Student FAQ · Conversation with the Chair

A. This section compiles questions of broad relevance raised during the "Conversation with the Chair" sessions, together with practical information on current studies, further education, internships, research, student self-governance, classroom facilities, and document applications. Questions involving an individual student's courses, eligibility, or application should still be confirmed with the Department Office or the responsible administrative unit. This page does not replace University regulations, Academic Affairs Meeting resolutions, or the latest announcements.

A. One of the biggest differences between university and high school is that students are expected to manage their studies and daily lives more independently. New students should first become familiar with the curriculum map, graduation credit requirements, course registration and add/drop procedures, leave requests, scholarships and financial aid, and Department Office contact information. They can then use resources such as academic advisors, the Department Office, class officers, senior students, and the Department Student Association to become familiar with campus life. Understanding administrative procedures and adapting to university life should proceed together. When something is unclear, students should ask early rather than wait until an application deadline or the end of the semester.

A. Questions about course content should first be directed to the course instructor. Questions about learning, career planning, or adjustment to university life may be discussed with your academic advisor. For course registration, graduation eligibility, internships, Department forms, and Department activities, contact the Department Office first. For University-level matters such as academic affairs, student affairs, housing, financial aid, counseling, or other administrative services, the Department Office can help identify and refer you to the appropriate office, such as the Office of Academic Affairs or the Office of Student Affairs.

A. Course registration, add/drop, and course withdrawal are handled through the University information system according to the academic calendar and schedules announced by the Office of Academic Affairs. Students should pay attention to the beginning and ending dates of each registration stage, requirements for required and elective courses, schedule conflicts, and minimum and maximum credit loads. If you encounter system or enrollment-capacity issues, contact the Department Office or the curriculum administration unit of the Office of Academic Affairs. Actual procedures and deadlines are subject to the announcements for each semester.

A. The University and the Department offer various scholarships and financial aid programs, tuition and fee reductions for eligible students, assistance for economically disadvantaged students, and on-campus and off-campus student employment opportunities. The Department may also offer teaching assistant (TA) positions and Department Office student employment. Eligibility, quotas, award amounts, and application periods are subject to announcements by the Office of Student Affairs, the Student Assistance Division, and the applicable scholarship or financial aid program. Students are advised to monitor announcements and prepare application materials early.

A. The University has regulations governing department transfers, double majors, and minors. Eligibility requirements, including year of study, academic performance, available places, application schedules, and additional credit requirements, are governed by the University's academic regulations. Students interested in applying should first review the additional courses required by the target department and consider how the change may affect their graduation schedule before applying within the announced period.

A. Credit transfer, including credits earned before transferring, reenrolling, or from previous studies, and course withdrawal are handled in accordance with the University's credit transfer and course withdrawal regulations. Each process has its own application period, credit limits, and required documents. After withdrawing from a course, students must still meet the University's minimum credit-load requirements. Actual procedures, deadlines, and approval results are subject to announcements by the Office of Academic Affairs and the Department.

A. Graduation requirements vary by program and year of admission. In addition to completing the required courses, elective courses, and minimum graduation credits specified in the curriculum for their year of admission, students should also pay attention to the following competency and certification requirements:
I. Daytime Four-Year Bachelor's Program
1. Meet National Formosa University's English-language graduation requirement. (National Formosa University English-Language Graduation Requirement Guidelines)
2. Pass the College of Management information competency assessment or obtain an Excel-related certification recognized by the College of Management. (National Formosa University College of Management Information Competency Assessment Regulations)
3. Meet the Department of Finance professional certification graduation requirement. (Department of Finance Regulations)
4. Complete the academic program certificate and any other course or competency requirements specified in the curriculum for the student's year of admission. (Department of Finance Curriculum Planning)

II. Continuing Education Four-Year Bachelor's Program
1. Meet the Department of Finance professional certification graduation requirement for continuing education students. (Department of Finance Regulations)
2. Complete any other graduation requirements specified in the curriculum for the student's year of admission. (Department of Finance Curriculum Planning)

