New Southbound student numbers in Taiwan hit record high

台灣南漂新生人數創歷史新高

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The number of students from New Southbound Policy countries studying at Taiwan universities reached a record high in the 2024–2025 academic year.

The NSB was introduced in 2016 under former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to boost economic, technological, and cultural exchanges with 18 countries in South and Southeast Asia and parts of Oceania. They include Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Australia.

According to the education ministry, 82,622 NSB students were enrolled in 2024–2025, making up 67% of all international students, per CNA. By comparison, there were 25,289 students from those countries in 2014–2015, or 27% of all international students.

Malaysia accounted for the largest share of NSB students before 2019–2020, but Vietnam overtook it in 2020 with 17,534 students and has remained in first place since. By 2024–2025, the number of Vietnamese students had risen to 39,695.

The ministry said it is encouraging universities to adopt flexible enrollment measures to expand their international student base, while offering a wide range of scholarships, counseling, and support services. Each year, it also participates in or organizes higher education fairs and recruitment campaigns in NSB countries.