The Erasmus Programme (EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) was created to ease cooperation between European universities and allow for full academic recognition of studies and qualifications throughout the Union. The Programme is named after a 16th century Dutch scholar, Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam. An orphan who received a religious education, Erasmus eventually earned a doctorate in Paris and developed his own unique methods and theories concerning teaching. He continued his work by bequeathing his fortune to the University of Basel as a precursor of mobility grants.

For over 25 years, the Programme has grown and adjusted to the changing needs and demands of the students and EU. Today, the Programme has expanded to 4,000 higher learning institutions, 33 countries with over 2.2 million students participating.

The Programme is still not without controversy and issues. Funding and management has been a problem and a massive overhaul of the Programme was in order. Erasmus for All has replaced the many different programmes to reduce administration costs, duplication and fragmentation. The Programme would be in operation until 2020.

Erasmus for All Programme in Thailand

In Thailand, Erasmus is available in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Students from all subject areas can participate, from art to zoology, biology to psychology. However, not all institutions offer Erasmus for all subjects. Do your research and make sure the institution you want to go to provides your Programme.

Action 1 - Joint Programmes

Under Action 1, Erasmus supports Joint Programmes: Masters Courses (Action 1 A) and Joint Doctorates (Action 1 B). These are operated by consortia of higher education institutions from the EU and elsewhere in the world. They provide an integrated course and joint or multiple diplomas following study or research at two or more higher education institutions.

Erasmus funds scholarships for students and academics studying or teaching on Erasmus Masters Courses. Fellowships are also available for doctoral candidates following one of the Joint doctorates. Scholarships cover participation costs, subsistence costs, and insurance for the duration of the study period. Many students also have the right to a contribution to travel costs.

Action 2 - Partnerships

Partnerships between European and Third Country higher education institutions are available for students (undergraduates to post-docs) and staff (administrative and academic).

Scholarships cover participation costs, subsistence costs, insurance for the duration of the study period, plus a contribution to travel costs.

Who is Eligible?

The Programme is open to higher education institutions and organisation active in the field of higher education and research, as well as to students, doctoral candidates, teachers, researchers and university staff from any part of the world.

Thailand would be considered a "Third country", meaning a country that is not a European Country, but in an agreement between the European Union and the European countries.

How to Apply

Action 1

Select the course that interests you from the program listings for masters or doctoral. Visit the partnership website to see which courses are available in which disciplines.

Action 2

Check the Erasmus partnerships currently open for nationals of your country at the EACEA site's info for Action 2. Visit the partnership website to see which courses are available in which disciplines. Apply direct to the partnership via its website. If you are registered at one of the partner institutions, you should contact your International Office.

Action 3

Proposals are selected through a competitive system based on their quality from the content and organisational points of view. Application must include letters of endorsement from each partner organisation. The endorsement letters demonstrate that the partners are aware of the project's structure, objectives and budget and are committed to actively participate in it. There is no official format for these letters, but the endorsement letter should indicate how the project fits within the strategy of each partner organisation and what will be the added value for the organisation in question to participate to it. They should confirm the partner's agreement with the application as submitted. They are usually signed by the Legal representative of the partner organisation or another appropriate authority that is authorised to represent the organisation in legally binding agreements. The endorsement letters must also indicate the value of the financial contribution that the partner organisation has agreed to make to the project activities. The amount indicated in the endorsement letter is an estimation of the financial contribution made by each partner.

European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) provides uniform credit across different educational institutions. Student workload consists of the time required to complete all planned learning activities such as attending lectures, seminars, independent and private study, preparation of projects, examinations, etc. One credit stands for around 25 to 30 working hours with 60 Credits representing the workload of a year of study (usually 30 Credits per semester and 20 credits per trimester). Those credits allocated to modules and courses can only be obtained after successful completion of the work required and appropriate assessment of the learning outcomes achieved.

To fully understand how the system works, read our article on the ECTS.

