International Master‵s Program in International Studies, NCCU

Graduate Requirement

IMPIS requires completion of a minimum of 30 credits and a MA thesis for graduation. Students need to complete all their courses in 2-4 years to fulfill all the program requirements.

*The requirement of graduation credits is adjusted from 33 credits to 30 credits since academic year 2016/17; this adjustment is also applied to students who were enrolled in academic year 2015/16.

Credits

There are two parts to the curriculum:

• Required Courses: 9 credits
• Elective Courses: 21 credits

Credits for graduation need to be MASTER-LEVEL! You could have bachelor-level courses, BUT you have to pay the credit fee for it and it will NOT be counted as your graduation credits.

There is no maximum or minimum number of credits each semester. Students could decide how to spread 30 credits out in their study years. 

※ Want to know what courses you could take? Find out here: https://qrysub.nccu.edu.tw/
    Use "Advanced Query" funtion to filter out the master level courses, the colleges, and the departments.

MA Thesis

Students are encouraged to discuss possible thesis topics with faculty and begin thinking about a thesis advisor after the end of their first semester in the program. A thesis advisor can be any professor from higher education institution accredited by the Republic of China Ministry of Education.

Students must pass oral exams for both their thesis proposal and their thesis.

Proposal Defense

1. After a student's first semester in the program, an application for an oral exam on the student's thesis proposal can be submitted.
2. The application for the thesis proposal oral exam should be submitted to the IMPIS office 2 weeks before the proposal oral exam.
3. One hardcopy of the thesis should be submitted and displayed in IMPIS office 2 weeks before the proposal oral exam.
4. Each oral exam committee member should receive one hardcopy of the thesis proposal from students 2 weeks before the exam.
5. The thesis exam is failed if 2/3 professors marks student 'fail'.
6. Students who fail in the thesis exam may resubmit applications and retake the thesis exams the next semester.
7. The committee consists of at least three members, including one advisor. At least one member should be affiliated to non-NCCU.

Final Defense

1. Students who have passed the thesis proposal oral exams after 4 months (minimum) and have completed the minimum 30 credits of requirement may apply for the thesis exam. (Updated Feburary, 2023)
2. Students have to submit the Application of Degree Examination before the deadline of the university to have their thesis defense. (Normally at the beginning of January for Fall semester and at the beginning of June for Spring semester; for exact date please refer to the calendar of the academic year)
3. Students must apply for thesis exams online and submit the application two weeks before the exam.
4. One hardcopy of the thesis must be submitted and displayed in IMPIS for 2 weeks before the exam.
5. Each oral exam committee member should receive one hardcopy of the thesis 2 weeks before the exam.
6. The exam committee should consist of those in the proposal defense. However, members could change under the permission of the advisor.
7. The thesis exam is failed if 2 of 3 professors give scores lower than 70 or if the average score is 69 (out of 100) and below.
8. Students who fail in the thesis exam may resubmit applications and retake the thesis exams the next semester.
9. Students who fail again will not receive the diploma and will terminate their study in the program.