Details

• Thailand
• BBE-18
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Prepare for the interview, which is part of the application process. Focus on explaining/discussing in details the answers you gave in the personal assessment form. Remember about visa and insurance. Carefully read all the emails from the host university. Do not buy the sim card at the airport, it costs around 30 euro for 6 months at any mall. Sign up for the buddy program (the university will ask you about it). The dresscode rules do not apply at all (maybe for a week or two).

2. Accommodation

There is no university housing or dorms, you will be given a list of recommended private housing options by the university. I chose Amarin Mansion, number 1 on the list. Almost all of the residents are exchange students, which makes it the best place to connect to other people, and spend your free time every day. The apartments are basically studio flats with a room with a king-size bed or 2 single beds, a bathroom, and a balcony. All of the rooms have air conditioning, and a fridge, room types A and B also have a kichenette. The neighborhood is quiet and safe, there are 4 restaurants and a 7-Eleven store nearby. Unfortunately, the Amarin Mansion restaurant was closed during my whole stay. There are 2 options to get to the university: a 20-25 minute walk and ferry ride, or 8 minutes by Grab Bike. If you want a specific room type, do not hesitate to reserve it, as it is free of charge.

3. Academic life at host university

Tha Phra Chan campus is a smaller campus of Thammasat University, with most programs taught in English. There is a canteen with about 15 restaurants and stalls, and the food there is cheap even byThai standards, so it is often overcrowded with students and other people. The campus also has other facilities, such as a gym, which is also crowded due to its short opening hours, and many libraries, including a huge main library with relaxation areas. All classes and lectures are held in 3 blocks: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., and 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. The typical number of students in a class is 30. The courses differ in terms of interactivity and workload, but all professors require feedback and responses, and all courses involve some form of group work. Attendance is mandatory. There are midterm and final exam weeks, however there are also courses with projects, such as written assignments, instead of exams. Some courses have a grading curve system. Many professors have studied or worked in Europe or the United States, and they try to introduce the exchange students during first sessions. As fair as I know, exchange students can participate in extracurricular activities such as clubs, but I did not try it myself.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transportation in Thailand is not very reliable, with the exception of MRT and BTS (metro and skytrain), but the stations are far from Amarin Mansion. Therefore, my main means of transportation were Grab taxi and Grab Bike. However, if you want to get to the other side of the city, it is worth walking or taking the motorcycle to the MRT station, both for money and time reasons. The country is really safe, and I and other exchange students never encountered any dangerous situations. The only thing to watch out for is the sanitary conditions in restaurants and food stalls, but don't exaggerate. Social and recreational activities mainly included sightseeing and partying with other students, mainly exchange students. Places I particularly recommend visiting in Thailand are Krabi with the Phi Phi Islands and the northern provinces Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Of course, there are many interesting events in Bangkok, such as Muay Thai fights, football matches, festivals, temporary flea markets, etc. As for sports opportunities, there are several large parks that are great for running, many gyms, but it is difficult to play team sports.

6. Testimonial

The exchange semester at Thammasat University in Thailand was the highlight of my student life. I met wonderful people, including both local students and fellow exchange students, visited many astonishing places such as the beautiful Phi Phi islands, immersed myself in the amazing Thai culture characterized by positivity, and tried many delightful cuisines of different countries and regions of Southeast Asia. This period was defined by a perfect balance of studying, travelling, and leisure. I truly wish I could experience this fantastic time again, and I fully recommend Thammasat University and Thailand to anyone considering an exchange semester.