Details

• Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
• MAEXINT-24
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

There were no special documents required for the application at WU (just follow the regular application process) and neither for NTU. For example, I did not need to submit an English language certificate and also no minimum GPA was required. However, it does get a little more complicated once you get accepted at NTU. The university requires a certain amount covered by accident and medical insurance, where I faced some issues. I would therefore recommend starting the preparation process early to avoid delays and have enough time to solve issues. My insurance was from Allianz but my certification was not accepted by NTU at first even though the insurance fulfilled all requirements. Additionally, all exchange students need to submit a health check form. This health check can be done in Taiwan, but it is highly recommended to do it in your home country at your general physician before leaving. I would also recommend not doing this last minute before leaving. Last but not least, all exchange students need a valid visa. I found the application process to be quite simple: book an appointment at the nearest representative office, then prepare and submit the necessary documents (insurance certificate, flight bookings, ID photo, valid passport etc.). It only took about two business days until I received my visa. I would recommend getting the multiple-entry visa which makes international travels during the exchange semester a lot easier.

2. Accommodation

Accommodation was a sensitive topic among NTU exchange students. NTU has dorms on and off campus but not every exchange student is guaranteed to get a room there. There is a lottery system that assigns rooms to applicants. I was lucky to get a single room in the Prince Dorm near campus (but not on campus!) which was one of the best options. The room was spacious and clean and the rent was rather cheap. The area is also perfect for students with a lot of nice shops and cheap restaurants and you can easily walk to campus within a few minutes. I would definitely recommend applying for a dorm at NTU but still have a backup option if the lottery system does not assign you a room. A lot of exchange students looked for apartments on other public platforms and usually got rooms or apartments that were rather located in the city center and that were more expensive than the dorms.

3. Academic life at host university

NTU has a huge campus which almost functions like a small town. There’s a health center, post office, bank, many food options (cafeterias, convenience stores, even bubble tea stores!), and different sports facilities (gym, pool, tennis/basketball courts). NTU also has a variety of students clubs, some of which are open for exchange students to join. The courses I took at NTU were all recommended to exchange students and thus taught in English and very international. I found them to be quite similar to my previous courses at WU. Also, the course load and structure was similar to WU, with a lot of group work, essays, and presentations but luckily no actual exams.

5. Every day life in the host country

Taipei has a good MRT (subway) system and bus routes. The fares are about 20-30 NTD per ride and can easily be paid with the Student ID which functions as an “EasyCard”. There are also “YouBikes”, which are free for the first 30 minutes and are perfect for getting around the huge campus or the city. Taiwan is a super safe country; for example, people often use their belongings to reserve seats at restaurants and cafés and nobody steals them. Also, Taiwan is a beautiful country with lots of breathtaking landscapes. I would highly recommend to go hiking, take weekend trips around the country, or use the chance to visit other countries in East Asia.

6. Testimonial

Overall, I truly enjoyed my stay at NTU in Taipei. Taiwan is very underrated even though the country has so much to offer, from amazing food at night markets to beautiful nature and a vibrant city life (especially at night). I also loved being on campus every day, meeting new people, and having the chance to learn Mandarin alongside my regular courses. Taiwanese people are very open and welcoming towards foreigners and speak English quite well, but knowing some Mandarin is always useful. I would recommend Taiwan to anyone who wants to explore a totally different culture while also having the opportunity to travel easily and explore different parts of the country and the region.