Education Ministry Approves Additional Dormitory Funding for More Than 55,000 Beds

Taiwan's Education Ministry says dormitory improvements approved so far cover more than 55,000 university beds, as student groups call for better and more equal housing conditions before the academic year begins.

By August, the ministry had approved 63 projects at 49 universities, covering 55,278 beds and involving about NT$3.2 billion. A further 13 projects at 12 universities received interest subsidies for construction loans. Those projects cover 11,172 beds, with the subsidized loans totaling about NT$3.1 billion.

The ministry said it has operated a student accommodation improvement program since 2019 and continued it through the New Dormitory Movement 2.0 from 2024 to 2028. The measures include funding for renovations and new construction, as well as interest support for building loans.

Since February 2024, students have also been eligible for on-campus housing subsidies of up to NT$5,000 per semester. Economically disadvantaged students and children of serving military personnel can receive up to NT$7,000.

The ministry raised its improvement grants in 2024 to reflect construction costs and universities' needs. The maximum subsidy for renovating or building a dormitory increased from NT$42,000 to NT$52,000 per bed. Converting existing buildings into dormitories rose from NT$84,000 to NT$104,000 per bed. Officials said they will assess whether to increase the subsidy ratio further and continue helping universities develop improvement plans.