Kaohsiung, TAIWAN

Kaohsiung City is located on the Southern coast of Taiwan. The city was declared as a Specialty Municipality in July of 1979. Known as the “Port City” in Southern Taiwan for its largest commercial harbor that ranks third in the world, Kaohsiung city has 11 administrative districts with approximately 1.51 Million in population.

Undergraduate students in any major may go on exchange to National Sun Yat-Sen University.

Academic Colleges include: Liberal Arts, Science, Engineering, Management, Marine Sciences, Social Sciences, and General Education

Note to Business Students: This university is AACSB accredited.

View all Academic Colleges

Yes - there is a limited number of courses taught in English in the following academic departments:

• Foreign Language & Literature
• Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry
• Mathematics, Physics
• Electrical, Mechanical, and Computer Engineering
• Business Management, Finance, Resource Management
• Political Science
• China and Asia-Pacific Studies

See the NSYSU Student Handbook for a complete list of courses taught in English.

Fall semester (1st Semester): early August - late January

Spring semester (2nd Semester): early February - late July

UHM students may study at NSYSU for one or two semesters. Because the 1st semester at NSYSU overlaps with the Spring semester at UHM, it makes sense for students to study at NSYSU either for the entire academic year (early Aug - late July), or for the Spring semester only.

Link to NSYSU Academic Calendars

See the NSYSU Student Handbook for the Academic Calendar.

Note: Students who are on financial aid may not go on exchange at NSYSU for just the fall semester -- the result will be that they become ineligible to receive financial aid for the following semester at UHM.

Housing for exchange students is provided in the International Village (single rooms, common bathroom and kitchen areas).

See the NSYSU Student Handbook for more information on international student housing.

MIX students register as full-time students at UH Manoa and pay regular UHM tuition. They do not pay overseas tuition. 

- Students who normally pay in-state UHM tuition continue to do while on MIX. 
- Students who normally pay out-of-state UHM tuition continue to do so while on MIX.
- Students who normally pay WUE tuition continue to do so while on MIX. 

View UHM tuition & fees online

In addition to UHM tuition, MIX students are responsible for all of their living expenses, including health insurance, books/supplies, room & meals, personal expenses, airfare, local transportation, and any costs associated with obtaining a visa (if applicable). It is recommended that you research online to get an idea of how much these expenses will be.    

Since you are still a registered UHM student while on MIX, you continue to be eligible to receive financial aid and scholarships.  If you submit a ‘MIX Student Budget for Financial Aid Purposes’ form, UHM financial aid will take into consideration your overseas living and travel expenses when awarding your grants/loans.  

Buddies Program - Buddies are students of National Sun Yat-sen University who help new international students shortly after their arrival and through the duration of their stay. Buddies will help you get settled in, and will organize social events, cultural-historical excursions, and sports activities for international students.

Taiwan Visa Information - Exchange students must apply for a valid visa in their country of residence before entering Taiwan.

For a semester abroad, students may apply for a Visitor Visa (multiple-entry recommended); for a year abroad, students should apply for a Resident Visa. The visa application fee for a multiple-entry visa is approximately $132 for U.S. citizens.

UHM students may apply for their visa to Taiwan at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu, located at 2746 Pali Highway. In preparation for visiting TECO-Honolulu to apply for a visa, students should gather the following application items:

• Visa application form (complete online, then print out)
• Valid passport
• 2 passport size photos
• Official acceptance letter from host university
• Round trip flight itinerary
• Bank statement proving at least $2,000 of funds

Please note that male students who have dual citizenship and enter Taiwan with ROC (Taiwan) passports will be subject to the Taiwanese compulsory military service regulations.

See the NSYSU Student Handbook for more information on the visa application process.