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Academics

Fields of Study: Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, Engineering

At National Taiwan University, your curriculum will depend on your major and Chinese language ability. Engineering, economics, and management departments have particularly strong coursework taught in English and sufficient course offerings for full-time study. If you have native or near-native Chinese language ability, you will be able to take courses from a broad range of offerings taught in Chinese.

Unique study opportunities

  • Fast-track your Chinese language skills and gain up to a full year of Chinese in one semester.
  • Learn about Taiwan’s feminist movement and the social impacts on women today.
  • Explore Asian studies through Taiwanese film, museums, news, and other media.
  • Arrange an independent research project or internship for academic credit.

Language

Language of Instruction: Chinese, English

Chinese Language Study: Optional

Chinese language study is recommended and is offered from beginning to advanced levels. If you have limited Chinese language ability, you will probably need to take Chinese language study along with courses taught in English to meet minimum UC unit requirements. 

You may take a general Chinese language course for 9 quarter/6 semester UC units per semester. You can also add on a tutorial language course worth 6 quarter/4 semester UC units. In this way, some students gain up to a full year of Chinese in one semester. 

All courses taught in Chinese​ as well as Chinese language classes use traditional Chinese (complex) characters.

Courses and credit

Requirements While Abroad

To successfully complete this program: 

  • Take a full-time course of study: Four to five courses for a total of 21 quarter/14 semester UC units.
  • It is possible to take as many as 30 quarter/20 semester UC units per semester.
  • You may take a maximum of one third (33%) of your total units for pass/no pass credit. 

Current Program Courses

With coursework taught in English or Chinese in a wide range of fields, the NTU curriculum is rigorous. UC students have successfully taken courses taught in English related to business, economics, engineering, and political science, or Asian studies courses designed for international students. Those with strong Chinese language ability may take a much wider variety of subject areas. Chinese language study from beginning to advanced levels is also available.

Catalogs and resources

Academic culture

The academic environment of this program is group-oriented, mature, open-minded, and diverse. Only the best students in Taiwan have the opportunity to study at NTU, and they are generally quite advanced in their chosen fields. 

The Taiwanese sense of academic discipline is strong. Professors expect preparation, disciplined study and research habits, and 100% attendance. Traditional Taiwanese relations between student and teacher are based on respect. The position of a university professor is prestigious and students defer regardless of their own personal opinion of an instructor. Most faculty members hold doctoral degrees, and lectures by well-known international scholars are a regular feature of the curriculum.

To demonstrate cultural sensitivity and keep a good relationship with professors, take all academic questions to UCEAP staff before approaching the instructor.

Grades

You will earn direct UC credit and grades for all coursework. Generally there is one midterm exam and one final exam, or only a final exam. Many instructors do not give quizzes or homework, but language courses do require considerable homework. Some courses require term papers, presentations, or group work. 

If you have concerns about test scores and grades, discuss them only with the NTU International Office or UCEAP Academic Specialist—never with the professor of an individual course. Professors in Taiwan may take offense at seemingly harmless questions about grades. 

Fall grades are not usually available until late February or mid March due to the NTU calendar and Lunar New Year holidays. Spring grades are usually available in late September.