Chulalongkorn University
จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย
Thailand's oldest university, in central Bangkok, with 22 English-taught bachelor's programmes.
- Students
- 41,611
- 30,262 undergraduates
- Tuition
- THB 152K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1917
- QS World Ranking
- #212
- 2027 edition
About Chula
Chulalongkorn University grew out of a school for royal pages and civil servants founded under King Chulalongkorn, and was established as a national university in 1917, making it Thailand's oldest institution of higher education. It began with faculties of Public Administration, Medicine, Engineering, and Arts and Sciences, and with help from the Rockefeller Foundation built up its medical teaching. The university describes itself as a living monument to King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).
Today Chula has 41,611 students (academic year 2025), of whom 30,262 are undergraduates, and 3,113 academic staff. It offers 81 bachelor's programmes, 22 of them international programmes taught in English, including Architectural Design (INDA), Communication Design, Language and Culture (BALAC), Business Administration (BBA), Economics, several engineering degrees such as Aerospace, Nano and Robotics and AI Engineering, Politics and Global Studies, Psychological Science and the CU-MEDi Doctor of Medicine.
The main campus is in Pathum Wan, in the middle of Bangkok. International programmes run their own admission rounds each year, an Early Admission round and a main Admission round with interviews for shortlisted applicants, while Thai-language programmes admit through the national TCAS system. Chula suits students who want an English-taught degree at Thailand's oldest university, at fees well below those of Western universities.
Why students choose Chula
22 English-taught bachelor's programmes, from BBA and Economics to Aerospace Engineering and Robotics and AI Engineering.
University tuition for international undergraduates of THB 76,000 to 106,000 per semester, plus a per-semester programme fee that varies by programme.
A central Bangkok campus in Pathum Wan, with dormitory rooms estimated at about THB 15,000 a month.
Thailand's oldest university, founded as a national university in 1917.
Admissions
Academic year 2027 intake (timeline shown is from the 2025 cycle)
Selectivity
Chulalongkorn does not publish an acceptance rate for its international programmes. Each programme sets its own requirements and shortlists applicants for interview.
Typical entry requirements
| International programmes (all curricula) | Requirements set by each programme; check the programme website for accepted qualifications, tests and minimum scores |
|---|---|
| Thai-language programmes | Admission through Thailand's national TCAS system |
| English language | English score requirements vary by international programme and are listed on each programme's website. |
Deadlines
- Early Admission, academic year 2025 (reference) Non-binding Passed25 December 2024
Online applications 25 November to 25 December 2024; interviews 10-14 January 2025; admitted list announced 21 February 2025.
- Admission round, academic year 2025 (reference) Non-binding Passed26 March 2025
Online applications 26 February to 26 March 2025; interviews 9-12 April 2025; admitted list announced 20 May 2025.
Chula states that undergraduate admissions for academic year 2027 are open, but the published timeline is for academic year 2025. Expect Early Admission around November-December 2026 and a main round around February-March 2027, and check each programme's website.
How to apply
Apply online to the chosen international programme through the links on Chula's undergraduate admissions page. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed, and successful applicants confirm their place, including a confirmation step through Thailand's TCAS system.
What admissions looks for
- Meeting the specific requirements of the chosen international programme.
- Performance at interview for shortlisted applicants.
- English ability sufficient for an English-taught degree.
Tips for applying to Chula
- 1 Apply in the Early Admission round if you can: it runs months ahead of the main round.
- 2 Read your programme's own website carefully: INDA, BBA, EBA and the engineering programmes each set different test and portfolio requirements.
- 3 Budget for the programme fee on top of the faculty-group tuition: it is charged each semester and ranges from THB 70,000 to 141,500 (THB 570,000 for CU-MEDi).
- 4 Prepare for an interview, which is part of the timeline for shortlisted applicants.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in THB
Chula lists scholarships on its admissions pages; tuition rates follow the university's 2019 fee announcement and are set by faculty group, with separate programme fees for international programmes.
