NYCU and UIUC Announce Launch of a New Dual Degree Program:

Three Students to Begin Study at UIUC in August

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 of this year.

The partnership was further strengthened following a visit by NYCU’s College of Computer
Science to UIUC in April 2023, culminating in the signing of a formal dual degree agreement
in October 2023. An additional agreement with the School of Information Sciences was
signed in March 2024, thus broadening the academic opportunities with two departments in
two distinct colleges at UIUC. Dean Chen Jyh-Cheng of the CS College of NYCU remarked
that the program with UIUC—a top-five U.S. institution in information technology—
recognizes and validates our international academic standing and accomplishments. In
February of this year, the CS College also welcomed two talented young scholars from
Princeton and UIUC, enhancing the faculty with fresh perspectives and scholarly vigor.

President Lin Chi-Hung of NYCU highlighted the immense value of an international outlook
in today’s globalized era. The dual degree program not only allows students to acquire degrees
from two prestigious universities within five years but also significantly helps in cultivating a
broad cultural perspective and a comprehensive global view. UIUC, ranked among the top
five U.S. institutions in information technology, provides graduates with opportunities to
work in the U.S., pursue PhD programs, and collaborate with leading global talents.

In August, students Hou Bo-Syuan, Liu Yi-Ruei, and Yu Jian-Fong will embark on their

journey to UIUC’s Department of Computer Science to pursue their dual degrees. Yu Jian-
Fong shared that he initially planned to study abroad through an exchange program before

applying for further studies overseas. The dual degree agreement with UIUC’s CS department
from the previous year allowed him an earlier start, streamlining the complex application
process. Liu Yi-Ruei, who is more academically inclined, is looking forward to specializing in
artificial intelligence and computer vision after joining UIUC this August. He is eager to enter
the elite realm of information technology and interact with top international scholars.
When asked for advice for younger students, Hou Bo-Syuan emphasized that the dual degree
program is a remarkable opportunity facilitated by inter-university collaboration, which
simplifies the application process. He advises prospective students to maintain excellent
academic records, prepare for the TOEFL early, and if possible, complete mandatory military
service during the summer to optimize readiness for this prestigious program.