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, without further ado, let’s find out more about eight cheap universities in Cambodia below.
Cheapest Cambodian Universities
1. Royal University of Phnom Penh
- Annual Tuition for International Students: USD 250 to USD 450
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 that 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.
At this cheap university in Cambodia, the bachelor’s programs in Computer Science (BSc) and English (BA) are the most expensive of all, with tuition being USD 450 per year. The remaining programs annually cost either USD 250 or USD 300.
2. University of Cambodia
- Annual Tuition for International Students: USD 900 to USD 1,800
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 USD 900 per year for all bachelor’s programs. For its master’s programs, the university charges USD 1,800 per year.
3. Paragon International University
- Annual Tuition for International Students: USD 2,500 to USD 4,000
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 2,500 per year. The programs run by the Faculty of Information and Computer Technologies cost USD 3,000 per year, while the annual tuition for those under the Faculty of Engineering is USD 4,000.
4. American University of Phnom Penh
- Annual Tuition for International Students: USD 6,000 to USD 9,000
Founded in 2013, the American University of Phnom Penh (AUPP) is one of the youngest private universities in Cambodia. Its campus is situated 5 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 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 USD 6,000. Meanwhile, the dual degree programs cost USD 9,000 annually.
5. Western University
- Annual Tuition for International Students: USD 450 to USD 750
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 USD 450 per year. Annual tuition of all master’s programs, on the other hand, is USD 750.
6. Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia
- Annual Tuition for International Students: USD 1,800 to USD 4,980
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 sited 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, you have to pay USD 1,800 or USD 2,070 per year for any of the bachelor’s programs, depending on whether you are attending classes on weekdays or weekends. In a similar way, you will be charged USD 4,320 or USD 4,980 annually for any of the master’s programs here.
7. BELTEI International University
- Annual Tuition for International Students: USD 900 to USD 1,300
What was founded as BELTEI International School in 2005 went on to become a full-fledged university named BELTEI International University in 2012. The acronym BELTEI represents the six main fields of study at this university: Business, Economics, Law, Tourism, English, and Information Technology. The university currently has as many as 20 campuses scattered across Phnom Penh. Through its six faculties, it offers 21 bachelor’s, 12 master’s, and three PhD programs.
For international students, any of the bachelor’s programs at BELTEI cost USD 900 per year. Meanwhile, the university charges USD 1,300 annually for all master’s programs.
8. Cambodian Mekong University
- Annual Tuition for International Students: USD 650 to USD 2,400
Cambodian Mekong University (CMU) is a Phnom Penh-based private university that came into being in 2003. Its campus spans over an area of more than six acres, housing a five-story main building and a four-story secondary building. It is organized into 19 different schools, through which it facilitates 26 bachelor’s, 14 master’s and eight PhD programs.
The international programs at CMU – Accounting (BBA), International Business Management (BBA), and English for Business (BA), and Business & Enterprise Management (BBA) – have a tuition between USD 1,600 and USD 2,400 per year. All other programs, on the other hand, cost merely between USD 650 and USD 750 per year.
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!
