AI and Semiconductor Boom Drives Fierce Competition for NYCU Graduate Programs

(中央社訊息服務20251225 13:27:43)National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) has reported a sharp rise in applications to its master’s programs for Academic Year 2026 (the 115th academic year), with artificial intelligence, computer science, and semiconductor-related departments emerging as the most competitive fields. Several programs recorded admission rates below three percent, underscoring the continued demand for advanced talent in Taiwan’s high-tech industries.

Despite demographic pressures affecting higher education nationwide, NYCU received 13,678 applications for its master’s and executive master’s programs — up from 11,355 last year, representing annual growth of 20.45 percent. The increase reflects strong labor-market demand for next-generation engineers and cross-disciplinary professionals.

Programs in IC design, computer science, and intelligent systems remain top choices for applicants. The ICS & EDA Group of the Institute of Pioneer Semiconductor Innovation recorded an acceptance rate of 2.17 percent. The Graduate Institute of Computer Science and Engineering drew 2,167 applicants competing for 56 seats (2.58 percent), while the Intelligent Systems Graduate Program admitted 2.56 percent of 391 applicants.

The AI-driven talent wave is also reshaping business education. Applications to the Department of Management Science master’s program in Decision and Information Analytics rose 115.72 percent year-on-year, while the Financial Decision-Making Track in the Finance Master’s Program posted an acceptance rate of just 1.98 percent — highlighting rising demand for FinTech-oriented, data-literate professionals.

NYCU Dean of Academic Affairs Professor Yong-Sheng Chen noted that graduates from computer science and related programs frequently enter leading global technology firms as algorithm and software engineers. Competitive salaries and clear career pathways, he said, continue to drive student interest in these areas. He added that industries increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making, and NYCU has strengthened its curricula by integrating data analytics and AI across management and business programs.

NYCU’s surge in applications reflects sustained investment in ICT, semiconductor engineering, and advanced management education, forming a positive cycle between academic training and industrial needs. As the global AI wave accelerates, the university will continue expanding cross-disciplinary teaching to support Taiwan’s next generation of research, engineering, and leadership talent.