During your year in Thailand, you will live with a host family and attend a local high school.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Fall Year | Late June | Late April | $14,095 |
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Thai high school or Placement with Non-Government Organization for Volunteer Program
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU Thailand Area Representative while on program
- Comprehensive insurance
Thai schools can be quite large, sometimes with up to 2500 students and up to 50 students in a class. You will attend a local Thai school, where you will be placed in grades 10, 11, or 12 depending on the school. Required classes include Thai language, social studies, and physical education, but you’ll work with your school counselor to select classes that will be best for you. As an exchange student, you will have many elective subjects to choose from such as English, history, Thai music, Thai dancing, Thai cooking, arts and crafts, artificial flower making, sword fighting, Muay Thai (Thai boxing), religion, meditation, and many others depending on the school. In English class, you will likely be considered a guest speaker and asked to assist the teacher. The school week is Monday through Friday and classes are typically around 50 minutes long held from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm with a daily morning assembly and some free periods throughout the week. Dress codes can be strict, with rules on hairstyles and jewelry. Thai students are also required to wear uniforms at school, so students may either have a uniform that is provided by their host family, or students will have to purchase them on their own, and the family will help to find the proper uniform for you.
Students will begin their program with a four-day orientation in Bangkok. There will also be a 3-4 day mid-year orientation in October. Students will reflect upon their exchange year with a re-entry orientation for 4-5 days shortly before the end of their program. All orientation costs are included in program tuition.
YFU students are encouraged to get involved in their communities by joining academic, sports, or recreational clubs that meet during and after school.
Year program students will also usually have the option of participating in a number of educational trips and excursions during their stay, at an additional cost.
Week Exchange Program: In previous years, students have had the opportunity to do a short exchange while participating in their program. During this week students will be able to experience a new community within Thailand and live with a different host family. This exciting week exchange allows students to discover cultural differences between families and see more of the beautiful country!
- 2025 Fall Departures: Students born May 31, 2007 – June 29, 2010
- Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate from high school before the start of the 2025 Fall Year program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
Thai. Previous language study is not required. Students will receive an introduction to Thai language during their post-arrival orientation. Further language training is arranged by individual host schools. The Gap Year Volunteer Program includes a 30-hour Thai language course during the first 3 months.
Placement can be in urban, suburban, small-town, or rural environments. Students applying for the Gap Year Volunteer Program may be placed with either a host family or may stay at work site accommodations, such as a dormitory, guest house, service apartment, or others that may be provided by the work site.
