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CET Taiwan: Summer Study Abroad
CET Taiwan: Summer At-a-Glance
Summer
- Arrival: 05/27/2026
- Departure: 08/08/2026
- Recommended Credits: 8-11
- Fee: $9,990
- Application Deadline: March 1
CET Taiwan summer study abroad students are motivated learners looking for an engaging term abroad packed with flexibility and experiential learning. Choose how much Chinese language you want and then build out your summer with an internship and/or uniquely Taiwanese electives—you can even opt in for a language pledge to tailor your experience further. And with local Taiwanese roommates, thoughtful activities to help you explore Taipei and the local culture, and supportive staff to guide you along—you’re in for a well-rounded and unforgettable summer.
Academics in Taiwan
Summer
Snapshot
- Pre-requisites: None
- A choice of 4 or 10 credits of Chinese language
- English-taught electives
- Internship elective with custom placements
- Out-of-class learning and assignments
- Host University: National Taiwan University (NTU)
Curriculum & Syllabi
Depending on your language track, you choose up to one or two electives to meet the recommended 8 to 11 credits.
Option 1: 4 credits of chinese language
You combine 4 credits of Chinese language with two English-taught electives. Please note: The 4-credit option is available to visa-exempt students only. Non US passport holders please see eligibility details below in the How to Apply section.
Chinese Language
You enroll directly with National Taiwan University’s Chinese Language Division (CLD) for a small group class worth 4 credits. CLD looks at your previous coursework and conducts a remote language assessment before the program to place you in the appropriate level.
- TP/LADE 105 Elementary Low Chinese
- TP/LADE 155 Elementary High Chinese
- TP/LADE 205 Intermediate Chinese
- TP/LADE 265 Intermediate High Chinese
- TP/LADE 305 Pre-Advanced Chinese
- TP/LADE 355 Advanced Low Chinese
- TP/LADE 405 Advanced Chinese
- TP/LADE 455 Upper Advanced Chinese
- TP/LADE 505 Advanced High Chinese
Note: As short-term residents of Taiwan, students are expected to learn traditional Chinese characters. CLD courses are instructed using traditional characters, with handouts and additional resources in simplified characters.
Electives
You combine your 4 credits of Chinese language with two of the following English-taught electives to meet the recommended 8 to 11 credits
- TP/EAST 330 Taiwanese History, Culture, and National Identity
- TP/ENVR 250 Climate Data and Climate Change Science in East Asia
- TP/ENVR 310 Sustainability Transition in the Time of Climate Crisis: The Taiwan Case
- TP/INTR 320 Cross-Strait Relations between Taiwan and China
- TP/INTS 352 Professional Internship Seminar (75 hours, 1 credit)
Note: Because elective offerings are based on total program enrollment and faculty availability, not every elective is offered every term.
Option 2: 10 credits of chinese language
You take 10 credits of Chinese language and have the option to add an internship elective.
Intensive Chinese Language
You enroll directly with NTU’s Chinese Language Division (CLD) in a 10-credit, intensive class in a small group setting. CLD looks at your previous coursework and conducts a remote language assessment before the program to place you in the appropriate level.
- TP/LADE 101 Elementary Low Chinese
- TP/LADE 151 Elementary High Chinese
- TP/LADE 201 Intermediate Chinese
- TP/LADE 261 Intermediate High Chinese
- TP/LADE 301 Pre-Advanced Chinese
- TD/LADE 351 Advanced Low Chinese
- TP/LADE 401 Advanced Chinese
- TP/LADE 451 Upper Advanced Chinese
- TP/LADE 501 Advanced High Chinese
Note: As short-term residents of Taiwan, students are expected to learn traditional Chinese characters. CLD courses are instructed using traditional characters, with handouts and additional resources in simplified characters.
Optional: Internship Elective
You can choose to add an internship elective to your 10 credits of language to meet the recommended 8 to 11 credits
- TP/INTS 352 Professional Internship Seminar (75 hours, 1 credit)
Customize your curriculum for the summer
Pick your language track. Choose the intensive 10-credit option to make great strides in your Chinese skills or take the 4-credit option to balance language with electives. Either way, you enjoy small group classes and plenty of individual attention. Plus, opt in for language pledge housing to live alongside others with similar goals.
Level up your insight with electives. Take on courses that help you deepen your understanding of Taiwan and the world at large and fill credits back home. Dive into the region’s role in global sustainability with Climate Data and Climate Change Science in East Asia or choose Cross-Strait Relations between Taiwan and China to better understand this complex relationship through the local lens. You can even choose to intern with a local organization to explore your own interests in a professional work setting.
learn more about
Housing and Meals
- Apartment
- Off-campus housing
- Live with CET peers and local roommates
- 4-8 people/apartment
- 2 people/room
- 45-minute commute to NTU campus and internship sites
- Shared kitchen and common area, basic kitchen equipment, bathroom, in-unit washer
- Wifi, A/C, bed linens, basic furnishing
Living Like a Local
Local Roommates. Want to learn where to get the tastiest mangguo xuehuabing (mango shaved ice)? Which apps are essential to life in Taiwan? Sharing your apartment with Taipei locals instantly gives you insider’s access to the city. And more than that, they help you better understand local culture and give you company to share it with. Learn more about living with a local roommate.
