Academia Sinica - Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) - Internship

Benefit

You will receive a monthly stipend (a fixed living allowance) of approximately 850 EUR (30,000 NTD before tax) for a stay of two-month research internship at the Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan, or at a partner university. In addition to this amount, you will receive:

• Half the price of your cheapest economy return flight will be refunded, up to a maximum of approximately 425 EUR (15,000 NTD).
• The opportunity to live on campus at an affordable price – around 4,000 NTD per month for a shared room.
• Free basic Chinese classes.
• Hands-on laboratory work alongside a Principal Investigator, the senior scientist overseeing your project.

At the end, you will present your work and receive a written assessment from your supervising researcher. This may stand you in good stead should you later apply for a TIGP PhD programme. The programme is run by Academia Sinica, Taiwan’s leading research institution.

Eligibility

• Where you are in your studies: You are in the final year of your Bachelor’s degree and will complete it by August, or you are a Master’s student who already holds a Bachelor’s degree, or you already hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
• Field of study: You are studying natural sciences, engineering or computer science.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality may apply, provided they are not from Taiwan.
• First time only: You haven’t completed this work placement yet.
• Not staff: You are not currently employed by the Academia Sinica, either as a research assistant or in any other capacity.
• Passport: You already hold a valid passport, as its number is required to submit the application.
• Not for PhD students: If you are already studying for a PhD, you cannot apply.

How to apply

Online applications must be submitted via the TIGP-IIP portal between 1 January and 28 February (application deadline: 28 February, 23:59 Taipei time). You must submit a CV, a personal statement, your official academic transcript and two letters of recommendation. You must also select exactly three supervisors from the list. The results will be announced in the first week of April.

How realistic are your chances?

The programme is quite narrowly defined. It is aimed exclusively at international students of the natural sciences who are not yet pursuing a PhD, and you must align your application with specific visiting researchers. If your background matches that of one of the research groups on offer and you submit a strong personal statement and convincing references, your chances are good. Apply early, well before the application deadline at the end of February. This will help you avoid last-minute system issues and give your referees plenty of time to submit their references.