Thai Studies

Thai studies is an area studies degree that develops your linguistic, cultural, historical, and political understanding of Thailand and its place in Southeast Asia. Thailand is one of the most economically significant and culturally distinctive countries in the region, having undergone radical economic, political, and social transformation over recent decades from a predominantly agricultural economy to a major manufacturing and services hub, while retaining a distinctive cultural and religious identity rooted in Theravada Buddhism and a long monarchical tradition. Understanding Thailand in depth requires engaging with its language, history, religion, society, and political dynamics, as well as its relationships with neighbours and the wider world.

At Leeds, this four-year degree allows you to develop Thai language skills to an advanced level while building the cultural, political, and historical knowledge needed to engage seriously with the country and region. Language study will take you from no prior knowledge to a high level of proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking Thai, which is one of the world's major languages and an important regional business language. Alongside language training, you will study Thailand's political and social transformation, its economic development, its cultural and religious traditions, and its position within the broader framework of Southeast Asian history and politics.

Leeds has a strong tradition of Southeast Asian studies with research-active staff who bring specialist knowledge of the region to their teaching.

Graduates of Thai studies programmes move into careers in business, diplomacy, development, journalism, tourism, and education involving Thailand and Southeast Asia. Thai language skills at an advanced level are genuinely rare among non-native speakers and are highly sought by organisations with significant operations or interests in Thailand. Many graduates work in international business, development organisations, government and diplomatic services, or the media, while others pursue careers in education or go on to postgraduate study in Southeast Asian studies, international relations, or linguistics.