Tzu Chi University (TCU; Chinese: 慈濟大學; ) is a private university in Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan. It was founded by the Tzu Chi Foundation (NGO) and is famous in Taiwan for the quality of the medical education it provides. TCU has strong ties with Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation (on the same premises as the university) as well as five teaching hospitals in other parts of Taiwan