Established in 1996, the Graduate Institute of Musicology (GIM) at National Taiwan University is one of the 12 academic units within the College of Liberal Arts. Initially offering Master’s programs, the Institute expanded to include a Doctoral program in 2015. GIM provides a diverse, open learning environment alongside abundant academic resources. Emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to music research, the Institute values the rich interconnectedness between cultures and fosters dynamic interactions among historical musicology, ethnomusicology, anthropology, literature, philosophy, sociology, psychology, and other academic fields. While the research and teaching primary focus centers on Asian musical cultures, they are examined through a broader international lens, recognizing Asia’s global contributions through interdisciplinary and globally-minded musicological methodologies.

"The Institute is characterized by the following features: integration among musicology-related disciplines; interdisciplinary and cross-domain collaboration; and global integration from an Asian perspective."

Faculty and Teaching Characteristics

• Emphasis on critical thinking and expression skills
• Adherence to international standards
• Courses taught in Chinese and English

Currently, the Institute has 7 full-time faculty members whose research expertise spans the musical cultures of Taiwan, China, East Asia, and Europe. Their perspectives encompass various fields related to music and sound, including history, aesthetics, analysis, anthropology, acoustics, and psychology. The full-time and adjunct faculty also includes scholars from the United States, Japan, France, India, and Indonesia. At its inception in 1996, the Institute had two full-time faculty members, Professor Ying-fen Wang and Professor Ricardo Canzio, with Professor Yu-wen Wang joining in 1998. In 2000, Professor Dong Shen, a specialist in Chinese music, joined the Institute and served as director. They formed the core teaching force until Professor Canzio’s retirement in 2006, after which three new members joined: Professors Chien-chang Yang, Chen-gia Tsai, and Jen-yen Chen. In 2009, Professor Fumitaka Yamauchi, a Japanese scholar who earned his doctorate in South Korea, joined the Institute. In addition, the Institute employs several adjunct and practical instructors responsible for World Music courses in general education, as well as various performance/practical courses, such as Nanguan, Guqin, and Indonesian and Burmese music.

Students
The diverse learning environment of the Institute attracts students from various backgrounds: approximately 50.67% of GIM students hold a bachelor's degree in music-related fields, while others come from diverse undergraduate majors. The student body also includes international degree students from Asia, the Americas, and Europe. The Institute provides extensive support to its students and strives to assist them in launching research projects both locally and abroad. Faculty and students not only serve as research assistants for the Institute's professors but have also presented numerous papers at domestic and international conferences and forums, achieving remarkable success.

Research and Development
Strategic Directions

• Abundant academic resources as part of a comprehensive research university
• A diverse, open academic culture that fosters critical reflection
• Integrated musicological training from an Asian perspective
• Interdisciplinary research
• Wealth of international exchange opportunities, ample research assistantships, and development resources
• Outstanding student performance: consistently securing full scholarships for advanced studies and accumulating extensive international presentation experience

Key Research Focuses in Recent Years

• Music and Modernity
• Music and the Body
• Sound Studies

Past Directors

１st ：Ying-fen WANG（1996.7 – 1999.8）
２nd ：Tung-hwa LEE（1999.8 – 2000.7）（文學院院長兼）
３rd： Tung SHEN（2000.8 – 2005.10）
４th：Ying-fen WANG（2005.11 – 2011.7）
５th： Yuh-wen WANG（2011.8 – 2013.7）
６th： Jen-yen CHEN（2013.8 – 2016.7）
７th： Chien-chang YANG（2016.8 – 2019.7）
８th： Yuh-wen WANG（2019.8 – 2020.3 ）
９th：Fumitaka YAMAUCHI（2020.3 – 2023.1）
10th：Chien-chang YANG (Acting Director)（2023.2 – 2023.4）
11th：Jen-yen CHEN (Acting Director)（2023.5 – 2023.7）
12th：Tasaw Hsin-chun LU（2023.8 – 2026.7）

13th : DJ Hatfield (2026.8 – )