— Survival Guidebook —

Freshman Survival Guide

A pocket handbook written by the seasoned adventurers of Royal Palm Boulevard, for new arrivals to NTU.
Orientation site: https://ntuorientation.com/

Key Dates — Timeline —

★ The following dates are tentative and subject to change. Please refer to the relevant websites or responsible units for updates. See the Academic Calendar.
08.06–09.04 Online registration for freshmen (incl. overseas Chinese & international students) – Site
08.10–08.17 Dormitory application for freshmen & transfer students (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM) – Site
08.17–08.20 Online application for foundational course exemption exam – Site
08.18–08.20 Pre-registration: 1st stage course selection – Site
08.25–08.26 Pre-registration: 2nd stage course selection – Site
08.28–09.03 Physical health examination for freshmen – Site
⚔ OC19 Main Quests
09.02–09.03 Fresher Orientation Camp – Details
09.06 Opening Ceremony – Details
09.07–09.21 Online course add/drop begins – Site

About the Student ID — Student ID Decoded —

Example: B151010●●
  • B: Degree level. B = Bachelor’s, R = Master’s, D = Doctoral.
  • 15: Academic year of admission (115, i.e. 2026).
  • 1: College code — here, the College of Liberal Arts.
  • 01: Department / program code — here, Chinese Literature.
  • 0●●: Admission number. Departments often use the last digits to pair you with your “direct senior” (mentor with the same trailing digits).

College Codes (earlier-founded colleges have lower codes)

Liberal Arts1
Science2
Social Sciences3
Medicine4
Engineering5
Bio-Resources & Agriculture6
Management7
Public Health8
EECS9
LawA
Life ScienceB

NTU Mail — Email Setup —

Receiving emails via Gmail

G Suite

In addition to your default student mailbox, you can apply for an extra address (your student [email protected]).

About Bicycles — Bike Tips —

Where to buy

  • Buy a second-hand bike from a graduating senior or an upperclassman you know.
  • Browse second-hand groups around Gongguan or “NTU Clearance” (出清台大). Compare prices carefully.
  • Visit local bike shops near campus.
  • Queue up at the Shuiyuan second-hand auction lot — wide price range, but expect long lines around the start of term.

Traffic rules & avoiding tow-aways

  • Basic Road Rule 1: Pedestrians first. Respect all road users, don’t ride side-by-side in groups, and keep your speed in check.
  • Basic Road Rule 2: Keep left when turning left, right when turning right, and always check for oncoming traffic before turning.
  • Color-coded parking zones: The colors and numbers on signs indicate the time when the area must be cleared. Move your bike before that time to avoid being towed. See the official guide.
  • Bicycle permit: Apply online for a bicycle permit — if your bike is ever towed, you’ll receive a notification.
  • Towing: Park only in designated areas. Illegally parked bikes are towed by the Shuiyuan crew; repeat offenders must pay a relocation fee to retrieve their bikes.
★ Shuiyuan location: NTU Shuiyuan Campus Second-Hand Bicycle Auction — Google Maps
  • If you park illegally off-campus (e.g. near Gongguan MRT Station), the Taipei Traffic Division may tow your bike to Longmen Junior High School — even farther from campus than Shuiyuan.
  • For on-campus YouBike stations, see the YouBike Smile Bike — Station List (select “Taipei City / NTU Gongguan Campus”).

On-Campus Printing — Printing & Copying —

NTU offers multiple printing and copying spots across campus, including:
  • Computer & Information Networking Center (C&INC): Each student receives NT$100 of printing credit per semester.
  • On-campus convenience stores (7-11, FamilyMart): Offer self-service printing.
  • Library: A copy shop is located on B1; photocopiers on other floors require your own copy card.

Campus WiFi — WiFi Setup —

After connecting to NTU or NTU_peap, a login page will appear. Use your C&INC account credentials. Note: these same credentials are used for NTU COOL, myNTU, and the NTU Course Website. Memorize and store them safely.

NTU

Once connected, a login page appears automatically. After signing in, you’re online — but you must log in every time you reconnect.

ntu_peap

A different login page appears; enter your C&INC credentials. A certificate prompt will then appear — tap “Trust” to proceed. After the first successful login, you can connect automatically next time.

eduroam

Eduroam (Education Roaming) is a global wireless network for academic and research institutions. With it, NTU students & staff can connect for free at any eduroam-supported institution worldwide — but you must first apply for an account via C&INC.
  1. Go to the C&INC website.
  2. Click “NTU eduroam” under the application section.
  3. Click “Set Eduroam Password”.
  4. Once set up, your username is [email protected] with the password you chose.

