Military Academy Admissions (Taiwan)軍校招生

Overview

Taiwan's military academies admit officer cadets through a joint selection run each year by the Ministry of National Defense's admissions committee for the military schools' regular programme (正期班). Cadets study for a bachelor's degree and are commissioned as officers on graduation.

The participating schools are the Army, Navy and Air Force Academies, the National Defense Medical University, and the three colleges of the National Defense University (Political Warfare, Management, and Science and Engineering).

This page describes the 2026 intake. The brochure uses Taiwan's Minguo calendar (academic year 115, which is 2026); the dates below are converted to the Gregorian calendar.

Who can apply

• Age: 17 to 22, meaning born between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2009 for the 2026 intake. This applies to school leavers, other young people, reservists and alternative-service reservists.

• Education: graduation from a public or registered private senior high or vocational school, or an equivalent qualification recognised under Ministry of Education rules.

• Nationality: Republic of China (Taiwan) nationality with household registration in Taiwan and no foreign nationality. Dual nationals must submit official proof that they have renounced the other nationality.

• Exams: you must sit that year's General Scholastic Ability Test (GSAT, 學測), or for the vocational route the Technological and Vocational Education Joint College Entrance Exam (統測).

• You must also pass an intelligence test (score of 100 or more), take the all-out national defence online test, and pass the medical examination before applying.

Admission routes

There are five routes:

Some routes can be combined; for example, high school students may apply through both school recommendation and personal application.

There are three funding types: military-funded cadets (軍費生) at all schools, self-funded students at the National Defense Medical University, and sponsored trainees at the medical university and the College of Science and Engineering. The 2026 intake offers 1,536 places in total, including 1,306 general military-funded places, 167 flight cadet places, 34 sponsored places and 29 self-funded places.

Exam pattern

Selection has two stages.

Stage 1: screening. The committee checks your documents, intelligence test, national defence test and medical result. For GSAT routes, each department first sets a minimum GSAT standard per subject, then shortlists a multiple of its places by ranking chosen subject scores. For the vocational route, all eligible applicants go to stage 2 first and are screened afterwards on their 統測 scores in Chinese, English, mathematics and two specialised subjects; no subject may be zero.

Stage 2: oral test and interview. Shortlisted candidates attend an oral test and an interview (each interview 5 to 10 minutes) at one of ten exam venues. The oral test is pass or fail at 60 out of 100 and does not count toward the total. Applicants to the Applied Arts Department of the Political Warfare College also take a talent test, either a live performance of up to five minutes or a portfolio.

The final score combines the weighted GSAT (or 統測) scores with the interview and document review, with weights set by each department. Failing any item, or scoring zero in any GSAT subject, means you are not admitted.

Important dates

For the 2026 intake:

How to apply

1. Book and take the intelligence test and the national defence online test through the Ministry of National Defense recruitment website (rdrc.mnd.gov.tw).

2. Book a medical examination online and attend a designated hospital.

3. Sit the GSAT, or plan to sit the 統測 if using the vocational route.

4. Register online in March and upload the application form, exam score report, photo, ID card, household registration, student card or diploma, school conduct record and test certificates.

5. If shortlisted, print your admission ticket and attend the stage 2 tests.

After the exam

Admitted cadets start with eight weeks of basic training. Most programmes last four years; medicine, dentistry and pharmacy at the National Defense Medical University last six.

Military-funded graduates must serve as regular officers for at least 10 years from commissioning. The minimum is 14 years for those who complete flight training, for academy cadets who graduate from a foreign military academy, and for medical graduates; it is 12 years for dentistry and pharmacy graduates. A military-funded cadet who is dismissed, or who leaves before completing the required service, must repay the funding and allowances received.

Students dismissed for failing grades in the first or second year may apply to transfer to their service branch's NCO college.

Preparation tips

• Check each department's detailed rules (校系分則) in the brochure for its GSAT subjects, weights and minimum standards.

• Book the medical exam early, since it must be done before registration closes.

• Practise for a short interview: each one lasts 5 to 10 minutes and needs 60 or more to pass.