Under current regulations, the University English-language graduation requirement and the College of Management information competency assessment apply to students in the daytime four-year bachelor's program and do not apply to students in the continuing education four-year bachelor's program.
Requirements, recognized certifications, and alternative methods may change depending on the student's year of admission or subsequent regulatory amendments. Please refer to the curriculum for the student's year of admission and the latest announcements from the Language Teaching Center, College of Management, and Department of Finance. Students with questions about their individual graduation eligibility should provide their student ID number when contacting the Department Office.

A. Daytime students who enroll in an officially offered Department off-campus internship course and complete the required internship hours, course requirements, site visits, and assessment may earn credits in accordance with the course requirements. Credit hours, internship hours, eligibility requirements, and partner organizations for summer and semester internships are subject to the curriculum, internship regulations, and Department announcements for the relevant academic year.
General part-time work, short-term employment, or other work experience obtained independently and not included in an official internship course is not automatically recognized for off-campus internship course credit. Continuing education students should refer to the question "Can continuing education students enroll in daytime off-campus internship courses?" on this page.

A. Yes. The "five-year bachelor's-to-master's pathway" is a commonly used description, while the formal mechanism is the Pre-Master's Student Program. The Department established its Regulations Governing the Selection of Pre-Master's Students in accordance with National Formosa University's Guidelines for Advance Study of Master's Degree Courses, with the aim of helping outstanding undergraduate students begin advanced study and research earlier. After obtaining Pre-Master's status, students may take selected Department master's-level courses while still undergraduates. However, this does not mean that they have formally been admitted to the master's program. They must still complete a bachelor's degree and be formally admitted through the University's master's program recommendation-based admission or general entrance examination before obtaining graduate-student status.

A. Students who obtain Pre-Master's status may take some master's-level courses while still undergraduates, allowing them to gain early exposure to research methods, seminars, and more advanced finance courses and to assess whether graduate study is a suitable path.
After formal admission to the University's master's program, master's-level courses completed during undergraduate study with grades of 70 or above may, after completing the required University- and Department-level approval procedures, be recognized toward the master's degree. This can reduce the coursework load after formal enrollment.
However, the same course credits may not be counted simultaneously toward both undergraduate graduation requirements and master's credit recognition. Courses, credit amounts, and approval procedures are subject to the curriculum and review requirements in effect at the time. If coursework and thesis progress proceed smoothly, students may have an opportunity to shorten the total time needed to complete both degrees, but Pre-Master's status does not guarantee completion of both degrees within five years.
Teaching assistant or Department Office student employment opportunities depend on annual quotas, work needs, and eligibility criteria and are not guaranteed benefits of Pre-Master's status.

A. Under the Department's Regulations Governing the Selection of Pre-Master's Students, students in four-year programs who have completed at least five semesters and have a cumulative average of at least 70 may apply. For transfer students or students who have changed departments, semesters completed and grades earned before the transfer are included. Applicants must submit an application form, complete academic transcript, and other supporting materials by the end of the tenth week of either the sixth or seventh semester. After approval by the Department Chair, the application is reviewed by the Department's Pre-Master's Student Selection Committee. The committee announces the list of admitted students before the end of the semester in which the application is submitted. Actual quotas and selection procedures are subject to the Department's latest announcements.

A. No. A Pre-Master's student must obtain eligibility for the bachelor's degree no later than the eighth semester and must then apply through the University's master's program recommendation-based admission or general entrance examination. Graduate-student status in the Department is obtained only after formal admission. Pre-Master's students who are formally admitted are counted within the master's program's approved enrollment quota for that academic year. Other requirements for the bachelor's and master's degrees are governed by the University's Guidelines for Advance Study of Master's Degree Courses and the Department's master's degree regulations.

