Mobility specification

Country:Taiwan

Institution:National Tsing Hua University

City:Hsinchu

Program:Partner universities

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?manageable

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?Sometimes it seemed to me that due to the amount of course load at NTHU the evaluation on our side was not adequate (usually only one extra credit was added compared to the NTHU evaluation - some exchange students received 1.5-2 times more than NTHU credit, so they could enroll in fewer courses - this also applies to European students), on the other hand I understand that it is probably not possible to give more credits for a course from abroad compared to a home course when they are sorted in the same category.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Less involvement in the discussion by students; much more workload during the semester (in the form of assignments, small and large tests, presentations, written work) - but not necessarily more challenging to finish the courses when you have completed everything (it seems to me that the assessment is noticeably lighter here) - but otherwise the workload within the semester for comparison - 5 courses at NTHU = 7-8 at MU.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes - orientation day, a couple of cultural workshops, plus the distribution of various sweets in conjunction with certain holidays (Mid-Autumn Festival, Christmas). Societies are also another option - it's also possible to go through all of them at the same time from the beginning of the semester at the fair.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
I haven’t noticed

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:7000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?No

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Food on campus is generally cheaper than in town (restaurants); 7eleven and FamilyMart have an extra discount if you show your student card. Buy drugstore items at the drugstore - compared to 7 and Family you get a larger quantity for the same, if not lower, price.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?neutral

How does public transport work in the city?I've seen better

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Buses and trains - finding the times they run: BusTracker Taiwan
Buses and trains - buying tickets and seeing where the current service is: 台鐵e訂通 (tai2tie3 e ding4tong1)
Taxi - Uber

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Nanliao Fishing Harbour - beautiful view of the sea/people flying kites - you can even buy a kite and fly it yourself!

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Gaoxiong (art even on the streets, quieter than Taipei) and Cijin Island (colorful island, beautiful beach), Tainan (historically significant city, balance between bustle (morning-afternoon) and quiet (evening-morning), Hualien (amazing nature - cliffs and ocean views - good for relaxing)

Share your best experience:Cijin Island - the place where I saw the sea for the first time in my life
Hualien - really perhaps the most beautiful views, very peaceful place

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Prague

What is needed?Pre-filled and printed application form (just before you go, no need to go in advance), 2 passport photos (physical), passport, bank statement of sufficient funds, airline tickets, cash (check the office website for exact amount + exact information).

How long does it take approximately?About 10-12 days, but I wouldn't leave it to the last minute.

How did you get to the place?Plane
Train
Car

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?No need to be careful, just be aware that it takes about an hour to get to the university from the airport, either by car or by bus - the bus also stops at the bus stop in front of the campus (National Tsing Hua University) - just be careful, some parts of the campus are more difficult with heavy suitcases (e.g. wooden walkways in some places or the hill to selected dorms).

Can you pay by card?neutral

What not to forget when packing?Everything can be bought on arrival, but if you don't want to deal with something right after arrival (you'll have to anyway), then:
- your own linen, if you prefer
- anti-mould spray (Taiwan is humid, so some dorms have mould unfortunately)
- a cloth (or you can rent one at the dorms)

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?Wonderful people, slightly a lot of delayed buses, beautiful views, a bit of heat, a bit of wind - and it's all worth it.