Taipei: A Chinese student admitted to National Taiwan University (NTU) will be ineligible to enroll due to his residency status, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announced on Thursday.
According to Focus Taiwan, the issue arises from the student's status as a minor dependent. The boy, who came to Taiwan at a young age with his Chinese parents-legal residents running a local business-will lose his eligibility to remain in Taiwan once he turns 18, as explained by MAC deputy head and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh at a routine press conference.
Local media reports reveal that the student has been studying in Taiwan since elementary school and is currently attending a senior high school in Nantou County. Earlier this year, his school recommended him for admission to NTU through the Stars Program. However, he will be unable to enroll when he turns 18 in August. His father mentioned that the student has also been admitted to universities in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Taiwan's Stars Program is an admissions pathway introduced in 2007, allowing high schools to recommend top students to universities to enhance access to higher education. Liang mentioned that the student could return to Taiwan under different arrangements, such as visiting family or entering as an exchange student after turning 18.
Liang clarified that the decision on whether the student can enroll in a Taiwanese university lies with the Ministry of Education (MOE). He emphasized that the student would need to leave Taiwan after turning 18 due to the expiration of his dependent residency status. He also noted that similar cases have occurred in the past, and no special exemptions would be made.
Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao reiterated that current regulations offer no flexibility, expressing hope for the student's future opportunities. The MOE stated that once an individual reaches adulthood, the basis for minor dependent residency is lost, preventing continued study or residence in Taiwan. The ministry also clarified that admission pathways like the Stars Program are based solely on academic qualifications, open to all, including Chinese and foreign students. Furthermore, China currently prohibits Chinese students from studying in Taiwan.