One of the best things about Mahidol University International College (MUIC) is its international education seen in its international ranking, use of English as the medium of instruction, presence of numerous foreign faculty members, and, last but not the least, an active exchange studies program. Every year, at least 300 students from MUIC’s 105 partner universities come to study on campus, bringing and sharing their culture and knowledge with their new classmates at MUIC. Conversely, hundreds of MUIC students go abroad as exchange students.
What’s so special about going abroad on the exchange program to study for a semester or two? We’ve asked Asst. Prof. Dale Alan Konstanz, Associate Dean for International Affairs, for the benefits and advantages that an MUIC student gains when he or she studies abroad.
And here are his answers:
- Personal Development and Life Experience
- Build self-confidence, develop adaptability and resilience
- Have the opportunity to spend an extended time abroad to truly get to know another place and culture. It is an opportunity to grow, develop new life skills and open your mind and heart to others and other ways of living and thinking.
- Explore different activities and find new interests (discover new niche areas of study, as well as hobbies and forms of entertainment – theater, film, museums, dance, music genres, games, sports activities, etc.)
- Help Achieve Academic and Professional Goals
- Giving you an edge in applying to graduate schools and jobs
- Take courses and engage in research in a new environment—taught and overlooked by faculty who may have a different approach of teaching methods; also take courses that may not be offered at home campus using i-Design credits, and learn another language if you want or if you are studying a language at MUIC.
- Learn about your discipline in a different context for the sake of development or as a way to compare. For example, how are business practices or science laboratory procedures carried out in other cultures?
- Graduate schools and employers often seek candidates who have international experience abroad, especially international programs and companies.
- Become a Truly Global Citizen
- Learn to work together with others from diverse backgrounds and with different perspectives, make friends with people from other countries, engage in cultural activities different from what you may have been previously exposed to.
- In a world that sometimes seems to be moving towards more nationalism with a fear of “the other,” it is more important than ever that we learn to live together and accept, and hopefully even appreciate, the uniqueness of others and the diversity in the world.
- Getting out into the world to see what is really going on, often in a more positive light, which may look different than what we may have heard, read, or seen in the media.
Now that’s quite a lot of benefits that one can enjoy by joining the student exchange program. Considering the numerous advantages mentioned above, wouldn’t you want to be an (outbound) exchange student?
Good News for MUIC Students Planning to Go on Exchange Studies!
- Studying as an exchange student involves paying the same tuition as MUIC (not the partner’s tuition rate)
- There are competitive scholarships that students can apply for (Young Ambassador scholarships from MUIC, government scholarships and scholarships from abroad).
- Students can receive credits on exchange that are transferrable back to MUIC, counting toward their degree at MUIC.
Lots of Exchange Partners to Choose From!
MUIC currently has 105 Exchange Partners with which it has official MoU agreements. We have partner universities around the world, including several in the US, UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, as well as throughout much of Asia, including Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Singapore. We even have a partner in Africa and a few in Latin America (Mexico and Argentina).
We are always developing new partnerships, especially those with higher rankings and those that fit well with the disciplines offered at MUIC. Some of our exciting new partners include:
Maastricht University (Netherlands); University of Antwerp (Belgium); Florida State University (USA); University of Montreal (Canada); Dongguk University, Wise Campus (South Korea); Stuttgart Media University (Germany); Comillas Universidad Pontificia, ICADE, AACSB Accredited (Spain); SciencesPo (France); Southern Cross University (Australia); University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa)
For more information about exchange opportunities as an MUIC student:
- Please join the Office of International Affairs’ IG page (muic.abroad).
- Take a look on the MUIC website (https://muic.mahidol.ac.th/eng/study-abroad/outbound-exchange/).
- Students are also welcome to consult with our outbound team in the Office of International Affairs (A244B Aditayathorn Building) for more information, but we appreciate it if you can make an appointment first.
(Outbound exchange photo credits: Ms. Saranya Honghimaphan & Ms. Anna Isabelle Amurao)
