The BIR curriculum and study plan
Cohorts 64 to 67 need 127 credits and the 2568 curriculum needs 126.
Responsible office BIR programme office
Last checked 30 September 2026
Updated 30 September 2026
Quick answers
- How many credits do I need?
- 127 for cohorts 64 to 67, and 126 for the 2568 curriculum (cohorts 68 and 69). Details
- Is the summer term compulsory?
- No, except the Year 3 internship summer for cohorts 64 to 67. Details
- How do I plan my own degree?
- Use the study plan service, which builds a plan for your cohort and minor. Details
On this page
Credits by cohort
| Cohorts | General education | Major | Free electives | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 to 67 (Curriculum 2021, B.E. 2564, and its 2023 revision) | 30 | 91 | 6 | 127 |
| 68 and 69 (Curriculum B.E. 2568) | 30 | 90 | 6 | 126 |
The first digits of your student ID give your cohort. Cohorts 64 and 65 follow the original 2564 handout and cohorts 66 and 67 follow the 2023 revision, which replaced some Year 1 general education courses. The course lists on this page are those of the 2023 revision. The 2568 curriculum uses the same course codes, with the differences set out under Curriculum 2568.
Plan your own degree
The study plan service builds a plan for your cohort, your minor and the courses you have already passed.
General education courses
General education is 30 credits in two parts.
| Part | Credits |
|---|---|
| Part 1, Thammasat University requirements | 21 |
| Part 2, Faculty of Political Science requirements | 9 |
Part 1 (21 credits)
Social Sciences
- TU100 Civil Education
- TU101 Thailand, ASEAN and the World
Humanities
- TU102 Life & Aesthetics
Science and Mathematics
- TU103 Life and Sustainability
Languages
- EL105 English Communication Skills
- LAS101 Critical Thinking, Reading and Writing
- TU106 Creativity and Communication
Part 2 (9 credits)
- PI121 Introduction to Social Science
- PI122 Introduction to Humanities
- One course from AH208 Exercise for Good Health and Well-Being or EL295 Academic English and Study Skill 1
Your English exemption result and each semester's timetable can change which general education courses you take and when.
Major requirements
The major is 91 credits.
| Component | Credits |
|---|---|
| Core courses | 30 |
| Required courses in the concentration | 19 |
| Required course in the Faculty of Economics | 3 |
| Elective courses in the concentration | 18 |
| Minor | 21 |
Core courses (30 credits)
- PI210 Introduction to Political Philosophy
- PI211 Introduction to Political Science
- PI241 Introduction to Public Administration and Public Policy
- PI271 Introduction to International Relations
- PI280 International Relations Theories and Current Affairs
- PI282 Reading and Analysis in International Relations
- PI300 Social Science Methodology
- PI320 Comparative Politics
- PI321 Thai Politics and Government
- PI390 Global Political Economy
Required courses in the concentration (19 credits)
- PI370 Thai Foreign Affairs
- PI270 Diplomatic History
- PI272 Foreign Policy Analysis
- PI291 International Law
- PI292 International Organizations and Regimes
- PI470 Seminar (International Relations Theories)
- PI574 Internship in Politics and International Relations (1 credit)
Required course in the Faculty of Economics (3 credits)
- EE210 Introductory Economics
Elective courses in the concentration (18 credits)
Area Studies. Choose 3 courses (9 credits).
- PI364 Middle East in Global Politics
- PI365 Russia in Global Politics
- PI366 The United States of America in Global Politics
- PI367 Europe in Global Politics
- PI368 South Asia in Global Politics
- PI369 Africa in Global Politics
- PI374 China in Global Politics
- PI375 Latin America in Global Politics
- PI378 Japan in Global Politics
- PI474 East Asia in Global Politics
- PI475 Southeast Asia in Global Politics
- PI476 ASEAN in Global Politics
Approaches and Issues. Choose 3 courses (9 credits).
- PI376 Alternative Approaches in International Relations
- PI377 Security Studies
- PI379 Religion and Global Politics
- PI477 Global Geopolitics
- PI478 Political Psychology and International Relations
- PI479 Global Politics through Film
- PI483 Seminar (Non-Western International Relations Theories)
- PI484 Seminar (International Regimes, Institutions, and Governance)
- PI485 Selected Topics in Political Science
- PI486 Comparative Regionalism
- PI487 The International Relations of Rising Powers
- PI488 Classical Theories in International Relations
- PI489 Epistemology and Global Politics
Minors
A BIR minor is one of three course groups inside the programme, not a minor from another faculty. You choose one. The 21 credits count towards the 91-credit major.
