Testimonials
Exchange Reports

Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand

Prince of Songkla University, spring 2008:

Anu, Kuopio University, Finland

”Just when I needed it, an Asia Exchange flyer advertising study programs in Phuket appeared on my university’s bulletin board. The program was open to people of all ages, so I decided to go for it. I got my initial letter of acceptance almost immediately and was able to apply for a scholarship and make a financing plan. I got my official Prince of Songkla University acceptance letter from AE in good time and I used it to apply for a student visa to Thailand. All the preparations were easy and my home university’s international office was very flexible with my plans and encouraged me to go.”

”...The next morning was sunny. As I plopped myself onto a beach chair after swimming in the warm ocean I decided yes. Yes, this decision does make sense. The scholarship that I received from the university made it possible for me to come here and it was really worth it. Thai people are extremely friendly and helpful, the culture and the surroundings are different and exotic. I would recommend it to everyone.”

”One of the lecturers was English, so following the teaching in his class was very easy. The lecturer had years of experience in his field and the teaching was both inspiring and diverse. The lecturer’s enthusiasm for his course and his aspiration for making us understand the numbers and their meanings really opened up a whole new world of meaning for me.”

Kasetsart University (Bangkok, Thailand)

Final reports

Tuomas (Autumn 2008): "The Final report of studies abroad"
"Why should you study abroad in Thailand?" (A summary by Henna, Bangkok study program, spring 2009)

We add new exchange reports to our website constantly. Don´t forget to read the blogs written by the students on our website!

Comments from exchange students in Thailand

In General

”I am very pleased with my study period in Bangkok. The experience was very enlightening and I was left with mainly positive memories. The Thai culture and the pleasant climate in South-East Asia offer a nice study environment.”

”Thailand is one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations and I can see why. Glorious nature with rainforests, mountains and excellent opportunities for diving not to mention the beach life and culture will make anyone who’s been there want to go back.”

“Personally, I feel that Thailand is a great country for going on exchange. You’ll never have to suffer from the cold (except maybe in the air-conditioned shopping centers) and pretty much everything is a lot cheaper than in Europe.”

”Asia is an excellent exchange location and it will remain one of the best experiences of my life.”

”Bangkok, where I spent most of my time, is impossible to describe in only a few words. The city is a combination of poverty and luxury and as a whole it is one of the most amazing cities in the world.”

”Studying abroad in Thailand was an awesome experience. In a few months that nest of heat, fieriness, traffic jams and tranquility started to feel like a second home country.”

“With the right attitude Bangkok can be more fun than any other place. After returning from Asia, partying back home doesn’t even begin to compare with partying in Bangkok. It’s nearly impossible to attempt to describe the vibe on paper, so all I can say is go see it for yourself.”

”Writing this report in the middle of the Finnish winter brings back all the memories from last autumn. I can say that as a whole, the autumn I spent in Thailand was the best time of my life. I strongly recommend it.”

"After spending three months in Phuket I have to admit that cliché or not, going on exchange really has been the best experience of my life. The exchange has enriched my studies, because it developed my abilities of studying in a multi-cultural environment and expanded my knowledge of Asian economy, business life and culture. Some of the best things about the courses were the visits arranged by the university to extravagant hotels in Phuket as well as the real-life examples of doing business in Asia used by teachers. Also, another unforgettable experience was a visit arranged by our business teacher Ms. Mary to the Sea gypsy village, which was severely damaged by the tsunami, and playing with the children there.”

”Above all, the study abroad period gave me confidence in my own abilities of coping in a completely different country and culture. The study abroad program proved that it’s possible to take care of things and get through different situations despite language barriers, different customs and different definitions of time.”

“I can say from personal experience that the friendly and upbeat attitude the Thai people have towards life will capture the heart of everyone who sets foot in the country."

Studying

"Studying in Thailand is clearly different than studying in Sweden, because instead of crowded lecture halls, classes are held in small classrooms and the teachers expect interaction with the students. Especially the International Business course, which was taught by an American woman, and International Finance, which was taught by a Thai man, were very useful.”

"International finance was by far the best course I took. The course emphasized monetary and financial politics as well as currency derivative markets. The focus was on using theoretical models in practice and how financial specialists who know the movements of the currency market and are able to anticipate its movements can make a lot of money or otherwise benefit themselves or their employers."

“The university requires a school uniform, which seemed a bit strange at first. However, it doesn’t take long to get used to it. The courses are different from the courses at my home university, because there are fewer students and the teaching methods are different than just sitting and listening passively. The teaching reminds me of high school where students are expected to participate actively."

Free time activities

”Just like other large cities, Bangkok offers many different kinds of free time activities. The nightlife is quite lively compared to my home city and it offers something for everyone. Athletes can take advantage of the numerous golf courses, bowling alleys, martial arts lessons and gyms. There’s even a miniature hockey league with amateur players from Europe and America. You can see the latest movies at an affordable price and huge concerts are also arranged in the city.”

”Our favourite hobby was hanging out at local venues. We also went bowling, watched movies, played pool, went go-karting and one of us even went ice skating. The prices were very nice for poor students with thin wallets.”

”Bangkok offers free time activities beyond compare. For example, Siam Square has several shopping centers which have everything from ice skating rinks to amusement parks. There are unlimited possibilities for enjoying nightlife and dining out. You can find many different kinds of cuisines from all over the world in Bangkok. The abundant choices and affordable prices are a great combination which should be taken advantage of.”

Price-level

”Bangkok’s price-level was very easy on a student’s wallet, not only because you save money but also because you get a lot more for your money. The biggest price differences compared to Europe can be found in the services, for example, a haircut in Thailand only costs a few euros.”

”Bowling cost a few euros per hour, pool 0.50 € a game, movie tickets cost two euros and for twenty euros you could drive go-karts until your head was spinning.”

”If I were to estimate an average room rate, I would say it was around 4 – 8 euros per night for a twin room at almost all the locations.”

”Because the price-level is so ridiculously low compared to Western countries, after buying a plane ticket, traveling in Thailand seems almost free.”

”Culinary experiences are easy on the wallet, because eating out is very affordable all over South-East Asia. Even more unique foods cost next to nothing. For example, shark steak cost only 4 euros. You can conclude from that just how little basic food will cost.”

People

”The people are very open, polite, tolerant and considerate.”

”Near the popular tourist destinations almost everyone spoke fluent English (some of the people advertising dressmakers even spoke my own language), so it’s a cinch to take care of everyday errands.”

”Even though the rhythm of life and surroundings are so different from ours, people are quite the same on both sides of the world. Despite the fact that Western culture and way of life is slowly spreading towards Asia, it’s wonderful to notice that in the lives of the local people, both old and young, old values and traditions often come first.”

Traveling

”Bangkok is a very good destination for traveling, because it is one of the centers of South-East Asia and it has good travel connections all over South-East Asia. The city is the center for Thailand’s internal transportation and also trips over the border often start from Bangkok.”

”There are plenty of travel locations to choose from in South-East Asia; big cities, paradises, natural wonders, cultural attractions and so much more. There are numerous choices of locations. Our group visited the islands of Tao, Pha-Ngan, Samui, Lanta, Phi Phi, Phuket and we travelled around Krabi in one trip. All I can say is that all these beach destinations are indescribable paradises!”