Universities in Thailand

Bangkok is widely considered to be an excellent study abroad destination. It received five individual rankings (Chulalongkorn University ; Mahidol University ; Thammasat University ; Kasetsart University ; King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi) in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, led by Chulalongkorn University meaning that Bangkok is one of Southeast's Asia's best education hubs.

The length of course varies depending on the type of degree you choose to study. Typically courses last between three-seven years.

List of colleges and universities in Bangkok:

• Bangkok University: Bangkok's (and indeed Thailand's) oldest and largest private university was established 1962. A private non-profit co-educational institution, it is located in the central business district of Bangkok and has expanded to the Rangsit campus in the Pathumthani province. Specialised courses include Business English, Communication Arts, Computer Graphics and Multimedia Entrepreneurship, International Tourism Management and Marketing.
• Bangkok University International College: BUIC offers seven majors of study, developed into academic departments with renowned faculty from Thailand and abroad: Computer Graphics and Multimedia, International Tourism Management, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Communication Arts and Business English. Caters to multinational students with a multitude of languages.
• Navamindradhiraj University : a public university located in Bangkok. The University focuses on medical science and public services such as medicine. The University currently includes two faculties which are the Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital and the Kuakarun Faculty of Nursing.
• Chulalongkorn University: Admission to Chulalongkorn University is highly competitive. Chulalongkorn University offers more than 450 degree programs covering almost every subject.
  About 6,000 students are admitted each year into about 100 undergraduate programs.
• Kasetsart University (Bangkhen Campus): Located near Phahonyothin Road, Bangkok (approximately 6 kilometers to the south of Don Muang International Airport), Kasetsart University is a university known internationally for academic excellence. The faculties are Agriculture, Agro-Industry, Architecture, Business Administration, Economics, Education, Engineering, Fisheries, Forestry, Humanities, Science, Social Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.
• King Mongkut's Insitute of Technology Ladkrabang, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok King Mongkut's Insitute of Technology Thonburi: Established almost 50 years ago, the Institute has various locations around Bangkok, and greater Bangkok and specialises in engineering, architecture, industrial education, science, agriculture, IT and agro industry. Presently, the college offers international postgraduate programs, including M.Sc. and MBA programs in International Management of Resources and Environment (Double Degree) in collaboration with Technical University of Freiberg, Germany, M.Sc. program in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs in Science and Technology Management.
• Mahachulaongkornrajavidyalaya University: Opened in 1896 and officially becoming a University in 2012, the University aims to provide Tipitaka studies, and higher education, not only for monks and novices, but also for laypeople.
• Mahamakut Buddhist University: one of the two public Buddhist universities in Thailand. The Thai government granted the university a status of public university in 1997, integrating MBU into the Thai higher education system, offering faculties in Religion and Philosophy Faculty, Humanities Faculty, Social Sciences Faculty, and Education Faculty.
• Mahidol University (Phaya Thai Campus): The Faculty of Science was founded as a Premedical School in 1958 and became the Faculty of Science, Mahidol University in 1969. The faculty is located on Rama VI Road, Ratchathewi District. The faculty is responsible for teaching science to all first year undergraduate students and also assists in teaching second year students in the allied health sciences and medicine. The Faculty of Science offers B.Sc. programs in seven subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Mathematics, Plant Science, and Physics.
• Rajamangala University of Technology: specialising in science and technology, the University provides more than 107 courses of undergraduate studies and 13 RMUTT postgraduate degrees. There are 10 faculties and one college in total.

There are also many international universities in Bangkok including:

• Assumption University was the first international university in Thailand and it has three locations in Bangkok - Suvarnabhumi, Hua Mak and the City campus. Specialist fields include Bachelor, Master and PhD degree courses in fields such as business administration (including MBA), management, nursing, law, engineering and music. Both Thai and international students attend the university, although English is the officially language
• Stamford international: Stamford International University opened its first campus in Thailand in 1995, in Hua-Hin. A second campus was opened in Bangkok in 2009. Located along the new Bangkok Airport Link rail line, it is home to an international community of students from 60 countries around the world.

If foreign students wish to register, then they will usually need:

• High School Certificate
• Previous academic records
• Non-immigrant ED visa

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