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Academics

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

Participate in full-time, undergraduate research in a wide range of fields at Taiwan National University (NTU). Modern laboratories are housed under colleges dedicated to bio resources and agriculture, biotechnology, electrical engineering and computer science, engineering, law, liberal arts, life science, management, medicine, public health, science, and social sciences. In a team environment, you’ll work under the direction of local faculty and graduate students on your research project. Excursions, cultural activities, and a Taiwan-focused lecture series complement research time.

Unique study opportunities

Following are just a few of the exciting topics students have investigated:

  • Micro electrical systems and nanotechnology
  • Food biotechnology
  • Robot manipulation and uncertainty modeling
  • Computer aided surgery technology
  • Perception and attention
  • Genomic approaches
  • Sustainable energy applications and artificial photosynthesis
  • Stem cell research, engineering, and biomaterials development
  • Comparative and gender politics
  • Linguistics
  • Macroeconomics, financial economics, and micro-finance
  • 19th-century American literature
  • Psychology and law
  • Social stratification and social mobility sociology

Language

Language of Instruction: English

Language Study: None

Courses and credit

Requirements While Abroad

To successfully complete this program: 

  • Take two courses for a total of 9 quarter/6 semester UC units.
    • Lab Research (6 quarter/4 semester UC units) for a letter grade only.
    • Exploring Taiwan course (3 quarter/2 semester UC units) for a letter grade or pass/no pass. 
  • Attendance is mandatory and affects the final grade.

Current Program Courses

Information about potential research opportunities is typically available on the NTU website in January. You will be asked to rank your research preferences as part of your application. 

There are two required courses in this program: 

  • Lab Research: Lab time is generally 30 or more hours per week, including weekly team meetings. The time commitment varies depending on the project and your assigned lab team. The subject area will be based on your research topic. Upper division.
  • Exploring Taiwan offers a series of lectures, cultural activities, and excursions to look at Taiwan's geography, society, and culture. Lower division.

Additional or optional coursework, internships, and research for academic credit are not possible on this program.

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. During lab research, you will be treated as a PhD student with a high degree of independence and responsibility. Professors will expect passionate study and research habits, fresh ideas, 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.

In the “Exploring Taiwan” course, you’ll experience a mix of in-class lectures, three field trips, and Chinese culture activities. The lectures provide in-depth studies on specific social-cultural aspects of Taiwan. The field trips are a way to supplement class lectures. The final project includes an essay and group video presentation. 

Grades

You will earn direct UC credit and grades for all coursework. Grades for this program are generally expected by late October.