’t wait for replies before submitting.
- You can’t change mentors or other details after you submit.
How to choose well:
- Open the 2027 Host Mentor List (linked from the TIIP Apply page and the application portal).
- Read each mentor’s lab website and recent papers. Shortlist those closest to your coursework, final-year project or thesis.
- In your Statement of Purpose, explain clearly why their research fits your background and plans. Generic statements are easy to spot.
- Spread your choices sensibly. Choosing three very famous labs in one field may reduce your chances.
📅 Key Dates 2027
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Application opens | 15 December 2026 |
| Application deadline | 15 January 2027, 23:59 Taiwan time (8:59 pm Pakistan time) |
| Results | First week of April, on the TIGP/IIP website (verify on official website) |
| Batch 1 | 1 May – 30 June 2027 |
| Batch 2 | 1 June – 31 July 2027 |
| Batch 3 | 1 July – 31 August 2027 |
Some older pages and the FAQ on the application portal still show the previous window (1 January – 28 February). The current 2027 dates on the portal’s home page are 15 December 2026 – 15 January 2027.
Selected interns receive an admission letter by email and post. You must arrive in Taiwan within 10 days of your batch’s start date. The FAQ says interns can’t switch batches themselves, though the programme page notes the host mentor can request different dates.
Accommodation and Arrival
- At Academia Sinica: TIGP helps arrange on-campus housing. A twin room with bunk beds costs about NTD 4,000 a month; the price varies by room type and length of stay.
- How to book: after results are announced, email the TIGP dormitory office at tigpdorm@gate.sinica.edu.tw.
- At a partner university outside Taipei: your host mentor arranges off-campus housing.
- No airport pickup: TIGP shares directions only, so plan your route from Taoyuan Airport to Nangang in advance.
- Visa: check Taiwan’s visa rules for Pakistani passport holders with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office and ask TIGP which documents your admission letter covers (verify on official website).
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Now: ask two teachers or supervisors who know your work to be your referees, and request an official stamped transcript from your university.
- Study the 2027 Host Mentor List and shortlist three mentors.
- Draft your CV and Statement of Purpose, tailored to your chosen labs.
- From 15 December 2026: create an account on the TIGP-IIP application portal. The “Create Account” button appears when applications open.
- Fill in the form, add your referees’ details (they receive login emails to upload their letters), upload your documents and choose your three mentors.
- Submit at least a week early, then remind your referees and check the portal until both letters show a date.
- In April: check the TIGP/IIP website and your email for results.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Be specific in your Statement of Purpose. Mention your mentors’ research topics, the methods you already know (lab techniques, programming, data analysis) and what you hope to learn.
- Show research experience, even small: a final-year project, a lab course, a summer project or a poster.
- Pick referees who can write in detail about your research ability. A detailed letter from a project supervisor is better than a short one from a senior name.
- Add an English score if you have one, even though it isn’t required.
- Use the optional upload for publications, competition awards or certificates.
Gradualin Editor’s Note: TIIP is one of the few paid research internships in Asia with no application fee that accepts final-year BS students, which makes it very attractive for Pakistani students. Be ready for upfront costs, though: you buy your own ticket and are only reimbursed for half of the cheapest fare at the end. Most applications that fail do so because of missing recommendation letters or an unofficial transcript, so sort those out first. For questions, email tiip@gate.sinica.edu.tw.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can Pakistani students apply for the Taiwan International Internship Program 2027?
Yes. TIIP is open to overseas candidates, and no nationality restriction is listed. You must be a final-year BS student, a master’s student or a BS/master’s graduate, and not a PhD student.
Is the TIIP internship fully funded?
Not fully. You get NTD 30,000 a month before tax and half of your cheapest economy return airfare (up to NTD 15,000). You pay for accommodation, food, transport and the rest of your ticket.
Is there an application fee?
No. Applying is free.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
No. English test scores aren’t required, but they’re recommended for non-native speakers.
How many mentors can I choose?
Exactly three, from the official 2027 Host Mentor List. You can’t change them after submitting.
Can my referees email their recommendation letters?
No. Referees must upload their letters as PDFs through the online portal. Emailed and paper letters aren’t accepted.
When will results be announced?
The FAQ says results are announced in the first week of April on the TIGP/IIP website (verify on official website). Selected interns get an admission letter by email and post.
Can I choose my internship dates?
There are three batches: May–June, June–July and July–August 2027. You can’t switch batches yourself after selection, and you must arrive within 10 days of your batch’s start.
Can TIIP help me get a PhD in Taiwan?
It can help. Your host scientist writes an evaluation report that can support a later application to the Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) PhD.
I did TIIP before. Can I apply again?
No. Previous TIIP participants aren’t eligible.
🔗 Official Sources
📋 Summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | Taiwan International Internship Program (TIIP) 2027 |
| Host | Academia Sinica, Taipei, and TIGP partner universities |
| Duration | 2 months (May–June, June–July or July–August 2027) |
| Stipend | NTD 30,000/month before tax |
| Airfare | Half of cheapest economy return, max NTD 15,000, after completion |
| Housing | About NTD 4,000/month on campus (intern pays) |
| Eligibility | Final-year BS, MS students, BS/master’s graduates; no PhD students |
| Documents | CV, Statement of Purpose, official transcript, 2 recommendation letters |
| Mentors | Choose exactly 3 from the 2027 list |
| English Test | Not required (recommended) |
| Fee | None |
| Application Window | 15 Dec 2026 – 15 Jan 2027, 23:59 Taiwan time |
| Results | First week of April (verify on official website) |
Explore more on Gradualin: Scholarships, Jobs & Internships, Events & Conferences, and Guidelines & Resources.
Stay updated with the latest scholarships, jobs, and opportunities at Gradualin.com — your trusted guide to studying abroad for free.