A. After a Pre-Master's student formally obtains graduate-student status in the Department, master's-level courses completed during undergraduate study with grades of 70 or above may be recognized toward master's degree requirements after completion of the applicable University- and Department-level approval procedures. Thesis credits are excluded. The total number of recognized credits is not subject to the graduate credit-transfer limit specified in the University's general credit-transfer regulations; however, no more than 12 master's-level credits taken in any one undergraduate semester may be recognized. A master's-level course that has already been counted toward undergraduate graduation credits may not also be recognized toward the master's degree.

A. In principle, yes. However, internship courses for master's students are not necessarily offered every semester. If an internship is to be included as a formal course for academic credit, students must first express a need for the course. The Department will then assess whether the course can be offered based on curriculum planning, faculty availability, internship organizations, and the number of interested students. A faculty member must serve as both the course instructor and internship advisor. Actual course offerings and application procedures are subject to Department announcements for the relevant semester.

A. Some internship areas overlap, including securities firms, banks, accounting firms, and other financial service organizations. Because master's students receive more advanced research training, they may also consider organizations related to investment consulting, financial products, data analysis, FinTech, quantitative research, wealth management, sustainable finance, or risk management, depending on their research interests and career plans. Organizations formally included in an internship course must still meet the applicable Department and University requirements.

A. Graduate-student internships in the past have primarily been in securities, investment consulting, futures, and other financial-market-related organizations. These examples reflect historical experience and do not imply that the same organizations, positions, or quotas will be available every semester. Actual opportunities are subject to annual announcements and selection results.

A. Securities, investment consulting, and futures remain important fields, but they are not the only possibilities. Depending on curriculum planning, student needs, and cooperation conditions, the Department may continue to explore opportunities with government-owned banks, private banks, and other financial institutions, as well as areas such as FinTech, data analytics, digital finance, wealth management, sustainable finance, and risk management. Actual partner organizations, quotas, and eligibility requirements are subject to official Department announcements.

A. Most continuing education students are already employed, and internship courses do not fully align with the study format and curriculum needs of the Continuing Education Division. Under current regulations, such enrollment is not permitted. If University regulations are amended, the latest announcements will apply.
Under the resolution of the University's 3rd Academic Affairs Meeting of Academic Year 113 and the current Guidelines for Offering Off-Campus Internship Courses, off-campus internship courses apply to daytime students. Beginning in Academic Year 114, continuing education students may not enroll in off-campus internship courses offered by the Daytime Division. For students admitted from Academic Year 114 onward, internship courses are no longer included in the Continuing Education Division curriculum standards.
Continuing education students may still independently apply for general employment, part-time work, or company positions to gain practical experience. However, such experience is not equivalent to an official University off-campus internship course and is not automatically recognized for internship credit.

A. Students may refer to Department, University, and company announcements and independently apply for part-time work, short-term projects, summer positions, or regular job openings. They may also build practical experience through corporate lectures, company visits, competitions, professional certifications, capstone projects, and research projects. Work or part-time employment obtained independently is not equivalent to an official off-campus internship course. Students should independently confirm employment rights and obligations, insurance coverage, working hours, and labor conditions.

A. Employers generally look beyond a student's thesis topic and place greater emphasis on the ability to translate research training into practical problem-solving. Important capabilities include using Excel, Python, R, EViews, or other tools for data analysis; understanding financial markets, banking, investment, risk management, and financial products; communicating analytical results clearly; and being able to define a problem, collect data, choose an appropriate method, interpret results, and propose feasible recommendations.

A. Potential areas include FinTech, applications of AI in finance, quantitative investing, sustainable finance and ESG, wealth management, risk management, financial fraud prevention, investor behavior, and corporate financial decision-making. Students should not select a topic solely because it contains popular keywords; data availability, methodological feasibility, and practical value should also be considered. Research directions may also be developed backward from career goals. For example, students interested in banking may focus on credit and risk; those interested in securities or investment consulting may focus on investment analysis and financial products; and those interested in FinTech should strengthen programming, data analytics, and AI applications.

