Exchange Report

If you are only going for free electives, pick any university and city that interests you. If you're ambitious or want to get some core/specialisation courses recognised, check that the university offers them. I was looking for a city and place with good infrastructure, since I wanted to see a lot, and another aspect was budget-friendliness, which was great in Taiwan.

One option is My Room, another is Facebook, and there are dozens of other platforms as well. For us, Airbnb worked out pretty well since we were looking for a whole apartment and only needed it for 4 months. At some places, you have to pay extra if you’re renting for a shorter period (less than 6 months). As for the location, I would recommend something like the Daan district or somewhere nearby, since it’s easy to get anywhere from there. If you’re not really into partying, then a district further outside the city might be a better fit. We lived in Xindian, and I really liked the opportunities to run along the river and play tennis at public courts. Proximity to the school depends on how many courses and extracurricular activities you’re planning to take.

The campus is pretty straightforward. You’ll get a map, and the floor-and-room system is similar to WU's. If you don’t know where a building is, just ask your exchange buddy (you’ll be assigned one by the university). Try to get course recommendations from other exchange students, as the English of some professors isn’t the best and some courses are more interactive and fun.

Public transport in Taipei is very convenient—get the T-pass for the months when you expect to move around the city the most. (The T-pass is basically a subscription that you load onto your EasyCard, which is the main public transport card used across most of Taiwan.) In Taipei, try to avoid using buses if possible (not always, but they can be slower or less predictable). Outside of Taipei, buses are actually very useful and can get you around the surrounding areas conveniently. Getting around the west coast is easiest with a combination of the high-speed train and renting a scooter. The east coast is better suited for a road trip. People in Taiwan are some of the friendliest I’ve ever met. Try to learn a bit of Chinese—they’ll really appreciate it. Taiwan is quite a sporty country, with great facilities for running, swimming, climbing, golf, tennis, badminton, and more. If you’re an outdoorsy person, this can be a great destination. Just be aware that for some activities, you may need to apply for permits, as there are certain regulations in place.

A country you can explore quite well in 4 months—especially if you don’t take too many ECTS :) Get ready to try some of the best food you’ve ever had, and also be prepared not to eat “normal” pastries (especially bread) for a few months. Be ready not to cook much and to meet some of the loveliest and most hospitable people in the world.