A group of students and instructors pose for a photo in front of a traditional Thai building

Thailand: Community and Environmental Health in Chiang Mai

Asia & Oceania

Instructor-Led

Travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to learn about the country’s health infrastructure in addition to social, environmental, and cultural factors affecting care.

This program is administered by the Center for Global Health & Social Responsibility. Applications are processed by the Learning Abroad Center.

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Program Details

Location

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Term

Winter Break

Housing

Hostel

Hotel

Languages Taught In

English

Sponsor

Center for Global Health & Social Responsibility

Program Eligibility

Student Type

UofM Students

Non UofM Students

Student Year

Graduate Students

GPA

No Requirement

Events & Info Sessions

There are currently no events for this program. Explore more events on our events page.

About

Travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to learn about the country’s health infrastructure in addition to social, environmental, and cultural factors affecting care. You will critically examine key public health issues in Thailand, including environmental health, disease spread, and the health of vulnerable populations.

Through lectures, site visits, and interactions with Thai community leaders, this course enables you to think critically about the interaction of the determinants of health and their impact on community and wellbeing.

This interprofessional course is offered by the UofM Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility in partnership with Chiang Mai University.

Program Model

Instructor-Led

Housing & Meals

Stay at the Kokotel Hotel Chiang Mai, which is located within walking distance from the Chiang Mai University campus.

Breakfast is provided at the hotel each morning. Lunches and dinners are provided by the program some days, and other days you are free to have meals out. A stipend will be provided for any meals not provided by the program.

Application Deadline

October 1, 2026

Program Dates

The program dates are December 31, 2026–January 16, 2027.

Program Structure

Program Level

6000 level

Courseload

GHSR 6727 is worth two credits.

Academics

Following this course, you will be able to:

Analyze the structure and functions of the Thai health system and compare and contrast it with other global health systems.
Critically examine key public health issues in Thailand, including environmental health, disease spread, and the health of vulnerable populations.
Apply interdisciplinary concepts to understand complex health challenges across diverse settings.
Explain how the different determinants of health interrelate and manifest in Thai communities.
Demonstrate the value of team-based and interdisciplinary practice by synthesizing and presenting learning from course content, integrating theory, observation, and evidence-informed public health recommendations.

Excursions

You will visit cultural, health, and agricultural sites in Chiang Mai and surrounding areas. Some of the site visits include:

Doi Suthep & Wat Pa Dara Phirom temples
Health Center for Minority Ethnic Groups and Migrant Workers
Ontai Community Farm
Energy Research and Development Institute
Participatory One Health Disease Detection Center

Accessibility

If you have a disability and plan to study abroad, visit our Accessibility Abroad page to learn about considerations, answer questions, and request accommodations before you go abroad.

More Information

Join CGHSR for our upcoming Thailand Information Session on Tuesday, September 15, from 12:00–1:00 p.m. CDT on Zoom. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the course and ask questions. The CGHSR team will discuss the course itinerary, assignments, excursions, and scholarships. Register via Zoom.

For more information, contact Anna Pendleton at [email protected].

Program Fee

Program fees can vary widely due to location, cost of living, airfare, and program inclusions. You must also budget for a flight, visa, passport and passport photos, meals not included, spending money, and miscellaneous living expenses.

Program fee information forthcoming. The final program fee for this course will be posted by September 1, 2026. The fee will differ depending if you are taking the course for credit or non-credit. Estimated 2027 program fee will be between $3,000–$5,500.

Winter Break 2027

Billing & Payments

Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.

Flight & Deposit Advance

The Flight & Deposit Advance (formerly Bridging Loan) is a no-interest/no-fees program that allows you to defer payment of your flight and LAC program deposit until your financial aid is disbursed.

Cancellation Policy

This program follows the Center for Global Health & Social Responsibility cancellation policy.

If you cancel your participation after submitting your confirmation forms, you will be responsible for the following:

65 days or more prior to start date; Application fee + confirmation deposit
64–55 days prior to start date; Application fee + confirmation deposit + 25% of remaining program fee
54–40 days prior to start date; Application fee + confirmation deposit + 50% of remaining program fee
39–31 days prior to start date; Application fee + confirmation deposit + 75% of remaining program fee
30 days or less prior to start date; Application fee + confirmation deposit + 100% of program fee

Upon cancellation at any time, you also forfeit any CGHSR study abroad scholarships.

CGHSR is not responsible for any flight costs or other expenses (i.e. passport, visa, travel clinic) you may incur independently from group arrangements, should you or the University cancel.

If a program is canceled by CGHSR or the University for any reason prior to the program start date, you will receive a full refund including application fee.

Winter Break 2027

Thailand: Community and Environmental Health in Chiang Mai

Program Housing

Program Fee UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit	$400
Tuition and educational costs	$4,670
International health insurance	$51
Housing and/or meals	$429
Transportation (if required and included in program fee)	$0
Total Program Fee	$5,550
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable	$0
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable	$5,550

Estimated Additional Expenses Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program site	$2,500
Passport/photos	$175
Visa/required documents	$0
Travel clinic/immunizations^*	$75
Housing deposit	$0
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure	$2,750
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materials	$0
Housing and/or meals not included in program fee	$250
Essential daily living expenses	$100
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country	$350

Total Estimated Cost of Participation UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation	$8,650
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation	$100
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Thailand: Community and Environmental Health in Chiang Mai - Non credit

Program Housing

Program Fee UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit	$400
Tuition and educational costs	$2,370
International health insurance	$51
Housing and/or meals	$429
Transportation (if required and included in program fee)	$0
Total Program Fee	$3,250
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable	$0
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable	$3,250

Estimated Additional Expenses Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program site	$2,500
Passport/photos	$175
Visa/required documents	$0
Travel clinic/immunizations^*	$75
Housing deposit	$0
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure	$2,750
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materials	$0
Housing and/or meals not included in program fee	$250
Essential daily living expenses	$100
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country	$350

Total Estimated Cost of Participation UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation	$6,350
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation	$100
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Prepare

Complete pre-application advising.

For questions about the credit and non-credit version of the program, reach out to Anna Pendleton [email protected].

Important Note: A passport book is required to travel on this program. If you do not currently have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months past your return date, or are still needing to apply for a new one, start the process as soon as possible. Visit the UofM Passport Office website for more information.

Apply

You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.

Apply Now

Complete

When you submit your online application, you will be assigned an application checklist that includes:

First Step session

Additional Required Application Materials

You will also be required to complete the CGHSR Thailand application forms. For questions about these application forms, contact Anna Pendleton at [email protected].

Next Steps

After you complete all required application checklist items, you will receive an automated email message indicating your application is ready to be reviewed.
Your completed application will be reviewed by the program leader in the sponsoring college/department.
If admitted, the Financial and Program Commitment form will be added to your checklist. Complete this form to secure your spot on the program. By submitting the form, you also give your approval for the program deposit to be billed to your UofM student account.
Complete the confirmation checklist, which include the following items in additional to program-specific forms:
- Passport Information
- Emergency Contacts
- Health Information Form
- Online Health & Safety Orientation
- Release & Waiver
You will receive information about additional steps from the sponsoring college/department.