International Master‵s Program in Asia-Pacific Studies

How long does the program last for? The program length is 2 years, and can be extended to 4 years. Students may withdraw from the program for up to 2 years before returning to complete their degree.  In the event that non-degree seeking students or credit students apply for and are accepted as degree students in the IMAS program, students are required to fulfill the class requirements set by IMAS and maintain official student status for at least 3 semesters in order to obtain their degree. All students must be enrolled in at least one course each semester to maintain student status. Those who have already taken the required numbers of courses (33 hours) are exempted from this rule. What are the requirements to graduate? A minimum of 33 credit hours, research ethics online course and a thesis is required for the Master’s degree in Asia-Pacific Studies. When do I have to take the Research Ethics Online course? In order to ensure all students to abide by a high standard of research ethics, starting from Academic Year 2016-2017, newly enrolled students (including those who have early enrollment before Fall 2016), must complete the research ethics coursework before the end of their first school year. Students are required to pass the research ethics course, or receive explicit authorization for an exemption from the research ethics course before his/her application for taking the final graduate degree examination.  To comply with the Research Ethics Course requirement, please follow the following guide.

Yes, IMAS students can normally take up to 12 credits hours of graduate-level courses taught in English from other departments.  Classes from the IDAS and IMES programs will be considered in-program, therefore they do not count as outside courses. If an IMAS student’s research requires it, they may take up to 12 credits hours of graduate courses not taught in English. Applications for these courses should be submitted one week prior to the add/drop course period and be approved by the IMAS Director. Any further special coursework requested by the student requires prior approval by the IMAS program committee. What are the requirements to graduate? A minimum of 33 credit hours, research ethics online course and a thesis is required for the Master’s degree in Asia-Pacific Studies. Are there any courses offered outside NCCU? Elective courses are offered at schools listed in the University System of Taiwan, UST. Whoever selects an elective course should also comply with the program regulations and related provisions. How many credits are suggested to take per semester? The suggested total credits per semester are 9-15 credits, but since different courses have different loading, you can adjust it on their own.

When should I find a Thesis Advisor? Once you have decided on the broad subject area you want to research, you should consider who you want to serve as your Thesis Advisor. Students are suggested to choose an Advisor before or within the first semester of the second year. How to find an advisor? Go to the web pages of departments that fit your interests.  Think about which professors you know or have taught classes that are related to your interests and that you enjoyed.  Ask around for recommendations from your classmates. Attend university events, activities, you know Speeches or conferences to learn more about the specialties of professors. Can I have an Advisor from another university? In compliance with the MOE Degree Conferral Law, thesis advisors must be full-time or joint appointment of faculty members of NCCU. Adjunct professors, professors from other schools or assistant professors may be accepted upon approval by the IMAS Director When can I apply for the thesis proposal examination? Applications for thesis proposal examination can be submitted anytime during the semester after they have completed 18 credits in the degree program and obtained approval from their thesis advisor. The thesis proposal examination should be completed within the same semester in which the application was submitted. What should I do for thesis proposal and thesis defense? Once students have found a Thesis Advisor and confirmed their commitment in writing, they should go through the procedure of the Thesis Proposal, finish the thesis, and complete the Thesis Defense to graduate. You may refer to this guide for details of the process. What should I do after the thesis defense? Congratulations on successfully defending your thesis! This is a significant milestone, and we at the IMAS Office are thrilled to celebrate your achievement with you. Next Steps: Revise Thesis: Academic Quality Consent Form: Submit Form & Receive Eligible Paper: Upload Thesis & Watermark: Print Copies Please refer to the Completing Graduation Process page for further info. Can I have professors from other universities in my Proposal Examining Committee? The proposal examining committee shall consist of at least three to five members, including the thesis advisor and two other members recommended by the advisor. At least one member should be a full-time faculty member from the College of Social Sciences. External professors should account for no less than one third of the members.

Does NCCU provide scholarships for new students? Yes. Several scholarships are offered to new students, such as the Taiwan Scholarship, International New Student Scholarship, IMAS scholarship, etc. You can find more information in the Funding page. Can I work while studying? Yes, students who wish to work while studying in Taiwan must apply for a Work Permit from the Ministry of Labor.  With the exception of the winter and summer vacations, foreign students’ sum of working hours shall not exceed 20 hours per week (80h/month). Can I live at NCCU? Yes, NCCU has dorms for students. Newly admitted international graduate students, except for those who have obtained the bachelor’s degree or above in Taiwan, are guaranteed a bed in an on-campus dormitory for the first year. Second year or above international graduate students who haven’t exceeded the maximum semesters of dormitory residence must apply to join the lottery drawing process to determine the residence of the next academic year.  Please refer to the website of the Housing Service Section for additional information about the dormitories. Where can I rent my graduation gown and cap? NCCU Master’s and PhD. students can refer to the Graduation Gown & Cap Rental Procedure for rental details.

How can I apply for academic documents from the university online? To apply for academic documents from the university online, use the Online Document Application Platform. This platform allows alumni and current students, both domestically and abroad, to register, verify their identity, and request documents. You can find more information on the Online Document Application System page. Please refer to the website of the Office Academic Affairs for additional information about the online document application.