Thailand is a welcoming community, especially to international students looking to study at colleges and universities in Thailand. People are attracted to studying in Thailand for many reasons, such as the incredible beaches, nightlife, cheap cost of living, ease of transportation, and amazing food!
Thailand has a lot to offer regarding higher education and studying at an international college or university. You might be surprised to know that there are over 780 higher education institutions across Thailand, and about two dozen of these universities have a high academic reputation internationally.
What’s also interesting is that higher education didn’t exist in Thailand until 1916. The first university was established by King Vajiravudh (King Rama VI.) The university was named after his father, the revered King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V.)
Since then, Chulalongkorn university has remained one of the top universities in Thailand.
Since 1916, the monarchy has actively supported higher education in Thailand. Every year at graduation, a member of the Thai royal family will attend graduation where students will receive their university degrees personally from a member of the royal family.
Are Universities In Thailand Good For International Students?
Studying abroad is a huge undertaking and requires a lot of research. You’ll have many questions about your education and the culture you’ll be entering. Let’s first discuss the academic caliber of Thailand universities.
According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, which analyzes the top university rankings in the world based on teaching, knowledge transfer, international perspectives, and research, Thailand has 23 universities in the top world university rankings.
Thai universities are among the best institutions leading in science and technology. Other popular programs of study are business, ecology, environmental sciences, and agriculture.
The larger schools with high world university rankings also offer international programs that provide global competitiveness.
You can be certain that your degree from the top universities in Thailand we’ll mention below will be recognized worldwide as a valid and, in some cases, highly regarded high education degree.
What Language Is Used In Universities Of Thailand?
Many Thai universities are considered international colleges, meaning the primary language of education is English. All studies, except for the Thai language, will be taught in English, and all work produced will be in English.
It would help to learn Thai so you can make friends more easily and understand the culture better!
Ling offers the opportunity to learn about school-related vocabulary, which you’ll need, and the chance to learn the language and culture through our suggested Thai movie list! Ling is also a powerful language learning app which we’ll explain in more detail later!
How Much Does University Cost In Thailand?
Tuition fees for universities in Thailand for international students vary between each university. Some public universities and private universities may charge per unit or per semester. All universities charge more, usually two to three times the price for a local, for international students to attend school.
Some tuitions are as low as $1,000 per semester for undergraduate studies and upwards of $2,000 for postgraduate degrees.
We will cover tuition costs below for international students studying in Thailand.
Besides the cost of schooling, equally important is the general cost of living. Thankfully, the cost of living in Thailand remains relatively inexpensive compared to other countries. In fact, it’s completely possible to survive (and thrive) on only $1,000 per month. This includes food, accommodation, transportation, hobbies, and nightlife as well.
The Best Universities In Thailand For International Students
Here we go! What are the top universities in Thailand? Here is our curated list of international universities in Thailand in order of top university rankings.
1. Chulalongkorn University (CU)
Chulalongkorn University is a Bangkok university affectionately known as Chula. Chulalongkorn has 19 faculties, three colleges, and over ten institutes. The most impressive aspect is that Chula offers 99 international programs across the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.
Chulalongkorn University is known internationally as the top university in the country and has been ranked number one for over seven years.
- Admissions
- Tuition Fee (61,500 – 86,500 baht per semester)
2. Mae Fah Luang University (MFU)
Mae Fah Luang University is a public university located in Chiang Rai Province. MFU is a central education hub with an average of over 450 international students. MFU’s campus is nearly 2,000 acres, surrounded by mountains and forests.
- Admissions
- Tuition Fee (Please get in touch with university representatives for up-to-date tuition fees)
3. Mahidol University
The main Mahidol University campus is located in Bangkok and is ranked as one of the best universities in Thailand for international students. The university was named after Prince Mahidol of Songkla, who is widely considered Thailand’s Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health.
Today, it is primarily known for its health sciences, research, science and technology, social science, and humanities. It originally began as a hospital and training center and now has six campuses all over Thailand with over seventy state-of-the-art research laboratories.
- Admissions
- Tuition Fee (945,000 – 1,474,200 baht)
4. Burapha University (BUU)
Burapha University is a public institution with three campuses near the coastal town of Saen Suk in Chon Buri Province. BUU has over 50 degree programs, including marine biology. They have the Institute of Marine Science with an aquarium open to the public!
It’s a popular place to study for foreigners because the beach is at your doorstep.
- Admissions
- Tuition Fee (About 1,000,000 baht per year)
5. King Mongkut’s University Of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT)
The King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi is a public university focusing on engineering and technology. KMUTT is a leading multidisciplinary academic center with research and teaching expertise in energy management, bioscience & bioengineering, materials science, and policy research.
KMUTT also offers some of the best recreational and sports facilities and libraries.
- Admissions
- Tuition Fee (322,800 – 1,000,000 baht per course)
6. Chiang Mai University (CMU)
Chiang Mai University is the highest-ranked university in Thailand outside of Bangkok. CMU was the first higher education institution in Northern Thailand when it opened in 1965.
The campus is located beside the mountain Doi Suthep and is minutes away from the most popular areas of Chiang Mai – Suthep and Nimmanhaemin. CMU is located on 725 acres of green land with a beautiful lake where a small city within a city has been created. There are sports facilities and lots of recreational opportunities.
- Admissions
- Tuition Fees (About $1,000 per year, however best to check with university representatives in the program you wish to take)
What Is It Really Like Studying In Thailand As A Foreigner?
This is a good inside look at what the experience of studying at Chulalongkorn University will be like! This female international student certainly makes studying abroad in Thailand look like an absolute blast, although she doesn’t focus too much on the academic side of things.
Wrapping Up
Of course, there are many other universities you can attend as an international student, but these are the highest-rated ones, especially for getting the best experience studying abroad both academically and socially.
In preparing to study in Thailand, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the Thai language. Ling App is the first and still the best language app to offer Thai.
Ling is a popular language app with over 10 million downloads, and Thai is just one of over 60 languages offered by Ling.
With all of Ling’s audio recorded by native Thai speakers, you’ll be able to pick up on and learn native pronunciation. You’ll also get to practice speaking Thai with our patented chatbot!
Ling also has Thai writing practice, which you can do with your finger using our interactive whiteboard.
Most of all, Ling strives to make learning fun!
Download Ling today and start speaking confidently in Thai!
Updated by: Gwyn
