Re­al­i­ty check: How I af­ford my ex­change se­mes­ter in Taipei

A semester abroad is a dream for many – and like with most dreams, one question is quick to pop up: how on earth can I afford it? Before I set off for Taipei, this was one of my biggest concerns, too. As exciting as the idea of living in an Asian metropolis filled with night markets, hot pot restaurants and endless karaoke nights sounded, the dream would have fallen apart in no time without a solid financial plan.

The foundation: two scholarships

Fortunately, about a month before my departure date, I received confirmation that I’d been awarded PROMOS – a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) that supports mobility costs for stays outside the EU. The application did take a bit of time and effort, but it was absolutely worth it: The financial support from PROMOS covers almost all of my travel expenses, plus a small portion of my monthly costs.

Quite unexpectedly, I was also awarded the MOFA Taiwan-Europe Connectivity Scholarship – a Taiwanese government grant that provides European students with a monthly allowance to make their stay more affordable. That came as a huge relief – both financially and mentally. With just these two scholarships, I already had a solid foundation for my time here.

Child benefits and budgeting time

You can, of course, continue to receive child benefit while abroad – as long as you’re officially enrolled at a university and under 25 (I just about scraped by that limit…). It might not sound like much, but in a country like Taiwan, where many everyday things are relatively affordable, that little extra in your account can actually make a real difference. Combined with the two scholarships, it’s enough to regularly go out for meals with friends or treat yourself to the occasional trip – whether it’s to the hot springs in Beitou, to see the sea turtles on Xiaoliuqiu, or to explore the rocky east coast.

Before leaving, I had only managed to save a modest financial cushion. I'd had a student job at university but quit that before heading abroad. Looking back, that was the right decision: the administrative workload of preparing for departure – applying for scholarships, getting the visa, searching for housing and writing term papers early at HU – would have been next to impossible to juggle alongside a part-time job.

Fixed costs plus toppings

At the same time, this means I need to manage my budget carefully. But surprisingly, that’s going really well. Taiwan is – at least compared to Berlin – a bit more affordable in many areas: rent, street food as well as other meals, and even a lot of cultural activities come at a reasonable price. Of course, you can spend a lot of money in Taipei if you want to. But if you look around a bit, you quickly realise: Here, cheap here often equals tasty, exciting – or just authentically local.

I’m incredibly grateful for the support I’m receiving – without the MOFA scholarship, child benefit and especially PROMOS, this adventure wouldn’t really have been possible. At the same time, this stay has taught me how much you can do with a well-planned budget, and that a semester abroad doesn’t necessarily have to mean extra costs. And who knows – maybe at the end of my stay, I’ll even be able to treat myself to a little farewell gift. A rail pass for the high-speed train across Taiwan? A short trip to the Philippines? Or simply some really good bubble tea with extra toppings?

16.06.2025