Thailand
Known as the Land of Smiles, Thailand is full of tradition and adventure.
Study in Thailand
Known as the Land of Smiles, Thailand is full of tradition and adventure -- whether it's trekking through the forests on an elephant, taking a voyage down the Chao Phraya River, visiting the beach resorts, or simply meditating at Wat Pho, Thailand has something for everyone!
“I loved every minute of my exchange in Thailand while it was happening, but it was not until I got home that I realized what a great impact it had on my life. The experience has guided my academic and professional endeavors and has left me with friends and family that will last a lifetime. I speak with my family from Thailand at least once a week and have reunited with them three times since my exchange.”
- Monica
+ More About Thailand
Sawadee! Thailand is an intoxicating blend of the old and the new: float down the Chao Phraya River, meditate in an ancient temple, or visit a modern mall in fast-paced Bangkok!
Located in the heart of Southeast Asia, Thai culture is heavily influenced by its neighbors, China and India. The rich variety of local food includes tropical fruits, brightly colored herbs, and vegetables you've probably never seen before. Teaching in Thai schools is modern but still follows traditional Asian methodology: they stress rote learning (learning through memorization), wearing school uniforms, and having respect for authority. Extracurricular activities are part of the school program so that you can show off your interests and talents in activities such as Muay Thai (Thai boxing - a national sport that is very popular among teenagers), dancing, music, and Thai scouting. Thailand’s picturesque beaches are as world-renowned as its welcoming people.
Experiencing Thailand firsthand will open your eyes to the multiculturalism of Southeast Asia and to a way of life that is as connected to the modern world as it is rooted in tradition. If this blend of culture sounds like a good fit for you, apply to study abroad in Thailand today!
+ Scholarships Available
YFU USA is proud to send over 200 American students on cultural exchange with a full or partial scholarship each year. Financial assistance may be in the form of a merit-based scholarship, needs-based financial aid, or Legacy Grant for students who are previously involved in the YFU Community. Scholarships may vary in deadline, requirements, and eligibility. To learn more, please visit our Scholarships Page to find details on the following scholarships eligible for Thailand:
Holcomb & Farnell Foreign Study Fund
YFU Legacy Grant
YFU Financial Aid Fund
WEH Foundation Scholarship
Karla Topolka Scholarship Fund
Passport to Equity
+ Application Deadline
Applications for tuition based programs must be submitted by February 15 for Summer and Fall departures. Applications submitted after this date will be considered on a case by case basis depending upon availability.
+ Additional Information
Note: YFU Thailand cannot guarantee that you will receive a report card that fulfills the requirements of your school back at home, but can work with your host school to provide a certificate or letter stating school attendance as an exchange student.
Visa Information
YFU Thailand will need a copy of your passport early on in the admissions process in order to begin preparing visa documents for you. If you do not have a passport at the time you submit your application, or you will be renewing your passport before you depart for Thailand, you will need to begin that process immediately upon applying with YFU.
Additional Costs
Tuition covers the cost of shool enrollment, but students should be prepared to pay for school supplies, school uniform, and any transportation costs to school. Volunteer Program participants are also responsible for any transportation costs to their worksite. Program tuition does not include personal spending money.
Choose Your Program
+ Academic Year Programs
During your year in Thailand, you will live with a host family and attend a local high school. Part of your experience will be:
School
Thai schools can be quite large, sometimes with up to 2500 students and up to 50 students in a class. You will attend a local Thai school, where you will be placed in grade 10, 11, or 12 depending on the school. Required classes include Thai language, social studies, and physical education, but you'll work with your school counselor to select classes that will be best for you. As an exchange student, you will have many elective subjects to choose from such as English, history, Thai music, Thai dancing, Thai cooking, arts and crafts, artificial flower making, sword fighting, Muay Thai (Thai boxing), religion, meditation, and many others depending on the school. In English class, you will likely be considered a guest speaker and asked to assist the teacher. The school week is Monday through Friday and classes are typically around 50 minutes long held from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm with a daily morning assembly and some free periods throughout the week. Dress codes can be strict, with rules on hairstyles and jewelry. Thai students are also required to wear uniforms at school, so students may either have a uniform that is provided by their host family, or students will have to purchase them on their own, and the family will help to find the proper uniform for you.
Orientations
Students will participate in a one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June and the option to participate in a webinar. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.
Students will begin their program with a four day orientation in Bangkok. There will also be a 3-4 day mid-year orientation in October. Students will reflect upon their exchange year with a re-entry orientation for 4-5 days shortly befre the end of their program. All orientation costs are included in program tuition.
Extracurriculars
YFU students are encouraged to get involved in their communities by joining academic, sports, or recreational clubs that meet during and after school.
Optional Excursions
Year program students will also usually have the option of participating in a number of educational trips and excursions during their stay, at an additional cost.
Week Exchange Program: In previous years, students have had the opportunity to do a short exchange while participating in their program. During this week students will be able to experience a new community within Thailand and live with a different host family. This exciting week exchange allows students to discover cultural differences between families and see more of the beautiful country!
Gap Year Volunteering Program
Students on the gap year volunteer program must be at least 18 years old to attend and should demonstrate a high level of responsibility and motivation. As a volunteer in Thailand, you will either live with a local host family or in lodging that will be arranged by the work site that you will be volunteering with. These accommodations can include a dormitory, guesthouse or service apartments. In the first 3 months of your program, you'll work in a high school while taking a Thai language course.
