It’s no secret that higher education is less expensive in Asia than it is in continents like Europe, North America, and Oceania. And in Cambodia, you’ll find universities that are very cheap, even by Asian standards. On top of that, most of these universities are located in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh. So, you won’t have to move to a remote area in pursuit of higher education. Although proficiency in the official Cambodian language of Khmer is required, a growing number of universities here are offering education in English these days. So, let’s find out more about eight cheap universities in Cambodia below.
Affordable Schools in Cambodia for International Students
1. Royal University of Phnom Penh
Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) began its journey in 1960 as the first university in Cambodia. With more than 12,000 students enrolled, it is currently one of the largest public universities in the country. It employs 335 academic staff who are attached to its 31 academic departments which constitute five faculties and one institute. The university has three campuses in Phnom Penh, with the main one positioned at a distance of roughly three miles from the city center.
2. University of Cambodia
The University of Cambodia (UC) is a private university that has been around since 2003. Its main campus encompasses nearly seven and a half acres of land in the Phnom Penh district of Sen Sok. It is organized into six schools and six colleges, through which it facilitates a wide variety of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. It is now home to over 4,200 students, who are being taught by more than 180 faculty members.
UC charges its students $900 per year for all bachelor’s programs. For its master’s programs, the university charges $1,800 per year.
3. Paragon International University
Originally named Zaman University, Paragon International University is a small private university in Cambodia with a student population of around 800. It came into being in 2010. Its main campus is located less than four miles away from downtown Phnom Penh. The university offers 11 undergraduate majors through its three main faculties.
At this cheap university in Cambodia, the academic programs run by the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences are the cheapest of all, costing USD 3,000 per year. The programs run by the Faculty of Information and Computer Technologies cost USD 3,500 per year, while the annual tuition for those under the Faculty of Engineering is USD 4,500.
4. American University of Phnom Penh
Founded in 2013, the American University of Phnom Penh (AUPP) is one of the youngest private universities in Cambodia. Its campus is situated five miles northwest of downtown Phnom Penh. The university primarily runs seven bachelor’s and two master’s programs. Additionally, it facilitates five dual degree programs at the undergraduate level in partnership with the University of Arizona (UA) and Fort Hays State University (FHSU). That means, upon completion of such a program, a student will earn one bachelor’s degree from AUPP and another bachelor’s degree from either of the two US-based universities.
Annual tuition for the regular bachelor’s programs at AUPP is $6,000. Meanwhile, the dual degree programs cost $9,000 annually.
5. Western University
Western University (WU) is a private university that was established in 2003. This one too is primarily located in the Cambodian capital. The campus is at a distance of less than five miles from downtown Phnom Penh. The university also has a satellite campus in the province of Kampong Cham. It is made up of six faculties and a separate Department of Foundation Year. Through the six faculties, it offers 12 bachelor’s, five master’s, and two PhD programs.
For any of the bachelor’s programs at this cheap university in Cambodia, students have to pay $450 per year. Annual tuition for all master’s programs, on the other hand, is $750.
6. Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia
Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia (PUC) is a private university that welcomed its inaugural class in 2000. It has six campuses spread across the city of Phnom Penh, while two more campuses are located in the provinces of Battambang and Siem Reap. The university consists of eight faculties and a separate Graduate School of Management & Economics. All academic programs offered here, except Khmer Culture and Khmer Literature, use English as the language of instruction.
At PUC, tuition ranges from $720 to $4,560, depending on your level and whether you are attending classes on weekdays or weekends.
It is generally cheap to study in Cambodia, but for those who need financial assistance to study in this emerging country, it is highly recommended to apply at these affordable universities. These institutions are highly recognized in the country so you won’t have to worry about the quality of education you’ll be getting.
We hope that this article on cheap universities in Cambodia was helpful. Make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students for more information about the programs open for foreign students!