Dormitories & BOT Housing — Where to Live —

On-Campus Dormitories

In principle, freshmen are assigned to the First-Year Women’s Dorm or Men’s Dorm 1. However, lottery and waitlist outcomes vary each year — you may be assigned to other on-campus dorms via waitlist. If placed in the freshman dorm from the start, your three roommates will likely also be freshmen from the same year.
Dorm areas
  • Chang-Hsing area: Men (Men’s Dorms 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, Changxing BOT Men’s); Women (Changxing BOT Women’s).
  • Shui-Yuan area: Men (Shuiyuan BOT Men’s); Women (Shuiyuan BOT Women’s).
  • On-campus women’s dorms: Near Xinsheng Lecture Building (Women’s 8, 9); near Gongguan (Freshman Women’s, Women’s 1, 2, 3, 5).
  • Downtown area: Men (Men’s 2, 4); Women (Women’s 4, 6).
Fee structure
  • Men’s Dorm 1 (4.32 ping): NT$8,200 per semester.
  • Freshman Women’s Dorm (max 4.03 / min 3.78 ping): NT$9,700 per semester.
  • All are 4-person rooms with shared bathrooms.
  • On-campus rent includes water & electricity, but A/C is paid per room — A/C card costs NT$400, refundable NT$10 when returned.
  • Coin-operated washers & dryers available on-site.
Eligibility
Per Articles 13–14 of NTU Student Dormitory Regulations, the student and both parents must have household registration outside Taipei City and New Taipei City for 2+ years, or in the following New Taipei City districts for 2+ years: Sanzhi, Shimen, Jinshan, Wanli, Ruifang, Gongliao, Shuangxi, Pingxi, Pinglin, Wulai, Shiding.
Lottery priority order
  1. Students with disabilities.
  2. Students from low-income or middle-low-income households.
  3. Students from offshore islands or Indigenous groups.
  4. First-year overseas Chinese students.
  5. First-year public-funded medical students registered outside Taipei City & New Taipei City for 2+ years.
  6. Students & parents registered outside Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, or Taoyuan for 2+ years (as of application).
  7. Students & parents registered in Taoyuan, Keelung, or remote New Taipei districts (the 11 listed above) for 2+ years.
  8. Students with verified special needs (including Taipei / New Taipei residents): contact the Student Housing Service Division.

Prince House BOT

The NTU Prince House Dormitory is a Build-Operate-Transfer student housing project between Prince Housing & Development and NTU. It is located in the Shuiyuan and Changxing areas and offers diverse housing options. Visit the NTU Prince Dormitory website for room details.
Locations
  • Shui-Yuan area: Siyuan Street, near Gongguan.
  • Chang-Hsing area: Changxing Street, near the NTU Veterinary Hospital.
Fee structure (1-year lease)
  • Single room (5.54–6.12 ping): NT$8,590/month per bed.
  • Twin room (7.39–8.10 ping): NT$5,620/month per bed.
  • Triple room (9.95–10.64 ping): NT$5,060/month per bed.
  • Shui-Yuan Suite (~7.2 ping): NT$10,570/month per bed.
  • BOT rent includes water; electricity is paid separately (prepaid power card, NT$4.7/unit).
(The above rates apply to 1-year long-term leases. Short-term stays arranged by the university or exchange programs are quoted separately.)
💡 Move-in tip: To avoid disputes over damage or belongings when moving out, take detailed photos of the room upon move-in to protect your rights.

Facility Opening Hours — Hours of Operation —

Main Library (1F – 5F)

  • Mon – Sat: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Sun: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • ＊Closed on national & university holidays.
  • ＊For branch libraries see library website.

Main Library B1 Study Room

  • Open 24 hours
  • ＊Last Sunday of each month: open until 5:00 PM.

Sports Center

  • Mon – Fri: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Sat: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Sun: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Campus Shuttle Bus

  • Runs on class days; suspended on holidays, winter & summer break, Lunar New Year.
  • 13 trips daily. Stops: Fu Bell, Downtown Admin Building, College of Medicine.
  • ＊Hsin Hsin Bus: 02-23654066 / 02-26649066

The Five Main Lecture Buildings — The Five Towers —

Most NTU classes take place in five main lecture buildings: Boya, Putong, Zonghe, Xinsheng, and Gongtong. These are where you’ll likely attend your first-year required courses, general education classes, and even some departmental electives.

Credit System — Credits Explained —

Except for your final semester, you must take at least 15 credits and no more than 25 credits per semester. Reducing or exceeding these limits requires application.
If your current-semester GPA exceeds 3.9, you can take up to 31 credits next semester. Students in a minor or academic track may also extend to 31; approved double majors may extend to 33.
For department-specific requirements, refer to each department’s website.

