Ramkhamhaeng University

[Nepal4me]

A friend of mine studied at Ramkhamhaeng Uni and received a degree in Political Science. I've heard the saying that "RU is easy to get into but hard to get out of". I wonder about this and would be interested in hearing others opinions on the validity of an RU degree.

My friend, who does seem to be quite clever worked full time and took pretty much a full load at RU. She would study for only a few days and then go to the test. She would wait a few months till the next round of testing came along and then would study again in the evenings for a few days then take the tests. She was able to get he BA in a little over 4 years.

That just seems baffling to me. My experience of Uni is needing to study 10 hours per day, 7 days a week in order to get my degree. Is this RU degree really a legit degree?

She is talking about doing an MBA here in BKK but not sure what school to go to yet. I'm wondering if grad degrees would be as easy? In the West an MBA is a challenging event, is it easier here and if so, what would other countries think of such a degree? I think RU has an MBA program.

Anybody have any input on this?

Thanks

[Sporting Dog]

I don't know about Ramkam.... but I have met a few people with Masters of English and they could hardly converse in English! The degrees may be easy to get but their value - particularly outside of LOS - is debatable.

Having worked at a uni in the west, I can say that most thai degrees are held in very low regard, much lower than Singapore or even Malaysian degrees.

Edited March 14, 2007 by Sporting Dog

[sbk]

It is a legitimate degree, if that is your question. Ramkamhaeng is a real university. But, as for the quality of the education well, it sounds like you've already figured that one out.

[Casanundra]

Being part of the University admissions team here I can answer this one. Ramkhamhaeng Uni is known for being easy to get into but very hard to get out of simply because of the number of subjects that need to be taken.

It is also the open Uni of Thailand and not many people find the time to finish the degree either once they have commenced.

I once questioned the general low GPA that comes from graduates of this university and was told that only two grades seem to get awarded there. Either very high or very low and there is no in between for some odd reason. As such having a Low GPA doesn't necessarily mean you have a numpty on your hands.

Ramkhamhaeng Uni graduates do get onto the masters programs at both Chula and Thammasat and it doesn't seem to get regarded as inferior to both of these top universities either. In fact from the applications I have seen, the graduates from Ramkhamhaeng Uni are not that bad either and in the latest round of applicants 3 of the Ramkhamhaeng Uni graduates beat the pants off some of the Chula, Thammasat, and ABAC applicants who all got rejected.

Edited March 14, 2007 by Casanundra

[jbowman1993]

I don't know about Ramkam.... but I have met a few people with Masters of English and they could hardly converse in English! The degrees may be easy to get but their value - particularly outside of LOS - is debatable.

Having worked at a uni in the west, I can say that most thai degrees are held in very low regard, much lower than Singapore or even Malaysian degrees.

And I've found that people who make subjective statements like this are usually full of crap. I've got plenty of students who have graduated from my university (Mahidol) and have gotten into very fine grad programs in the US and Europe. Obviously, the must have been "affirmative action" right? Most grad schools look at the total applicant picture, and are not so quick to judge a person based on the country they went to school in.

[Casanundra]

I don't know about Ramkam.... but I have met a few people with Masters of English and they could hardly converse in English! The degrees may be easy to get but their value - particularly outside of LOS - is debatable.

Having worked at a uni in the west, I can say that most thai degrees are held in very low regard, much lower than Singapore or even Malaysian degrees.

And I've found that people who make subjective statements like this are usually full of crap. I've got plenty of students who have graduated from my university (Mahidol) and have gotten into very fine grad programs in the US and Europe. Obviously, the must have been "affirmative action" right? Most grad schools look at the total applicant picture, and are not so quick to judge a person based on the country they went to school in.

Yup quite agree. It's really funny how a lot of the Thai students who leave my masters degree program all seem to go off and do another masters in Cambridge and Oxford or onto Harvard or Wisconsin in the USA too. I find it amazing how places like these top western Universities can lower themselves down to accepting such awful degrees from Thailand... surely they don't know what they are doing or taking on. How dare they lower their standards to accept a Thai student with a Thai degree!

