TAIWAN - ISEP Providence University

To be eligible to participate in this program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Good academic and judicial standing during time of application AND time of participation in program
• Undergraduates must have completed at least two semesters of study at Lake Forest College AND have second-semester sophomore status or higher before participation. 
• At least 18 years of age by the program’s departure date. 
• Be able to stay at the host program for the duration of the semester, including through the exam and travel periods
• Minimum GPA of 2.75.  

Students applying to ISEP must apply for an Exchange option (in any country) as a first choice but may apply to a Direct option as a back-up. Direct options may have an additional cost (see a financial section for more information).

Providence University is located in Taichung, the heart of Taiwan and the historic capital of the island. Taichung is approximately a two-hour drive from Taipei and is serviced by multiple daily buses and trains to and from all parts of Taiwan. 

Taichung has convenient access to all student necessities and offers a wide variety of recreational activities. Students are only minutes away from spectacular natural landscapes with the opportunity for hiking and biking in addition to other outdoor activities. Sports and outdoor recreation and a diversity of cultural activities are available. The city also hosts lively festivals year-round.

Main Campus (Chinese is spoken on campus)

Over 85 student clubs and organizations sponsor a wide-range of extracurricular activities. The office of international affairs organizes regular student parties, outings, cultural trips and other fun activities. Providence University also provides numerous sporting and physical fitness opportunities. Sports include baseball, basketball, swimming, tennis, and fitness in superb athletic facilities including a track and a newly built world-class sports arena. The annual sports day provides opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to participate in a day of activities. Students also have access to a student health center, career advising services, and a campus ministry center. Other facilities on campus include theaters, a music appreciation center, dining services, Caves bookstore, convenience stores, an art gallery, an auditorium, a chapel and a state-of-the-art library. Exchange students also have access to International Corner, an informal, friendly environment where one can make new international friends, find academic partners, and learn about the diverse cultures, traditions, and customs of other countries. Incoming students can also take part in the International Friendship Buddy program. This buddy program facilitates international students’ initial contact with Taiwanese students and helps them adjust to life in new a cultural environment.

Course Description

For a full list of courses offered over the past year, please view Providence’s course list page. Undergraduate students can also enroll in Graduate-level courses, taught in English through the college of management and the college of computing and informatics.

Students enrolling in Providence have the option of taking 10 hours of Mandarin courses and three to four English-taught classes or 20 hours of Mandarin and one English-taught class. For information on Mandarin class levels both for the 10 hour and 20 hour track, take a look at the Chinese Language Education Center’s course listings.

For course availability, click here.

Fields of Study (in English)

• Business: Accounting,  Finance,  International Business/Trade/Commerce

• Computer and Information Sciences: Informatics

• Foreign Languages and Literatures: Chinese Language and Literature,  Spanish Language and Literature

• Hospitality and Tourism: Tourism Management

• Language and Culture

• Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities

• Area Studies: Japanese Studies

• Biology: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

• Communication: Mass Communication/Media Studies

• Human Services: Social Work

Fields of Study (in Mandarin)

• Area Studies: Area Studies, Other

• Computer and Information Sciences: Informatics

• Education

• English Language and Literature

• Foreign Languages and Literatures: Chinese Language and Literature,  Japanese Language and Literature, Spanish Language and Literature

• Law/Criminal Justice

• Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities

• Mathematics: Statistics

• Social Sciences

• Physical Sciences: Chemistry

• Engineering: Computer Engineering

• Health Sciences:: Cosmetic Sciences,  Nutrition Sciences

• Biology: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

• Communication: Mass Communication/Media Studies

• Human Services: Social Work

Academic Environment and Teaching Style

Please understand that the academic system is quite different. Classes are usually lecture-based, instead of discussion or group work. Classes are often much larger than those found at Lake Forest College. Grades are based heavily, at times almost entirely, on one end-of-term exam, though some courses will also offer a midterm.  Professors are often more formal than those in the United States.