- About THB 5,000 per semester
- Books
- About THB 15,000 per month including electricity and water
- Dormitory
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
B.Sc. Architectural Design (INDA)
The Faculty of Architecture's international design programme.
B.B.A. Business Administration (BBA)
The Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy's English-taught business degree.
B.Eng. Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Engineering
One of six international engineering degrees, alongside Aerospace, Nano, ICE, ChPE and ADME.
M.D. Doctor of Medicine (CU-MEDi)
Chula's international medical degree, with a programme fee of THB 570,000.
B.A. Language and Culture (BALAC)
The Faculty of Arts' international programme in language and culture.
B.A.S. Integrated Innovation (BAScii)
An interdisciplinary innovation degree from the Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation.
Research
- The Chula Venture Builder Platform tracked 389 startup teams in 2024, from idea stage to Series A.
- Chula runs research funding schemes such as the Second Century Fund (C2F) and an Intellectual Property Institute.
- The Rockefeller Foundation helped develop Chula's early medical teaching.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Architecture
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy
- Faculty of Communication Arts
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Political Science
- Faculty of Psychology
- Faculty of Science
- School of Integrated Innovation
Student life
Chula's campus is a green, walkable pocket in the middle of Bangkok, with the white Thai-style Auditorium and the Faculty of Arts buildings among its landmarks. Students can live in university dormitories, and the university runs its own shuttle buses around campus. Student life runs through the Student Union, faculty clubs and sport, and the annual Chula-Thammasat traditional football match, organised with the alumni association, is one of Thailand's best-known university traditions. Students wear university uniforms.
- The Chula-Thammasat traditional football match.
- CU shuttle buses and green-campus initiatives such as CU Zero Waste.
- The Student Union of Chulalongkorn University.
- University museums and creative spaces on campus.
Housing. University dormitories are available, estimated at about THB 15,000 a month including electricity and water.
Location
Chula is in Pathum Wan district in central Bangkok. Bangkok is a huge, fast-moving capital with a large international community; Chula estimates food and personal expenses at 10,000 baht or more a month on top of rent, and runs its own campus shuttle buses.
Nearest airport: Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
Notable alumni
- PM Princess Maha Chakri SirindhornPrincess Royal of Thailand; Bachelor of Arts with first-class honours from the Faculty of Arts
- PS Paetongtarn ShinawatraPrime Minister of Thailand (2024-2025); BA from the Faculty of Political Science
- CS Chadchart SittipuntGovernor of Bangkok; bachelor's degree in civil engineering with first-class honours and an MBA
- TJ Thanathorn JuangroongruangkitBusinessman and founder-leader of the Future Forward Party; master's degree in political economy from Chulalongkorn
- CP Chit PhumisakHistorian, poet and songwriter; Faculty of Arts graduate
- SS Surakiart SathirathaiFormer Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Frequently asked questions
Does Chulalongkorn University offer degrees in English?
Yes. In academic year 2025 Chula ran 22 international bachelor's programmes taught in English, including BBA, Economics, Architectural Design (INDA), several engineering degrees and the CU-MEDi medical degree.
How much are Chulalongkorn's fees for international students?
University tuition is THB 76,000 to 106,000 per semester depending on the faculty group, plus a programme fee charged each semester of THB 70,000 to 141,500 (THB 570,000 for CU-MEDi). Check your programme's own site, as some (such as EBA) publish their own per-semester totals.
When do Chula international programmes accept applications?
There are two rounds: Early Admission (late November to late December in the 2025 cycle) and a main Admission round (late February to late March). Interviews follow for shortlisted applicants.
What are the admission requirements for Chula's international programmes?
Each programme sets its own requirements for tests, English scores and portfolios, so check the programme's own website before applying.
How much does it cost to live near Chulalongkorn?
Chula estimates a dormitory at about THB 15,000 a month including utilities, plus at least THB 10,000 a month for food and personal expenses and about THB 5,000 a semester for books.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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