Eating in Taipei. For meals, take your pick of the budget-friendly restaurants and food stalls nearby. Find the city’s best bowl of beef noodle soup or try e-a-jen (oyster omelette), a local favorite. And don’t forget to try as much as you can at the night markets throughout the city. Learn more about accommodating your dietary needs in Taipei.
Life in Taipei
- Known locally as: 臺北 Táiběi
- Population: 2.67 million
- Local Currency: Taiwanese Dollar
- Famous for: Night markets, street food culture, Taipei 101, National Palace Museum, Elephant Mountain
A paradise for nature lovers, foodies, and entrepreneurs everywhere, there’s no shortage of opportunities to explore what interests you. Take advantage of Taiwan’s status as a key player in the high-tech industry with an internship. Feast at one of the city’s many night markets. Watch a little league game. Bike the riverside. Check out the vibrant music scene. On weekends, take a high-speed train to explore the rest of Taiwan or even hop a flight to Hong Kong.
Experience Taiwan with CET
Around the city. Each term, the program offers different extra-curricular activities that allow you to explore Taipei, experience local culture, or just unwind with your friends. Hike up Elephant Mountain and enjoy panoramic views. Bike up to Tamsui with the local roommates. And there’s even more to see on your own.
Language Partners. You can choose to be paired with a local college student for a weekly language exchange. Teach each other about the latest internet trends over coffee or attend one of the weekly CET activities together. Plus, your language exchange activities are reimbursed! And you can request more language partners to up your language practice even further and add onto your built-in local community.
Student Resources
On-the-ground support
Navigating a new city, country, and culture is a big challenge worth taking—and we’re here to help you along on this adventure. Our on-site team is bilingual, provides round-the-clock support, and is passionate about sharing their love of Taipei (and Taiwan!) with you.
Program Fees
Summer
$9,990
What's Included
Tuition
All of your classes and program-related learning are included with your tuition.
Housing
We arrange for you to live in a shared apartment with a local roommate. Your program fees go toward rent, furnishing, and other management costs.
Internship Placement & Support
We help you land the internship, make sure you’re prepared for your job, and then stay in close touch with your host organization… all semester long.
Staff Support
From pre-departure to orientation, from on site to re-entry, CET provides you with the support you need every step of the way.
Visa Support
We guide you step-by-step through the visa process. You do the legwork, but we’ll make sure you have the documentation and information you need, when you need it.
Insurance
You’re provided with a comprehensive insurance plan through GeoBlue that even includes medical evacuation coverage.
Activities & Excursions
The activities and excursions that we arrange are included in your program fee. All you need to do is remember to bring your camera!
Transportation Pass
You’re provided with a public transportation pass (EasyCard) for the duration of your program. Use the bus and metro to your heart’s content.
Course Materials
Your textbooks and course supplies are covered and waiting for you on site.
Transcript
You receive an official transcript jointly issued by CET and National Taiwan University at the end of the term. You also have the option to request a School of Record transcript from the University of Minnesota for an additional fee if necessary.
More on finances
Program Fee Breakdown. Of the total program fee, $7,490 goes to tuition and fees, and $2,500 goes to housing and other student life fees.
Local Cost of Living. Day-to-day cost of living in Taipei is generally cheaper than the United States. Meals and transit are cheaper, but western comforts (restaurants, coffee, etc.) cost about the same or more than they do in the US.
Estimated out-of-pocket expenses:
- Round-trip Airfare: $1,300 - $1,700
- Meals: $1,000
- Personal Expenses: $600
additional resources
How to Apply
Eligibility
• Pre-requisites: None. Open to students of any Chinese level, including absolute beginners
• Must be 18 or older at the time of program participation.
• Open to students from any US college or university
• The 4-credit language track is only available to visa-exempt students
• GPA: 3.0 or higher is recommended, students with lower GPAs will be asked for a faculty recommendation to supplement their application
• Open to all levels of Chinese, from absolute beginner to advanced
Notice for Foreign Passport Holders
The 4-credit language track is only available to visa-exempt students.
If you hold a foreign passport, you should first determine your visa-exempt status. If your passport is eligible for visa-exempt entry into Taiwan, both the 4-credit and 10-credit language tracks are available to you. If your passport is not eligible for visa-exempt entry, only the 10-credit language track is available to you.
Online Application Form
This is a brief form that asks for basic information and has a few short answer questions about why you want to study abroad.
Passport Information
Upload a scan of your passport to your CET Compass account. This should be a single scan that includes the signed signature page and the photo/personal details page. Don’t have a passport yet? Let us know and we can help advise you.
Study Abroad Office Recommendation
This is an online form that your study abroad office completes to let us know you meet the requirements to study abroad. To send the electronic form request, simply enter the name and email address of your study abroad advisor in the designated fields of your CET Compass account.
Official Transcript
Your CET Compass account has specific instructions for submitting an official transcript.
Price Subject to Change:
CET reserves the right to increase quoted charges at any time without prior notification, based on increased instruction costs, exchange rate fluctuation or other cost increases beyond CET’s control.