Thailand: Chiang Mai - Culture, Politics, Business

Name: Thailand: Chiang Mai - Culture, Politics, Business
Brand: USAC
SKU: 19253
Rating: 4.81 (37 reviews)

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4.81 Rating

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Location

Thailand
- Chiang Mai

Term

Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer

Subject Areas

Anthropology Economics Finance Food Science and Nutrition International Business International Relations Philosophy Sociology Sustainable Development

Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships

Health & Safety

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Program Details

Program Type

Provider

Housing

Apartment

Language

English

Last Updated: Sep 24, 2024

Last Reviewed: Mar 31, 2025

Wish List

8 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

USAC has teamed up with Chiang Mai University to offer students the chance to study abroad in Thailand! Students interested in Asian-Pacific Rim Economics, Politics, and Culture Studies will have the chance to pursue studies in those topics along with much more, including Thai language courses.

Studying in Chiang Mai places students right in the center of Thai trade and tourism. The opportunity to explore the "Land of Smiles" is right around the corner as well, with multiple planned excursions throughout the trip. Sign up today with USAC to start planning for an unforgettable experience in Chiang Mai, Thailand!

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Video and Photos

Study abroad with USAC in Chiang Mai, Thailand

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Diversity & Inclusion 💙

LGBTQIA+ Support

There are LGBTQIA+ friends, colleagues, and allies throughout the world. However, cultural understanding of gender identity and sexuality does vary from country to country. USAC has compiled a lot of resources to help you through that learning process.

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Accessibility Support

USAC is dedicated to working closely with students with disabilities to ensure the best study abroad experience possible. You may request reasonable accommodations after your initial application is complete. We routinely receive requests for scheduling, material, and environmental accommodations for the classroom setting, which may include assistive technology, scribes and readers, printed material, and interpretation.

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Impact 🌎

Sustainability

Environmentally-conscious students choose USAC because many of our programs are held in some of the most sustainable countries in the world. There are options to take coursework in sustainability and the environment, as well as field trips and studies where students can leave a lasting impact on their host country.

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Program Highlights

Experience the charm of exotic and ancient culture while you live and study in a center of Thai trade, tourism, and academic activity
Enjoy a wide range of field trips, including a field study with the Karen Hill Tribe people, as well as elephant riding and bamboo rafting
Explore the "land of smiles" and real Buddhism in a country that is 95% Buddhist
Visit lovely mountain regions featuring rivers, rain forests, national parks, nature preserves, and tea and coffee plantations

Program Reviews

4.81 Rating

based on 37 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Study

5 rating 83.78%
4 rating 13.51%
3 rating 2.7%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Academics 3.85
Support 4.6
Fun 4.8
Housing 4.45
Safety 4.9

Good for Students, Adventure travelers, Foodies

Showing 9 - 16 of 37 reviews

At first I was extremely hesitant about studying abroad because of my anxieties, but I decided that it would be a good experience to live in a different country where I was able to receive an abundance of support from my program. It was single-handedly the best decision I have ever made. I had so much fun making lifelong friendships, exploring a new city, learning about Thai culture, and so much more! By the end I was so sad to leave because of how acclimated I was to living in Thailand. I now feel confident in my future plans of living abroad and have gained many skills in navigating new experiences. I highly recommend studying abroad to anyone who is able to!

Pros

Acceptance and friendliness of the local Thai people
Amazing food options for cheaper prices than the U.S.
Beautiful Buddhist temples and nature landscapes

Cons

Very hot and humid and pours rain in the wet season
There was no kitchen in my dorm facility so I could never cook my own meals

This was at an elephant sanctuary as part of a program field trip! It was truly amazing and a once in a lifetime experience. We were able to feed the elephants, give them a mud bath, and bathe with them!

All of us in our school unifroms walking to school!

Group of my closest friends and I at a waterfall near Chiang Mai

Group of us on a temple tour around the city

Staying in Phuket with friends on a long weekend break!

Going to Thailand through USAC is one of the things I'll never regret! I love how close I was able to get to the Thai students there, and how they helped me immerse myself in Thai culture. In addition to the add-on trips like the elephant tour and field tribe study, the Chiang Mai staff helped us organize weekend trips to Bangkok and Chiang Rai. I was able to see the mountains, beaches and cities! I also loved how I was able to meet other students in the U.S., not only do I have friends in Thailand but all around the U.S. as well!

