downtown taipei taiwan city view
Taipei, Taiwan

January in Taipei

Study Program

Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

Eligibility

Application Deadline

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Overview

Spend your winter break studying abroad in Taipei, where you'll explore Asian society, economics, and business. During this three-week program, you'll take courses (in English) at CIEE Taipei and gain an in-depth understanding of East Asia and the Greater China region.

Outside the classroom, you'll participate in exciting co-curricular activities and excursions organized by CIEE to enhance classroom learning and develop intercultural understanding. These interactive outings will provide you with real-life experiences of Taipei's distinctive culture and tradition to give you an authentic and memorable study abroad experience.

Unique Experiences

Visit the National Palace Museum

home to the world’s largest ancient Chinese artifact collections

Take in the sights

from the top of Taipei 101 and Taipei Sky Tower

Bike through Taipei

to explore and immerse yourself in the local community

98 miles

Length Of Tamsui River

1,667 FT

Height of Taipei 101 Building

100

thermal hot springs in Taiwan

Experience
  • taipei arch gate
  • taipei taiwan temple lake

Your Destination

An island at the crossroads of Northeast and Southeast Asia, Taiwan is a unique fusion of cultures. Known for its delicious street food, beautiful scenery, and friendly people, Taiwan offers a variety of experiences that will make your stay unforgettable.

Introduce yourself to Mandarin to get to know the deep roots of this language and experience the rich culture. During your time in Taipei, you’ll have every opportunity to learn about the history and heritage of the island while visiting temples and historic sites, tasting unique Taiwanese cuisine at a world-famous night market, and enjoying nature while hiking the beautiful mountains.

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Taipei.

The Culture

taipei ximen at night

Excursions & Activities

Participate in a variety of activities and excursions during your time in Taipei, including:

  • Day trips to Dadaocheng and Bopiliao, where you’ll wander among the red brick buildings and alleyways that have stood in place for more than 100 years
  • Exploring local night markets to try different street foods, bubble tea, and other local specialties to learn how delicious Taiwanese food is made
  • Hanging around in Ximending, a very popular area for shopping and entertainment
  • Visiting Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, home to stunning architecture
  • Participating in a local activity, including Chinese calligraphy, martial arts, Chinese chess, and Chinese cooking
  • Visiting the National Palace Museum, where modern technology meets ancient artifacts

Program Blogs

From CIEE

5 Reasons to Do a Winter Study Abroad Program

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

Participating in a January term study abroad program is an amazing way to explore a dream destination and expand your global perspective without missing out on any important on-campus courses... keep reading

From CIEE

Explore and Grow while Studying Abroad! My Story in Taiwan: Biking with the Elderly

By CIEE Taipei at CIEE

By Brenna Tosh (2024 J-term student in Taipei) My CIEE experience in Taiwan was transformational. I seriously encourage anyone considering one of their programs to take the leap of faith... keep reading

Housing
Academics

Academics

During the January in Taipei program, all students take a three-credit course, with in-class work augmented with co-curricular visits to the city’s rich variety of cultural institutions and organizations relevant to the course offering.

CIEE Taipei is located on National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU)’s library campus

GPA

2.5

Language Requirements

There are no specific language requirements for this program.

Additional Requirements

Please refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Requirements

All students take one three-credit course. 

Program Credit

Total credit: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits 

Course Credit

CIEE Courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours 

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Academic Culture

The program consists of three weeks of classes with an intensive orientation beforehand. The course is a full semester in content, so the pace is accelerated, and the workload is demanding. CIEE classes are designed to follow U.S. academic culture. Regular class attendance and participation are expected and required. Students will play an active role in their own education; group projects and interaction with fellow students and professors are expected. 

Class Format

Courses taught at CIEE Taipei are for CIEE students only. Courses are taught Monday through Friday.  Attendance is strictly enforced both for classes and required co-curricular excursions. Students should expect an average of two hours of preparation required for each hour in class. Instruction is supported and augmented online by our learning management system, Canvas. 

Grading

Assessment is based on the individual’s overall performance in the course, including essays, coursework, and final examinations or papers. Students must check with their professors to find out exam and project presentation dates. Under no circumstances will CIEE alter deadlines or exam dates for study abroad students who have made conflicting travel plans. The U.S. grading scale of A-F is used. 

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Language of Instruction

English

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Courses

Course Information

Languages and Cultural Studies

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.

Scholarships

Scholarships & Grants

CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.

Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:

  • Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants

To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.

Learn more about scholarships

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Fees & Housing

Program January 2025 3 weeks Start Date End Date Fees & Housing $3,950

To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Participation Confirmation = $300*

Educational Costs = $2,420**

Housing = $1,150***

Insurance = $80

Total Fees = $3,950

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Meals not included in program fee = $294

International Airfare = $1,000

Local Transportation = $40

Books & Supplies = $15

Personal expenses = $135††

Total Costs = $1,484

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

*non-refundable

**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.

round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries

Staff

Our Staff

Katherina Lee

Center Director

Katherina holds an M.S. in Information Studies and is currently pursuing an Executive Doctorate in Business Administration. She boasts a diverse academic background and a fervent dedication to international education...

Chester Chou

Program Manager

Chester holds an M.A. in Applied Linguistics and has eight years of project management experience. He's a CIEE exchange program alum keen to share his global insights with students.

Ronnie Lin

Program Coordinator

With a BSc (Hons) degree in Hospitality Management, Ronnie has 9 years of experience in the hospitality industry and 2 years of experience in project management.

Get Started Steps

Get Started

Here’s what you need to do to take the next steps:

1

Start an Application

You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience!

2

Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office

Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.

3

Contact Us

Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.

Request Info