Information search & application process
When I started thinking about where to go for the semester abroad, I asked how I could get information and who could best help organize the semester. At the TU Dortmund I went to an information event organized by MicroEDU and listened to the various options. When choosing the place of study, I went according to where my subject is offered (business administration), which reputation the universities have, how high the tuition fees are and, above all, from when to when the actual semester runs. This information is particularly important as the semester times can overlap somewhat with the exam phase. At the CMMU, the actual semester started quite late compared to other universities (it is actually only a trimester), so it went from the beginning of September to the middle / end of December. Some exams were still written around Christmas, but most of them were finished earlier. Visit ehuacom.com to get information about 10 best countries to study in 2020.
The application process was pretty easy, but it does take some time. All you have to do is fill in the forms that can be found on the MicroEDU homepage. For this I also looked through the courses at the CMMU online (for the same semester the year before) in order to make a selection. However, this list for the application form is not binding and you must always take into account that a course may not be offered or that it may overlap with others. The probability of being accepted at the university, if you meet the formal requirements, is very, very high – so you don’t have to worry that the acceptance will be so long in coming! With the confirmation you can then apply for the visa directly – food was offered for me and it went super quickly. The best is the Multiple Entry Visa for 150 € (valid for 1 year), which is only issued in Germany (Sorry Switzerland). You will definitely be traveling around! Bangkok is the perfect base to get around. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Laos. . . to travel around. This is definitely a MUST DO!
The closer the semester came, the more e-mails came from the supervisor at the university in Bangkok with instructions on how to register online. It was particularly helpful that we already had a Facebook group with all exchange students at the time, as the technology was not yet working properly at the time of registration. Our contact person at the university was able to answer every question immediately via Facebook! It is advisable to register very early after the activation, as the courses fill up quickly.
The first day at CMMU was very pleasant, as the staff had prepared a short orientation week for us and every exchange student got a buddy by their side. In addition to an introduction to the university, there were also many helpful tips about Thai culture, which is confusing or special if you don’t understand it yet. For example, it is extremely important for Thais to save face, so they will not answer with a no or say that they did not understand something. But after a while you can see the different facial expressions and answers to be classified. In the beginning, our buddies also helped us a lot to get along or offered to go out to eat together. You can also come into contact with the other Thai students after a while and learn more about them while eating (rather not with beer, as most of them rarely go out).
At the university I then decided on four courses, all of which I was able to credit: Creative Leadership, Strategic Leadership, Organizational Behavior and Cross-Cultural Management. Creative leadership was a bit unusual in terms of the teaching methods, as we, for example, went to a hounting house or walked around with self-made masks. Overall, it was about the personal “Genius Journey” in order to fully exploit the creative potential (takes getting used to – however, this course is no longer offered because the professor has left the university).
Strategic Leadership and Organizational Behavior were very similar in terms of content, which is why it became quite monotonous towards the end. The two courses were supervised by the same professor, who also likes to overdraw. A lot of group work, presentations and reports were expected, but the exam at the end of the semester doesn’t count that much anymore. I personally found the group work with the Thai students very educational and interesting as it is the best way to get in closer contact. However, it is not always that easy, since almost all Thais work full-time alongside university. The peculiarities of the culture are particularly noticeable in group work: Thais avoid any kind of conflict if possible, they do not express their own opinion directly and are generally rather shy. It is therefore helpful to often ask for their opinion directly and also to wait and see what comes from their side. As a German, you should try to take yourself back a little and not rush forward with your proposed solutions, as this can also be intimidating. I can only recommend the course Cross-Cultural Management with Prof. Kainzbauer! The main focus here was on the various cultural behaviors in Asian countries, but also in Germany and the USA. The workload for this course was manageable, but at the same time very interesting. At the beginning we created a photo journal to analyze typical Thai situations and to explain more about the culture. Then, as a big project, it was about interviews with people who come from other Asian countries and work in Thailand or vice versa in order to compare the two cultures. The grading in this course was very good!
In general, for the courses at the CMMU, I would say that they take a lot of time, because you have a lot of duties and attendance is mandatory. However, the level is not very demanding, so it is relatively easy to get good grades.
When looking for a place to live, I can only recommend searching on site first. On the one hand, you have a better impression of the surroundings and, on the other hand, you can also look at the rooms beforehand. The CMMU building is still quite centrally located, but can only be reached by taxi or a shuttle bus from the Victory Monument. Therefore, I find the “ASPACE” Condomonium or the “CASA CONDO” particularly recommendable, because both are not far from the university. In addition, these condos also offer a swimming pool and fitness studio. The rent for a 1-room apartment is on average around € 300 in these residences. Those who prefer to have a little more party at home should move into the CAPRI COURT.
Leisure
Bangkok never sleeps! So really never! In addition to the classic sights, it is also worth visiting the various areas to simply browse around. For example through China Town, Sukhumvit or Thong lo to look at all the street stalls and different markets. The Chatuchak Market should definitely not be missed, as well as the JJ Green Market right next door.
Since the university is only open in the evening from 6 to 9, there is enough time for long party nights, e. g. in Sukhumvit Soi 11 or RCA Street. You can of course visit Khao San Road, but it is very touristy! Since the clubs usually open around 3, you should definitely check out the after clubs, such as Sugar.
On the days off, (2) day trips to Ayutthaya, Phetchaburi, Kanchanaburi or the Erawan National Park are particularly worthwhile.
My conclusion after 5 unforgettable months in beautiful Thailand: Go there if you have the chance! It’s worth it and will be an unforgettable experience!
