Exchange Student - FAQ
Application
Q1: What is the timeline for applying for student exchange?
A: First, assess your own language proficiency and career plan, decide the university you want to apply to and the exchange period, and start making preparations one to two years before the exchange period (e.g., a student should start applying for an exchange abroad in the first semester of his/her second year if the student intends to attend an exchange program in the first semester of his/her third year). Undergraduate students are advised to undergo exchange in their third year because they have laid a certain foundation in professional courses, and they can use their final year to meet the remaining course credits upon return after confirming that course credits can be waived during their participation in student exchange programs, thereby minimizing its impact on their graduation time.
Q2: When can I apply for student exchange?
A: Applications for student exchange programs are accepted once in each semester every year. The exchange period shall last for one semester only. For example, applications for outbound overseas student exchange programs for the spring semester in the following year are open in March each year, while applications for outbound overseas student exchange programs for the fall semester in the following year are open in November each year. (※ Another application has to be submitted in case of extension of exchange period).
Q3: What are the requirements for student exchange application?
A: You can apply for student exchange if you are a degree student at NCHU (including those under the continuing education program) and obtain an overall average grade of at least 60 points throughout your entire study period. Students can apply for student exchange at most twice under the same degree program. (※ First-year undergraduate students are allowed to apply for student exchange for the spring semester only.)
Q4: I am a transfer student. Can I apply for student exchange?
A: Yes, you can. However, please provide a copy of your transcript issued by your previous university as a supporting document for “Student Grade” during application.
Q5: I am a first-year Master’s degree student/Ph.D. student. How do I provide “Student Grade”?
A: First-year graduate students who do not have student grade records at NCHU are required to provide their (Bachelor’s degree/Master’s degree) transcripts issued by their previous universities.
Q6: I am an overseas Chinese student or a foreign student. Can I apply for student exchange?
A: Yes, you can, as long as you are not applying for student exchange in your home country.
Q7: How can I apply for student exchange?
A: You are required to fill out an application form online.
Q8: What documents are required for student exchange application?
A: There are six documents required for student exchange application:
1. National Chung Hsing University Application Form for Student Exchange at Partner Universities (you can fill in at most 10 partner universities of your choice, including at most five overseas universities and at most five universities in Mainland China)
2. Chinese transcripts and proof of ranking (※ required for undergraduate students and graduate students)
3. Recommendation letter from two teaching staff (to be provided in a fixed format; graduate students are required to provide a recommendation letter written by their thesis advisor)
4. English autobiography and study plan (both documents have to be prepared on two A4 pages, with no specific format required; students who apply for student exchange in Mainland China are required to provide both documents in Chinese only)
5. Parental consent letter (indicate your first-choice university only)
6. Proof of language proficiency (provide a photocopy of this document; students who apply for student exchange in Mainland China are not required to provide this document)
※ All written documents have to be fixed with a paper clip and arranged in the order specified above before submitting them. Do not bind them together or add a cover to them. Scan all the documents above and upload them in PDF format.
Q9: What are the language requirements for student exchange application?
A: Students are required to meet the language requirements of the partner universities they intend to apply to. Please refer to the application information for each partner university in the relevant guidelines to check whether the requirements for foreign languages in various countries and English-speaking countries are listed in the guidelines. If a partner university does not list any specific language requirements or its language requirements are lower than that at NCHU, students are required to meet any of the following language requirements at NCHU:
- TOEFL iBT: 69 / IELTS: 5.5 / TOEIC: 670
※ Attention: Please refer to the requirements listed on the official website of TOEIC. For CEFR B2, students are required to have an overall score of at least 785 (Listening: 400, Reading: 385).
Q10: Is there any specific requirement for the duration of proof of language proficiency?
A: Students are required to provide proof of language proficiency which is valid within two years. (Please take note that proof of language proficiency has to be valid during the application review period at the relevant partner university). Students can print out the online language score report as proof of language proficiency if the original copy of proof of language proficiency is not yet available during submission of documents before the application deadline; however, it still has to be submitted later.
Q11: What are the common problems I should take note of during online application?
A: Ensure that the universities of your choice that you fill online and on paper are consistent.
1. In order to successfully upload the documents, the size of each file must be smaller than 2MB (※1MB=1024KB)
2. Each file must be uploaded in JPG or PDF format only.
3. Do not take too much time to fill out the online application form, otherwise, your application may not be submitted successfully.
4. You will receive a confirmation e-mail after completing the online application process. Your application is unsuccessful if you do not receive a confirmation e-mail.
Q12: What is NCHU’s review criteria for student exchange application?
