NEWS
College Features
- Publish Date：2025-09-10
Breaking Barriers: NYCU’s Electronics and Photonics Post-undergraduate Second Degree Program Welcomes Its First Graduates from Non-STEM Fields
In June, NYCU celebrated the first graduates of its Electronics and Photonics Post-undergraduate Second Degree Program. About half were admitted to graduate schools in electronics, electrical engineering, or physics, while the others entered the semiconductor industry.
Edited by Chance Lai
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National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) has redefined the path into Taiwan’s semiconductor industry. In 2023, the university launched the nation’s first and only Electronics and Photonics Post-undergraduate Second Degree Program, designed exclusively for students without STEM backgrounds.
This June, the pioneering program celebrated its inaugural class of more than 40 graduates—students who originally majored in fields as diverse as foreign languages, finance, law enforcement, music, and medicine.
After two years of intensive training, these graduates are now successfully transitioning into research and industry. Roughly half earned admission to graduate programs in electrical engineering, electronics, or physics, while the others joined leading companies as assistant or associate engineers.
Expanding the Talent Pool for a Critical Industry
NYCU Vice President and Program Director Prof. Yung-Fu Chen explained that the program was born out of urgent conversations with industry leaders who faced persistent labor shortages. “When we launched the Industry Academia Innovation School (IAIS) four years ago, companies consistently told us about the talent gap,” Chen recalled.
“That is why we decided to break down disciplinary barriers. With the support of President Chi-Hung Lin, we established the Electronics and Photonics Post-undergraduate Second Degree Program, which is open only to graduates from non-STEM majors. The strong response—from doctors, police officers, musicians, and business graduates—proved that entering semiconductors is not out of reach.”
From Zero Background to Industry-Ready
The two-year, 48-credit curriculum features 12 core courses, including applied mathematics, applied physics, semiconductor physics and devices, and semiconductor processes, alongside professional electives and hands-on training. Because most students begin with little to no STEM foundation, the teaching team designed a carefully scaffolded learning pathway.
This June, the pioneering program celebrated its inaugural class of more than 40 graduates—students who originally majored in fields as diverse as foreign languages, finance, law enforcement, music, and medicine.
After two years of intensive training, these graduates are now successfully transitioning into research and industry. Roughly half earned admission to graduate programs in electrical engineering, electronics, or physics, while the others joined leading companies as assistant or associate engineers.
Expanding the Talent Pool for a Critical Industry
NYCU Vice President and Program Director Prof. Yung-Fu Chen explained that the program was born out of urgent conversations with industry leaders who faced persistent labor shortages. “When we launched the Industry Academia Innovation School (IAIS) four years ago, companies consistently told us about the talent gap,” Chen recalled.
“That is why we decided to break down disciplinary barriers. With the support of President Chi-Hung Lin, we established the Electronics and Photonics Post-undergraduate Second Degree Program, which is open only to graduates from non-STEM majors. The strong response—from doctors, police officers, musicians, and business graduates—proved that entering semiconductors is not out of reach.”
From Zero Background to Industry-Ready
The two-year, 48-credit curriculum features 12 core courses, including applied mathematics, applied physics, semiconductor physics and devices, and semiconductor processes, alongside professional electives and hands-on training. Because most students begin with little to no STEM foundation, the teaching team designed a carefully scaffolded learning pathway.
The program also partners with industry giants such as TSMC, Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing (PSMC), and GlobalWafers, bringing in corporate experts and retired engineers to bridge academic learning with real-world needs. For example, Prof. Chin-Wei Lin, who spent 24 years at TSMC, now teaches data engineering and programming in the program.
The results speak for themselves. Chen pointed to a standout student who had majored in accounting after a disappointing turn away from a high school science track. Through the program, the student rediscovered a passion for science, excelled in applied physics and mathematics, and successfully advanced to graduate study.
Looking Ahead
Among the first cohort, approximately 75% completed the program on time. With half continuing their studies and half joining the workforce, the program is already showing strong outcomes. Building on this momentum, NYCU will expand the program to its Kaohsiung campus in September 2025, further broadening access to non-STEM talent across Taiwan.
Chen emphasized the broader mission: “The true value of this program is not just helping students find new career directions—it is about addressing Taiwan’s urgent talent shortage. This second degree program is a meaningful beginning, injecting new possibilities into Taiwan’s semiconductor talent pipeline.”
In September 2023, NYCU launched the Electronics and Photonics Post-undergraduate Second Degree Program, admitting non-STEM students from liberal arts and medical backgrounds to inject new momentum into Taiwan’s semiconductor industry.Related Image(s)：
