This year, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) in Taiwan and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in the USA are excited to announce the official launch of their 3+2 dual degree program.
Students who successfully complete three years at NYCU’s College of Computer Science (CS) are eligible to apply to either the Department of Computer Science or the School of Information Sciences (iSchool) at UIUC. After two additional years of study, graduates will earn a Bachelor’s degree from NYCU and a Master’s degree from UIUC. Three exemplary students have qualified for this program and will commence their studies in August 2024.
NYCU’s Commitment to Providing Students with Diverse Learning Options
Behind the NYCU and UIUC dual-degree program lies a series of in-depth exchanges and close collaboration. Representatives from NYCU’s CS visited the iSchool at UIUC as early as April last year. In October 2023, the two parties officially signed the dual-degree agreement (3+X Program), further strengthening their cooperative relationship.
Furthermore, this collaboration encompasses the Department of Computer Science. It extends to the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois, providing students with a more diversified range of learning options.
President Chi-Hung Lin of NYCU highlighted the immense value of an international outlook in today’s globalized era. The dual degree program allows students to acquire degrees from two prestigious universities within five years and significantly helps cultivate a broad cultural perspective and a comprehensive global view. UIUC, ranked among the top five United States institutions in information technology, provides graduates with opportunities to work in the U.S., pursue PhD programs, and collaborate with leading global talents.
The Journey of Pursuing Dual Degrees in Pursuit of Dreams
In August of this year, the first group of three outstanding students will embark on their journey to the U.S., initiating their pursuit of dual degrees. These three students are Bo-Xuan Hou, Yi-Rui Liu, and Jian-Feng You. They will pursue dual degrees in the Department of Computer Science at the UIUC.
For the students about to embark on this journey, it is one filled with opportunities and challenges. Jian-Feng You expressed that he initially planned to experience university life abroad through a student exchange program. Fortunately, last year, the College signed a dual-degree agreement with the University of Illinois, allowing him to realize his dream of studying abroad ahead of schedule.
Bo-Xuan Hou encourages younger students to seize this rare opportunity, as applying through intercollegiate cooperation makes it more accessible. With outstanding academic performance, there is a great chance to be admitted to top international universities and obtain a master’s degree. Therefore, he suggests that younger students planning to study abroad should maintain excellent grades, prepare for the TOEFL exam early, and, if possible, complete military service in advance.
Yi-Rui Liu expressed that he leans towards entering the academic field in the future. He has planned to specialize in artificial intelligence and computer vision upon entering UIUC in August. The dual-degree program provides him access to the pinnacle of the information field, and he also hopes to meet and learn from top information talents from around the world through mutual exchange.
The 3+2 dual-degree program between NYCU and UIUC allows students to further their studies at top international institutions. It brings new opportunities for cooperation between the two schools. We believe that more outstanding students will emerge in future collaborations, stepping onto the world stage to achieve their dreams.
