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 Predeparture
Predeparture
After weeks of passive research and a barrage of emails
to professors, departments and friends, you have a mine
of information, but you don't know where to start. "Should
I arrange for temporary accommodation first, or make airline
reservations?" "Do I need to take my original
transcripts with me, or should I take copies?" "And
what about the tuition, insurance...?" Okay, time out!
Well, why not read through this section and let the experience
of your NTU peers and alumni guide you?
Date
of Arrival
For all international students who are generally assured
dormitory, arriving on the official move-in date is recommended
(Mid-August for both graduate and undergraduate, February
for spring enrollment). It is better to settle down no later
than September since all the Check-In, registration, orientation
programs organized by Overseas Chinese and Foreign Students
Office and your department take place around that time.
If you are planning
to live around campus, in the University Park neighborhood,
you would need some time in advance to look for
the housing. Notice that demand outweighs supply
and latecomers may have to settle for less desirable
apartments or living away form campus. Another reason
students tend to show up early is to receive some
help in course selection (there is still many parts
on the Course Selection web site that only contain
Chinese characters). Some early birds feel arriving
early gives them a edge when it comes to finding
jobs on campus, while others use the extra time
to apply for the ARC (Alien Resident Certificate)
and other documents. So while arriving early helps
you get better acclimatized, on the flip side it
can be a drain on the pocket as you fork out an
extra period of rent and living expenses.
Housing
Finding accommodation can be a major challenge, as many
international students well testify. The good news is that
all new international students are guaranteed dormitory.
However, if you wish to live outside the campus, the key
is to begin familiarizing yourself with housing options
around NTU, while you're still in your home country. Use
the Internet to view housing advertisements on the Tsuei
Ma Ma Foundation for Housing and Community Service and other
local Web sites to familiarize yourself with the types and
cost of housing available. You may also contact other students
or your national association at NTU for leads and advice.
More information in New
Student Information ~ Housing section
Nationality
Clubs
NTU is home to the largest number of international students
in Taiwan. There are 4 overseas students associations, one
nationality association, and one foreign students association
on campus representing international students form all the
continents. These clubs, besides serving as a support group
for their respective fellow-citizens and fosteringa sense
of community among current students, are an invaluable resource
for new, incoming students. Among these associations, NTUFSA
(Foreign Students Association) is the only available national
club for foreign students on the campus.
Money
and Finance
Taipei is a lively and vibrant city, with a lot to offer
in terms of opportunity, ambition and lifestyle. Of course,
this comes at a price - the standard of living is relatively
high compare with other cities in Taiwan, which can be pretty
tough on a student. Before you know it, you're wiring home
for money or running up debts on your credit card.
Very often, these situations can be avoided by better planning.
Most on-campus jobs pay an hourly salary that is, at the
most, sufficient to cover some of your living expenses,
but they are not a guaranteed source of income. Financial
aid and scholarships for international students are a better
choice for source of income since the Ministry of Education
in Taiwan is planning and trying to provide more scholarships.
By the way, it is important to bear in mind, that even if
you have received a scholarship, you are not likely to be
paid till the end of the first month, and the first month
is when you're likely to incur most of your expenses.
Must
have
Here is a list of items most international students
at NTU recommend you bring from home:
Passport and other documents for status verification
Academic documents
Transcripts, degrees/diplomas/certificates
Favorite national music and movies
A favorite video cassette or DVD can make you
feel at home ever when you are not!
A good dictionary
Purchase a reliable dictionary that explains Chinese
in your local language.
Loans
If your will need a loan, it's often easier to
arrange for this in your home country. Interest
rates in Taiwan are especially high for foreign
students with little or no credit history.
Petty cash
You will need some Taiwanese currency to tide
you through the first few days before you can
cash your draft or travelers' checks. This will
come in handy during the flight to Taipei, to
pay for your shuttle ride to NTU, a couple of
meals, a phone card, etc.
Photocopies of passport, other documents for status
verification, and academic documents
Ensure that you have photocopies of the main pages
of your passport (expiry date/passport number/date
of birth), your transcripts, degrees/diplomas/certificates
etc. Keep a set of photocopies in each piece of
luggage, in case one of your bags are misplaced
or lost in transit. You also need to carry a few
2 in photographs of yourself.
Important numbers
Note down your passport number, travelers' checks
numbers, bank draft number, flight number, your
contact number and an emergency contact number
on a single sheet of paper. Keep it in your handbag
or on your person, so you don't have to take out
your important documents every time you need to
fill out a form. Leave a list of all these important
numbers at home as well.
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