Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA)

Overview

Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA) is Taiwan's premier public arts university, located in the Guandu area of Taipei's Beitou District. The School of Film and New Media, established in 2009, houses three departments: Filmmaking, New Media Art, and Animation. The school enrolls students from Taiwan and other Chinese-speaking regions, with instruction conducted primarily in Mandarin Chinese.

Undergraduate tuition is approximately NTD 60,000 to 78,000 per year (roughly $1,800 to $2,400 USD), making TNUA one of the most affordable film schools in the world. Graduate tuition is calculated by credits at NTD 1,600 per credit, with an estimated annual cost of approximately NTD 580,000 (roughly $17,800 USD) based on 8 credits per term, plus thesis guidance and internship fees. The 2026 international student application period runs from January 2 to March 22, 2026.

Students who want production training within a dedicated arts university environment, with direct access to Taiwan's film industry and the Golden Horse Awards ecosystem, at a fraction of the cost of US or European film schools, should consider TNUA. Students who do not speak Mandarin Chinese fluently should verify language requirements before applying, as most coursework is conducted in Chinese.

Programs Offered

The School of Film and New Media offers degrees across three departments:

Department of Filmmaking:

• BA in Filmmaking - a four-year undergraduate production program covering directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and sound. Students produce short films throughout the program.
• MFA in Filmmaking - a graduate production program with specializations in directing and screenwriting. Students complete a thesis film project.

Department of New Media Art:

• BA in New Media Art - undergraduate program in interactive media, digital art, and emerging technologies
• MFA in New Media Art - graduate program exploring the intersection of art, technology, and media

Department of Animation:

• MFA in Animation - graduate program in animated filmmaking, covering both Japanese and international animation traditions

TNUA also offers MA programs in film studies and a PhD track. The university's broader structure includes six colleges: Music, Fine Arts, Theatre, Dance, Film and New Media, and Cultural Resources. Students in the filmmaking department can collaborate with students in theater, music, and visual arts, reflecting the interdisciplinary approach of the university.

Facilities and Campus

TNUA's campus in the Guandu area of Taipei provides a dedicated arts university environment with production facilities including studios, editing rooms, and screening spaces. The campus is located at No. 1, Xueyuan Road, Beitou District, Taipei City 112, Taiwan.

The School of Film and New Media integrates film production with new media and animation, giving students access to cross-disciplinary equipment and workflows. The school's connection to industry trends is maintained through collaborative research and development partnerships with Taiwanese media companies.

Taipei's cultural infrastructure provides additional resources for film students. The city hosts the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, the most recognized Chinese-language film awards, and the Taipei Film Festival. The Ministry of Culture funds production, distribution, and talent development programs that TNUA graduates can access as they build their careers.

Tuition and Financial Aid

TNUA is a public university, and tuition rates are set by the Taiwanese government:

Additional fees apply for thesis guidance, internships, and department-specific costs. International students should consult the 2026 admission handbook for the most current tuition and dormitory fee information. Detailed tuition information is available at https://tuition.tnua.edu.tw/.

Cost of living in Taipei is moderate by East Asian capital standards. A single person can expect to spend approximately NTD 25,000 to 35,000 per month ($770 to $1,080 USD) on housing, food, and transportation. University dormitory housing is available at subsidized rates.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

TNUA's connection to Taiwanese cinema runs deep. Edward Yang, who won the Best Director Award at Cannes for Yi Yi (2000) and co-founded the Taiwanese New Cinema movement alongside Hou Hsiao-hsien, taught theatre and film classes at TNUA. Several of his students appeared in his films as actors.

Notable alumni include:

• Hsiao Ya-chuan - Film director and screenwriter. His work includes The Wayward Cloud (as writer) and other Taiwanese independent cinema projects.
• Hsieh Ying-hsuan - Actress, known for roles in Taiwanese film and television including A Sun (2019), which won the Golden Horse Award for Best Feature Film.
• Jag Huang - Actor with an extensive career in Taiwanese cinema and theater.
• Jian Man-shu - Actress, screenwriter, and director working in Taiwanese film and television.
• Kaiser Chuang - Actor known for roles in Taiwanese film and television productions.
• Jacklyn Wu - Actress who has appeared in both Taiwanese and international productions.

Hou Hsiao-hsien, the celebrated Taiwanese director who won the Jury Prize at Cannes for The Puppetmaster (1993) and the Best Director Award at Cannes for The Assassin (2015), attended the National Taiwan Academy of Arts, a predecessor institution to TNUA. His association with the institution helped establish its reputation in film education.

What Students Should Know

TNUA teaches primarily in Mandarin Chinese. Prospective international students must demonstrate Chinese language proficiency. The school attracts students from Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, and other Chinese-speaking regions. Some programs may offer limited English-language coursework, but students should not rely on this. The international student application period for 2026 runs from January 2 to March 22, 2026.

The School of Film and New Media was established in 2009, making it a relatively young film school compared to institutions in Japan, South Korea, or the United States. However, its faculty includes working filmmakers and artists active in Taiwanese and international cinema, and the school's interdisciplinary structure within a dedicated arts university gives students access to a broader creative community.

Taiwan's film industry is smaller than those of mainland China, Japan, or South Korea, but it has produced internationally recognized cinema disproportionate to its size. The Golden Horse Awards, often called the "Chinese-language Oscars," are held annually in Taipei and provide TNUA students with direct exposure to industry professionals. TNUA student films have been selected for Golden Horse competitions and other major Asian film festivals.

Government support through the Ministry of Culture funds production, distribution, and talent development. TNUA graduates can access these funding mechanisms, including grants for first-time filmmakers and international co-production support, as they build their careers.

See Also

For understanding Asian cinema markets and co-production opportunities, see International Film Markets. To explore visual storytelling fundamentals, use the Aspect Ratio Calculator. For planning a student film production schedule, use the Post-Production Timeline Calculator.