Job Discussion Forums

jlcozzens · Joined: 11 Nov 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Moving

Hello,
I have been working recently at the university level in China. I will be getting my master�s degree soon and look to teach at university level in Thailand. Could you please tell me when the University/College term starts in Thailand and if many foreigners teach at the College/University level. The reason that I ask is because most schools in China start in August or September, but I know that different countries have different systems and I am interested to know when the school year starts. Thank you for your help.

roguegrafix · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 125

Most universities teach from around the beginning of June to around the end of September and then again from around the beginning of November to around the end of February. There may be a week or two difference. A few universities follow the American year.

Yes, a lot of foreigners teach at universities--it's a sought after job. The money is not that good --ranging between 26,000-35,000 baht on average (although 27,000 baht per month seems to be about the norm) but the conditions are good.

My university helps (financially and physically) with getting work permits. If we're not teaching we don't have to be at work. I'm on 12 hours teaching a week (we're contracted up to 15 but any more than 12 hours and we get an extra 300 baht per hour). The students are very good although the class sizes are sometimes up to 45 (about 30 is the average)--this will vary between universities.

At my university, there is also opportunities to teach private students where the pay is around 600-700 baht per hour.

Private unis pay more but expect more and from what I've heard, the students are not as good (not allowed to fail them I hear).

You will find it hard to make ends meet just on the uni salary--particuarly if you are in Bangkok where prices are high. If you can stand the country side, your 27,000 baht will go a lot further. However, if you're here for the beer and women, you'll probably find yourself tripping into Bangkok or Pattaya etc at the weekends.

Your masters degree MAY give you a higher wage but often it doesn't (I have a master's degree and my wage is still the same as an ordinary degree holder).

Obviously, there are exceptions. I have a mate who's on about 80,000 baht per month at a government university. Good if you can get it.

You will probably need originals of your degrees (since ther seems to be a crackdown on "false" teachers at the moment). Unis will start advertising in about another month or 2 to start in June if they haven't already.

Hope this helps

jlcozzens · Joined: 11 Nov 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Moving

Hello,
Thank you so much for your advice. You clearly know a lot about Universities in Thailand. Could you tell me how Thai students feel about Koreans. I am 1/2 Korean? I am just wondering becasue in China, students were so thrilled about me being 1/2 Korean and 1/2 American, they accpeted much more than other foreingers. Maybe it is the Korean -China relations. I wonder what Thais think of Koreans.

Also, do you know of any sites that list all the universities/colleges/teachers colleges in Thailand.
Thank you,
Joshua

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

roguegrafix · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 125

I'm not too sure about Thai-Korean relationships. A student of mine married one a couple of years ago and my step-daughter loves "Super Junior." I would, however, stress your "Americaness" when applying for jobs--some unis (mine included) will not look at anyone who is not a "native" speaker--that is one of the quirks of the system-- regretably.

tedkarma · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 1:07 am Post subject:

stilloutthere · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 23

Jobs here don't include housing. That will have to come out of your salary. I've heard of schools requiring the employees to pay the fees for work permits. Many schools, including universities, require that you be on campus and in your office for a full work day, whether you have classes or not. Also, many schools give you only two weeks paid vacation per year. So you are expected to come to campus for the day even when the school is closed. You can, I think, take time off without pay. So even if you teach only 15 hours a week, you will spend forty hours at the school. There are no air fare reimbursements or completion bonuses. This is why I"ve changed my mind about teachng here. Of course I am in Chiang Mai, and conditions are different in other areas.

roguegrafix · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 125

Conditions vary from place to place. Some places require you stay the whole working day, others do not. For government universities, I've never heard of a place that doesn't pay you a month bonus (less housing allowance) upon completion of contract but I may be wrong.

tedkarma · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 1:42 am Post subject:

The two previous posts are spot on. Thailand is a tough job market.

A life-long friend is currently visiting here right now and I am recommending that he go to China and just spent his 4-5 months vacation here.

strider42 · Joined: 06 Dec 2009 Posts: 19

to the poster above about someone on 80k a month, that is so much higher than anything else i've heard described. Is this because he has lots of extra qualifications, or what?

sr · Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 62

Jlcozzens,

What country are you getting your masters degree from? If you are getting it from the US/Europe then it is not a problem, but if it is from somewhere else.

If you have an American passport then don�t worry if you say something else they will get confused. They are already confused, and if you say half Korean, half American Oh! Oh!

Everybody is spot on about the money, but some unis will not pay for the work visa/work permit. The last place that I worked at would not pay, so every year I was out that money. Get some experience behind you here in Thailand before jumping to the higher unis say one year, and they jump to the higher uni.