Education: Bachelor's Program, Department of Economics, National Dong Hwa University

Current Position: Senior Accounting Specialist, Ennostar Group

Why I Chose to Study in Taiwan:

I am an overseas Chinese student from Malaysia. Because my family's financial situation was relatively difficult, they could not afford my university tuition. Although I had qualified for scholarships from several universities in Malaysia at the time, most of those scholarships were available only to first-year students, and I would still have needed to maintain a certain level of academic performance to retain them.

I attended a Chinese independent high school, and during my senior year, members of the local Taiwan Alumni Association came to share their experiences with us. After hearing their presentation, I immediately made up my mind to pursue my studies in Taiwan. Everything about it was simply too appealing!

Tuition, Expenses, and Scholarships:

Although tuition varies by department and program, overseas Chinese students admitted through the relevant admission channel pay the same tuition as Taiwanese students! At Dong Hwa, tuition and miscellaneous fees are essentially "all-you-can-take," meaning you pay the same amount regardless of how many credits you take, so taking more courses does not make your tuition more expensive!

In addition, the Taiwan government provides financially disadvantaged overseas Chinese students with a monthly subsidy of NT$3,000 upon application. Don't underestimate that NT$3,000—it covered my monthly living expenses at the time!

The Overseas Chinese and International Student Association and the university also provide various channels for applying for scholarships. My attitude at the time was: since I was already paying to study, I might as well work hard and earn good grades. On top of that, I could apply for scholarships and earn 💰 without having to put in additional labor!

If you want to work part-time to help cover your living expenses, Taiwan's minimum wage is also quite good. Just remember to apply for a work permit!～

Why I Chose Dong Hwa:

To be honest, I applied through the Overseas Community Affairs Council at the time, and I remember listing nearly thirty choices all at once. For financial reasons, I could only choose national universities, and I eventually came to Dong Hwa through the placement process.～

However, I have never regretted coming to Dong Hwa! The campus is huge and beautiful, and the dormitories are even better than those at most universities! Overseas Chinese students are guaranteed on-campus housing for four years.

Although many people say that Hualien has beautiful mountains and rivers but is boring, I personally prefer it to the hustle and bustle of big cities. Looking on the bright side, Hualien even keeps us away from the temptations of entertainment and spending found in big cities!～ Even though I graduated almost six years ago, I still miss Hualien's beautiful scenery so much.～

About the Department of Economics and NDHU Faculty:

The professors may seem very friendly and approachable, but once you look at their backgrounds on the university website, you'll discover that the faculty members in every department have truly impressive credentials!～

I originally chose Economics because I personally preferred theoretical knowledge. However, after learning more about the field, I discovered that economics goes far beyond microeconomics and macroeconomics, with many specialized areas to explore. The university offers a wide variety of courses, and students can choose electives according to their personal interests. The professors are also experts in their respective fields, so I never found the classes boring!

About Overseas Chinese Students and the Overseas Chinese and International Student Association:

Dong Hwa's Overseas Chinese and International Student Association has grown bigger every year, and it organizes tons of activities!

Thinking back to when I was a first-year student, the first people I got to know were senior overseas Chinese students. Even while we were still in Malaysia, they helped us prepare for coming to Taiwan and gave us all kinds of reminders. After we arrived at the university, they showed us around campus, ate meals with us, and even taught us how to ride bicycles because Dong Hwa is so huge. This brought us overseas Chinese students very close together. My husband now was actually the president of the Overseas Chinese and International Student Association who looked after our cohort back then XD. I am truly grateful for the Association because it kept those of us studying far from home from feeling lonely ♥️

About Employment:

After graduation, overseas Chinese students can apply for a work permit in Taiwan through the points-based system, which has more flexible eligibility requirements than those generally applied to foreign nationals. This may still be a little early for first-year students, but if you need more information in the future, feel free to contact me.～

I have to admit that my reason for staying in Taiwan to work is very practical: to earn 💰! In my personal view, for most jobs in Taiwan, the salary for comparable duties and positions is higher than in Malaysia. Taiwan's taxes are also lower than Malaysia's. Even after accounting for differences in the cost of living, I believe I can save money faster in Taiwan than I could in Malaysia, although there are exceptions for certain types of work.

Because of the word limit, I can't share too many details, and you might get dizzy reading too much anyway XD. If you would like more information, please don't hesitate to contact me through my personal email. I'll reply when I have time outside of work!

Email：selenac951011@gmail.com