Studying Abroad in Taiwan July 26, 2023
By A student (Chinese Language, Literature and Biology, Wellesley College) - abroad from 02/20/2023 to 06/09/2023 with
National Taiwan University: Taipei - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Overall, I really enjoyed my study abroad at NTU. Getting to spend a semester here was a great opportunity to experience what it's like to live in Taipei and explore new things. I especially enjoyed meeting people from all different backgrounds and learning more about different cultures and perspectives.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Office of International Affairs was typically very prompt in replying, but I would have appreciated more information pre-departure to prepare for things like registration, social life, life in Taiwan, etc. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing in the dorms isn't guaranteed for all international students, so I ended up living off-campus in an apartment. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any health issues during the duration of the program, but it seems the healthcare system is overall pretty good and efficient. |
| * Safety: |
Taipei is a pretty safe city, even at night, but just make sure to watch out for traffic sometimes when walking on streets. Also something good to know before coming to Taiwan is the prevalence of scams, especially over phone or LINE. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I originally wanted to study abroad in China, and part of my reason was because I had primarily learned Simplified Chinese. Coming to NTU, there was definitely a bit of an adjustment at the beginning since Traditional Chinese can be a bit more complicated for writing and reading. I also feel that socializing with local students was a bit of a challenge at NTU since most local students make friends through clubs (some of which require fees, large time commitments, or application). |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I think the most important thing I wish I knew was that clubs are so important for socializing. Most people don't seem to socialize much through classes, so join a club if you can! |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
