Re­gion­al re­al­i­ties: My Tai­wan se­mes­ter in po­lit­i­cal sci­ence

During my exchange semester at the National Taiwan University (NTU), I didn’t just gain insights into a different culture (I’ve written about that in a different blog post), but of course, I also studied – and was able to dive into some truly fascinating courses. My timetable was a mix of language and politics – and I have to say: it was challenging, but incredibly enriching! Especially because local perspectives played a prominent role in the content.

At the start of the semester, I had to overcome a few hurdles: selecting courses in NTU’s online portal (similar to Agnes) was quite tedious and time-consuming. I didn’t get into all the courses I had initially wanted to take, and the language course had to be registered for separately. But just as I’d learned back at HU's Department of Social Sciences, it was well worth attending the first sessions and speaking to lecturers in person: That way I managed to still join all the seminars I’d planned on taking. So, the semester could begin as hoped.

My timetable: a perfect mix

As I’m quite far along in my Master's programme, I didn’t have that many modules left to complete. But I still needed to cover the transferable portion (überfachlicher Bereich). That’s when I thought: why not take a language course? The Chinese course at NTU was intense – six hours per week – but the perfect introduction to navigating everyday life. From learning the characters and practising the tones, to engaging in mini-discussions during lessons – my teacher both supported and challenged us, and had a great sense of humour. On top of that, because so many exchange students chose to take language courses – and they were often held at the same time – it was the ideal setting to regularly meet and connect with others.

By far the most fascinating seminar for me was "Asian Regionalism". We explored how countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and others interact, the political alliances (and tensions) that exist, the significance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and above all, the role Taiwan plays in the region. There was quite a bit of theory, but it came with a strong focus on current affairs. I wrote my term paper on regional security cooperation – it was so interesting that I’m now seriously considering writing my Master’s thesis on a related topic.

A truly fascinating shift in perspective

The second political science seminar I took was "Political and Economic Interactions across the Taiwan Strait". This focused on the relationship between Taiwan and China. Spoiler: it’s complicated – and likely to remain so. We examined historical background, security issues, and economic and social developments. Especially being here on the ground, this topic takes on a whole new depth – it really is the key issue for 'understanding' Taiwan.

What made both seminars especially valuable for me was the change in perspective. It may sound like a cliché – we always hear about the importance of thinking outside the box and beyond borders – but it’s genuinely fascinating when you get the chance to truly shift your perspective. The fact that I’ll most likely base my Master’s thesis on the "Asian Regionalism" seminar says it all. With that in mind, I can wholeheartedly recommend a semester abroad – whether at National Taiwan University or anywhere else in the world.

Datum: 11.08.2025