Intensive Thai at Chulalongkorn University Review 2026

School: Center for Thai as a Foreign Language, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
Website: Chula.ac.th
Address: Faculty of Arts at the Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok
Telephone Number: 02-218-4924

Location: Take the BTS to the Siam Station or the MRT to the Sam Yan Station.

Throughout my time in Thailand, I’ve tried a number of different Thai classes, private teachers, and self-studying. However, one major hurdle for me was always that I simply wasn’t diligent enough to progress anywhere near the rate of advancement I was hoping for. Thus, I decided to take some time off from work (and having free time), to take the most intensive, demanding, and unforgiving Thai class I could possibly find. And boy did I get what I asked for.

Below you’ll find my review of the Intensive Thai Class offered by Chulalongkorn University, which I attended for a beginner 2 class and an intermediate 6 class.

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The School

Intensive Thai is offered by the Faculty of Arts at the Chulalongkorn University. The university is easy to reach by BTS (Siam) and MRT (Sam Yan).

Teachers

Chula prides itself on being an academic institution and thus tends to have a more academic focus in their contents. This means all the teachers have majored in linguistics or a related subject.

Schedule

A class consists of 30 sessions, taught either entirely in the morning (9 am to 12 pm) or in the afternoon (1 pm to 4 pm), Mondays to Fridays, over roughly six weeks.

New classes start several times a year and are on a fixed schedule. You might need to wait several weeks until a class for your Thai level becomes available.

For people who’ve already studied some Thai, in order to cut down on possible waiting time, check to see if there’s the option to start at a slightly more advanced level.

Contents

The very first level uses a phonetic system and not the Thai alphabet. While the beginner 2 class focuses on teaching students how to read and write Thai, build up general vocabulary, and learn basic grammar.

Regular dictation sessions make sure you review new vocabulary.

The more advanced class focuses on teaching how to read newspapers. Contents range from crime reports, religious events, and entertainment news to politics and economics. Aside from reading newspaper articles in class (and studying the vocab as homework), students also give presentations. The presentations consist of students presenting a news piece of their choosing (from a Thai newspaper or news website), in front of the class, all in Thai.

The original lesson plan for the most advanced classes (Intensive 7 to Intensive 9) focuses on language, culture, and society.

At the time of this writing, there are plans to have at least one class focused on ‘Thai for business’. Personally, I prefer a more pragmatic and business-related class (especially in the advanced levels). However, if your study focus is on linguistics or culture-related topics, this class would be a perfect fit. Expect a fair share of Buddhism-related vocabulary.

Language Levels and Course Structure

The first time I took the class, they still had their old system of Beginner 1 to 3, followed by Intermediate 4 to 6, and finally Advanced 7 to 9. Beginner 1 doesn’t include Thai writing and uses a phonetic script to teach language basics. Actual Thai writing is taught within Beginner 2.

The three upper levels (advanced classes) aren’t required to be taken in any specific order. Each only has intermediate 6 as a requirement.

Intensive Thai at Chula: Levels, Hours, and Fees (2026)

The Center for Thai as a Foreign Language (CTFL) splits Intensive Thai into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. Each level has three separate six-week courses. Classes run Monday to Friday for three hours a day, plus a weekly afternoon session of language and cultural training. Expect roughly 100 hours per course.

CTFL lists tuition at THB29,500 per six-week on-site course. Online options cost THB23,000 with an e-book, or THB23,500 with a physical book. Course materials are included. New courses start every odd month. Advanced students can join at course 7, 8, or 9 instead of starting from the beginning. Check the CTFL Intensive Thai Program page for the latest fee schedule.

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Does Chula’s Intensive Thai Program Support an ED Visa?

CTFL provides ED (education) visa support, but only for students taking the on-site Intensive Thai course. Online students do not qualify. The center issues a letter of admission for your visa application. It does not issue any other supporting documents.

Processing takes at least 45 business days, so contact CTFL well ahead of your start date. Your current visa must remain valid for at least one month from the day you contact the school. The admission letter is only valid at the Changwattana Bangkok Immigration Office. Check our Thailand Education (ED) Visa guide for the full process, and the CTFL visa page for the school’s requirements.

Placement and Advancement

You can either start at Thai 1 or take a placement test to qualify for a higher level. At the end of each level, there is an exam. If you pass it successfully, you also qualify for the next level. I haven’t heard of anyone who was interested in continuing their studies failing the exam.

Grading is a bit confusing with attendance and other factors playing a role, so I suspect they tend to pass people as long as an effort has been made.

Class Size and Composition

A class is usually about 10 people in size. Basic classes might be a little bigger with a very diverse crowd of people in terms of nationality and age. The more advanced classes tend to be smaller and younger with often half of the participants being Japanese.

Chula Intensive Thai: Overview

Pros:

• It’s intensive. I haven’t seen another method to advance this fast in Thai. The workload is so massive that you’re forced to study hard (or drop out).
• You receive a certificate from a well-known institution. Chulalongkorn University has offered this class for close to three decades and itself has a very good reputation in Thailand. You’ll receive a certificate for completing the 3rd, the 6th, and the 9th level of the language class. Please note that the last one requires you to take levels 7 and 8 as well in order to qualify for the certificate.
• It’s fast. If you aren’t long-term in the country, this is a way to quickly gain Thai language skills. A single class takes no longer than six weeks.

