Merica

What Merica does

Merica (美加文教) is a Taipei-headquartered, privately-held education services firm founded in 1965 that specializes in overseas study counseling and standardized test preparation for Taiwanese students. The company offers a full-service portfolio spanning test preparation courses (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, SAT/DSAT, TOEIC), study abroad application consulting for US/Canada/UK/Australia universities and graduate programs, high school exchange programs, group and DIY study tours, and — more recently — US university bridge courses offering transferable credits via a Marquette University partnership. Service delivery combines physical classroom instruction at the central Taipei office (Zhongzheng District) with online LIVE streaming and on-demand cloud video courses. The firm holds a first-and-exclusive partnership with ETS dating to 1992 and an official partnership with the British Council for IELTS, with these relationships providing access to original exam question copyrights and proprietary teaching materials. Its customer base is primarily high school and university students pursuing overseas education, supplemented by parents participating in consultations and working professionals preparing for TOEIC. Revenue is generated through one-time fees per course or consulting package, with course prices ranging from approximately NT$16,250 to NT$36,000 (~$515–$1,140 USD) and study abroad consulting sold in tiered packages (Elite, VIP, Conditional Admission). The company employs 1–10 staff and reaches customers through a multi-channel approach combining free public seminars featuring ETS and British Council representatives, university representative one-on-one consultations, social media (Facebook, LINE), content marketing on its website (merica.com.tw), and seasonal promotional campaigns. Merica maintains registered trademark protection for the 美加 brand name, and its 60th/61st anniversary in 2025/2026 underscores its position as one of Taiwan's longest-operating study abroad consultancies.

Name

Merica

Legal name

美加文教

Website

https://merica.com.tw

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Merica (美加文教) is a Taipei-headquartered, privately-held education services firm founded in 1965 offering standardized test preparation (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, SAT, TOEIC) and overseas study application consulting for Taiwanese students targeting US, Canada, UK, and Australia universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Test Preparation & Study Abroad Consulting

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAGADAF

International & Cross-Border Exam Prep (Cambridge/A-Levels/GAOKAO/JEE/NEET, etc.)

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Assessment, Testing & Exam Prep Publishing

SECONDARYEDANABAB

Graduate & Professional School Admissions Exams (GRE/GMAT/LSAT/MCAT) Prep

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Test Preparation (Standardized & Entrance Exams)

Keywords

• Test preparation courses
• Study abroad consulting
• Overseas education services
• Language test prep
• University application services

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Test Preparation Courses: TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, SAT, TOEIC test preparation classroom and online courses. Courses are offered in various formats including regular weekday/holiday classes and intensive summer/winter programs.
2. Study Abroad Application Consulting: Complete study abroad agency services including university/graduate school application consulting, document preparation guidance, and conditional admission programs. Offered in tiers: Elite, VIP, and Conditional Admission packages.
3. Study Tours and Exchange Programs: Summer/winter study tour groups, individual DIY study abroad services, and high school exchange student programs with partner schools in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada.
4. University Credit Courses: US university pre-college credit courses through IPERC partnership with Marquette University, offering live and recorded online courses that provide transferable US university credits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Merica is a Taiwan-based education company that delivers standardized test preparation courses (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, SAT, TOEIC) and end-to-end study abroad application consulting, including high school exchange programs, study tours, and US university bridge programs for students seeking overseas education.

Product overview

Merica (美加文教) is a study abroad and test preparation institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational services centered around test preparation courses (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, SAT/DSAT, TOEIC) and study abroad consulting. The core offerings include in-person classroom courses, online LIVE streaming, and cloud video self-study options. Beyond test prep, services extend to study abroad application assistance for US, Canada, UK, and Australia universities, high school exchange programs to the US, and group/DIY study tours. A notable partnership with IPERC provides US university bridge courses with Marquette University for credit transfer. The company operates primarily in Taiwan (Taipei) and serves students seeking education abroad in English-speaking countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TOEFL Test Preparation Course
• IELTS Test Preparation Course
• GRE Test Preparation Course
• GMAT Test Preparation Course
• SAT/DSAT Test Preparation Course
• TOEIC Test Preparation Course
• Study Abroad Application Service
• High School Exchange Program
• Study Tour Program
• DIY Individual Study Abroad Service
• US University Bridge Program (IPERC/Marquette)

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ students helped achieve high scores on standardized tests
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• ETS (Educational Testing Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 1992 making Merica the first and exclusive partner with ETS in Taiwan. Merica invested heavily to obtain official original exam question copyrights and offers official test preparation courses.
• British CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial IELTS partner hosting regular IELTS official seminars and utilizing official British Council preparation resources for IELTS courses.
• IPERC (International Pre-College Program)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with IPERC to offer US university pre-college credit courses in conjunction with Marquette University, providing transferable US university credits.
• North American Language Schools (Multiple)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive agency partnerships with numerous North American language schools, providing first-hand latest information and priority placement for study abroad students.
• Study GroupmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal education group partnership for US university admission services, featuring university representative visits and joint seminars on US study opportunities.
• INTO (Education Group)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal education group partnership featuring university representative one-on-one consultation sessions and joint marketing events for US universities.
• Various US UniversitiesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnerships with US universities including Oregon State University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Saint Louis University, Illinois State University, Hofstra University, George Mason University, and others for student recruitment and application services.
• Durham University, University of Leeds, University of SheffieldmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-master program partnerships with Russell Group and world top 100 UK universities, offering pathway programs for international students.
• University of Alberta, University of VictoriamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian university partnerships for student recruitment, with university representatives visiting Taiwan for consultation sessions.
• AIT (American Institute in Taiwan)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for US study information sessions and International Education Week events, with AIT Education Specialist presenting on US university application processes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Princeton Review: Long-standing US-based test prep provider offering GRE, GMAT, SAT, TOEFL prep and admissions consulting. Closely mirrors Merica's bundled test-prep-plus-application model for international students seeking US education.
• IDP Education: Global education services company that co-owns IELTS with British Council and runs large-scale test preparation and international student placement. Directly comparable to Merica on IELTS prep and study abroad consulting, though at a much larger global scale.
• Manhattan Prep: Premium GMAT, GRE, and admissions prep provider with strong instructor brand. Comparable to Merica's GRE/GMAT test prep and graduate admissions consulting offering, though without Merica's Asia study-tour channel.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: Global education company offering language training, study abroad, and university pathway programs. Comparable to Merica on language prep and study tours/exchange programs, but at significantly larger international scale.
• Kaplan: Major global test prep and education provider offering TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, SAT prep plus study abroad pathways. Overlaps with Merica's full test prep portfolio and university application services but operates at much broader international scale.

Regional players

• 启德教育 EIC Education: One of China's largest study abroad consultancies with comprehensive test prep and university placement services. Comparable to Merica as a Mandarin-speaking-market study abroad agency, but focused on mainland China rather than Taiwan.
• 新航道 New Channel: Major Chinese test prep and study abroad consulting chain offering TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT and SAT prep plus overseas application services. Comparable bundle offering to Merica but operating in mainland China.

Emerging players

• E2Language: Online IELTS and PTE preparation platform popular with Asia-based students. Competes head-on with Merica's IELTS offering via live online classes and AI scoring at lower price points.
• Magoosh: Online-first, lower-priced test prep platform for GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS and SAT. Represents the digital-native competitor threatening Merica's classroom-based model with cheaper, self-paced alternatives.

Others

• Study Group: Global education group that partners with universities to provide pathway and preparation programs. Merica is itself a partner of Study Group, illustrating the overlap as a comparable ecosystem participant in international student recruitment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mericafb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/merica-language-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Merica