History
National Taiwan University traces its origin to the Taihoku (Taipei) Imperial University established in 1928 by the Japanese. After Taiwan was restored to the Chinese in 1945, the Division of Arts and Political Science of the University was divided into the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Law. In 1947, the Department of Foreign Literature was officially established. In 1955, it was renamed the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. A master’s program at the Graduate Institute of Foreign Languages and Literatures was established in 1966, followed by the founding of an evening division of the department in 1967. In 1970, a doctoral program was added to the graduate institute. The Department Chair has always concurrently served as the Director of graduate institute, in order to integrate and effectively utilize the faculty and resources of both the department and the institute.
For the past century, the Department has proudly contributed to Taiwan’s education and culture by graduating numerous distinguished scholars, writers, and cultural workers. It has played a significant role in introducing Western literature, philosophy, and thought to Taiwanese society and is renowned for providing students with strong programs in foreign languages and cultural studies.
Mission
The mission of our department is to cultivate highly skilled foreign language and academic research talents with a strong foundation in the humanities. We aim to train students in independent, critical thinking and promote research in foreign languages and literature. Through in-depth study of foreign literature and culture, we seek to enhance the level of language training while broadening perspectives on global culture, fostering the development of both academic research and creative endeavors.
Programs
The Department offers a four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures, as well as Master’s and Doctoral programs. Our second foreign language curriculum includes Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish. All our courses are designed to foster humanistic and culturally grounded thinking, explore the interplay between theory and texts, and provide interpretations of Western literature and culture from a local perspective within the global economic context. Students are also encouraged to acquire interdisciplinary knowledge by taking courses offered across the campus.
Our Bachelor of Arts program places equal emphasis on literature, cultural studies, and language training. In addition to existing courses in literature, linguistics, second foreign language, English teaching, translation & Interpretation, and English listening, speaking, reading, and writing training, recent years have seen the addition of various practical elective courses and specialization programs to meet the demands of the times and society. Our goal is to cultivate humanities scholars with deep analytical abilities and keen insight.
The MA program focuses on English and American literatures, as well as related topics within these fields. The doctoral program encompasses British and American literature, comparative literature, and related disciplines, engaging with both Western and Chinese cultural contexts. Both programs address contemporary issues such as ethnicity, gender, language, cultural identity, urban and rural dynamics, and diaspora as represented in literary texts and writing. Through a wide range of seminars, visiting speakers, and other academic events, students in our institute have the opportunity to engage with some of the most pressing questions in literary and cultural studies today
Career Prospects for Graduates
After graduation, students may pursue careers in fields such as foreign language education, academic research, translation and interpreting, journalism, speech-language therapy, digital media, international trade and finance, diplomacy, book publishing, literary writing and criticism, the arts, tourism services, computer-based professions, and other interdisciplinary roles that require foreign language proficiency and a strong foundation in the humanities.
DFLL Internationalized
Our faculty has a very strong international publication record, and we ranked 37th on the QS World University Ranking in 2011. In 2025, relevant subject areas have been ranked within the top 100 in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subjects: Classics and Ancient History (19), Modern Languages (29), Linguistics (71), English Language and Literature (93).
The Department currently employs over 30 international scholars and specialists to teach up to 13 Western and Central European languages in addition to English. Our undergraduate and two graduate programs each host an increasing number of international students. Our students regularly take advantage of the hundreds of the NTU exchange programs each year. Both our undergraduates and graduates can apply for travel funds to present their research at international conferences.
The Department has made significant contributions to international academic exchange through a variety of events. In addition to faculty colloquia featuring scholars from around the world, we have established exchange agreements with three universities: City University of Hong Kong, Ewha Womans University in Korea, and Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. We expect these partnerships to expand in the near future. Additionally, we launched the International Shakespeare Association in Taiwan, following a series of successful Asian Shakespeare Conferences in recent years. We also initiated and co-hosted three international English studies conferences with universities in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and Korea, and have hosted the International European Languages Teaching Symposium for three consecutive years.
The Department regularly publishes three scholarly journals that attract submissions from around the world: Ex-position (formerly NTU Studies in Language and Literature, in English), Chung-wai Literary Quarterly (in Chinese), Interface–Journal of European Languages and Literatures (in multiple languages); all enjoy high prestige domestically and overseas.
The Department also maintains close collaborations with international academic institutions. Over the years, it has hosted many renowned scholars—such as Ihab Hassan, David James, Ronald Tavel, and Porter Wood—who have lectured or conducted research for varying periods. The Department remains committed to international academic cooperation and exchange, with the goal of preparing students for advanced study and enhancing the Department’s research capabilities.
The Department had the honor of hosting two Nobel Laureates—Derek Walcott and Wole Soyinka—who spoke at our university in 2002, as well as the internationally renowned Irish writer Colm Tóibín in 2015, among others.