Required

Credits you must complete before graduation. Divided into:
  • University-wide required (Chinese, Foreign Language, Physical Fitness, Service Learning)
  • Department-specific required

Elective

Split between within- and outside-department:
  • Departmental designated electives: choose a set number from a defined list.
  • Non-departmental electives: whether they count toward graduation depends on your department.

Gen-Ed Areas (A1 – A8)

Each department assigns required Gen-Ed areas, typically excluding areas closely related to the department’s field (e.g. Chinese Lit skips A1/A2/A4; EE skips A6/A7).
A1 Literature & Arts
A2 Historical Thinking
A3 World Civilization
A4 Philosophy & Moral Reasoning
A5 Civic Awareness & Social Analysis
A6 Math & Quantitative Analysis
A7 Material Science
A8 Life Sciences

Freshman Required Courses — First-Year Mandatories —

  • Chinese Language: Chinese + Gen-Ed together total 15 credits. Options: “Chinese 3 + Gen-Ed 12” or “Chinese 6 + Gen-Ed 9” — minimum 3 Chinese credits.
  • Foreign Language: 6 credits across two semesters. Some departments allow other languages; others (e.g. Political Science) require English only.
  • Physical Fitness: 1 credit, auto-enrolled in your first semester. If dropped, you’ll need to add it back through the add-course process.
  • Service Learning: Students admitted in AY 114 or earlier must complete 2 Service Learning courses (not counted toward graduation). Students admitted in AY 115 or later are exempt, but may take them as electives (up to 2 credits). Divided into types A and B — see department regulations.

Exemption for First-Year English

There are two paths: an “Exam-Based” method (taking a certification test) and a “Review-Based” method. You only need to complete one. If approved, you’re exempt from First-Year English and the Advanced English course, receiving 6 credits toward graduation — but the credits do not count toward your freshman-year semester totals and carry no grade.
How to apply: from early to mid-August (check annual announcements for exact dates), apply online via the “Basic Course Exemption” section of the NTU Freshman Service Website and upload your certificates. See the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures for details.

Course Selection Walkthrough — Course Selection —

Note: The schedule on the NTU Course Website is just a simulation. Only the schedule in the Online Course Selection System reflects courses you’ve actually selected. You must enter the selection system during the official selection period and confirm your registration.

Selection Steps

  1. After adding courses to your simulation list, log in to the Online Course Selection System. You’ll first need to complete the “Foreign Language Proficiency Survey” — answer honestly (many language courses restrict native speakers).
  2. Click “Import Simulated Courses” to begin official selection.
  3. Courses previously added on the Course Website appear here. Begin ranking your preferences. Tip: skip numbers when ranking (e.g. 1, 3, 5) so adjustments are easier later.
  4. Check “Course Registration Status” to see what you’ve truly selected. Black text = confirmed (e.g. auto-enrolled requirements); blue text = pending lottery.
  5. In the “Drop Courses” section, you can drop preferences or courses — including auto-enrolled required courses (useful for students planning to transfer majors).
  6. The “Class Schedule” view shows only confirmed courses, making time planning easier.
  7. After importing everything, wait for the first allocation round. The system uses your preference order when these conditions occur: time conflicts, multiple sections of the same course code, or hitting the credit cap.

Common Selection Questions

Q: What does “auto-enrolled” mean?
A: Required courses your department pre-loads into your schedule. They appear automatically — before you even start choosing.
Q: What is “add-course” (加簽)?
A: If you missed a course during the two pre-registration rounds, you can try to add it during the first two weeks of class. Each course has its own add-process rules:
  • Type 1: Unlimited capacity — just add directly via the system (up to 500 students).
  • Type 2: Get an authorization code from the instructor in class or by email, then enter it online. (Nicknamed “Add-Course Treasure Hunt” — the most common type.)
  • Type 3: Limited capacity — register online and wait for a lottery.
Q: What if a course I want conflicts with a required one?
A: The system allows you to drop required courses, but consider whether you’ll later conflict with other required courses or different instructors / time slots. Cross-college required courses (Calculus, General Physics, General Chemistry, etc.) often have multiple instructors and time slots — first check whether your department has a “first-attempt only within department” rule. If not, you may find an alternative section.
Q: What if a course is marked “Department Only”?
A: To protect departmental, double-major, and program students’ enrollment, you can’t select these during pre-registration. However, during the first two weeks of class you can ask the instructor for an authorization code — if granted, you can register.
“May your adventure be a fine one.”
— Scribed by OC19 Senior Adventurers —
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