FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PAYAP UNIVERSITY'S THAI AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES PROGRAM The Thai and Southeast Asian Studies Program ("Thai Studies") is a one- or two-semester program offering students an in-depth exposure to Thai language and culture. Each term the program includes a six-credit Thai language course, a three-credit course entitled Cultural Foundations of Thai society, and two three-credit elective courses of the student's choice. Elective courses are usually set only a few months prior to the start of each term. Please see the Course Offerings page for a description of the elective courses available for the current and coming term. In addition to the academic courses, the Thai Studies program includes a variety of experiential learning activities, field trips, and excursions designed to complement the classroom learning and provide opportunities for students to use the language. Most of these activities are linked to the academic content of the program; student participation is a required element of involvement in the Thai Studies program. What is the application deadline date? Students applying to the Thai Studies program through their home college or university's study abroad program should contact their International Programs office for scheduled application deadline dates. Students applying as independent participants should submit completed application forms to the Office of International Affairs no later than 30 April for the fall term (beginning in August), and 15 October for the spring term (beginning in January) each year. Are credits earned from the Thai Studies program transferable to my home institution? Courses offered through the Thai Studies program are part of the Payap University curriculum and have been fully accredited by the Ministry of Education of the Royal Thai government. Whether or not the credits will be accepted at a student's home institution is up to the discretion of that institution. Students are advised to speak with their academic and study abroad advisors for information on their institution's policies on transferring credits before enrolling in the Thai Studies program. How much foreign language do students need? All courses in the Thai Studies program are taught in English (except for the Thai language course, which is taught in English and Thai). International students for whom English is not their first language, should provide documentation showing that their English skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) are sufficient to succeed in courses designed for university-level students from English speaking countries. This is normally a TOEFL score of approximately 550 or an IELTS score of approximately 6.0. What room and board options are available to me in Chiang Mai? See Paradornparp International House. Married students or students with special circumstances (such as extensive experience living and working in Thailand or owning a home in Thailand) must fomally request to opt out of the room and board program. Is the cost of living in Chiang Mai high? Most students find that living in Chiang Mai is quite affordable, and considerably less than Bangkok. While different students have different spending patterns, a recent survey our international students resulted in the following monthly estimates: Food: 5,000-7,000 baht Postage: 200-1,000 baht Local Transportation: 1,000-1,500 baht Phone: 500-2,000 baht Books, Newspapers, CDs: 1,000-2,000 baht Entertainment: 2,000-3,000 baht Other: 2,000-3,000 baht Total: 11,700-19,500 baht per month How much will I spend on books? Students should expect to spend up to approximately $30 per course for books and materials fees. Students typically take four courses. The total book expense is rarely more than about $100-120 and is often less. Are there any scholarships available for studying in the Thai Studies program? There are no scholarships available from Payap University for the Thai Studies program. Many of our US students, however, are able to use their federal financial aid to support the cost of study in this program. Please see your home institution's Financial Aid office as soon as possible for details on opportunities and eligibility. Students are encouraged to search the following sites for possible scholarship opportunities. Study Abroad Funding Online Database: http://www.studyabroadfunding.org/ Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: http://www.iie.org/programs/gilman/index.html Am I eligible to receive a student visa to study in the Thai Studies program? Students who are accepted to study as full-time students in the Thai Studies program are eligible to apply for a 90-day non-immigrant visa to study in Thailand. This visa can be extended for the duration of the study period as long as the applicant remains a full-time student. Full-time student status requires registration for a minimum of 12 credit hours. Upon acceptance to the Thai Studies program and payment of the required deposit, the Office of International Affairs will issue a visa request letter. This letter will be addressed to the Royal Thai Embassy, Visa Section, and should accompany your Thai visa application form. For more information on how to apply for your visa, please refer to the following website of the Royal Thai government: [http://www.thaiembdc.org/]. What is the best way to exchange or obtain local currency? As part of the orientation program, students receiving room and board stipends will be taken to a local bank to open a savings account, with an ATM card. All stipends will be direct-deposited into this account, allowing students to withdraw funds as needed throughout the month. ATM machines are located on campus, as well as throughout the city of Chiang Mai. Students who have bank accounts in their home countries can easily get money (in Thai baht) from their home accounts by using an ATM card. Please check with your banking institution to be certain that your card can be used internationally, and that your account and PIN are active. What about electricity and appliances in Chiang Mai? Thailand uses 220 volt electricity, and most