Admission

What does the semester calendar of Chiang Mai University look like?
 • Semester 1 runs from mid-June to early November.
 • Semester 2 spans from mid-November to March.

There are two channels for application submission
Channel 1: "CMU-IPAS"
 • This channel is for all candidates. The process involves taking CMU’s in-house examinations (which can be substituted by international examination results) and attending an interview conducted by the programme’s recruitment committee.
(Click here for Chiang Mai University’s IPAS Admission page.)

Channel 2: “TCAS”
 • This channel is for applicants from schools in Thailand who have a strong portfolio or national A-Level scores.
(Click here for Chiang Mai University’s TCAS Admission page.)

Application periods for IPAS and TCAS admission channels
IPAS Admission: Three rounds of admission:
 • IPAS 1: 4 November 2025 to 17 December 2025
 • IPAS 2: 11 February 2026 to 11 March 2026
 • IPAS 3: 1 May 2026 to 5 May 2026.*
*Please note that IPAS 3 is only for Thai nationals and foreign nationals who already hold a Non-Immigrant ED VISA.

TCAS Admission: Three rounds of admission:
 • TCAS 1: 4 November 2025 to 13 November 2025
 • TCAS 2: 17 February 2026 to 26 February 2026
 • TCAS 3: 6 May 2026 to 12 May 2026

General Qualifications
● Applicants must have completed or be in their final year of school. Please note that the definition of "the last year of school" varies across countries; applicants should verify which qualifications are acceptable by Chiang Mai University. Refer to the official admission announcement of CMU for specific details regarding recognised high school qualifications (or click here for the announcement).
● Applicants who have completed non-formal education must prepare a diploma certified by an accepted agency. Chiang Mai University accepts certifications from GED and Kor Sor Nor/Sor Kor Ror (issued by Thailand’s Office of Non-Formal and Informal Education).
● Applicants currently studying or who have completed a degree programme at other universities must prepare the latest transcript and/or diploma for their application.

Tracks for IPAS admission: Which one should I apply for?
In all three rounds of IPAS admission, there are two tracks: the Regular Track and the Special Track. Applicants can choose the appropriate track based on their qualifications and circumstances. The procedures and requirements for each are as follows:

Regular Track
Who is this track for?
● For all applicants and nationalities.
● If you hold one of the listed English proficiency results below, you do not have to apply to take an additional CMU English examination. If not, you must take the CMU English examination to demonstrate your English proficiency. An exemption is available for applicants who are citizens of countries with English as an official and primary language (see the list of countries in this link). Accepted English proficiency results include:
    ◦ CMU TEGS no less than 67
    ◦ CU-TEP no less than 73
    ◦ TU-GET no less than 370 (PBT) or 57 (CBT) with no less than 15 in writing
    ◦ IELTS no less than 5.5 with the written part no less than 5.5
    ◦ TOEFL no less than 55 (iBT) with no less than 18 in writing; or 540 (ITP/PBT) with no less than 55 in writing; or 175 with no less than 21 in writing (CBT)
    ◦ Duolingo (DET) no less than 95 with no less than 95 in production

Documents needed for the Regular Track include:
● A portfolio, which must include:
   A) Applicant’s resume, highlighting involvement in humanistic or cultural activities such as filmmaking, creative writing, public writing, speech contests, language teaching, cultural development, exchange programmes, community empowerment, etc.
   B) An essay of no more than 700 words addressing:
        1) Your upbringing: how your growing-up experience has shaped who you are.
        2) A societal issue: one problem in your society that, in your view, cannot be solved by science and technology alone but requires a humanistic perspective.

Special Track
Who is this track for?
● For all applicants and nationalities with standardised aptitude test results: ACT or SAT as specified below:
    ◦ ACT exam score: a minimum of 34 in combined English and Reading parts.
    ◦ SAT exam score: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing with a minimum score of 480.
● For all applicants who hold English proficiency results from one of the tests listed below
    ◦ CMU TEGS no less than 67
    ◦ CU-TEP no less than 73
    ◦ TU-GET no less than 370 (PBT) or 57 (CBT) with no less than 15 in writing
    ◦ IELTS no less than 5.5 with the written part no less than 5.5
    ◦ TOEFL no less than 55 (iBT) with no less than 18 in writing; or 540 (ITP/PBT) with no less than 55 in writing; or 175 with no less than 21 in writing (CBT)
    ◦ Duolingo (DET) no less than 95 with no less than 95 in production
● Applicants in the Special Track will be fast-tracked to the interview round.

Documents needed for the Special Track include:
● A portfolio, which must include:
   1) Applicant’s resume, highlighting involvement in humanistic or cultural activities such as filmmaking, creative writing, public writing, speech contests, language teaching, cultural development, exchange programmes, community empowerment, etc.
   2) An essay of no more than 700 words addressing:
        A) Your upbringing: how your growing-up experience has shaped who you are.
        B) A societal issue: one problem in your society that, in your view, cannot be solved by science and technology alone but requires a humanistic perspective.
● English proficiency result from one of the test listed above


Where do I apply for IPAS?
CMU IPAS application website: https://admission.reg.cmu.ac.th/
 

channels-02-2-desc

General requirements
● Applicants must have completed or be studying in the last year of high school in Thailand.
● Applicants must have completed an educational system recognised by Chiang Mai University (or click here for the announcement).
● Applicants must hold the result of an English language test (for applying in TCAS 1 only).
● Applicants for TCAS 2 and TCAS 3 must submit the national A-Level scores.


TCAS 1 (Portfolio)
Applicants are required to submit a portfolio containing:
● English proficiency result from one of the specified tests.
   ◦ CMU TEGS no less than 67
   ◦ CU-TEP no less than 73
   ◦ TU-GET no less than 370 (PBT) or 57 (CBT) with no less than 15 in writing
   ◦ IELTS no less than 5.5 with the written part no less than 5.5
   ◦ TOEFL no less than 55 (iBT) with no less than 18 in writing; or 540 (ITP/PBT) with no less than 55 in writing; or 175 with no less than 21 in writing (CBT)
   ◦ Duolingo (DET) no less than 95 with no less than 95 in production
● A portfolio, which must include:
   ◦ Applicant’s resume, highlighting involvement in humanistic or cultural activities such as filmmaking, creative writing, public writing, speech contests, language teaching, cultural development, exchange programmes, community empowerment, etc.
   ◦ An essay of no more than 700 words addressing:
      1) Your upbringing: how your growing-up experience has shaped who you are.
      2) A societal issue: one problem in your society that, in your view, cannot be solved by science and technology alone but requires a humanistic perspective.


TCAS 2 (Northern Region Quota)
Qualifications:
● Applicants must be studying in a school in the northern region of Thailand.
● Applicants must submit the following A-Level scores:
   ◦ English (82), minimum 57: [weight: 80%]
   ◦ Social Studies (70): [weight: 17%]
   ◦ Applied Math 2 (62): [weight: 1%]
   ◦ Applied Sciences (63): [weight: 1%]
   ◦ Thai language (81): [weight: 1%]


TCAS 3 Admission
● Applicants must submit the following A-Level scores:
   ◦ English (82): minimum 57 [weight: 85%]
   ◦ Social Studies (70): [weight: 15%]