Thailand Graduate Schools

[Nokkeow]

I am curious if anyone here has actually attended one of the Thai universities and studied at the Master's/PhD level in a degree program taught in English. From reviewing the English websites of Chula, Assumption, Bangkok University, etc there seems to be plenty of options. I am considering SE Asian or Thai Studies. Foreigners are going pay much more than Thais for tuition (of course), but the tuition still seems to be much less than at most private universities in the U.S., UK, etc. I am just curious if you get your money's worth as far as the educational experience goes. I understand that a Thai MA or PhD in some fields might not carry much weight outside of Thailand. That wouldn't bother me as much as feeling like I wasn't getting my money's worth, or was frustrated sitting in a class taught in English, but from a professor I couldn't really understand.

[VictoryEyes365]

Chulalongkorn University is ranked 166 in the world by THES. How do you think about it?

[Dakhar]

I did not even find my college, for my BAAS my MS or my AuD (doctorate) on that nifty list.

But I did find Tx A & M in the 120's or so. Tx A&M is a very recognized college.... so either the list is bogus, or this Thai school is surprisingly good. The question is, would perspective employers know that? I think the answer is, doubtful.

Edited March 29, 2009 by Dakhar

[jetjock]

My wife has a Master's Degree in Science in the International Program taught in English from Mahidol and has nothing but good things to say about the university. Many of her best friends are professors at Mahidol and all of them got their Doctorates at top US and European universities so the teaching staff is excellent. Mahidol, Chulalongkorn, and Thammasat are all considered among the top universities in Thailand. Chulalongkorn is generally considered tops in technology whereas Mahidol is tops in medicine and research. Mahidol is ranked 113 in the THES world ratings for Life Sciences and Medicine. If you need any further info about Mahidol, please feel free to pm us.

[madjbs]

The Thai studies program at Thammasat is very good. For a Thai history/culture based M.A, I would say Thammasat is your best bet. Also, they only charge a couple of thousand baht per year more for foreign students. Compared to Chula, which charges double.

[mark5335]

The Thai studies program at Thammasat is very good. For a Thai history/culture based M.A, I would say Thammasat is your best bet. Also, they only charge a couple of thousand baht per year more for foreign students. Compared to Chula, which charges double.

I just looked at the Thammasat Uni Thai Studies website for further information. From the website the course appears to be a 1 year certificate, and not a degree. Can you provide a link to the M.A. program, thanks.

[Nokkeow]

thanks for the replies, they are very helpful. I am also interested in learning more about the Thai Studies program at Thammasat and what is available at Mahidol. Hopefully they have MA programs taught in Enlish in political science, history, Thai studies, etc because I am not able to get funding for a certificate, only a course of study that leads to a degree. I looked at Chula's Intensive Thai langage program (and it does look intensive, and also quite expensive), but it only grants a certificate.

Again, thanks for the replies and the advice on Mahidol and Thammasat. Any additional insight would be much appreciated. I know Thais who have studied at Mahidol, Thammasat and Chula, and the quality of the education in Thai is quite high. And as I said in initial post, the cost in Thailand is much less than you would pay at a private school in the U.S., even an average (even with the cost of the school uniforms factored in).

[madjbs]

The Thai studies program at Thammasat is very good. For a Thai history/culture based M.A, I would say Thammasat is your best bet. Also, they only charge a couple of thousand baht per year more for foreign students. Compared to Chula, which charges double.

I just looked at the Thammasat Uni Thai Studies website for further information. From the website the course appears to be a 1 year certificate, and not a degree. Can you provide a link to the M.A. program, thanks.

Sorry, you are right, it is a non-degree program.

[Nokkeow]

The Thai studies program at Thammasat is very good. For a Thai history/culture based M.A, I would say Thammasat is your best bet. Also, they only charge a couple of thousand baht per year more for foreign students. Compared to Chula, which charges double.

where did you find a listing of Thammasat's tuition fees, if I might ask? I poked around the website and didn 't see them listed.

thank you

[madjbs]

The Thai studies program at Thammasat is very good. For a Thai history/culture based M.A, I would say Thammasat is your best bet. Also, they only charge a couple of thousand baht per year more for foreign students. Compared to Chula, which charges double.

where did you find a listing of Thammasat's tuition fees, if I might ask? I poked around the website and didn 't see them listed.

thank you

http://thaistudies.tu.ac.th/expenses.html

[RAZZELL]

From memory, I believe a member here called Simon43 started (don't know if he finished) The Thai studies MA at Chula.

He might be worth a PM for an his experiences and an update.

RAZZ