Chula Prepares 500 Million Budget to Help Students Affected by COVID-19

Chulalongkorn University has granted over 500 million baht in scholarships and financial assistance during the end of Academic Year 2019 and in Academic Year 2020 to help students who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. Financial assistance for living expenses, for a total of 31.6 million baht, divided into:

• Student welfare allowance – Set up a 30-million-baht fund to help students, from the bachelor’s degree to PhD., as well as provide financial assistance to the family of students affected by COVID-19 suffering from layoffs, salary cuts, or having a household net income of no more than 25,000 baht per month.  Since May 1, 2020, each student qualified for assistance has been granted funds not exceeding 10,000 baht. The initial goal was to help 4,000 students, but the number of recipients may be increased as needed.

• Funds for hiring students to work part-time – The amount has been increased from the previous 1.6 million baht and is used to support the employment of students to work online for the university.  Beginning 20 April 2020, the remuneration is 100 baht per hour, for no more than 5 hours a day.

2. Education scholarships – Established to cover all academic related expenses for students at all levels in the academic year 2020.  The total fund available is 475 million baht and have been divided into several scholarships and support, including:

• Scholarships for undergraduate students
  to waive tuition fees and assist educational expenses in the next academic year.   Educational subsidies have been increased from 3,000 scholarships per year to 4,500 scholarships, equating to 120 million baht.
• Reduce fees for programs and other special programs that collect additional fees.
• Reduce tuition fees for students at all levels in the academic year 2020.  The reduction of program fees and tuition fees add up to a total of 355 million baht.
• Tuition fee waiver funds for Master and PhD. students added to the 142 scholarships previously allotted, which amounts to about 6 million baht.  These funds will be implemented in the Academic Year 2020.

3. Dormitory Student Welfare
In the academic year 2019, Chula has paid back 50% of the dormitory fee per semester for more than 750 dorm students who returned home during the COVID-19 situation. Dormitory fees have been exempted for 2 months (April – May) for dorm students who pay monthly. The total is approximately 3.5 million baht, and the reduction of the dormitory fee for Academic Year 2020 is under consideration.

4. Free Internet SIM Cards to support students to study online from their homes, following the university’s announcement for all courses and instruction be offered online.  Since March 23, 2020, approximately 6,000 Internet SIM cards have been given to students.

Assistant Professor Dr. Chaiyaporn Puprasert, Vice President for Student and Alumni Affairs, revealed that providing the various types of financial support will help alleviate the burden on students during the COVID-19 crisis. Chula is proud to be able to help students experiencing difficulties and any student who needs help can submit a request via the CU NEX application. There are various types of scholarships available to support student expenses, both for this academic year and the next. The scholarship consideration is initially screened by the student affairs department of each faculty, so that students who really need help get help.

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