Public Bilingual Schools in Taiwan: How to Find & Choose

Public Bilingual vs. Private Bilingual vs. Foreign/International Schools: What's the Difference

These three are most easily confused, but they differ in their legal basis. Public bilingual schools are established under Taiwan's national school system and promote bilingual teaching as part of government policy. Their tuition follows public-school rates, and they operate within school districts with Taiwanese student enrollment status. Private bilingual schools are also established under the national school system, but their fees and curricula are set by the school and offer greater flexibility. Foreign schools and international schools mostly use foreign curricula (such as IB, AP, A-Level), and some admit only students with foreign passports. Before choosing a school, be sure to identify which category it belongs to so that you can accurately compare tuition, curriculum, and future articulation to higher education.

Official data source: Ministry of Education, K-12 Education Administration

Progress of the '2030 Bilingual Policy': From About 1,202 to a Target of 7,450 School Grants

The '2030 Bilingual Policy' has been promoted by the National Development Council and the Ministry of Education since 2018 and has been extended through the 2025 school year (2025). Its goals are to strengthen citizens' English proficiency and international competitiveness. Measures include expanding bilingual schools, raising the proportion of courses taught in English, and training teachers. According to public government data, the cumulative number of school grants for bilingual teaching at high-school level and below has grown each year: about 1,202 grants by 2024, an estimated 2,130 by 2025, and a target of about 7,450 by 2030. This means that each city/county's list of bilingual schools (or bilingual curriculum schools) will change and increase year by year. A list found today is not guaranteed to remain unchanged next year. When checking, note the data year and rely on the current year's announcement from the local education bureau/department.

Official data source: National Development Council — 2030 Bilingual Policy

Admission and Tuition: Most Use District Placement and Public-School Fees

Tuition at public bilingual schools follows the standard for regular public elementary and junior high schools. Admission is usually by school district (based on household registration), and there is no extra charge for bilingual courses. However, some schools' bilingual experimental courses or special admissions classes may have separate application procedures, such as lotteries or selection, and enrollment quotas, which differ from ordinary district placement. Actual admission methods vary by school. It is recommended to confirm the current year's enrollment rules with the school you are interested in or the local education bureau/department, rather than assuming all schools labeled 'bilingual school' admit students the same way.

Official data source: Ministry of Education — Bilingual Education

Public Bilingual vs. 'All-English/Immersion': Names Don't Equal the Actual Curriculum

Bilingual teaching at public bilingual schools uses Chinese and English for 'some' subjects or activities; it is not full foreign-language instruction. Core subjects still follow the national curriculum, so there is no need to worry excessively about adverse effects on Chinese or other subjects. Actual learning outcomes vary by student and by each school's bilingual course ratio and support measures. The 'all-English' and 'immersion' programs commonly seen in the market are mostly private or cram school in nature and have a much higher proportion of English instruction than public bilingual schools. Although the names are similar, the actual curricula can be very different. When comparing, confirm directly with the school the actual ratio of instructional languages, teacher backgrounds, and course content, rather than relying only on the wording in its name.