TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — National Taiwan University on Wednesday responded to a graduate student's claim that his enrollment status was altered without authorization, saying there is no conclusive evidence of a cybersecurity breach.
The student, surnamed Chen (陳), said he was admitted to a graduate program and completed the required online registration in March. In June, Chen discovered that his enrollment had been declined, CNA and SET reported.
University staff at the Office of Academic Affairs found that on May 23, someone accessed the registration system using Chen’s national ID number and submitted a request to forfeit his admission. The system cannot confirm whether the action was taken by Chen or another individual.
NTU said this is the first reported incident of its kind. It added that, without definitive evidence, it is premature to conclude the system was compromised. The university plans to convene a meeting by the end of July to review the case and determine next steps.
Chen reported the incident to police, citing alleged violations of the Offenses Against Computer Security under Taiwan law.
According to the Guishan Precinct, a preliminary investigation traced the system access to an IP address in Nantou County. Police said Chen previously studied in central Taiwan and they are considering a possible regional link.
The case is under investigation. The registered user of the IP address will be summoned for questioning.
NTU confirmed that Chen’s parents have contacted the university about his enrollment status. The school said the case will be handled according to administrative procedures and reviewed by the admissions committee, with student rights taken into account.
A common offense under Taiwan’s Offenses Against Computer Security involves unauthorized access, such as using another person’s credentials, bypassing security measures, or exploiting system vulnerabilities, without permission, consent, or lawful justification, according to the Department of Information and Technology Education.
