ABOUT COUNTRY
About Thailand
The vast majority adhere to Buddhism (Theravada form), 5% are Muslim and there are Christian and Hindu minorities.
Western visitors will generally receive a handshake on meeting. A Thai will be greeted with the traditional closed hands and a slight bow of the head – the wai. Buddhist monks are always greeted in this way.
The Thai Royal Family is regarded with an almost religious reverence. Visitors should respect this. It is very bad manners to make public displays of anger, as Thais regard such behaviour as boorish and a loss of ‘face’. Public displays of affection between men and women are also frowned upon, and it is considered rude to touch anyone on the head or to point one’s feet at someone. Shoes should be removed before entering someone’s home or a temple.
Informal dress is widely acceptable and men are seldom, if ever, expected to wear suits. Beachwear should be confined to the beach and topless sunbathing is frowned upon. Smoking is widely acceptable.
Thai is the official language. English is widely spoken, especially in establishments catering for tourists.
STUDENT LIFE
Student life
If you’ve ever wanted to study abroad in Thailand, then check out our Semester in Thailand program. Here are a few of the key highlights that make this program unique.
- Study abroad in Salaya, just outside of Bangkok, at one of the most well regarded universities in Asia
- Take classes with Thai and international students
- Life in the Land of Smiles
- Songkran, a nationwide weeklong water fight celebrated in April!
- An abundance of white-sand beaches and clear, warm tropical water
- Opportunities to ride elephants, explore ancient ruins, and venture into the jungles
- Life in a cosmopolitan city with incredible cuisine, shopping, and nightlife
- A jumping-off point for travel destinations in Southeast Asia
- Incredible housing options
One of the hottest tourist destinations in the world, with enough antiquities, palaces, and monuments to keep you busy for a lifetime.
HOUSING
Semester in Thailand has an incredible housing program. You will live in international housing at Baan Suan Apartments with other international students. All CISabroad students get a single room included in their program fee and there are coin-operated washers and dryers available to students. Shared double rooms are available only upon request. The Baan Suan apartments are self-catered so students will need to prepare or purchase their own meals.
Although there are no kitchens at Baan Suan, there are a many inexpensive eateries with delicious local food. We also encourage you to try delicious Thai street food! Baan Suan is about 10 minutes by bike from Mahidol University.
At Baan Suan, you are sure to meet new friends and learn more about the culture of Thailand, and that can only enhance your study abroad experience!
Where to stay in Thailand
Hotels in Thailand cover every range, from high-end luxury boutiques to fantastic options for the budget traveller. There is cheap accommodation throughout Bangkok but Banglamphu is the main area for budget accommodation. Hotels outside the capital and developed tourist areas are less lavish but are extremely economical and comfortable. Visitors can book hotels on arrival at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and also at some of the provincial airports.
Bangkok and many tourist destinations around Thailand have some of Asia‘s finest hotels, with thousands of rooms meeting international standards. Many hotels belong to the large international chains. All luxury hotels have swimming pools, 24-hour room service, air conditioning and a high staff-to-guest ratio. There are many online hotel booking sites which are worth checking out, but also check the hotel’s own website for special internet offers.
Grading: There is no official system of grading hotels, but prices generally give a good indication of standards.
Guest houses with shared bathrooms and no air conditioning are cheap and popular with tourists, as are bungalows, which often have cafés and English-speaking staff on site. Beach bungalows and huts are particularly popular with backpackers and can be found on many of the beaches and islands around Thailand.
In general, visitors will find that camping in Thailand is not popular, as other accommodation is available at such reasonable prices. Most of Thailand’s campsites are in the area of the national parks where tents can be rented; there are also some private tourist resorts which provide camping facilities. Camping is allowed on nearly all of the islands and beaches.
YMCA and YWCA hostels are located in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and small, cheap hotels are available all over the country. Holiday villas and flats can be rented, especially for long-term visitors. For details, look for advertisements in the English-language newspapers or online before travelling.