Pros

Affordable
Lots of different cuisines

Cons

Hot weather

I studied abroad in Chiang Mai to participate in the Chinese studies program. I’d originally planned on doing USAC’s program in Chengdu, China, which got canceled. USAC recommended this program as another option, and I am glad that I decided to participate.

I not only improved my Mandarin speaking and reading skills, but also learned about a new culture and made many lasting friendships. I was not ready to leave by the end of it and would go back in a heartbeat! Highly recommend this program/group!

My experience in Thailand was incredible, I felt so supported by the program and by those I met along the way. It was by far the best decision I've made in my entire life. I met some of the most amazing people who will now be my lifelong friends, went to some of the most beautiful places on this planet, and learned a new way of life that I would've never been exposed to if hadn't done this journey. It's also extremely easy to travel around Thailand and surrounding countries and you'll meet plenty of similar travelers along the way and make beautiful connections.

Pros

Extremely safe, kind people
Easy access to travel around
Cheap and affordable

Cons

Food poisoning
Smoke season
One time entry Visa

When I entered college I knew that I wanted to study abroad at some point. However, I never imagined that I would have found myself going all the way across the world to Thailand. It was the kind of USAC staff that showed me what their program had to offer that convinced me to take the trip. I am thankful to them as my time in Thailand was an incredible experience and generated memories that will stay with me for a lifetime. If you are looking for a truly out-there, incredible experience the USAC Thailand program provides this and more.

Pros

Extremely affordable living
Great field experiences
Never felt unsafe

Cons

Very rainy during the fall semester
Housing is nothing too special
More of a neutral point, but classes are once a week for 2.5 hours rather than twice a week for 75 minutes

An image of the Ang Kaew Reservoir on the CMU campus

The USAC program in Chiang Mai is one of the best run academic programs I've ever been a part of. I've learned so much while still being able to travel, have fun, meet new people and explore the culture. The staff and Thai buddies are all amazing and caring, and they all love getting to know the new USACers! I highly recommend this program! It will change your life for the better!
Some cool things I did while studying abroad:
1. Fed monkeys on a private beach
2. Trekked through the mountains
3. Explored caves that led onto pristine beaches
4. Chilled in hot springs
5. Went to a full moon party

Pros

Beauty
Food
People

Cons

Heat

Chiang Mai with USAC is like no other. The beauty of Thailand's nature and culture form such a unique experience. The staff at USAC Thailand is beyond expectations with both event planning and their want for cultural exchange. Everyone is kind and approachable. Both US and Thai students in the program look forward to meeting new people. Classes are enjoyable. The workload allows time for socializing. You can conveniently travel to other places in Thailand. Chiang Mai is friendly to people who enjoy outdoorsy adventures and to those who prefer city life.

Pros

Convenient for in-Thailand travel
Generally inexpensive
Athlete friendly

Cons

Most nightlife is 20+
Weather and smog

Attending USAC's Chiang Mai study abroad program was one of the best decisions I could've made during my undergrad years. There is nothing about my experience that I wish was a little bit different. From the classes to the excursions to the incredible staff at USAC Chiang Mai, every aspect of this program was top-notch. I developed friendships (from the US and Thailand) that I know will last a lifetime, and the memories I made continue to bring me joy and inspire me to embark on more adventures far, far away from home.

Pros

Facilitated Excursions
Tight-Knit Program
Amazing Food

Questions & Answers

Is there options for married housing?

Uh oh, we couldn't find the exact answer either! We did find some general housing information that can be found here: https://usac.edu/study-abroad-programs/thailand/chiang-mai/…

By Go Overseas on March 27, 2018

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose USAC-Chiang Mai initially because it was the most affordable option for a study abroad program. I had looked into studying in Europe and I couldn't believe how expensive it was; sometimes over 4x the amount I was paying at Cal Poly. Once I looked into the USAC program I was absolutely amazed at what I was getting for the price I was paying. A good number of field trips were included and I was able to take classes that filled my GE requirements and a Business economics requirement as well.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

