Finding Path in Taiwan: Journey into Public Health, Internships, and Life in Chinese

Meet Deanna, a motivated young graduate. But behind her story is a series of very intentional choices that led her from secondary school in Indonesia to a public health degree in Taiwan, and now to a research role at one of the country’s most respected institutions. Deanna graduated from National Taiwan University (NTU) in 2025, majoring in Public Health.

Right after that, she began working as a research assistant at Academia Sinica, where she’s been from July 2025 to July 2026, contributing to projects that sit at the intersection of data, health, and society.

Her university years were not just about lectures and exams. During her time at NTU, Deanna joined the NTU International Mentorship Program and landed a 2025 summer internship at the Taiwan Digital Diplomacy Association (TDDA) as article writer. 

That experience, together with other internships and part-time roles, helped her see how public health connects to real people, policies, and communities.

In this article, you’ll get a closer look at why she chose Taiwan, how she built her skills and career step by step, and what she learned about surviving and growing in a Chinese-speaking academic and work environment. Curious? Let’s see her perspective answering these 4 interview questions.

Why Choose Taiwan for Higher Education?

I always knew I wanted to pursue my undergraduate degree overseas. It was a common preference among students at my secondary school, which followed a Cambridge curriculum and naturally nudged us toward studying abroad. English-speaking countries like Australia, Singapore, and Canada were popular choices, and frankly I considered them seriously too. But in high school, after many eye-opening conversations with my parents and teachers, it was suggested that I consider a Chinese-taught program, since fluency in Chinese would be an incredibly strong asset in the future.

What Are the Unique Advantages of Studying Public Health in Taiwan?

So I started studying Chinese intensively, though without a specific school or program in mind at that time. Not long after, the COVID-19 pandemic struck and heavy travel restrictions were imposed, which initially made me consider staying within Indonesia’s borders and applying to medical schools instead. 

But soon enough, it came to my attention that Taiwan was still open to international students for in-person instruction. My brother was already studying at National Taiwan University (NTU) at the time, and he encouraged me to apply. While I was browsing its medicine-adjacent programs, I discovered that NTU’s College of Public Health was the first and only public health school in Asia accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. It only has one undergraduate program, but with seven specialization tracks, and I was most drawn to Biostatistics and Health Informatics, which combined my love for biology and mathematics perfectly.

Although in hindsight, it was the flexibility to take courses from other specializations that helped me grasp the essence of public health and its key determinants (environmental and social), which later influenced my choice of internships and extracurricular activities. I applied through the Recommendation by Overseas High Schools pathway (which will be discontinued starting from the 2027/2028 academic year), and was thankfully accepted with an offer of the highest-tier scholarship.

Key takeaways for readers:

• Taiwan isn’t just a “backup” option, it can be a really strong choice, especially for public health and health-related majors.  
• Studying in Chinese is tough at first, but it can become a major advantage for your future career.  
• Big disruptions like COVID can force you to rethink plans, but they can also push you toward opportunities you wouldn’t have considered otherwise.  
• If you have siblings, friends, or alumni already in Taiwan, use their experiences to help you decide and apply.

How to get internship / company work during university (Taiwan)?

I would encourage starting with exploring the different skill sets relevant to your major as early as your first semester of college. It may seem overwhelming at first, since you also have to deal with heavy coursework and social commitments, but I promise it’s a worthy time investment. It helps you understand which facets of your major you’re passionate about (or at least more interested in) and how they align with market needs. 

Then, be intentional and proactive with internship hunting year-round through regularly checking announcement boards on official school websites, student-led Facebook groups (look up 實習、徵才 or other relevant keywords), and job search platforms (104, LinkedIn, etc.), although more vacancies tend to open up a few months leading up to summer break.

NTU’s International Mentorship Program is also a fantastic starting point. And don’t be afraid to take on roles that seem less conventionally aligned with your major. My first internship (International Intern at Taiwan Digital Diplomacy Association) wasn’t, in fact, closely related to my major. But it was through this experience that I first practiced project management, citizen engagement, and social analysis, which are all skills central to public health practice. 

How to secure those after graduation?

I was placed for my second internship (Biostatistical Intern at Taipei Veterans General Hospital) through my department’s partnership with the institution, and it was directly aligned with the skills I wanted to develop as a public health researcher. I secured my other part-time jobs (tutor, teaching assistant, medical interpreter) through proactive searching across multiple platforms, so I’d say the key is persistence! When it comes to your CV, make sure your profile aligns with the company’s priorities, and highlight both your experience and your potential to grow through the training the company offers.

Remember that you are also the company’s investment, and that you’re there to learn first and foremost, so once you’re admitted, position yourself accordingly. It’s not uncommon for interns to be promoted to full-time positions after graduation, but in case you’d rather apply to other roles at other institutions (which I also did), your supervisors’ recommendations remain important, so try your best to build a respectful and positive relationship with them.

Key takeaways for readers:

• Don’t wait until you’re about to graduate. Start exploring roles and skills early, even if you feel busy or unsure.  
• Check multiple sources regularly: school sites, Facebook groups, and job platforms each have different kinds of opportunities.  
• Internships that don’t perfectly match your major can still give you valuable skills you’ll use later.  
• Department partnerships and mentorship programs are gold—use them to get closer to the kind of work you want.

