Chulalongkorn University is a public university in Bangkok. It describes itself as Thailand’s first institution of higher education and became a university on 26 March 1917.[1] In the first semester of academic year 2025 it had 41,611 students and 456 curricula, 99 of them international programmes.[2] It is ranked 212th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and calls itself Thailand’s No. 1 university in that ranking for the 18th year in a row.[3]
For international degree-seeking undergraduates the fee schedule on the university’s site runs from THB 76,000 to THB 106,000 per semester, depending on the faculty group; the page does not name a study year.[4] There is no single English score for the whole university: each programme sets its own.[5]
Key facts
| Location | Bangkok, Thailand (254 Phaya Thai Road, Wang Mai Subdistrict, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330)[6] |
| Type | Public, autonomous research university[7] |
| Founded | Established as Chulalongkorn University on 26 March 1917; its origins lie in a school for civil servants founded in 1899[1] |
| Students | 41,611 in the first semester of academic year 2025 (30,262 bachelor’s; 11,349 graduate), excluding affiliated institutions[2] |
| Curricula, academic year 2025 | 456 in total: 348 Thai, 99 international, 9 English; 81 bachelor’s and 375 graduate[2] |
| Graduate programmes for international students | About 125 international programmes at master’s and doctoral level[8] |
| Organisation | 40 organisational units[2] |
| Staff | 3,113 academic staff and 4,953 operational staff (all contract types)[2] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 212th; Thailand’s highest-ranked university[9] |
| Tuition, international degree-seeking undergraduates | THB 76,000–106,000 per semester by faculty group (no study year stated)[4] |
| English requirement | Set by each programme; example: MA in Thai Studies accepts IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72 or CU-TEP 70[5] |
| Official website | chula.ac.th |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 9 November 2026.
About Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn University grew out of a school that King Chulalongkorn founded in 1899 to train civil servants. It was renamed the Royal Pages School in 1902 and became the Civil Service School of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn on 1 January 1910. On 26 March 1917 King Vajiravudh established it as Chulalongkorn University.[1] The university calls itself Thailand’s first institution of higher education.[1] Wikipedia words it more carefully, as the country’s oldest institute of higher education.[7]
It is a public, autonomous research university in central Bangkok, in the Pathum Wan District.[7] Its early structure had four faculties (Public Administration, Medicine, Engineering, Arts and Sciences); today the university counts 40 organisational units.[1][2]
How is Chulalongkorn University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, announced on 18 June 2026, Chulalongkorn University is 212th in the world.[3][9] The university says it is the only Thai university in the ASEAN top 10 in this ranking, has been Thailand’s No. 1 university for 18 consecutive years, and is within the world’s top 100 for Academic Reputation and for Employment Outcomes.[3]
The edition evaluated more than 1,500 institutions.[3] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Chulalongkorn University?
For academic year 2025 the university lists 456 curricula, excluding affiliated institutions:[2]
| Level | Thai | International | English | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 59 | 22 | – | 81 |
| Master’s degree | 167 | 46 | 5 | 218 |
| Doctor’s degree | 104 | 31 | 4 | 139 |
| Graduate diploma and higher graduate diploma | 18 | – | – | 18 |
The university’s own table keeps these categories apart without defining them; check the programme page to see the language of teaching.[2] On the graduate side the university offers about 125 international programmes, listed by faculty or school with the degree and a requirements link.[8] Undergraduate international programmes each have their own programme page with entry requirements.[10]
How much does Chulalongkorn University cost?