USAC arranged the housing for all the students in the program. We all stayed in university style dorms called Uniloft, which were right down the street from Chiang Mai University. It's a prime location with two rooms, a living space, and a bathroom in one apartment. There was a communal kitchen, little restaurants, a pool, and a small fitness center in the compound as well. USAC also arranged an orientation dinner, uniform shopping, and 3-5 field trips with transportation.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I feel like some people in western societies view Southeast Asia as incredibly rural and 3rd world with dirt streets and massive poverty. The most surprising thing to me was how far from the truth this was. Outside the city there are parts where this still rings true, but globalization has hugely impacted Thailand. If I was craving Greek yogurt and muesli, a European grocery store right down the road had it. I never wanted for anything and I really appreciated how Chiang Mai has retained its' Thai culture amidst a surge in globalization.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

An average week for me included: Monday-Wednesday class and Thursday-Sunday travel time. I took four classes and was able to stack them on consecutive days, which I highly recommend. Broken down it was about 3-5 hours of class M-W and about a 2 hours dedicated to homework. On Thursday morning my roommate and I would fly to Bangkok to catch a flight to one of the surrounding countries, take a bus north to explore northern Thailand, or stay in Chiang Mai. By the end of our 4.5 months we knew the city like the back of our hand.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was that I would return to the U.S. the exact same person I was when I left and my time there wouldn't be profitable. To truly initiate a change in myself I did more than just the touristy things like play with elephants and go to the night markets. I challenged myself and explored places off the beaten path. I made Thailand my home. I learned that some of the happiest people are those who have just enough, but to a westerner, it looks like so little. Don't be afraid to be uncomfortable and confront that uneasiness you have, it'll lead you to the most incredible experiences.

Was it difficult to communicate because you didn't know the language?

Not at all! Many Thais know basic English and love to practice their English skills with you. Through USAC, I took Thai Communication, which I highly recommend. About 4 weeks into the program I was able to order food in Thai and barter with a red truck driver (Chiang Mai's taxis).

Was there anything you would have done differently?

Yep, I would have stayed for two semesters instead of one. I felt like 4.5 months was too short and I was just starting to get the hang of things and then I had to leave. If I had known that through USAC a 1 year study abroad option was available I would have chosen that.

Dan Goswick

2012 Alum

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

In Chiang Mai, I volunteered at a local orphanage twice a week before class. From my housing, the orphanage was 20-minutes away by rod daeng (small red truck). All I had to do was flag one down and showed a sticky note with the name of the orphanage on it.

That was not the case one day. I talked to three different drivers and my sticky note trick didn’t work. I realized that they didn’t read the alphabet. I tried to pronounce the name in Thai. I knew I butchered it bad because they still didn’t know where I wanted to go.

I eventually pulled out a map of Chiang Mai and pointed at my destination. Luckily, the orphanage was on it! The drivers burst out laughing when they figured out where I wanted to go. It was rewarding to overcome the language barrier.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

After seeing both sides of the process, I gained a deeper level of appreciation for study abroad. There is a great team of people behind each student’s successful study abroad preparation.

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My study abroad experiences would have not been the same if I didn’t have a great team from USAC to support me.

What is the best story you’ve heard from a return student?

For our Scotland programs, we offer an overnight trip to Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands every semester. One of the destinations is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, where the Hogwarts Express runs along in the Harry Potter movies.

A return student told me that she was so ecstatic to have seen the viaduct in real life. It was the highlight of the field trip for her. Being a Harry Potter fan myself, I completely understand her excitement.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would choose to go to the Santiago, Chile program. Santiago seems like a great city to live in. It’s surrounded by mountains which means I don’t have to travel far to enjoy nature. In the city center, there are a lot of museums and neoclassical architectures to check out.

The program offers interesting courses such as Chile’s Native Cultures and Latin American Technology & Globalization. Also, I would love to learn more about Pablo Neruda.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Teamwork. Whether it is between departments or within a department, everyone at USAC is always collaborating to improve the way we assist our students.

About USAC

USAC is a non-profit consortium of U.S. universities that collaborates to offer affordable, academic and authentic study abroad programs. There are abundant opportunities to immerse in the culture, history, and academics of other countries providing an unforgettable experience. Each program is designed to help you grow into an engaged citizen of...