outlets accept plugs with two round prongs. Inexpensive power strip extension cords often accept flat prong plugs. Voltage adapters for 220 to 110 volt conversion are readily available for under US $10. In general, it is less hassle to buy small electronic appliances here than to bring them from home and fuss with adapters. What clothes should I bring? Thailand is a very modest culture, and students should generally be prepared to dress more conservatively than they would in their home cultures. Thais place a great deal of emphasis on looking clean and neat, and students will find their experience here more satisfying if they adapt to local customs. Men wear slacks or jeans, t-shirts, "polo" shirts, or short- or long-sleeved dress shirts. Long shorts are acceptable in social and recreational settings, but not on campus or in many public places. Women generally wear skirts-although slacks or jeans are also common-t-shirts, "polo" shirts and blouses. Women often wear two or three layers of relatively sheer shirts, but never go out in public without a bra. "Spaghetti-strap" tops are generally not acceptable in public or on campus. Most of the year Chiang Mai is warm to hot, and humid. Light cotton or cotton/polyester blends are the most comfortable. From November-February nights can be cool, and a light sweater can be useful. Is there a dress code on campus? What do students usually wear? All university students in Thailand wear uniforms to school. The Payap University uniform consists of a white dress shirt or dress blouse, a black (or dark color) skirt (for women) or slacks (for men), and a Payap University pin and belt buckle. White "polo" shirts are not acceptable for men or women. Women must wear skirts (short, long, mid-length) - no slacks. Sleeveless blouses and very short skirts are not acceptable. Men are supposed to wear dark neckties, but in recent years this element appears to be waning. Within the requirements of the uniform there is a great deal of variation reflecting personal style. While it is useful to bring one set of the basic uniform elements with you, it is easy to obtain uniforms during the orientation days. Many Thai students wear their uniforms off-campus as well. In Thai culture being known as a university student confers a measure of respect that is highly valued. Foreign students wearing their uniforms off-campus have found that they are frequently treated with more respect and are given better prices from sii-lors (taxi-truck) drivers and market vendors. What essentials can I buy in Thailand instead of packing them in my bags? Traditional Thai markets offering food, clothing, household goods, and handcrafts are available almost everywhere. There are three very large "hypermarts" close to Payap which offer discount consumer goods. Students can generally find almost any product they want in Chiang Mai, although familiar brands might not be available, and the quality of some kinds of goods might be different than students are used to. The staples of daily life - clothing, toiletries, food, etc. - are very readily available. Western consumer goods - electronics, cameras, and the like - are available but often slightly more expensive than they would be elsewhere Are bedding and linens provided in the dormitories? Dorm rooms at Paradornparp International House are dual occupancy and have two single beds. No linens or pillows are provided, however. Students should either bring a mattress pad/cover, sheets and pillowcases from home, or plan to buy them in Chiang Mai. Carrefour, a major department store, is located within walking distance of the campus. Students accustomed to using a top sheet should bring one with them. Top sheets are not generally used here, and are difficult to find. How will I get around Chiang Mai? There is a roving fleet of pick-up truck taxis called "sii-lors" and three-wheeled taxis called "tuk-tuks." Student will quickly learn how to flag these drivers down, state their destination, and negotiate a fare. In town most sii-lors trips cost 10 baht. However, getting from town to Payap and from Payap to town can be somewhat more expensive, depending on traffic, the number of passengers going the same direction, and the time of day. Expect to pay 50 to 100 baht per trip. Please note that while enrolled in the program, students are not permitted to drive motorcycles, cars, or trucks. If you are seen driving a vehicle while a student, your transcript may be witheld or you may be expelled. Students married to Thai citizens or students in Thailand on a non-Payap sponsored visa (usually the O visa) are exempt. The program encourages students to use bicycles to travel from the dormitory to campus and around town. Is there access to computers and the internet? Thai Studies students are fully registered Payap University students and are allowed to use all campus computing facilities. Paradornparp International House has wireless internet access as well as an internet-connected computer room. Off campus Chiang Mai is littered with internet shops selling access at very cheap rates. PLEASE NOTE: WE STRONGLY DISCOURAGE excessive (daily) use of e-mail and the internet to maintain contact with home. While we acknowledge that it is important for students to communicate their health and well-being to their families, students and their families should think carefully about how frequently this communication is necessary and adjust their expectations accordingly. The point of study abroad is to immerse oneself in the local culture, not to maintain a running dialogue with friends back home. How will I meet Thai students? The Office of International Affairs sponsors a "buddies" program to link Thai students directly with Thai Studies program students. The Thai students enjoy the opportunity to practice their English and help Thai Studies students with their Thai. Are there embassies or consulates in Chiang Mai? The United States, Britain, Japan, China, and India have Consulates located in Chiang Mai. We strongly recommend that students from these countries register with their consular offices upon arrival in Chiang Mai. Australia maintains the Australia Centre, with an Honorary