Volunteering: Possible options include teaching English, working with disabled children, serving in a hospital, and other types of community service for local residents at an NGO or working on a farm or in a hotel. You will be able to select within your application which types of community service you are most interested in, and then YFU Thailand will select a few potential worksites for you based on your skills and qualifications. After 3 months at your worksite, you can change to another to get a different experience if you'd like.
Program Add On: Students who would like to participate in the volunteer program may also choose to add on an additional volunteer project to their program. This project may be 2-4 weeks in length in October, where students may get to experience a different community within Thailand, and do volunteer work at a different site for this time period.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Fall Year | Late June | Late April | $14,095 |
| 2024 Volunteer Fall Year | Late June | Late April | $14,095 |
Tuition Includes
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Thai high school or Placement with Non Government Organization for Volunteer Program
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU Thailand Area Representative while on program
- Comprehensive insurance
Age Requirement
- 2024 Fall Departures: Students born May 31, 2006 - December 31, 2009.
- 2024 Volunteer Fall Departures: Students born May 31, 2002 - May 30, 2006.
- Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate from high school before the start of the 2022 Fall Year program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
- Students who graduate from high school before the start of the 2022 Volunteer Fall Year program are welcome to apply
Language
Thai. Previous language study is not required. Students will receive an introduction to Thai language during their post-arrival orientation. Further language training is arranged by individual host schools. The Gap Year Volunteer Program includes a 30 hour Thai language course during the first 3 months.
Host Family Placement
Placement can be in urban, suburban, small town, or rural environments. Students applying for the Gap Year Volunteer Program may be placed with either a host family or may stay at work site accommodations, such as a dormitory, guest house, service apartment or others that may be provided by the work site.
+ Semester Program
During your semester in Thailand, you will live with a host family and attend a local high school. Part of your experience will be:
School
Thai schools can be quite large, sometimes with up to 2500 students and up to 50 students in a class. You will attend a local Thai school, where you will be placed in grade 10, 11, or 12 depending on the school. Required classes include Thai language, social studies, and physical education, but you'll work with your school counselor to select classes that will be best for you. As an exchange student, you will have many elective subjects to choose from such as English, history, Thai music, Thai dancing, Thai cooking, arts and crafts, artificial flower making, sword fighting, Muay Thai (Thai boxing), religion, meditation, and many others depending on the school. In English class, you will likely be considered a guest speaker and asked to assist the teacher. The school week is Monday through Friday and classes are typically around 50 minutes long held from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm with a daily morning assembly and some free periods throughout the week. Dress codes can be strict, with rules on hairstyles and jewelry. Thai students are also required to wear uniforms at school, so students may either have a uniform that is provided by their host family, or students will have to purchase them on their own, and the family will help to find the proper uniform for you.
Note: YFU Thailand cannot guarantee that you will receive a report card that fulfills the requirements of your school back at home, but can work with your host school to provide a certificate or letter stating school attendance as an exchange student
Orientations
Semester students will participate in a one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June and the option to participate in a webinar. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.
Students will begin their program with a four day orientation in Bangkok. There will also be a 3-4 day mid-year orientation in October. Students will reflect upon their exchange year with a re-entry orientation for 4-5 days shortly befre the end of their program. All orientation costs are included in program tuition.
Extracurriculars
YFU students are encouraged to get involved in their communities by joining academic, sports, or recreational clubs that meet during and after school.
Optional Excursions
Semester program students will also usually have the option of participating in a number of educational trips and excursions during their stay, at an additional cost.
Week Exchange Program: In previous years, students have had the opportunity to do a short exchange while participating in their program. During this week students will be able to experience a new community within Thailand and live with a different host family. This exciting week exchange allows students to discover cultural differences between families and see more of the beautiful country!
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Fall Semester | Late June | Late December | $10,095 |
Tuition Includes
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Thai high school
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU Thailand Area Representative while on program
- Comprehensive insurance
Age Requirement
- 2024 Fall Departures: Students born May 31, 2006 - December 31, 2009.
- Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate from high school before the start of the 2021 Fall Year program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
Language
Thai. Previous language study is not required. Students will receive an introduction to Thai language during their post-arrival orientation. Further language training is arranged by individual host schools.
Host Family Placement
Placement can be in urban, suburban, small town, or rural environments.
+ Summer Program
During your summer homestay in Thailand, you will be able to immerse yourself in Thai culture. Part of your experience will be:
Discover Thailand
This 6-week summer program allows you to totally immerse yourself into the Thai culture. You will live with a host family and have the opportunity to visit school with local Thai students. Students might also have the opportunity to experience a different community other than the community your host family lives in for about one week. This will give students a chance to experience another culture within Thailand.
Orientations
Semester students will participate in a one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June and the option to participate in a webinar. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.
Optional Excursions
Students will also usually have the option of participating in a number of educational trips and excursions during their stay, at an additional cost.
Week Exchange Program: In previous years, students have had the opportunity to do a short exchange while participating in their program. During this week students will be able to experience a new community within Thailand and live with a different host family. This exciting week exchange allows students to discover cultural differences between families and see more of the beautiful country.
Age Requirement
- 2024 Summer Departures: Students born June 30, 2006 - June 29, 2009.
- Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate from high school before the start of their program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Summer | Late June | Early August | $6,995 |
Tuition Includes
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Thai high school
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU Thailand Area Representative while on program
- Comprehensive insurance
Language
Thai. Previous language study is not required. Students will receive an introduction to Thai language during their post-arrival orientation.
Host Family Placement
Placement can be in urban, suburban, small town, or rural environments.