A Postcard from Taiwan: Why You Should Consider the Taiwan Fellowship
Dr Frank Siedlok, a Senior Lecturer in Strategy at the University of St Andrews Business School, was awarded a 2025 Taiwan Fellowship, and has just arrived in Taiwan, to begin research into Taiwan’s bicycle industry, IT and innovation. With applications for the 2026 Taiwan Fellowships closing on 30 June, we caught up with Dr Siedlok, to hear more about the Taiwan Fellowship and research environment.
If you’ve ever thought about research that connects to Taiwan, or you’re the kind of person who enjoys a bit of adventure and a fast-paced, can-do research environment—then Taiwan might just be the place for you.
And if you haven’t yet heard of the Taiwan Fellowship—well, it’s time you did.
The Taiwan Fellowship is a Government-funded programme run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and delivered through the Centre for Chinese Studies. It offers a generous stipend to support research that relates to or benefits Taiwan. The scheme is broad and flexible—just have a look at the range of past projects, and you’ll see how many different fields it covers.
A quick shout-out here: there are surprisingly few industry-focused projects in the mix so far, and not many that cross disciplinary boundaries. So if you’re from a Business School (as I am), or you’re interested in collaboration across fields, there’s a clear gap—and an opportunity.
I first heard about the Fellowship from a university friend—now a professor—who went a few years ago. They keep going back, attending conferences, working on projects, and building lasting connections. It was on my radar for a while, and this year I finally thought, why not?
How does the application work?
The process is surprisingly straightforward. It’s not about having a fully worked-out plan; it’s the general idea that counts, along with an indication of how your work will enhance understanding of Taiwan.
You’ll need endorsement from the local Taiwan Office—but good news: there is a TECO office in Edinburgh, and the Director General is very supportive of St Andrews researchers. A tip: when shaping your application, it helps to frame your project in a way that shows how it might benefit Taiwan—yes, impact still matters!
Do you need a collaborator in Taiwan? Not necessarily. You do need a host university.
St Andrews has an emerging partnership with National Taiwan University (NTU) (or Taida, as locals say), which spans summer opportunities, student exchange and joint seed funding. St Andrews also has a student exchange and links to National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) so there’s also a real opportunity to build collaborations —expand your network, exchange ideas, and explore what’s happening in this part of the world.
From my so-far limited experience (one week in!), the support has been excellent:
- I only met my host once before I arrived, and we didn’t have a pre-existing project.
- When I landed, an office space was ready, I got my campus card, and within days I was introduced to a manager at a fascinating local company—potentially the start of a new project (things really do move quickly here!).
- A similar level of support has been mentioned by past fellows, including help from PhD students for interviews, language support, and making connections—especially if your Mandarin, like mine, doesn’t get far beyond “two of those, please.”
- There’s a constant stream of talks, events, and summits—plenty to keep you busy and inspired.
I’m here for three months over the summer—not sure I’d recommend that timing unless you enjoy the feeling of being in an oven!—but the Fellowship can last up to 12 months. Each year, around 120 fellowships are awarded.
Beyond the research…
Let’s not forget the other side of life in Taiwan:
- The food. It’s fantastic, everywhere, and affordable. I already dread returning to the UK!
- YouBike. This shared bike system is brilliantly integrated with public transport, and I use it for most of my trips around town. I just love the ease of getting around!
- Hiking. Taiwan’s mountains are never far away, and they have a unique character—trust me, I’ve hiked in Scotland, England, New Zealand, and Poland. If boots and bikes make you happy, you’ll love it here.”
We will be hearing more from Dr Siedlok during his stay in Taiwan. Please contact the Global Office, if you would like to hear more or be put in touch with Dr Siedlok. Applications for the 2026 Taiwan Fellowship close on 30 June at 2359 (TST).