A: According to the NCHU Directions for Internal Nomination of Exchange Students to Study at Partner Universities Abroad and in Mainland China,
- Partner universities abroad: Student Grade 30%, Foreign Language Proficiency 35%, Autobiography and Study Plan 30%, and Recommendation Letter 5%.
- Partner universities in Mainland China: Student Grade 50%, Autobiography 20%, Study Plan 25%, and Recommendation Letter 5%.
Q13: Is there any other thing I should take note of when applying for student exchange?
A:
1. Ensure that you complete the online application process and submit the application documents in hard copy.
2. Consult your thesis advisor politely when requesting a recommendation letter.
3. Submit the application documents to your department for review and approval in advance.
4. No alteration of information (e.g., order of your university preference) is allowed beyond the application deadline.
Q14: What should I take note of if I want to apply for student exchange abroad for one year?
A:
1. According to the rules set forth by NCHU, each student exchange shall last for one semester. Hence, if you want to apply for student exchange for one year, you have to submit two applications.
2. If you are still abroad during the document submission period (for student exchange programs at NCHU and partner universities), you can ask your classmates, friends, or parents to submit the application documents on your behalf.
Q15: Can I apply for student exchange at a department unrelated to my current degree program at a partner university?
A: The Office of International Affairs respects the choices made by students. However, please take note that partner universities have their own considerations during application review. A student who loses his/her status as an exchange student whose application is rejected by a partner university due to its own considerations, is not allowed to apply for student exchange at other partner universities. In addition, please be reminded that some partner universities have informed the Office of International Affairs that students must apply for student exchange on departments that are related to their current degree program. The Office of International Affairs has indicated these partner universities in the List of Partner Universities. Students are required to refer to the list carefully.
Q16: How many choices does it count as if I choose to apply to a few departments at the same university?
A: If you choose to apply to a few departments at the same university, it will only be counted as one choice. Choices are counted by university.
Q17: If there are similar documents used for student exchange application and scholarship application, can these similar documents be used together for both applications?
A: Only recommendation letters can be used together for both student exchange application and scholarship application. Transcript and proof of ranking must be prepared separately for both applications.
Q18: If I receive my language proficiency score report one day before the application deadline or on the application deadline day but my application form has to be stamped by my department, does it mean that I can only complete all the application procedures on the application deadline day?
A: Please complete the application procedures that require approval stamps in advance, so that you can collect the approved documents from your department on time and have enough time to submit the application documents in person. If you are unable to receive your proof of language proficiency on time, you are recommended to explain the reason for not being able to provide proof of language proficiency to your department when requesting for approval stamp from your department.
Student Exchange
Q19: Will a candidate recommended by NCHU to a partner university surely be selected as an exchange student?
A: There is no guarantee that candidates who are selected under NCHU’s recommendation procedures will definitely be selected as exchange students by partner universities. Students have to go through the review process carried out by partner universities to be selected as exchange students. Students who fail the review process shall lose their opportunity for student exchange abroad, and are not allowed to apply for student exchange at other partner universities.
Q20: If I undergo exchange in my final year, can I graduate directly after returning to NCHU?
A: Yes, you can. Students who want to undergo exchange abroad during their final year, are still required to complete the course credit waiver procedure upon return from abroad despite having completed their course credits at NCHU before traveling abroad for student exchange, so that a complete course completion record can be indicated on their transcripts. Therefore, these students can only graduate after receiving their transcripts from their universities at which they undergo exchange and completing the course credit waiver procedure, and their graduation time may be delayed for a few months.
Q21: Do I have to pay tuition and miscellaneous fees during the exchange period?
A: Exchange students have to go through the same registration procedures as other students. Hence, exchange students are required to pay tuition and miscellaneous fees at NCHU. Exchange students can ask their family members or classmates to pay tuition and miscellaneous fees on their behalf. Most exchange students are not required to pay tuition and miscellaneous fees at the partner universities at which they undergo exchange; however, exchange students are required to complete the registration procedures at these universities upon arrival.
Q22: Do I have to complete the course selection process during the exchange period?
A: During the exchange period, exchange students are not required to complete the course selection process at NCHU (however; graduate students are required to meet thesis credits). During the exchange period, exchange students must select courses equivalent to six-course credits at NCHU (totaling 108 credit hours). If partner universities have in place restrictions on course credits and special course selection conditions, exchange students are required to comply with the rules set forth by partner universities. Some partner universities abroad adopt the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Due to the complex process involved in converting ECTS credits to course credits in Taiwan, exchange students are advised to directly determine whether the courses they intend to take meet the 108-credit hour requirement.
Q23: Can the course credits I earn at a partner university at which I undergo exchange be waived at my department at NCHU?
