Details

• Thailand
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

I would not worry too much about course registration. We had a two-week add/drop period at the beginning of the semester, which gave us plenty of time to adjust our schedules. Interestingly, the list of available courses was much longer than the one that had originally been sent to me via email. Chulalongkorn University also allows exchange students to take at least one course from another faculty. Even if you do not get a spot in a course during registration, it is still worth attending the first class. In some cases, professors are willing to accept additional students. During those first two weeks, you will also have the opportunity to register for sports courses. One of my biggest recommendations is to open a Thai bank account as soon as possible. This helps you avoid withdrawal fees and makes daily life much more convenient. In Thailand, QR code payments are accepted almost everywhere (university cafeteria,street food stalls, shopping malls). With a local bank account, you often do not need to carry much cash. To open an account, I only needed my Chulalongkorn University registration confirmation and my passport. For travel, I took a direct flight from Milan to Bangkok. After arriving, you can take the Airport Rail Link directly into the city for only 40 baht. Since I had a lot of luggage, I used Grab to book a taxi instead. I highly recommend downloading both Grab and Bolt before arriving, as they are the apps you will probably use most frequently for transportation throughout your stay. Regarding mobile data, there are some cheaper SIM card options available at 7-Eleven stores. However, if you prefer an eSIM, you can visit one of the major providers such as AIS, which is the service I used. I had an unlimited internet package and paid around €14 per month by topping up my account.

2. Accommodation

After reading the reports, I decided to book the “Nonsi” accommodation, where most exchange students stay. I lived there for about a month before moving to a private condo apartment. Overall, I think Nonsi is a good option, especially if you want to meet other exchange students easily. But what personally bothered me was the location. If you don’t mind taking a bike taxi every day, it should not be a problem since it is only around 15 minutes from the university. Nonsi also offers a shuttle bus from Monday to Friday at 8 am and 11 am, but outside those times, you mainly rely on bike taxis or Grab. Therefore, I would recommend choosing accommodation within walking distance of the university or close to a BTS/MRT station, as this makes daily life much easier. A few of my friends stayed at CU House, but most of them were not really satisfied with it. Other accommodations I would recommend checking out are Ashton Chula-Silom, Hampton Residence, and iSanook Residence. My friends and I stayed there during our time in Bangkok, and we had a very good experience overall. They are a bit more expensive, but absolutely worth it in my opinion.

3. Academic life at host university

The Chula campus is very big compared to WU and it is also located right in the heart of Bangkok, surrounded by some of the city’s biggest malls. Fortunately the university offers shuttle buses that students can use to move around the campus and to nearby MRT/BTS stations or malls. The Economics faculty has a large cafeteria with many cheap and good food options. It was definitely one of my favorite parts of the campus. There are also multiple libraries and many sports facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, tennis courts, and basketball courts. Overall, I would say that the academic environment is much more relaxed compared to WU. The professors are generally very chill, and my exams and presentations were also easier compared to those at WU. Chulalongkorn University has removed the mandatory uniform policy, so you do not need to wear a uniform for regular classes anymore. However, you still need to buy one for exams. I would especially recommend the courses Labour Economics and Economics of Taxation for Business and Policy. The professors were very good and also quite generous with grading. Economics of Human Capital and Growth Theory are good options if you are looking for courses with a relatively low workload.

5. Every day life in the host country

Bangkok has a good public transportation system, but I would still say that my main mode of transportation was the bike taxi. Overall, transportation was probably the only thing that felt more expensive compared to Vienna. Regarding safety, I personally felt safer in Bangkok than in Vienna or many other European cities. As a girl, I never experienced a situation where I felt threatened or unsafe, even at night. Bangkok offers many social and leisure activities. Most of them are also much cheaper than in Europe, so I spent a lot of time outside with my friends, whether it was going to malls, doing sports, trying new cafés or restaurants, or spending evenings at board game cafés (often for only around 5€). Eating out is generally very affordable, which meant I almost never used the kitchen in my apartment. I would also recommend checking out the sports courses offered by Chula during the first week of course registration. The university offers a wide variety of free sports classes such as basketball, tennis, pilates, yoga, swimming, and many more.

6. Testimonial

I think my exchange semester in Bangkok was the best choice I could have made. At first, the city can feel overwhelming, but after a short time you start to love it. Bangkok is always awake and there is always something going on, which makes it almost impossible to get bored. The people are incredibly friendly and welcoming and quickly make you feel comfortable and at home. The amazing and affordable food is another reason why I fell in love with Thailand. Because daily life is much more affordable than in many European cities, I spent very little time at home and was able to enjoy the city almost every day, surrounded by amazing people. Chulalongkorn University has many incoming students, so it is very easy to meet new people, join activities, and find travel buddies for weekends and holidays. My exchange was an unforgettable experience that helped me grow as a person, become more independent, and create memories and friendships that I will always cherish.