Global Explorer Scholarship 2026

The Global Explorer Scholarship is intended for applicants with strong motivation to improve their international competencies or English language skills. The Scholarship recipient must be able to represent the University as a global ambassador at an overseas institution in order to contribute to global visibility and recognition. The Scholarship recipient shall also initiate projects to increase their peers’ awareness of the importance of the English language. Recipients will be categorized into 3 streams (study abroad, short course, and English language streams). 

Qualifications

1. Current 1^st – 3^rd year BU undergraduate students in both Thai and International programs are eligible to apply. (International program students are only eligible for Study Abroad and Short Course streams)
2. Has a cumulative GPA (GPAX) of  2.50 or higher on scholarship application. (Exception is made for new students without a cumulative GPA. However, the aforementioned new students will need to show a first-semester GPA of 2.50 or higher or have their scholarship revoked.)
3. Able to communicate in English at the following level (Stream dependent)
   1. Study Abroad Stream: CEFR B2 or Higher
   2. Short Course Stream: CEFR B1 or Higher
   3. English Language Stream: Beginner level with a drive to improve.
4. Possess an international mindset and eagerness to study abroad, eagerness to improve English skills, or eagerness to work at a multinational company.
5. Capable of representing the University
6. Willingness to motivate fellow BU students to improve their English language skills.
7. Have at least 1 academic year remaining at BU, counting from the first day of the academic year following the academic year of the scholarship application.

Eligible Programs for Scholarship

All Thai and International programs (International program students are eligible only for Study Abroad and Short Course streams)

Funding Conditions

1. Receive a 100,000 Baht scholarship to participate in Study Abroad/Student Exchange programs, short courses abroad, or English language programs abroad.
2. Scholarship recipients must select which stream they are applying for, based on intended scholarship funding use. If selected, recipients will only be able to use their scholarship fund on activities that are consistent with their chosen stream.
   1. Study Abroad Stream, for recipients who will be using their scholarship to attend an exchange program abroad with one of BU’s partner institutions.
   2. Short Course Stream, for recipients who will be using their scholarship to attend a short course abroad (that is not an English language skill course) for the purpose of enhancing skills relevant to their degree program in an international context.
   3. English Language Stream, for recipients who will be using their scholarship to attend an English language course abroad for the purpose of improving their English language skills.
      
       
3. All recipients must use their scholarship funding on educational programs that use English as the medium of instruction or the preparation thereof. 
   1. “Preparation thereof” means the purchase of goods and services necessary for foreign travel, such as luggage and cold weather clothing, visa fees, travel insurance, telephone roaming packages, or any other relevant expense that has been approved by Bangkok University.
      
       
4. All recipients must demonstrate the ability to encourage their fellow BU students to improve their English, and specify the role they could have to accomplish this. 

Selection Criteria

The first round of consideration will select interview candidates by assessing their application documents with the following scoring weights.

Study Abroad Stream or Short Course Stream

1. Statement of Purpose [55%]
2. English essay no longer than one A4 page on how you think the university should encourage students to improve their English [45%]

English Language Stream

1. Portfolio showing drive to improve English skills [55%]
2. Thai or English essay no longer than one A4 page on how you think the university should encourage students to improve their English [45%]

The second round of consideration will be based on an online interview with the following scoring weights

Study Abroad Stream or Short Course Stream (Interview conducted in English)

1. Applicant’s ability to encourage others to improve their English [30%]
2. Applicant’s ability to communicate in English [25%]
3. Applicant’s ability to communicate their personal objectives [25%]
4. Applicant’s ability to represent the university  [10%]
5. Applicant's ability to live independently while overseas [10%]

English Language Stream (Interview conducted in Thai)

1. Applicant’s ability to encourage others to improve their English [30%]
2. Applicant’s ability to explain their drive to improve their English skills [25%]
3. Applicant’s ability to communicate their personal objectives [25%]
4. Applicant’s ability to represent the university  [10%]
5. Applicant's ability to live independently while overseas [10%]

In the event of a tie in either round, the committee will use the applicants’ cumulative GPA as a tiebreaker (in cases where all tied individuals are not new 1^st year students currently without a GPA). Further, the committee’s decision is final, and the scholarship cannot be transferred to another individual.

Application Documents

You can complete the online application form only

Study Abroad Stream or Short Course Stream

1. Official Transcript
2. English Statement of Purpose no longer than one A4 page with the following details: 
   1. What is your motivation for applying for this scholarship?
   2. What is your plan for using the scholarship funds and the reasoning for your plan, if selected (e.g. course/course type & destination)?
   3. How will this scholarship help you in the future?
   4. Why should you be selected to receive this scholarship?
3. English essay (no longer than one A4 page) on: how you think the university should encourage people to improve their English, and what role you might play in it. 
4. A letter of recommendation signed by the applicant’s academic advisor.
5. English language proficiency test score meeting the following standard.
   1. Study Abroad Stream: CEFR B2 Level or Higher
      (Score to CEFR equivalency taken from the test organizer’s official equivalency table)
   2. Short Course Stream: CEFR B1 level or higher
      (Score to CEFR equivalency taken from the test organizer’s official equivalency table)

English Language Stream

1. Official Transcript
2. Thai or English Portfolio showing the applicant’s drive to improve their English. It may include evidence (but does not need to include all of them) such as: 
   1. Evidence of participation in SALLC activities (e.g., photographs)
   2. Evidence of participation in English-language activities both inside and outside the university
   3. Evidence of continuous use of English language skill development applications (e.g., screenshots showing various achievements earned on Duolingo)
   4. Evidence of attending English classes outside the curriculum (e.g., voluntarily taking English language classes outside the university)
   5. Evidence of continuous use of English media, such as library borrowing records, photos with personal bookshelves, or gaming records involving English reading/listening (e.g., gameplay hours for games without Thai dubbing in Steam/Nintendo Switch/PS5 Profile, etc.), Netflix viewing history, etc.
   6. Any other evidence demonstrating the applicant's commitment to improving their English language skills
3. Thai or English essay (no longer than one A4 page) on: how you think the university should encourage people to improve their English in the next academic year, and what role you might play in it. 
4. A letter of recommendation signed by the applicant’s academic advisor.
5. English language proficiency test score (if available).