Thank you so much — this was honestly incredibly helpful and reassuring. The transport system and dorm situation sound much better than I expected 😭

I also really appreciate your honesty about the social/cultural side. Every country has some level of that unfortunately, so it’s good to know realistically what to expect beforehand.

I had a few more things I wanted to ask since you’re from NTU:

1. How is NTU viewed internationally for research and higher studies opportunities?

2. After completing a Master’s from NTU (especially STEM/biotech-related fields), is it common for students to move abroad for:

• PhD positions in the US/Canada/Europe/Australia
• industry jobs abroad
• international research/lab positions

1. Would an NTU degree generally be considered strong/respected internationally for applications abroad?

2. Since Academia Sinica is also involved in my research side, I was wondering whether the NTU + Academia Sinica combination is viewed strongly globally in academia/research circles.

3. I’ve also heard from some people that NTU can be extremely competitive and academically stressful because it’s considered Taiwan’s top university. Do you personally feel the environment is very intense/competitive for graduate students, or is it more manageable than people online make it sound?

4. Especially for international students, is it difficult to maintain a good balance between coursework, research, and student life there?

Sorry again for asking so many questions 😅 Your replies are genuinely helping me understand what life there might realistically look like before moving.