ADMISSION PROCESS
Admission Process
For Regular Applicants
Applicants must complete high school (M.6) with a certificate or its equivalent as issued by the Ministry of Education, Thailand.
Applicants must demonstrate English competence: a TOEFL (IBT) score of 79 or above, an IELTS (academic band) score of 6.0 or above or a SAT1 score (Critical Reading and Writing) of 1100 or above.
Applicants are required to sit for a written examination including English (ITP TOEFL and Writing), Mathematics and a test for Entertainment Media Production and Communication Design Program. If they are successful with the written exam, they will be invited for an interview.
All applicants must possess a clear record of good conduct and must be in good health.
Disabled applicants are encouraged to apply and are ensured equal opportunities.
Note: Applicants whose English language skills are not sufficient for immediate acceptance may be advised to study in the Preparation Center for Languages and Mathematics (PC). Applicants who successfully complete the PC requirements will be eligible for acceptance to the regular MUIC study program in the following trimester. MUIC also offers an “Intensive English Program” course for students preparing to take the college’s English entrance examination.
For International Applicants
Interested international candidates may apply 3 times a year through the Admissions Offfice. Applicants must have already completed their high school education or its equivalent as issued by the Ministry of Education, Thailand.
If the school certificate/diploma is not in the English language, a certified English translation of the document must be arranged and forwarded to the Ministry of Education in Thailand to see if it is acceptable.
Candidates who are non-native English speakers have to submit a TOEFL score (IBT score of at least 79 with a score of at least 25 in writing) or IELTS score (6.0 or above with writing 6.0) or a SAT1 score (Critical Reading and Writing) of 1100 or above.
Once candidates are officially accepted as full-time students, they are required to sit for English writing and Math placement tests in order to see which level they can register for.
Remark:
1. IGCSE: Grade C at least 5 subjects.
2. GED: Must pass 5 subjects (minimum score of 410 in each subject) with minimum score of 2800
EXAMS
applicants must demonstrate English competence: a TOEFL (IBT) score of 79 or above, an IELTS (academic band) score of 6.0 or above or a SAT1 score (Critical Reading and Writing) of 1100 or above.
COST OF LIVING
Cost of Living
One of the most important things to take into account when picking a place to live has to be the cost of living. The most wonderful spot on the planet can only be the place to live if you can afford it. The most essential part of a family’s budget is food. We cannot live without it and, in the Western world, the cost of food has skyrocketed due to rising gas prices, the extremes in weather and the destruction of crops by natural disasters.
Thailand, with its arable land and seasonal weather, abounds with locally grown, fresh food which makes food preparation easy and low in cost. Both Thai and Western foods are available in local, reasonably priced supermarkets, reducing the cost of food preparation and even making eating out affordable. Living quarters are also available at a reasonable cost if that’s what you need or you can find accommodations to match your lifestyle at just about any price. You can live simply and modestly in a lovely, affordable home or you can live the “high life” in a luxurious apartment, condo or house if you have the resources to pay more. Many people find that, for the same amount they paid “back home,” they can rent or own a much bigger, more expensive home, even in the “big city” of Bangkok.
In the U.S., one of the signs of a well-to-do person is a housekeeper or other servant. Most of the middle-class in America or England cannot afford house-servants but in Thailand, you can hire a full-time housekeeper for less than $200 a month. Most people who move to Thailand and manage their resources well find they can afford not only a housekeeper but a gardener and a driver as well. But, with such amenities come problems. Dealing with servants can be difficult in your own native country where you all speak the same language.
In a country like Thailand, where most of the servants will be foreign-speaking to you, it is necessary to learn the language as much as you can so that you are speaking words they understand. Also, you will have to learn the customs of Thailand’s hierarchical society, which keeps the relationship between servants and their employers on a very proper and business-like level. Your house-keeper will not be “one of the family” and would be insulted to be treated as one. As in any country, it is imperative to get good referrals for anyone you hire to work in your home.
HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED TO LIVE IN THAILAND
That is the most common question asked on the internet. It is the same as asking how long is a piece of string? Calculate what you can generate each month and then cut your lifestyle according to your cloth. These would be an average expat teacher in Thailand and what they spend their money on. One teacher is better paid than the other so look at their budgets:
Chiang Mai : Salary ฿38,000 per month
I paid ฿24,000 for 6 months rent in a condo.
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฿500 for gas. I already purchased a motorbike for ฿20,000. |
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Roughly ฿1,800. ฿500 for water and electric, ฿850 for cell phone and internet, and ฿400 for laundry. No TV. |
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฿8,000. ฿6,000 for restaurants and ฿2,000 at the supermarket. |
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Roughly ฿6,000 |
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Zero. |
Bangkok : Salary ฿60,000 per month
I paid ฿7,000 for rent each month
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฿200 baht a month on fuel for my motorbike to ride the 3kms each way to school and about ฿500 a month on taxis and public transportation when I’m mincing around town. |
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Electric is ฿2,800/month (with air condition) and water is ฿160/month. I used the free internet at school and in the apartment. |
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Roughly ฿6,000. |
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฿20,000 |
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฿300 for a couple of paperbacks. |
Consider your income each month and then work your lifestyle in Thailand around that income. Some people like to take 6 months out of their life and live on say USD 5,000. Spread the USD5,000 over a 6 month period and live by those means.
VISA
Visa Process
Thailand Visa and Passport Requirements
| Passport required | Return ticket required | Visa required | |
| Australian | Yes | Yes | No |
| British | Yes | Yes | No |
| Canadian | Yes | Yes | No |
| Other EU | Yes | Yes | 1/2 |
| USA | Yes | Yes | No |
To enter Thailand, a passport valid for six months is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
Travellers coming from or have recently travelled through yellow fever-infected areas may be required to show a yellow fever vaccination certificate before being allowed to enter Thailand.
Visas for Thailand are not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for touristic stays of up to 30 days if entering via an international airport. If entering by land, you will usually be granted a stay of 15 days. All visitors must hold valid passports, sufficient funds and confirmed airline tickets to leave Thailand within the time allowed by their entry stamp. Exceptions to the visa requirements are:
- Nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta and Romania who may apply for visas on arrival for stays of up to 15 days.
- Nationals of Croatia, who must apply for a visa in advance from the embassy.
The total duration of stay in Thailand for visitors who enter Thailand without a visa cannot exceed 90 days during any six-month period, counting from the date of first entry.
If you intend on staying for longer than 30 days on any visit you must obtain a tourist visa for stays of up to 60 days or a non-immigrant visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Nationals of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK are also eligible to apply for an ACMECS visa, which is a 90-day joint visa allowing entry to Thailand and Cambodia. It’s only really worth obtaining this visa if you’re planning on spending more than 30 days in Thailand however.
Nationals not referred to in the chart are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.
Visa on arrival: ฿1,000; transit visa: £20; tourist visa: £25 (per entry).
If you apply for an ACMECS visa from the Thai Embassy, you pay the usual tourist visa fee for Thailand then pay Cambodia’s tourist visa fee at the international border.
Visa on arrival: 15 days; transit visa: 30 days; tourist visa: 30 or 60 days.
Transit visas and single-entry tourist visas are valid for three months from the date of issue. Two- or three-entry visas are valid for six months from the date of issue.
The ACMECS visa is valid for 90 days from the date of issue, allowing up to 60 days in Thailand and up to 30 days in Cambodia.
Nearest consulate (or consular section at embassy).
Visitors to Thailand who wish to conduct business, work or study in the country can apply for a non-immigrant visa. This allows holders a stay for up to 90 days. In addition, to be able to work, visitors must hold a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour.
Applications to the embassy must be made in person and take two working days to process.
Proof of adequate finances for the duration of your stay in Thailand is required at the point of entry into the country (ie traveller’s cheques and/or cash equivalent to ฿10,000 per person and ฿20,000 per family). In practice, you are unlikely to need to show this, but be prepared nonetheless.
