Mobility specification

Country:Taiwan

Institution:National Cheng Kung University

City:Tainan City

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?neutral

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?In Taiwan, credits are usually given according to the number of hours per week. Most courses are 3 hours long, so 3 credits. In our system, that usually translates to double.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Some teachers required a little bit odd things, like grading notes or turning in essays on paper, but I would say those are the exceptions.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?The university offers around 100 clubs. You pay a fee and then you can participate in activities and borrow equipment. There are a lot of clubs from board games, fishing to furry club or army club. Most of them are in Chinese, but there are almost always a few people who can speak English, and from the experience of other exchange students I know that it's usually not that much of a problem.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?I don't think anything's come up.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Don't go shopping in convinient stores, food is cheaper in supermarkets (px mart, local). In Ching Yeh dorms, students leave their mattresses, blankets and pillows on the ground floor or upstairs, so there is no need to buy new ones. Second hand shop Hard off, you can buy really cheap clothes, small electronics or some gifts there.

🗺 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?terrible

And what about transport outside the city?runs like clockwork

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?There is only bus service in Tainan, but it doesn't work very well, I recommend getting a free bike from the Military office and then riding it everywhere. Alternatively you can use shared bikes (ubike), these work really well and are all over Tainan. Between city transport and transport in other cities is perfect. You can buy trains on the Taiwan railways app. On buses, you can pay with coins or an easy card (you can buy one at 7/11 and then load money into it). The student card you get from the university also works as an easy card.

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?Tainan is rather interesting because of its atmosphere and people. I recommend going to the museums.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Alishan, Lambai island, Kenting, Taipei, Sun Moon Lake

Share your best experience:I recommend going to the Alishan forest and getting a permit to enter the Minyue line. This is an old railway in the mountains that can be walked all the way through with a permit.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?Taiwan economic office Prague

What is needed?Everything is clearly written on their website. It's about insurance, passport-size photos, invitation letter and passport.

How long does it take approximately?4 days

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Toyan airport is not in Taipei although it is sometimes called Taipei airport, but there is a train system that runs every 15 minutes to Taipei and is quite cheap.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Most things are easy to find in Taiwan. Some warmer clothes for the winter, because the wind is very strong in Taiwan.

🥳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?The most important thing for me was that I had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and get to know their perspective on the world around them.