Jan in Taiwan

30.07.2025, Study Abroad:

What does Beethoven’s “Für Elise” have to do with waste collection? And why is it worth standing in a long queue for street food in Taiwan? In this article, Jan shares personal impressions that made his semester abroad in Taipei, the capital of
Taiwan, something truly special.

Name: Jan
Study Programme: BWG
Semester: 7th Semester

Host Institution: National Chengchi Univ. (NCCU) (opens in a new window)
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Period: February to July 2025

Funding

Scholarship “Hochschule International” (opens in a new window)

What was your main motivation to go abroad?

My main motivation was the unique combination of culture, tradition and modernity. I saw Taiwan as a great opportunity to immerse myself in many cultures while meeting many open-minded people in order to expand my network. The excellent reputation of Taiwan’s education system and the student-centred teaching style focused on soft skills were additional decisive motivators. Furthermore, I was able to get to know Taiwan as an island nation in its entirety and use the country as a starting point to explore a variety of other countries such as Japan, Korea, Vietnam or Thailand.

In my opinion, the combination of high-quality education in easily understandable English, a great network, and intercultural exchange in a breathtaking atmosphere are the main arguments for doing an exchange semester in Taiwan.
Jan

What were your biggest concerns?

At the beginning, I had concerns about the political situation between Taiwan and China. However, during my semester abroad, there was no sign of this at all. I was also fortunate to gain in-depth insights into global political contexts in the course “Political Communication”. Furthermore, I was worried about not being able to understand the language and the characters. Thanks to the openness and hospitality of the people in Taiwan, I was still able to communicate well and gradually acquired basic language skills over time.

Would you recommend a stay abroad? Why?

I can wholeheartedly recommend my semester abroad. In addition to gaining deep intercultural insights, I was able to build an extremely valuable network, both professionally and personally. I improved my language skills and look back on a semester full of new experiences and wonderful impressions. The lectures were also very interesting and allowed room to acquire new knowledge beyond my main field of study. In my opinion, the combination of high-quality education in clearly understandable English, a great network, and intercultural exchange in a breathtaking atmosphere are the main arguments for doing an exchange semester in Taiwan.

What did you take away from your time abroad?

During my semester abroad, I learnt a lot about myself and became much more open and self-confident. I was able to build up a large network of friendships and acquaintances and defined new personal goals through the exchange. I also rediscovered my passion for tennis and improved my Chinese and English language skills at the same time.

Were your expectations met?

My expectations were exceeded in every way. I would never have expected such personal development. I also look back on an unforgettable time.

**The National Chengchi University, where Jan studied for one semester**

Is there anything you would like to highlight about your experience abroad?

I particularly recommend making contact with local people. This worked very well in cafés or via social media. The people in Taiwan are very open and hospitable, and they enabled me to have unforgettable experiences and gain very deep insights into the culture. I would also encourage everyone not to shy away from new experiences and, even if you are sceptical at first, to face new challenges and join groups of people from many different nationalities. A semester abroad is an opportunity not only to receive a good education but also to form close friendships and continue to benefit from them even after the exchange has ended. I would also like to highly recommend the courses “Career Development” and “Political Communication” as particularly enriching.

More impressions and information about Jan's experience abroad can be found on Instagram (opens in a new window).

Fun Fact

If you feel like listening to Beethoven’s “Für Elise”, just stand by the roadside and wait for a rubbish truck to pass by. At the same time, you can watch how locals line up in an orderly fashion (the country is famous for that too) to dispose of their waste. Another fun fact is that the length of the queue in front of a restaurant often indicates how good the food is. It’s usually worth waiting a bit, as you’ll be rewarded with great food or drinks at excellent value for money. People in Taiwan have a great instinct for this, and the queues reflect exactly that.