[El Taco Loco]

Looks like you answered your own question. As a former teacher there, I can tell you that the university is ok. But as all others, they have their demerits.

With regards to exit exams.. their English tests are a bit difficult, hence the plethora of "pass by pager system" businesses emanating from the many many "English" tutoring schools across the street. Well documented and true. For 5k you get a pager and it vibrates away during tests. Where the girls put the pagers is upto you to figure out, but they come out from the test room feeling tired and with a big smile.

As you have also noted, the pro RK cadre are here as well and will defend it till death do us part.

All in all it is an ok university. They have like 400k students and graduate about 40k per year.. too big to have a quality university, IMHO.

A friend of mine studied at Ramkhamhaeng Uni and received a degree in Political Science. I've heard the saying that "RU is easy to get into but hard to get out of". I wonder about this and would be interested in hearing others opinions on the validity of an RU degree.

My friend, who does seem to be quite clever worked full time and took pretty much a full load at RU. She would study for only a few days and then go to the test. She would wait a few months till the next round of testing came along and then would study again in the evenings for a few days then take the tests. She was able to get he BA in a little over 4 years.

That just seems baffling to me. My experience of Uni is needing to study 10 hours per day, 7 days a week in order to get my degree. Is this RU degree really a legit degree?

She is talking about doing an MBA here in BKK but not sure what school to go to yet. I'm wondering if grad degrees would be as easy? In the West an MBA is a challenging event, is it easier here and if so, what would other countries think of such a degree? I think RU has an MBA program.

Anybody have any input on this?

Thanks

[Ijustwannateach]

Having known various students and teachers at RKH, on the balance I'd say it's possible to get a very good, quality education there- but not very likely for the average student. Depends on their motivation, academic inclination, outside tutoring, major subject, and native intelligence.

"Steven"

[Nepal4me]

Having known various students and teachers at RKH, on the balance I'd say it's possible to get a very good, quality education there- but not very likely for the average student. Depends on their motivation, academic inclination, outside tutoring, major subject, and native intelligence.

"Steven"

Another thing I'll add to this is the lady in question achieved a 2.7 GPA and the only reason it is even that high is because she says that is the minimum standard required to get into a grad program.

2.7 is not very impressive but she only studied enough to get that high and in my opinion didn't really study very much.

She was working full time and therefore didn't have the time (even if she had the inclination, which seems she didn't) to get good marks.

You say it is true that a GPA of 2.7 is enough for her to get into a grad program? What criteria might Chula or Thamasat have for her?

Thanks for all the input.

[Casanundra]

Having known various students and teachers at RKH, on the balance I'd say it's possible to get a very good, quality education there- but not very likely for the average student. Depends on their motivation, academic inclination, outside tutoring, major subject, and native intelligence.

"Steven"

Another thing I'll add to this is the lady in question achieved a 2.7 GPA and the only reason it is even that high is because she says that is the minimum standard required to get into a grad program.

2.7 is not very impressive but she only studied enough to get that high and in my opinion didn't really study very much.

She was working full time and therefore didn't have the time (even if she had the inclination, which seems she didn't) to get good marks.

You say it is true that a GPA of 2.7 is enough for her to get into a grad program? What criteria might Chula or Thamasat have for her?

Thanks for all the input.

She would get into both Chula and Thammasat with a GPA 2.7 but that's only part of the entrance requirement and the GPA is only a small part of it. To get into Chula for example, she would also need to sit the CU-TEP entrance exam, 'maybe' show a GRE or GMAT score and pass an interview. It all depends on what program she would be interested in entering.

[Nepal4me]

Ok, one more question then. Would Chula and other Uni's have a more difficult program? Given that very little studying was req'd for the BA, how much more difficult would an MBA be?

I think she is quite smart and does have a phenomenal memory but really I don't know how smart she really is.