Be wary of visa-run or visa extension services offering to renew your visa – these are illegal and each year a number of tourists are jailed, having turned up to border crossings with a fake Thailand visa or entry stamp in their passport.
Thailand visa extensions must be made before the current visa runs out. A lengthy overstay can incur a maximum penalty of a spell in jail before being deported and banned from returning to the country.
Children travelling with one parent or alone must have a notarised letter of consent from one or both parents.
POST STUDY OPTIONS
Post study options
Most people in senior management speak English apart from in very small companies, or those situated outside the industrial belt of Bangkok, where English is not widely spoken. Most businesses of substantial size prefer visitors to make appointments. Punctuality is advisable (although the visitor is quite often likely to be kept waiting after arrival). In Bangkok, traffic must be taken into consideration when going to appointments.
Deference is always shown to the most senior person in any business situation. The normal business greeting is the handshake, but it is conventional to greet those of the opposite sex with awai, a slight bow with the hands held together at chest height. Business cards should be exchanged at the end of any meeting. Be sure to pass objects with your right hand.
Thai hosts are quite likely to give small gifts to visitors, so it is a good idea to reciprocate with a typical national gift of one’s own. Visitors should never get angry or raise their voice if things are not going according to plan, as this will mean a loss of face on both sides. Much more progress will be made by remaining calm.
Meetings often take place over lunch and these are generally held in a Thai restaurant. Thai businesspeople are quite formal in their dress but, because of the extreme heat, it is quite acceptable and practical to dispense with the wearing of a suit jacket.
Office hours are usually Monday to Friday 0830-1630. There is a large expat community in Bangkok, as well as a big after-work drinking scene.
The Thai economy expanded very rapidly during the 1980s and early 1990s, with the average annual GDP growth between 1990 and 1996 being 8.5%. However, things slowed dramatically in the summer of 1997 when the Asian currency crisis struck, causing the economy to drop by 11%. After a strong initial recovery, the Thai economy suffered again in 2001/2 following 9/11, and in 2003 suffered because of the reaction to SARS, the war in Iraq and fears of terrorism.
Things took an upward turn in 2004 due to domestic demand and strong exports, giving the economy resilience to the outbreak of avian influenza and soaring oil prices. However, following the tsunami in December 2004, sharp rises in world oil prices and domestic political turmoil following the military coup in September 2006, growth was affected. In 2007 the inflation rate was 2.2% with unemployment down to 1.4%. Inflation rates rose dramatically in 2008 before falling even more dramatically in 2009. Since then rates have stabilised between 2.8% and 4.2% with the actual figure of 4.08% in July 2011. Unemployment rates have remained consistent since 2007 with the actual 2010 figure at 1.39%.
Following the financial collapse in 1997 the government launched the Amazing Thailand campaign which increased tourist arrivals dramatically, all keen to take advantage of the favourable exchange rate. Arrival numbers peaked in 2002 but were down by 10% in 2003 with the occurrence of SARS. However, visitor numbers have improved steadily and were more than 14 million in 2007 – a 4.7% increase on 2006. Numbers have steadily increased since then, rising to 15.8 million visitors in 2010.
The Thailand Incentive and Convention Association was established to aid the growth of Thailand as a destination for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. Members include tour operators, hotels, airlines, advertising agencies, lawyers, convention centres, convention organisers and local attractions. Bangkok has the two largest venues for conferences and exhibitions – the Bangkok Convention Centre and the Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition and Convention Centre. There are also many other venues (including hotels) in Bangkok and elsewhere.
US$319 billion (2010).
Automatic data processing machines and parts, automobiles and parts, precious stones and jewellery, refined fuels, rubber, electronic integrated circuits, polymers of ethylene and propylene, rice, iron and steel and their products, rubber products, chemical products.
Crude oil, machinery and parts, electrical machinery and parts, chemicals, iron and steel and their products, electrical circuits panels, computers and parts, other metal ores and metal waste scrap, ships and boats and floating structure, jewellery including silver and gold.
USA, Japan, China,(PR), Hong Kong and Malaysia.
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