Chengchi (NCCU) and Taiwan Normal (NTNU). Central and South National Chung Hsing University: Well known for programs in agriculture and biology. National Cheng Kung University: Research, Best known for engineering, medicine, science programs. One of only two higher ranking universities in Taiwan that offer aerospace engineering program. There is a possible bright future with private spaceflight working for privately owned non-governmental spaceflight companies or later on at NSPO. National Sun Yat-sen University: Research, Distinguished programs in oceanography, computer science, optoelectronics, nanotechnology, political science, sociology and business management programs. AACSB accredited. Private There are also a few representative private universities: Fu Jen Catholic University: Well known for programs Foreign Languages and Literatures, Philosophy, Law, Business Management (AACSB accredited), Theology, Fine Arts, Social Sciences and Communication. It is notable for having established the first graduate-level program in Conference Interpreting in Taiwan. The student body also consists of many international students. Soochow University: Well known for studies in Law, Accounting, foreign languages and literature and political science. In contrast with junior high and high school, where students are pressured by the highly selective entrance exams, college life in Taiwan is generally seen as being rather relaxed. Graduate degrees from the U.S. and Europe are also highly prized with many students applying to foreign graduate schools after completing university (though the number has declined somewhat in recent years). An average of 13000 university graduates per year choose to pursue graduate studies in the U.S. Founded by Japanese government (1895-1945) Similarities with universities in China Many universities in Taiwan were originally established in Republic of China before the retreat of the ROC government from Mainland to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War. Some of the universities who were originally established in the Mainland were reestablished in Taiwan. To avoid ambiguity, the ROC government generally added the National word in front of those universities in Taiwan to differentiate them with the ones in China. Teaching Excellence Universities Award The Ministry of Education in Taiwan started the Teaching Excellence Universities Award in 2006. Since the beginning of this award, only six universities have earned this honor every year. Medical school Medical school in Taiwan begins as an undergraduate major and lasts six years (six years for dentistry), with the final two years being hands on training at a teaching hospital. Graduates of medical school may elect to continue on to graduate school to pursue a doctoral degree.