Cons:

• Intensive works both ways. Totalling up classes, studying, homework, and excluding your commute, calculate about 30 hours per week.
• Considering the price and the reputation of the university, the scripts and handouts are not up to par in quality with what you’d expect. However, compared to what I’ve seen at other schools in Thailand, the overall standards don’t seem to be that high either. So, relatively speaking, Chula’s materials would qualify as ‘decent’.
• Quality of grammar teaching is somewhat lacking, but again, this is something that’s shared with other schools in Thailand. My personal recommendation would be to pick up Thai Reference Grammar by James Higbie. It blows any self-made publication by this and any other language school out of the water.
• It’s an institution, so flexibility and service is somewhat limited. For example, placement tests are often offered only once a month on a single morning. Also, there’s no soap in any of the bathrooms (eww…).
• According to a friend of mine, in his experience, a lot of Thai language schools tend to help you out with the paperwork for getting an education visa. You do qualify for an education visa with a Chula class, and the school will issue a letter of admission for the application, but only if you’re enrolled in the on-site course rather than one of the online options.
• Expenses: THB 29,500 per six-week course, which comes down to a little more than THB 300 per hour. If you take all classes from start to finish, you’ll spend THB 265,500 for a one-year course in tuition alone. For many Europeans, it might be cheaper to live and study the Thai language back home without tuition fees.

Should I Study Thai at Chulalongkorn University?

If you asked me to describe this class in one word, it would be ‘intensive’. With few exceptions, everyone who studies here, does so full-time during the course.

With three hours of daily classes Monday to Friday and a similar amount of hours for review of vocabulary, homework, preparations and mandatory extra-curricular activities, it doesn’t leave much time for a full-time job.

On the plus side, it yields corresponding results. Reading the newspaper is something that’s taught in an ‘intermediate’ class. Within a year, you can reach a level at which point you can write speeches in Thai.

In the past, the final exam of the last course was to write an eight-page essay in Thai. Language-buffs aside, the people I met at these classes were some of the most fluent I encountered during my years in Thailand.

To put it simply, if you want to become fluent in Thai quickly and have time to study Thai 3 hours a day during weekdays, this intensive Thai class by Chulalongkorn University is one of the best classes I have found on the market at the moment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are frequently asked questions about studying Intensive Thai at Chulalongkorn University.

How much does the Intensive Thai course at Chulalongkorn University cost?

Each six-week course costs THB29,500, a little more than THB300 per hour. Completing all levels over roughly a year runs about THB265,500 in tuition alone.

How long is each course, and what’s the weekly schedule?

A course runs 30 sessions over about six weeks, held Monday to Friday either in the morning (9am to noon) or the afternoon (1pm to 4pm). Between class, homework, and review, expect around 30 hours of work per week.

What levels does the Intensive Thai program cover?

It runs Beginner 1 to 3, Intermediate 4 to 6, and Advanced 7 to 9. Certificates are awarded at the end of levels 3, 6, and 9, though the level 9 certificate requires completing levels 7 and 8 as well.

Is this course suitable for complete beginners?

Yes. Beginner 1 starts with a phonetic script rather than the Thai alphabet, and Thai writing is introduced in Beginner 2. Students who already know some Thai can take a placement test to start higher.

Does this course qualify for a Thai education visa?

Yes, students qualify for an education visa through a Chula Intensive Thai class. The school issues a letter of admission for the visa application, but only for students enrolled in the on-site course, not the online options.

How do I enroll, and when do new classes start?

New classes start several times a year on a fixed schedule, and popular levels can have a waiting list of several weeks. Placement tests for students who already know some Thai are typically offered once a month.

How big are the classes?

A typical class has about 10 students. Beginner classes tend to be larger and more mixed in nationality and age, while advanced classes are smaller.

How much does Intensive Thai at Chula cost?

CTFL lists tuition at THB29,500 per six-week, on-site course. Online options run THB23,000 to THB23,500. Since the program has nine courses across Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels, completing the whole curriculum on-site costs roughly THB265,500. Confirm the current rate on the official CTFL fee page before enrolling.

Does the Chula Thai program give an ED visa?

Yes, but only for students in the on-site Intensive Thai course. CTFL issues a letter of admission for the ED visa application. Processing takes at least 45 business days. The letter is valid only at the Changwattana Bangkok Immigration Office.

How long is the program?

Each course runs six weeks, Monday through Friday, three hours a day, plus a weekly cultural-training session. The full program spans nine courses across three levels, so completing all nine back-to-back takes roughly a year and a half.

Do I need to know Thai before I start?

No. Beginner 1 starts from phonetic transcription with no Thai script required. Beginner 2 introduces the Thai alphabet. Applicants with prior Thai knowledge can request a placement test to skip ahead, though CTFL only offers these tests to registered and paid students.

When can I start the course?

New courses start every odd month: January, March, May, July, September, and November. Advanced students can join at course 7, 8, or 9 without completing the earlier levels.

Is there an online option?

Yes. CTFL offers the same Intensive Thai curriculum online, with materials delivered as an e-book (THB23,000) or a physical book (THB23,500). Online enrollment does not qualify for ED visa support.

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