10 Cheap Universities in Thailand for International Students

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Thailand has been one of the favorite destinations of Western travelers due to its impressive beaches that seem to entice anyone who catches sight of it. Additionally, the rich culture and history of the Land of Smiles have piqued the interest of more travelers each year.

Similarly, Thai cuisine is also diverse and unique that you wouldn’t want to miss having a taste of it once you step foot in the country.

But, the Kingdom of Thailand is more than just a place where you can experience and immerse yourself in a fascinating culture. Thailand has a notable education system. Its literacy rate of over 96 percent simply shows how the country values good education.

With this in mind, you can consider Thailand as an option if you’re planning to study abroad. In this article, we will be looking at cheap universities in Thailand for international students.

Cost of Studying in Thailand

The cost of studying in Thailand is significantly lower compared to studying in North America or Europe. Despite the low cost, the quality is still up to par with other universities around the world.

The cost of education in Thailand starts at around $500 USD per semester. This will mean a whole four-year program can cost around $4,000 USD. On the other hand, an international student can spend an average of $650 per month to live comfortably in Thailand. But, this will go down if they live outside the major cities of Thailand.

Are Universities Free in Thailand?

While universities in Thailand are not free, they are considerably cheaper compared to other universities around the world. Many universities in Thailand have different rates for local and international students. International students normally pay higher tuition compared to their local counterparts.

What are the languages of instruction for universities in Thailand?

The medium of instruction in most of the universities in Thailand is Thai. But, some colleges and universities use English as their medium of instruction. This is particularly true with universities offering international study programs.

1. Chulalongkorn University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 15,375 baht ($500 USD) to 65,500 baht ($2,100 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 40,000 baht ($1,300 USD) to 86,500 baht ($2,800 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee Link

The Chulalongkorn University, an affordable university in Thailand, was established in 1899 as the Civil Service Training School. The students were trained to become royal pages once they graduated. The school was later renamed to the Royal Pages School in 1902. It received its present name in 1917 after it was upgraded into a university.

The university is among the 100 top universities in the world and is the top university in Thailand. It offers a good number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses for its local and international students. These courses include Aerospace Engineering, International Business Management, Psychological Science, Clinical Sciences, and Finance, among others.

Students at Chulalongkorn University can look forward to several extracurricular activities through the Chulalongkorn University Values Integration Program (CUVIP). The activities under the program include Sign Language, Karate, Fortune telling, and Personal Safety activities.

2. King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok

The King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok was established in 1959 under the cooperation between the governments of Thailand and Germany. While the school was officially called the North Bangkok Technical School, it was referred to as the Thai-German Technical School. The school received its present name in 2007 when it became an autonomous university.

This cheap university in Thailand offers several Bachelor’s degree courses under its International Program. These courses include Chemical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Informatics for Digital Economy, and International Trade and Business Logistics.

The students can join different clubs to de-stress after a whole week inside the classroom. Additionally, the university also offers several extracurricular activities for its students so they can learn valuable lessons about life. They also learn how to be responsible while having fun through these activities.

3. Mae Fah Luang University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 26,000 baht ($800 USD) to 78,000 baht ($2,500 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 25,000 baht ($800 USD) to 117,000 baht ($3,800 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee Link

Established in 1998 under the Royal Charter as an autonomous public university, the Mae Fah Luang University met the needs of the people living in northern Thailand. It’s one of the fastest-growing schools in Thailand and has provided high-quality education to the people of northern Thailand.

Situated in Tambon Tasood in the Mueang District, the campus was built mainly on hills and took several to finish. The university offers several Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs for both local and international students. The programs at this cheap Thai university include Computer Engineering, Medicine, Food Science and Technology, Accounting, and Laws.

The university has 18 dormitory buildings where the students can stay while at the university. Each dorm is a short walk away from the main buildings of the university. First-year students are encouraged to stay at the dorm so they can develop their social skills as well as interact with other students of the university.

4. Thammasat University

Next on our list of cheapest universities in Thailand for international students is Thammasat University, a public research university that was established in 1934. It was initially called the University of Moral and Political Sciences and was established to teach the people about democracy. It received its present name after a coup d’état in 1947 that had a significant effect on the university.

The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs for its students. These programs include Landscape Architecture, History, Linguistics, Sports Management, and Automotive Engineering, among others.

Extracurricular activities for the students include sports and art clubs that they can join after classes. These clubs include a Bicycle Club, Tennis Club, Thai Music Club, Choir, and the Young Human Rights Club.

5. Mahasarakham University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 180,800 ($5,800 USD) baht to 278,000 baht ($9,000 USD) per program
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 89,000 baht ($2,900 USD) to 328,000 baht ($10,600 USD) per program
  • Tuition Fee Link

Mahasarakham University was established primarily to provide higher education to the northeastern region of Thailand in 1968. At this time, it was called the College of Education, Mahasarakham. In 1974, it became the Srinakharinwirot University before gaining its independent status in 1994 and was given its present name.