The university sets tuition for international students by faculty group, per semester. These are the undergraduate degree-seeking rates on its fee page, with the US dollar figures the page gives at 34.26 THB per USD (rate of 12 April 2023):[4]
| Faculty group | Examples of faculties | THB per semester |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences 1 | Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science | 106,000 (about USD 3,100) |
| Life Sciences 2 | Allied Health Sciences, Nursing, Pharmaceutical Science, Psychology, Public Health Sciences | 82,700 (about USD 2,400) |
| Physical Sciences | Architecture, Engineering, Science, Integrated Innovation | 79,500 (about USD 2,300) |
| Social Sciences (listed with Communication Arts) | Commerce and Accountancy, Economics, Law, Political Science, Education | 76,000 (about USD 2,200) |
| Arts | Arts, Fine Arts | 76,000 (about USD 2,200) |
The page does not state the study year; it refers to the university’s tuition announcement of B.E. 2562 (2019). The graduate tab of the same page shows higher rates for most groups (from THB 76,000 for Arts up to THB 133,900 for Life Sciences 1 per semester).[4] Special programmes, weekend and evening programmes and the Petroleum and Petrochemical College set their own fees, and programme fees come on top. The university’s own examples are THB 70,000 to 141,500 for undergraduate programmes (the CUMEDi medical programme THB 570,000) and THB 20,000 to 207,000 for graduate programmes; the page does not say for which period.[4]
Living costs
The university estimates books at about THB 5,000 per semester, food and personal expenses at THB 10,000 or more per month, and a dormitory at about THB 15,000 per month including electricity and water.[4]
How do you apply to Chulalongkorn University?
- Undergraduate international programmes: apply online through the university’s international undergraduate admissions, which run in early-admission and regular rounds linked to the Thai TCAS system. Entry requirements and any extra tests are listed on each programme’s page.[10]
- Graduate programmes: apply online through the Graduate School’s system at register.gradchula.com. Each faculty decides its own application period, and the link only works while a period is open.[8]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. Check the programme page before you start.[10][8]
Which language level do you need?
The pages we could read set no single university-wide English score. Requirements are listed per programme.[10] As an example, the MA programme in Thai Studies asks for “a good command of English” and accepts one of: CU-TEP 70 or higher, TOEFL ITP 543 or higher, TOEFL iBT 72 or higher, or IELTS 5.5 or higher.[5] Other programmes can set different scores, so use the requirements link of your own programme.
We could not confirm which Thai-language level, if any, applies to programmes taught in Thai.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Chulalongkorn University ranked?
It is 212th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, and the university says it is Thailand’s No. 1 in that ranking for the 18th consecutive year.[3]
How much is tuition for international students at Chulalongkorn?
The fee page lists THB 76,000 to 106,000 per semester for degree-seeking undergraduates, depending on the faculty group, and higher rates for most groups at graduate level. The page gives no study year.[4]
Do I need to speak Thai to study at Chulalongkorn?
What English score does Chulalongkorn require?
It depends on the programme. The MA in Thai Studies, for example, accepts IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72 or CU-TEP 70.[5]
More about studying in Thailand
- Thailand: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Thailand
Sources
[1] Chulalongkorn University: History (page without a date)
[2] Chulalongkorn University: Facts & Stats (page without a date; figures cite the curriculum summary of 1 May 2026 and academic year 2025 student counts)
[3] Chulalongkorn University: Chula Ranks in ASEAN Top 10, Remains Thailand’s No. 1 University for 18 Consecutive Years in QS WUR 2027 (news item of 26 Jun 2026)
[4] Chulalongkorn University: Tuition & Fees (page without a date; exchange rate dated 12 Apr 2023)
[5] Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University: MA Program in Thai Studies, required qualifications (page without a date; application forms marked updated 23 Jan 2026)
[6] Chulalongkorn University: Admissions (page without a date; address from the page footer)
[7] Wikipedia: Chulalongkorn University (type of institution and description)
[8] Chulalongkorn University: Graduate Admissions (page without a date)
[9] QS Top Universities: Chulalongkorn University profile (QS profile page read in a browser on 9 Nov 2026; QS WUR 2027 was published on 18 Jun 2026)
[10] Chulalongkorn University: Undergraduate Admissions (page without a date; announces the 2027 intake, shows the 2025 timeline)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.