Thailand » Academic Program

Academic Program

The Oregon University System’s partner in Chiang Mai is Payap University. International students at Payap can choose from two unrelated programs: Southeast Asian and Thai Studies and the Payap International College (IC).

Payap’s Southeast Asian and Thai Studies (SEATS) Program provides a combination of courses in Tha i language and a range of English language courses focusing on the history, politics, culture, arts, and religion of Thailand and Southeast Asia.

The program takes strong advantage of its location by inviting a selection of notable figures to talk about their areas of expertise and includes excursions to a interesting and relevant sites around Northern Thailand.

A sample course list is available here.

Payap University’s International College (IC) offers English language based coursework in International Business Management, International Hospitality Management, and Computer Information Systems. IC programs are primarily structured to provide English language based instruction in specific disciplines to Thai and other Asian students. However, some U.S. and international students enroll in the International College to complete coursework related to their major.

Course offerings for disciplines within the international college can be found on the Payap University International College Website. Click on the discipline or department and then review the core courses, major requirements and elective course listings within each discipline.

For more information, please see Registration and Credits, below.

Host University Description

Payap University was established in 1974 and granted university status in 1984. However, originally begun as the McGilvary Faculty of Theology, its roots can be traced back to 1888. The school’s evolution over time is a mirror into the development and internationalization of Thailand. The trends that Today, as a private, coeducational university, Payap provides liberal arts and pre-professional education to Thai students and international students from across the region. There are approximately 8,300 students in the university, with international students from Burma, Nepal, United Kingdom, India, Singapore, Japan and the United States.

Payap University has three campuses in and around Chiang Mai. The primary campus is about 10 minutes outside of the city proper. It is a small walk able campus with a large number of new, modern buildings, including a brand new library and international dorm.

Host University Website

Payap University: http://ic.payap.ac.th/

Southeast Asian and Thai Studies: http://ic.payap.ac.th/programs/asian-studies.php

Payap International College: http://ic.payap.ac.th/

Registration and Credits

Students participating in this program will be registered at their home university in Oregon and will receive home campus credits for courses taken at Payap University. Students’ course work will be reviewed and evaluated by appropriate academic departments at their home institutions. Students must keep detailed records of course outlines, reading lists, exam results, and other work completed to facilitate accurate evaluation by their home university academic departments.

Students are advised to consult with their academic advisor about their plans to study in the Thailand program. Students wishing to earn major or minor credits for courses taken at Payap University are strongly advised to be in frequent communication with their advisor to determine what’s possible.

Because of the nature of this program, courses and credits are applied after completion of the program.

Academic Calendar

Note: The Payap International College and the Thai and SE Asian Studies programs have different academic calendars. The International College calendar follows the traditional Thai academic calendar. The Thai and SE Asian Studies calendar tends to follow the fall and spring semester calendar in the United States.

Here are sample calendars for past years:

International College Calendar

Fall Semester

• Monday, August 7: International College Students Arrive
• Monday August 14: First Day of Classes for International College
• Friday, December 1: Last Day of Classes
• Tuesday, December 12 - Friday December 15: Final Exam Period

Spring Semester

• Friday, January 12: International College Students Arrive
• Monday, January 15: First Day of Classes
• Friday, May 11: Last Day of International College Classes
• Monday, May 14 – Saturday, May 26: International College Final Exam Period

Thai and SE Asian Studies Program Calendar

Fall Semester

• Friday, August 18: Thai and Southeast Asian Studies Students Arrive
• Monday, August 21: First Day for Thai and SE Asian Studies Students
• Friday, December 8: Thai and SE Asian Studies Program Ends

Spring Semester

• Friday, January 12: Thai and SE Asian Studies Students Arrive
• Monday, January 15: First Day of Classes
• Friday, May 4: Thai and SE Asian Studies Program Ends