A: Waiver of course credits shall be determined by each department at NCHU. Students can consult their own department if they want to know whether credits can be waived for a specific course. Subjects for which waiver of course credits are allowed (for department and degree programs) by various departments (even if students apply for course credit waiver for zero-credit courses) will be indicated on students’ transcripts.
Q24: What should I do with my student status and course selection when I undergo exchange abroad?
A: With regard to exchange students’ student status at NCHU, the Office of International Affairs will issue an official letter to the Office of Academic Affairs on behalf of exchange students. Hence, NCHU has a record of the student status of exchange students, and exchange students do not have to apply separately. However, exchange students are still required to pay the registration fee. Hence, exchange students are advised to ask their family members or classmates to pay the registration fee on their behalf.
Q25: I am a male student who has yet to undergo military service. What should I do?
A: NCHU will assist exchange students in applying for deferment of military service for servicemen due to study abroad. Upon passing the review procedure and confirming the travel date, exchange students are required to fill out the “List of Servicemen Exempted Due to Study Abroad or Recommended Students” and send the list to the Military Instructors' Office via e-mail for confirmation. Then, NCHU will issue an official letter to the government of cities, counties, or townships at which the students’ domiciles are located. Servicemen must request for approval stamp from the government of cities, counties, or townships at which their household registration is located before departing Taiwan.
Q26: How do I apply for a waiver of course credits upon return from abroad?
A: According to the course credit waiver rules set forth by the Office of Academic Affairs, NCHU, students are required to apply for a waiver of course credits to their departments within one month after returning to Taiwan, so that their interests will not be affected when graduating from and leaving NCHU. ※ Please download the relevant form from the website of the Office of Academic Affairs International Center.
As the method and time taken for processing transcripts at universities abroad are different, some students might receive their transcripts before returning to Taiwan, but some students might have to wait for one to two months upon return from abroad before their transcripts are sent to them. If students are unable to collect their transcripts in person before returning to Taiwan, they are required to confirm the transcript delivery method with the partner universities at which they undergo exchange, so as to avoid any delay in applying for a waiver of course credits after returning to Taiwan due to reasons such as communication issues.
Students who are undergoing exchange abroad or have returned from exchange abroad can refer to the following tables when converting course credits and grades. If you have any questions, please contact Miss Hsiang at the Division of International Education, Office of International Affairs (Extension No.: 04-22840206-42, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
中文版 中興 海外校學分及成績換算參考表格 (PDF) / 英文版 中興 海外校學分及成績換算參考表格 (PDF)
(English) National Chung Hsing University List of Credit Conversion and Grade Conversion Tables.pdf
Q27: Do I still need to complete the course credit waiver procedures if I do not need the course credits I have earned during student exchange?
A: Regardless of whether there are enough course credits for graduation, each student is required to complete the course credit waiver procedures after returning to Taiwan, in order to complete the study record during his/her degree program duration (e.g., each undergraduate student will have a study record for four years or eight semesters). Otherwise, no record will be shown on the student’s transcript during the exchange period, and the student will not be able to graduate from and leave NCHU.
Q28: Can I graduate or enroll in a Master’s degree program after returning from exchange abroad?
A: Since partner universities from some countries (e.g., Germany, Japan, and Mainland China) adopt a different academic term from Taiwan, it will take some time for these partner universities to issue transcripts, thus causing a delay in completing the course credit waiver procedures. Students who are unable to meet the course credit waiver deadline for a particular semester, are required to register for the next semester in accordance with the rules set forth by NCHU, which will then affect their graduation time or future plans.
Q29: What are the obligations of an exchange student?
A:
1. Exchange students are required to upload a student exchange experience report onto the document submission platform (Google Classroom) set up by the Division of Academic Exchange, Office of International Affairs within two months after returning to Taiwan.
2. Exchange students shall offer help and counseling to NCHU students on matters related to student exchange, and provide related consultation and necessary information.
3. Exchange students shall participate in related promotional events (e.g., International Week) for at least three hours upon return from abroad.
Scholarships
Q30: When can I apply for the Ministry of Education Scholarship for Excellent Students?
A: According to the newly amended regulations at the Office of International Affairs, applications for the Ministry of Education Scholarship for Excellent Students and student exchange fall within the same period. Students are required to submit the scholarship application documents by March 15 each year (the final application deadline will be announced on the website of the Office of International Affairs after the 2019 Scholarship Guidelines are announced).
Q31: How much is the estimated amount of scholarship provided under the Ministry of Education Scholarship for Excellent Students?
A: Please refer to information regarding public-funded study abroad scholarships under the Ministry of Education. Students can estimate their personal expenses according to regions, currency, and standard of living. Personal expenses can be divided into several categories: flight tickets, living expenses (including accommodation), and tuition and miscellaneous fees (at the university they are currently studying, e.g., NCHU).