How to improve Chinese and adapt in a Chinese-learning & working environment?

Practice, practice, practice. Not just in private, but also out in public. I first sensed real improvement not while taking intensive Chinese courses, but when I forced myself to converse fully in Chinese with my Taiwanese classmates. That said, proactively priming yourself through daily exposure to Chinese-language media (podcasts, drama series, YouTube videos, etc.) and shadowing native speakers makes all the difference, because it gets you accustomed to the natural sounds and rhythms of the language and prepares you for real-world practice.

Always listen attentively, take notes, and ask questions. Native speakers are unlikely to laugh at your mistakes. In fact, you’d be surprised how willing they are to help you learn. I also recommend learning to type using 注音 (Zhuyin or Bopomofo), especially on your computer, since it requires you to add the correct tone for each character. Associate items you see regularly with their Chinese terms. Read more Chinese articles, and write full sentences by hand. You’ll come across many field-specific terms in class and at work. If you don’t recognize them, try to record their sounds or spell them phonetically, then look them up on Pleco or use AI to find the exact characters, and note them down for future use. 

There’s really no shortcut to language learning, but there are ways to make it less of a chore. Repetition is necessary to get comfortable with Chinese (or any language), and soon enough you’ll find yourself thinking in Chinese too. That’s when you realize you’re already one step more advanced than you were yesterday.

Key takeaways for readers:

• Don’t wait until your Chinese is “perfect” to use it, just start talking to classmates and friends and let the mistakes happen.  
• Fill your daily life with Chinese content (podcasts, dramas, videos) so your ears get used to the language.  
• Use tools like Pleco and Zhuyin typing to catch, record, and remember new words, especially those you hear in class or at work.  
• Repetition isn’t boring if you see it as progress, thinking in Chinese, even a little, is a big milestone.

What Are the 3 Most Important Things to Survive University in Taiwan?

The 3S: Systems, societies, and supervision.

Systems: How Can You Build a Second Brain to Stay Organized?

Systems to organize your class, work, and social schedules, your coursework, and your revision and translation notes. I know some people who only need this minimally, but I need a second brain as I don’t have the best memory. You can do this in physical notebooks, but my preferred method is having a reproducible workflow using apps like Notion, Goodnotes, and Google Workspace as a collective. Setting reminders for every task is also crucial so you don’t miss any deadlines.

Societies: Why Are Student Clubs Essential for Staying Connected and Sane?

Societies are necessary to keep you sane, in my humble opinion, even if you’re a major introvert. They are a constant reminder that you have others in the same boat as you, so when things get difficult, you know you have people to go back to and share with. There is a wide range of student associations at Taiwanese universities. Try signing up for at least one based on your interests, whether languages, arts, sports, or even niche hobbies like jewelry making. Every encounter is an opportunity to make potentially lifelong friends, so be kind and approach people with an open heart! You’ll also pick up plenty of life hacks from the new friends you make.

Supervision: How Do You Make the Most of Mentorship and Academic Resources?

The last S was what I wish I’d paid more attention to. It wasn’t until my last year in college that I realized how important supervision was. At NTU, you’re assigned a faculty member as an academic supervisor as soon as you start your first semester, and you get to choose a different supervisor in your second year if you find a professor whose specialty better matches your interests. I’d always been a fairly independent person who didn’t like bothering others with my concerns, but I wish I had made better use of this opportunity for close mentorship. Scheduling meetings with your supervisor to discuss the challenges you’re facing with coursework can help tremendously in identifying your blind spots and clarifying your future direction.

I also can’t emphasize enough how important it is to make the most of office hours and TA sessions. Discussing your assignments in these one-on-one tutoring and feedback sessions is so beneficial to help you sharpen your critical thinking and consolidate your understanding of the material. These 3S altogether will also help you practice your Chinese, both intentionally and not, so it’s a win-win situation!

Key takeaways for readers:

• Systems: build your own way of staying organised, such as apps, planners, reminders. It will save you from last-minute panic.  
• Societies: don’t underestimate clubs; they’re not just for fun, they’re also your emotional support and friend network.  
• Supervision: your supervisor and TAs are there to help; using their guidance early makes your path clearer and less stressful.  
• Saying “yes” to these three: Systems, Societies, Supervision. It also gives you more chances to practice Chinese in real, everyday contexts.

If you’re a foreign student thinking about Taiwan, her experience is a reminder that you don’t need everything perfectly planned before you arrive. You can start by being open: to learning in Chinese, to trying internships that stretch your skills, to joining societies even when you feel shy, and to asking for guidance from supervisors and mentors. 

Taiwan’s universities have strong academic programs, but what will really shape your time here are the systems you build for yourself, the people you meet, and the small everyday decisions you make to step out of your comfort zone.

Maybe your path won’t look exactly like Deanna’s.. but her story shows that Taiwan can be a place where you slowly figure things out, make mistakes, improve your language, and still move closer to the future you want.

If this resonates with you, maybe it’s time to put Taiwan on your list, not just as an option, but as a real possibility~ see you in Taiwan!