A. The Department Student Association may organize orientation activities, Department Week events, lectures, sports competitions, faculty-student activities, and graduation-related events. It may also help new students adjust to university life, share activity information and experiences from senior students, and serve as a communication bridge between students and the Department. Common concerns regarding activities, class needs, or campus life may be consolidated by the Student Association and conveyed to the Department.

A. Hands-on participation in event planning, budget management, vendor communication, interdepartmental coordination, and team assignments can develop planning, communication, administrative, responsibility, problem-solving, and leadership skills. These experiences can also be translated into concrete examples for resumes and interviews. The career value comes not from holding a title, but from genuine participation and the ability to explain specific responsibilities and outcomes.

A. A well-functioning Department Student Association can strengthen student self-governance and campus participation, help the Department and University understand student needs, and promote participation in University-, college-, and Department-level activities. Students' experience in independently planning activities, proposing ideas, coordinating resources, and solving problems together also represents an important form of experiential learning and civic participation in university education.

A. Before leaving the classroom, make sure that the air conditioning, lights, fans, computers, and other equipment have been turned off. Check the doors and windows, take all personal belongings with you, lock the classroom, and then return the key. Please do not enter a classroom without completing the required borrowing procedure, as this can make responsibility difficult to determine if equipment is damaged or property is lost.

A. Follow the instructions posted at the Department Office, place the key in the return box outside the office, and scan the on-site QR code or use the designated method to report that the key has been returned. If the Department Office updates the return procedure, follow the latest on-site instructions and announcements.

A. Scan the repair-report QR code posted next to the computer and provide the location, equipment name or computer number, a description of the problem, photos, and your contact information so the issue can be assessed and tracked. You may also contact the Department Office for equipment repairs at (05) 631-5762 or sanhsien@nfu.edu.tw.

A. Students who meet the eligibility requirements for graduation in the current academic year may apply for a "Prospective Graduate Eligibility Certificate" as proof of eligibility before receiving the official diploma. This document is not equivalent to the official diploma. Applicants must still meet the University's review requirements and follow the applicable procedure for either the Daytime Division or the Continuing Education Division.

A. Download the Application and Payment Form for Various Documents from the Teaching Affairs Section of the Office of Academic Affairs, select "Prospective Graduate Eligibility Certificate," complete the form, and pay the NT$10 fee per copy before submitting the application to the Teaching Affairs Section. The form may also be completed on site. This service is available only to students who meet prospective graduate eligibility requirements. Actual procedures and fees are subject to the latest form and announcements from the Office of Academic Affairs.Document Applications for Daytime Students ↗

A. Download the Application and Payment Form for Various Documents from the Continuing Education Section of the Office of Academic Affairs. In the "Other" field, select and enter "Prospective Graduate Eligibility Certificate," complete the payment and application procedures according to the form, and submit it to the Continuing Education Section. The form may also be completed on site. According to the referenced form, the fee is NT$10 per certificate; however, please follow the latest announcements and on-site instructions.Forms for Continuing Education Students ↗

A. University forms also cover items such as Chinese and English academic transcripts, semester grade certificates, class-rank certificates, replacement student ID cards, English graduation certificates, certificates of study, certificates of suspension, and officially stamped copies of diplomas. Some documents require three working days, while some applications require a separate form or presentation of the original document for verification. Paper application forms are generally issued in two copies. Applicants should complete the form as instructed, pay the applicable fee at the cashiering unit first, and then submit the designated copy to the responsible office.

A. Military-service deferment for enrolled students is generally processed by the University in accordance with applicable regulations. Students should monitor military-service notices and provide required information. The application form for Chinese academic transcripts also includes an option for "military-service deduction" where applicable. Military-service matters following graduation, suspension, withdrawal, or exceeding the permitted study period are governed by military-service laws and the competent authorities. Students with individual circumstances should contact the University's military-service administrative unit for confirmation.