A New Semester, New Connections: International Students Begin Their TMU Journey

As the semester gets underway, a series of welcome activities is helping them navigate their new academic environment, build friendships, and connecting with life in Taiwan.

On September 7, 110 new international students joined TMU’s Fall Student Orientation, taking their first steps into graduate life at TMU. The afternoon covered the essential information on registration, courses, key academic dates, student rights, and university resources, helping students prepare for the semester ahead.

Following the sessions, six student Global Ambassadors accompanied the newcomers around TMU’s Xinyi and Shuangho campuses. Drawing on their own experience, the ambassadors shared practical advice about studying and living at TMU. The tours also offered new students an early chance to meet classmates and connect with senior students beyond the orientation room.

Beginning life at an international university also means learning about the society and culture beyond its campus. On September 11, when 38 international students visited the National Palace Museum, creating an opportunity to engage with Taiwan through one of its most prominent cultural institutions.

Through an English-guided tour of the museum’s collection, students discovered centuries of art, history and cultural exchange, adding a broader cultural dimension to their first weeks in Taiwan. The visit encouraged students to develop a deeper sense of place and a greater understanding of the cultural environment in which they will study and live.

Exploring the museum together also created conversations for students to talk about and get to know one another. As students shared lunch, exchanged impressions, and explored the collections, an introduction to Taiwan became an opportunity to strengthen the international community they are now part of at TMU.

Together, these activities offered more than practical preparation for a new semester. For students still finding their footing in a new academic and cultural environment, they provided an early sense of familiarity and connections, helping students become comfortable with TMU’s campuses, understand the resources available to them, and begin building the friendships and support networks that foster a sense of belonging.

For TMU’s newest international students, their journey has only begun. From navigating a new campuses to engaging with Taiwan’s culture with new friends, these first experiences are setting the stage for a TMU journey shaped by learning, connection, and discovery.