All courses/modules may have prerequisites.  Some departments may have limitations on numbers of courses that can be taken within or outside it.  Be aware of these limitations.

Courses

All courses/modules may have prerequisites.  Some departments may have limitations on numbers of courses that can be taken within or outside it.  Be aware of these limitations.

Hints for Researching Courses:

1. From the website of Office of International Affairs, Providence University, click on Academics on the top menu.
2. Select “Courses Taught in English”. This shows a list of all courses within each college and each department. 
3. In addition to undergraduate courses, additional graduate courses in English are available in Management and Information Science. Please visit the GIP website for the list of courses. 

Please note that students are also welcome to take courses that are taught in Mandarin or other languages.   For information about these courses:

1. Enter the website of Providence University, and then enter the E-Campus service.
2. Select Course online. There will be a search area for students to enter the key words or desired course title or department.

For exchange students, there is no limit to the number of courses that can be taken.  All exchange students must attend the Chinese language course for 10 hours per week free of charge which will count for 2 credits per semester. More hours for an additional fee are also offered for all levels.  (http://www.clec.pu.edu.tw/Default.aspx)

The university also provides training and assistance on course selection during Orientation, where a learning partner can help you select your courses one by one.

Please review the ISEP country handbook for more information on the education system, grades, class hours, and classroom etiquette.

An orientation is provided when students arrive on campus and will include various information sessions, a campus tour, lunch, and a meeting with the Office of International Affairs Staff and their Learning Partners. During orientation, students will receive assistance to activate their computer accounts, apply for alien residency, health insurance, a bank account, cell phone, and to register for courses. The orientation also includes a city tour.

Over 85 student clubs and organizations sponsor a wide range of extracurricular activities. The Office of International Affairs organizes regular student parties, outings, cultural trips and other fun activities. Providence University also provides numerous sporting and physical fitness opportunities. Sports include baseball, basketball, swimming, tennis, and fitness in superb athletics facilities including a track and a newly-built world-class sports arena. The annual Sports Day provides opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to participate in a whole day of activities. Students also have access to a student health center, career advising services, and a Campus Ministry Center.

Other facilities on campus include theaters, a music appreciation center, dining services, Caves bookstore, convenience stores, an art gallery, an auditorium, a chapel and a state-of-the-art library. Exchange students also have access to International Corner (I-Corner), an informal, friendly environment where one can make new international friends, find academic partners, and learn about the diverse cultures, traditions, and customs of other countries. Incoming students can also take part in the International Friendship Buddy program. This buddy program facilitates international students’ initial contact with Taiwanese students and helps them adjust to life in new a cultural environment.

Excursion (included)

As part of Providence’s orientation, you will take a tour of Taichung City. Typical sites include Hungkuang university, Donghai Village, Donghai Arts Street, Tunghai University, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, SOGO Department Store, National Museum of Natural Science, Fengchia Night market, Chinatrust, Taisuco Hypermarket. The itinerary may vary if necessary.

Volunteer (included)

Providence University was the first university in Taiwan to offer students the opportunity to participate in a volunteer program. Students are encouraged to take part in community service and native Spanish, English, French, Japanese, and Korean speakers can volunteer as language tutors. Contact the Campus Ministry Center for opportunities to get involved.

For all approved programs for guaranteed financial aid transferability, students pay their Lake Forest College tuition plus a program fee. The program fee for a semester with the ISEP Exchange program includes orientation, on-site director, college fees, housing and a stipend to cover the equivalent of 19/meals per week.

Here is an estimated budget for the Fall 2018/Spring 2019 programs:

Tuition rates and program fees are subject to change each year, but this information was up-to-date as of February 2018. We will notify applicants, and update this page if the program fee or other estimates change.

You can discuss with Financial Aid your specific aid package and your expected family contribution.

Keep in mind that you may spend more or less in certain areas like personal expenses, travel, meals, or airfare, depending on exchange rates and your own spending habits. Classroom or lab fees are not included in this estimate and will depend on your course registration choices.  

Don’t forget to apply for scholarships! A great listing can be found here.