[Casanundra]

Ok, one more question then. Would Chula and other Uni's have a more difficult program? Given that very little studying was req'd for the BA, how much more difficult would an MBA be?

I think she is quite smart and does have a phenomenal memory but really I don't know how smart she really is.

If she wants to do a 'good' MBA and receive a half decent all round business education then I would recommend Mahanikorn University.

If she wants a medocre MBA that she can simply coast her way through from a prestigious University then go to Chula (not Sasin)

If you don't mind about the prestige bit then send her to ABAC where she will get an MBA but not really an education.

But I would recommend that you avoid the MBA program at Sasin (which is Chula but a different part) as that is far too over rated, expensive and only focusses in on marketing or finance.

At the end of the day, you (and she) really need to decide what kind of education she wants to get or if it is just a badge she is after.

PS: I should point out here that an MBA in Thailand is probably the equivalent of a BBA back home and the Bachelors is like an A level or diploma in terms of equivalents.

Edited March 14, 2007 by Casanundra

[Sporting Dog]

And I've found that people who make subjective statements like this are usually full of crap.

Well fair enough , mine was only an opinion gathered from working at a Medical/Science faculty where actual courses are delivered and the overseas student intake is a meaningful percentage of all enrolments. We have had some good students from Thailand but as a generalisation, the level of ability and knowledge of the average Thai Bachelor degree holder isn't usually as great as the average Singapore/ Malay etc degree holder.

PS: I should point out here that an MBA in Thailand is probably the equivalent of a BBA back home and the Bachelors is like an A level or diploma in terms of equivalents.

But I guess that's what he/she said.

I find it amazing how places like these top western Universities can lower themselves down to accepting such awful degrees from Thailand... surely they don't know what they are doing or taking on. How dare they lower their standards to accept a Thai student with a Thai degree!

I think this is an unrealistic view of western unis and doesn't take into account the effects of funding shortages.

[withnail]

And what about all of our degrees from 'proper' universities in the west? In my final year I seem to recall I had 8 hours of lectures a week I was supposed to attend and a final dissertation which was largely written in the week leading up to the deadline.

The idea that Thai qualifications hold no value whatsoever and that UK/US education is vastly superior is in my opinion one that foreigners in this county like to pass around to make themselves feel better.

[markokang]

Degrees from Ram are as legit as anywhere in Thailand. I used to work there and noticed that the English Exams were medieval to say the least! Im not sure about other depatments. And as someone else mentioned there are a bunch of places opposite RamUni that teach you how to pass exams (not teaching you the subject but just purely how to pass). Although this may be true of many uni's in Thailand.

And as someone else said some of the degree holders are help in high esteem, particularly from the Politics faculty whichh is true.(I guess they learn how to be corrupt quite well at Ram since they have plenty of mentors running the place!)

Generally hard to finish because you are not required to go to most lectures etc and self-study doesn't suit most people going there and so the general joke is, its an "8 year degree", thats the time limit you are allowed to finish it in, (although you can re-register). Many people work to support their study there.

All in all an average uni compared to the rest. Not good, not bad.

[Acquiesce]

So what would be the shortest time possible from start to finish to complete a degree course at RAM?

[guru]

And as someone else mentioned there are a bunch of places opposite RamUni that teach you how to pass exams (not teaching you the subject but just purely how to pass). Although this may be true of many uni's in Thailand.

Just as an aside there are prestgious education establishments in the west that do this.

One of them is Oxford Air Taining School where BA send their cadets. They have built up a databank of questions by asking each student to memorise 5 questions in the exam and the multi choice answers available. i.e. student A 1-5 B 6-10 etc. As Oxford is a test centre the lecturers are waiting outside the exam room to collect the info.

My point being, I worked my arse off for the first set of exams in a no name school where I actually had to learn and understand the material and then found it relatively easy in Oxford by just rembering the questions and answers. Which one stands out on the CV - Oxford of course.

Edited March 25, 2007 by guru