Consul. Is Chiang Mai safe? Please keep in mind that Payap University is located in the far north of Thailand, quite far both geographically and politically from the southern regions of Thailand that have been receiving a great deal of attention due to both political violence and the recent tsunami disaster. The recent increase in terrorist activities world-wide must be acknowledged. The US State Department and other governments have issued general travel cautions and warnings covering southeast Asia. Please refer to the US State Departments Consular Information Sheet on Thailand for current details: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1040.html  University staff monitor all warnings issued by the home governments of our students, and will respond as appropriate as circumstances change. Thailand, in general, and the city of Chiang Mai, in particular, is a very safe place. Students will avoid potential problems by exercising the same common-sense practices they would use at home: don't travel in unfamiliar places alone, don't display (or even carry) valuables, etc. Chiang Mai province covers a very large land area extending north to the border with Burma. Periodic reports in the international media often describe military skirmishes between the Thai, Burmese and ethnic groups' armies as taking place "in Chiang Mai." Students (and their parents) should be aware that the trouble spots are localized in areas of the province approximately 100-200 kilometers from the city of Chiang Mai. The Thai Studies program does not take students on excursions to this area, and we discourage students from traveling in these areas on their own. Traffic accidents are the most significant safety problem Thai Studies students face. Thai traffic patterns are quite different from those most students are accustomed to, and take considerable attention. Beginning with the Fall 2003 term, the Thai Studies program is adopting a firm policy regarding the use of motorcycles. The program will prohibit students from owning, renting, or driving motorcycles. Violation of this policy will result in immediate termination from the program without compensation, and revocation of visa sponsorship. Students may ride as passengers on motorcycles only when wearing a safety helmet. Violation of the passenger helmet policy will result in immediate termination from the program without compensation, and revocation of visa sponsorship. What about the language? The language of instruction for the Thai Studies program is English. Currently, Payap has four undergraduate degree programs and four master's degree programs taught in English, but all other Payap degree programs are currently taught in Thai. Most students at Payap have studied English for many years, but may be shy about using the language. While it is possible to get around town without a deep knowledge of the Thai language, we recommend that students learn as much as much Thai as possible during their stay here so that their experiences in the country can be as meaningful as possible. How do I get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai? Most first-time travelers to Thailand will enter the Kingdom via Suvarnabhumi (BKK), the new Bangkok International Airport. As of 25 March 2007, Don Muang (DMK), the old Bangkok airport, reopened for a number of domestic flights . Please check to be sure that your connecting flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai leaves from BKK when you fly into Thailand via Suvarnabhumi (BKK) airport. Otherwise, you will have to take a shuttle or taxi across town to Don Muang (DMK) airport. From Bangkok, there are daily (and multiple) train, bus and airplane departures. Thai Airways has the most frequent and on-time flights between Bangkok and Chiang Mai but several discount airlines also fly between Bangkok and Chiang Mai ( NokAir, Air Asia and Orient Thai Airlines). Arrivals in Bangkok on US carriers generally involves a short overnight stay. Please contact the Thai Studies staff for suggestions about where to stay. What happens when I arrive in Chiang Mai? All Thai Studies students will be met at the airport, train station, or bus station upon arrival in Chiang Mai, providing we know in advance when you will arrive. We ask that you provide us with your arrival schedule at least two weeks before your departure from your home country. Students who fail to inform program staff of their arrival times in advance will not be picked up and must arrange their own transportation to campus. Who can I call for help when I arrive, or during the program? In the event that you have informed us of your arrival schedule in advance, but are not met at the airport, train station, or bus terminal in Chiang Mai as planned, you may call the Thai Studies program emergency mobile telephone number (08-7182-7499 from within Thailand) to reach the staff member on duty at that time. During orientation each student will be given an emergency contact card listing several useful telephone numbers, including Payap staff, the local police, hospitals, etc. In addition, the Thai Studies program maintains a "duty officer" system under which a program staff member carries a mobile telephone at all times. Students are encouraged to use this number as their first call in the event of an emergency. It is not to be used for routine questions which can be handled during regular office hours. If you have further questions not answered here, please contact the Thai Studies at the numbers and addresses below. Tel (from outside Thailand): 66-53-851-478 ext. 7240 Tel (from inside Thailand): 053-851-478 ext. 7227 Fax (from outside Thailand): 66-53-245-353 Fax (from inside Thailand): 053-245-353 Emergency (from outside Thailand): 66-5-705-4139 Emergency (from inside Thailand): 05-705-4139 Payap University South East Asian Institute for Global Studies Thai and Southeast Asian Studies Program Chiang Mai 50000 Thailand E-mail: Website: http://thaistudies.payap.ac.th Home | Introduction | Course Offerings | Co-Curricular Activities Accommodation | Admissions Information | Program Staff | FAQs International Affairs | Payap University Last modified: 3 July 2009