OUTBOUND STUDY ABROAD
Undergraduate Rice ECE students can design a four-year course plan that includes study abroad typically in the fall or spring of junior year. In consultation with an ECE advisor selected courses can transfer and fulfill a core or specialization area requirement. Students gain an important world view perspective through study abroad. See engineering.rice.edu/abroad and the Office of Study Abroad, abroad.rice.edu.
Rice ECE students in recent years have studied around the world at major universities in Europe and Asia. In addition to full semester experiences, our students have taken summer courses at the Rice Global Paris Summer Program, the Rice OEDK iSEED program, and also the intensive Rice in Japan language program.
During the academic year, a sample of universities that Rice ECE students have recently studied at include:
- Georgia Tech Campus in Metz, France
- Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in Spain
- Nanyang Technological University in Singapore
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- University College Dublin in Ireland
- National University of Singapore
- Tsinghua University in China
INBOUND STUDY ABROAD
Cooperative Education Program with National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan
A Global Partnership for Future Engineers and Innovators
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University is proud to partner with the College of Computer Science at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) in Taiwan through a unique international cooperative education program designed to provide students with an accelerated pathway to undergraduate and graduate study at Rice.
This innovative 3+2 cooperative education program enables qualified students from NYCU to complete the final year of their undergraduate studies at Rice University while creating a direct pathway toward a graduate degree in electrical and computer engineering.
Building on the broader international memorandum of understanding established between Rice University and NYCU in December 2024, this partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing global collaboration in engineering education, research and innovation.
Program Overview
Through this cooperative education program, students enrolled in NYCU’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program will:
- Complete three years of undergraduate study at NYCU in Taiwan
- Spend their fourth (senior) year studying at Rice University within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Earn academic credit during their Rice coursework that will apply toward completion of their undergraduate degree at NYCU
- Apply for admission to Rice University’s Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering (MECE) graduate program through the standard graduate admissions process
- Upon acceptance, continue at Rice for approximately 1.5 additional years to complete the MECE degree
Students demonstrating exceptional academic performance during the MECE program may also pursue further graduate study by applying to Rice University’s MS/PhD program.
Credits earned at Rice are carefully structured so that coursework contributes toward either the undergraduate or graduate degree, with individual courses applying to only one degree program.
With advisor approval, students may also enroll in courses outside of ECE to broaden their academic experience.
Program Milestone
We are pleased to announce that the partnership officially launched in Fall 2025, marking the beginning of a new chapter in international collaboration between Rice University and NYCU.
This milestone demonstrates the successful implementation of the partnership and sets the foundation for future cohorts of NYCU students joining Rice each year.
Built on Shared Academic Strengths
This partnership grew from strong shared research interests between Rice and NYCU faculty, particularly in the fields of:
- Wireless communications
- Networking systems
- Computer engineering
- Advanced semiconductor technologies
- Electrical engineering research and innovation
At Rice, the collaboration was originally initiated by:
- Ashutosh Sabharwal, former Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Joseph Cavallaro, leader of Rice ECE’s undergraduate program
The program continues under the strong support of:
- Ashok Veeraraghavan, Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Joseph Young, leader of Rice’s professional master’s programs
International Collaboration in Action
To strengthen the partnership and introduce new opportunities to students in Taiwan, Rice faculty have traveled to NYCU to engage directly with students and faculty.
In December 2024, Professor Joseph Cavallaro visited NYCU and delivered several presentations introducing Rice University and the ECE Department, including a featured talk on “Undergraduate and Graduate Education in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University.”
As part of the annual recruitment cycle, Rice faculty continue engaging prospective students through virtual information sessions and follow-up presentations, including recurring Zoom sessions led by Professors Cavallaro and Young.
About National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University is one of Taiwan’s leading research universities and a major center for engineering, computer science and technology education.
NYCU’s main campus is located in Hsinchu, Taiwan, widely recognized as one of Asia’s leading technology hubs and home to the global headquarters of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), one of the world’s most influential semiconductor manufacturers.
Located approximately 50 miles south of Taipei, Hsinchu serves as a major center for technological innovation and advanced manufacturing.
Program Contacts
Rice University
For information about the Rice ECE cooperative education program, prospective students may contact the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice ECE Department.
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Program coordination at NYCU is led by:
- Prof. Jyh-Cheng Chen
Former Dean, College of Computer Science
jcc@nycu.edu.tw - Associate Dean Li-Hsing Yen
Current Faculty Program Coordinator
lhyen@cs.nctu.edu.tw - Wei Wen Shin
Staff Coordinator for Program Applications
wenshin@cs.nycu.edu.tw
Looking Ahead
Rice University looks forward to welcoming talented NYCU students each year and expanding future academic collaborations that strengthen the partnership between our institutions.
Together, Rice and NYCU are creating new global opportunities for students while building the next generation of engineers prepared to solve complex challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.