This cheap university in Thailand offers several undergraduate and graduate programs through its different faculties and colleges. These faculties and college include the Faculty of Cultural Science, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Music, and the College of Politics and Governance.

Student life in the university consists of cultural performances in different spaces on the campus, a visit to the Talat Noi (The Little Market) of the university, and learning about the local Isan lifestyle at the MSU Museum and Zoo.

6. King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 340,800 baht ($11,000 USD) to 820,000 baht ($26,500 USD) per program
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 102,900 baht ($3,300 USD) to 435,000 baht ($14,100 USD) per program
  • International Tuition Fee Link

Established in 1960, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi was once called the Thonburi Technology Institute (TTI). It was originally established to train technicians, technologists, and technical instructors. It merged with two other technical institutes to form the King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology and the TTI became the KMIT Thonburi Campus. In 1986, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi was born after the three institutes became autonomous institutions.

The university has 12 schools offering a good selection of undergraduate and graduate courses for its students. The courses include Mechanical Engineering, Information Technology, Industrial Design, and Language, among others.

The university also has several clubs where students can pursue their passion after classes. These clubs include the Science Student Club, Audio Club, Football Club, Photo and Art Club, and Rural Development Club.

7. Srinakharinwirot University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 384,000 baht ($12,400 USD) to 596,000 baht ($19,300 USD) per program
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 108,000 baht ($3,500 USD) to 216,000 baht ($7,000 USD) per program
  • Tuition Fee Link

Srinakharinwirot University, another affordable university in Thailand, was established in 1949 and was originally called the Higher Teacher Training School. By 1953, the school became the College of Education before it was granted university status in 1974 and got its present name.

The university has several faculties and colleges offering a good number of undergraduate and graduate courses. These courses include Education, Geography and Geoinformatics, Music Education, Physical Therapy, Nursing Science, and Geo-Social Management, among others.

Srinakharinwirot University also has demonstration schools for the primary and secondary levels. These schools provide education to young learners while ensuring the university students have a suitable place to be trained to become teachers.

8. Khon Kaen University International College

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 410,000 baht ($13,200 USD) per program
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 210,000 baht ($6,800 USD) per program
  • Tuition Fee Link

The Khon Kaen University International College was once called the Khon Kaen Institute of Technology when it was established in 1962. It was later renamed to the University of North East Thailand. By 1965, the name was changed once again to its current name. With the tuition fee of around $10,000 per program, Khon Kaen University International College is one of the cheapest universities in Thailand.

The university currently offers several programs for its students including International Entrepreneurship, International Affairs, Global Business, Tourism Management, and Communication Arts, among others.

The students at the Khon Kaen University International College are provided an atmosphere where they feel important. They are given opportunities to learn and establish friendships with people around the world. Moreover, several extracurricular activities are available for students to release their energy while having fun in a safe environment.

9. Rangsit University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 487,200 baht ($15,700 USD) to 848,000 baht ($27,400 USD) per program
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 200,000 baht ($6,500 USD) to 392,000 baht ($12,700 USD) per program
  • Tuition Fee Link

Rangsit University is a private higher education university located in Pathum Thani, Thailand. It was established in 1986 and provides an ideal learning environment for its students. It is the only private Thai university that received a “very good” rating from the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment.

The university focuses mainly on design, music, public health, and information technology. It offers 87 undergraduate degrees along with 47 postgraduate degrees. The degrees offered by the university include Communication Arts, Civil Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, and Nursing Science.

Freedom of expression in work and academic effort is encouraged among the students. Moreover, the university ensures the students have a safe learning environment where they work to achieve their full potentials.

10. Burapha University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 490,000 baht ($15,800 USD) to 1,000,000 baht ($32,300 USD) per program
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 380,000 baht ($12,300 USD) to 850,000 baht ($27,500 USD) per program
  • Tuition Fee Link

Finally, we look at Burapha University, an affordable Thai public university for international students. Situated close to the Bangsaen beach in the Chonburi Province, it was established in 1955 and was formerly known as the Bangsaen Educational College.

The university offers several Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees for its students. These degrees include Business Administration, Accounting, Nursing Science, Political Science, Fine Arts, Computer Science, and Medical Science, among others.

Its proximity to the Bangsaen beach has made the university one of the preferred destinations of many students. Aside from spending the weekend at the beach, the students can also check out the aquarium at the Institute of Marine Science, which is a major tourist attraction in the area.

 

Students don’t have to limit Thailand as a place where they can relax and have fun. They can also include it as one of their options in case they’re planning to study abroad. I hope that this article on the cheapest universities in Thailand was helpful! If you are interested, visit the Cheap Tuition Category!