| Part of the minor | Credits |
|---|---|
| Required courses | 9 |
| Electives within your minor (2 courses) | 6 |
| Electives from the other minors | 6 |
Governance and Transnational Studies
Required courses (9 credits)
- PI380 Nation-State and Transnationalism
- PI381 Globalization and Global Governance
- PI382 Politics of International Development
Choose 2 electives (6 credits)
- PI313 Media and Global Politics
- PI373 Transnational Crime and Global Governance
- PI383 Ethics and International Relations
- PI384 Selected Topics in Global Governance
- PI385 Peace Studies
- PI386 Gender Studies
- PI387 Environment and Global Politics
- PI388 Human Security in Global Politics
- PI389 Global Civil Society
- PI413 Seminar (Globalization, Regional Grouping and the State)
- PI414 Seminar (International Conflict and Resolutions)
Public Administration and Public Policy
Required courses (9 credits)
- PI340 Public Policy and Management in the Global Context
- PI341 Policy Analysis and Evaluation (Concepts and Techniques)
- PI342 Organization and Human Resource Management (Theories and Practices)
Choose 2 electives (6 credits)
- PI343 Strategic Planning and Management
- PI344 Environmental Management and Policy
- PI345 Disaster and Emergency Management
- PI346 Urban Planning and Development Policy
- PI347 Fiscal and Budgeting
- PI348 Comparative Public Administration
- PI349 Information Technology Management in the Public Sector
- PI443 Selected Topics in Public Policy
- PI444 Selected Topics in Public Administration
Global Political Economy
Required courses (9 credits)
- PI392 Comparative Political Economy
- PI480 Seminar (Issues in Global Political Economy)
- PI490 Political Economy of Development
Choose 2 electives (6 credits)
- PI293 Introduction to Political Economy
- PI395 International Political Economy in Asia
- PI396 Game Theory for Political Scientists
- PI397 Public Choice in Global Affairs
- PI398 Politics of International Trade
- PI399 Politics of International Finance
- PI494 Selected Topics in International Political Economy
- PI495 Contemporary Debates in Global Political Economy
- PI496 Economic Diplomacy and Negotiation
- PI497 Politics of International Trade in Services
- PI498 Global Politics of Digital Economy
Free electives
Choose at least 6 credits from any course Thammasat University offers.
Four-year study plan
This is the recommended plan for cohorts 64 to 67, from the 2023 revision of the handout. Elective and minor slots are placeholders. Some courses can move between semesters. Use the study plan service or ask an adviser before you move a course.
Summer terms are optional, except the Year 3 internship summer.
Year 1, semester 1
- TU100 Civil Education
- TU101 Thailand, ASEAN and the World
- TU103 Life and Sustainability
- EL105 English Communication Skills
- TU106 Creativity and Communication
- PI121 Introduction to Social Science
Year 1, semester 2
- TU102 Life & Aesthetics
- LAS101 Critical Thinking, Reading and Writing
- PI122 Introduction to Humanities
- One course from AH208 Exercise for Good Health and Well-Being or EL295 Academic English and Study Skill 1
- PI211 Introduction to Political Science
- PI271 Introduction to International Relations
Year 2, semester 1
- PI210 Introduction to Political Philosophy
- PI241 Introduction to Public Administration and Public Policy
- PI280 International Relations Theories and Current Affairs
- PI282 Reading and Analysis in International Relations
- PI291 International Law
- EE210 Introductory Economics
Year 2, semester 2
- PI270 Diplomatic History
- PI272 Foreign Policy Analysis
- PI292 International Organizations and Regimes
- PI321 Thai Politics and Government
- PI370 Thai Foreign Affairs
- Concentration elective (Approaches and Issues) 1
Year 2, summer (optional)
- Minor elective 1
- Minor elective from another minor 1
Year 3, semester 1
- PI300 Social Science Methodology
- PI390 Global Political Economy
- Minor required course 1
- Minor required course 2
- Concentration elective (Area Studies) 1
- Free elective 1
Year 3, semester 2
- PI320 Comparative Politics
- Minor required course 3
- Minor elective 2
- Concentration elective (Approaches and Issues) 2
- Concentration elective (Area Studies) 2
- Free elective 2
Year 3, summer (compulsory internship)
- PI574 Internship in Politics and International Relations (1 credit)
The internship request form opens in the November before this summer. The deadlines and forms are in Internship.
Year 4, semester 1
- PI470 Seminar (International Relations Theories)
- Concentration elective (Approaches and Issues) 3
- Concentration elective (Area Studies) 3
- Minor elective from another minor 2
In Year 4, semester 2, you take the required courses you have not yet taken. There is no fixed list, so plan this semester with your academic adviser.
Curriculum 2568
Cohorts 68 and 69 follow the 2568 curriculum, which is 126 credits (30 general education, 90 major, 6 free electives). The course codes are the same as in the lists above, with these differences.
- PI574 is a 3-credit free elective and is optional. It can count towards the 6 free elective credits. The plan has no compulsory Year 3 summer internship term.
- General education is 30 credits grouped by theme, not split into a university part and a faculty part.
- The Year 2 summer term is part of the plan and is not marked optional.
The 2568 plan is as follows.
| Term | Courses |
|---|---|
| Year 1, semester 1 | TU100, TU101, LAS101, EL105, TU106, PI121 |
| Year 1, semester 2 | TU102, TU103, PI122, one course from AH208 or EL295, PI211, PI271 |
| Year 2, semester 1 | PI210, PI241, PI270, PI282, PI291, EE210 |
| Year 2, semester 2 | PI272, PI280, PI292, PI321, PI370, Concentration elective (Approaches and Issues) 1 |
| Year 2, summer | Minor elective 1, Minor elective from another minor 1 |
| Year 3, semester 1 | PI300, PI390, PI470, Minor required course 1, Minor required course 2, Concentration elective (Area Studies) 1 |
| Year 3, semester 2 | PI320, Minor required course 3, Minor elective 2, Concentration elective (Area Studies) 2, Concentration elective (Approaches and Issues) 2, Free elective 1 |
| Year 4, semester 1 | Concentration elective (Area Studies) 3, Concentration elective (Approaches and Issues) 3, Minor elective from another minor 2, Free elective 2 |
Related guides
- Registering, adding and dropping coursesYou register online in the period the Registrar's Office announces, for up to 22 credits in a semester and 6 in the summer session.
- InternshipThe internship is an eight week placement in the summer of Year 3, and you find the host organisation yourself.
- Grades, GPA and graduatingTo graduate you need the credits for your curriculum and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00, within 8 years.
Sources
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