Study in Thailand in English: Chulalongkorn vs Mahidol vs Thammasat

All three are public universities that run English-taught international programmes alongside their Thai-language degrees. Choose Chulalongkorn for a central Bangkok campus and broad choice of faculties, Mahidol (via Mahidol University International College at Salaya) for a self-contained liberal-arts-style international college and health sciences, and Thammasat for law, politics, economics, business and engineering through SIIT.

At a glance

Chulalongkorn University

Chulalongkorn sits on a large campus in Pathum Wan, next to Siam and the BTS/MRT lines, which makes daily life in central Bangkok easy. It has around 19 faculties and runs King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. International programmes are spread across faculties such as engineering, commerce and accountancy, communication arts, political science, economics and arts, so you apply to a specific programme, not to a single international college.

Mahidol University

Mahidol is Thailand's leading health sciences university, with Siriraj and Ramathibodi among its medical faculties. For international students the main entry point is MUIC at the Salaya campus, which offers English-taught bachelor's degrees in areas such as business, science, social sciences, communication design and hospitality. Salaya is greener and quieter than central Bangkok; budget for travel time if you plan to spend a lot of time in the city.

Thammasat University

Founded in 1934 by Pridi Banomyong, Thammasat has a strong identity in law, politics and economics. Social sciences and humanities are based at the historic Tha Phra Chan campus by the Chao Phraya River, while engineering, medicine and many international programmes are at the large Rangsit campus north of Bangkok. The Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT) teaches engineering and technology in English.

How admission works

• Thai-language programmes: Thai students apply through the national TCAS system.
• International programmes: usually have their own admission rounds, with English test scores (IELTS/TOEFL or the university's own test), school transcripts and sometimes SAT or subject tests. Requirements vary by programme, so check each programme page.

What to check before applying

1. Which campus your programme is taught on (Bangkok traffic makes this a real question).
2. The programme's tuition currency and whether the fee is per semester or per year.
3. Intake month and application round dates for the current year.
4. Whether the degree is fully in English or only partly.

FAQ

Can I study in Thailand without speaking Thai?

Yes. All three universities run English-taught international programmes. Day-to-day life is easier with basic Thai, and many universities offer Thai language courses.

Which is best for medicine in English?

Most medical degrees at Thai public universities are taught in Thai. Check each faculty for any international medical programme and its entry requirements before you plan around it.

Is Salaya in Bangkok?

Salaya is in Nakhon Pathom province, on the western edge of greater Bangkok. It is commutable but noticeably farther from the centre than Chulalongkorn's campus.

Where can I compare more Thai universities?

See all listings on Universities in Thailand.

Facts checked against university listings and official websites, October 2026.