Why Chiang Mai?

Location

Chiang Mai is a 700-year-old city caught between two worlds. Thai tradition and customs are still very much alive in this city and they happily co-exist with modern Thailand. In 1800, a moat and huge brick walls were built around the city to protect it from invasion, but they now protect the “old city” from any high-rise development. The city is most famous for having more than 300 Buddhist temples, and one of the most holy, Wat Doi Suthep, sits atop the mountain that overlooks the city. Chiang Mai is rife with festivals and is definitely the handicraft capital of Thailand with beautiful woodwork, jewelry and ceramics. The city also has a vibrant nightlife with many excellent restaurants and a lively music scene.

Payap University

Payap University, established in 1974, was Thailand's first fully accredited private university. With a student enrollment of 6,500 students plus 350 international students, the university has continued to grow and expand its facilities, including adding a wide range of international programs to introduce its diverse student body to culturally rich Chiang Mai.

Payap University's pleasant main campus features a leafy green environment with a mixture of modern and older buildings. A chapel forms the campus's centerpiece and blends Christian and Buddhist heritage with a spire and a roof in the shape of a giant lotus. Students enjoy the green space and convenient walkways that sprawl across campus.

The university is located fifteen minutes from city center and Chiang Mai's famous Night Bazaar. Many affordable restaurants and bars surround campus and one of Chiang Mai's largest superstores is within walking distance.

Chiang Mai Opportunities

Integrated Housing

All students will live on campus in a twin share room. Each western student will share a room with an English-speaking local Thai student.

Unique Cultural Encounters

Students who participate in our Chiang Mai program may choose between two unique opportunities to immerse in Thai culture, including teaching English to novice monks or volunteering with a playgroup for a local orphanage.

3-Day Orientation Program

Participants attending our Thailand program begin their semester with an extensive three-day in-country orientation program. A combination of academic sessions and a series of cultural events introduce students to life in Thailand.

Resident Directors

Our Chiang Mai program is staffed by knowledgeable, experienced in-country directors who are residents of Thailand. These individuals are the students' first contact for any matter and they provide a friendly face and in-depth local knowledge from Day One of orientation through the entire semester.