Study and find schools in Cambodia

Studying in Cambodia

Cambodia is a growing destination for students interested in Southeast Asia, development studies, agriculture, tourism and the Khmer language. The National Institute of Statistics projects the population at 17,280,543 in 2024. All the Cambodian schools in our directory are in Phnom Penh, the capital, where the country's oldest public universities sit alongside a large private sector.

Programmes are taught in Khmer, English or both, depending on the university, and English plays a large role: private universities such as Norton University require foreign students to pass an English test, and the Royal University of Phnom Penh runs an Institute of Foreign Languages and an English Language Support Unit. For foreigners who want to learn Khmer, the same university offers a dedicated language course.

The education system in Cambodia

Higher education is overseen by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and quality assurance is the task of the Accreditation Committee of Cambodia (ACC), a government body under the Council of Ministers whose main objective is to promote the quality of higher education. Universities are founded by government sub-decree; Norton University, for example, was formally founded as a university by sub-decree in 1997.

Cambodian universities award degrees at several levels:

• Associate degrees, often with a vocational focus
• Bachelor's degrees, usually starting with a foundation year
• Master's degrees
• Doctoral degrees

The foundation year is a feature of many Cambodian bachelor's programmes. At Norton University, year one is spent in Foundation Studies before students continue in a college or faculty. Students who want to transfer credits from another institution into the second or third year go through an evaluation by the university's academic board, approved by the ministry.

Universities set their own academic calendars, so check intake dates directly with each institution.

Admission and recognition

Cambodian students enter university with the BACC II, the grade 12 national examination certificate. Foreign students apply with their own secondary school diploma. Norton University's requirements for foreign undergraduates give a good idea of what to expect:

• Original high school diploma and transcript, with English translations if needed
• Passport or alien certificate of registration
• A personal history statement and photos
• An application form and an admission fee of USD 15
• A passing mark in an English language test; students with weak English take special classes
• A medical certificate with a chest X-ray

Students also take the university's entrance exam or meet its other requirements. Graduate programmes require a bachelor's degree or equivalent.

Student visa and residence

The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington lists the visa types available, including the tourist (T) and business (E) visas, plus an e-Visa portal. Citizens of ASEAN member states and some other countries can enter without a visa. The embassy does not list a separate student visa: the E visa allows a stay of 30 days on entry and can be extended at the immigration office in Cambodia, and passports must be valid for at least six months. Ask your university's international office which visa to enter on and how to extend your stay for a full degree, and check the current rules with the Cambodian embassy or consulate in your country.

Costs

Each university sets its own tuition fees, and there is no national fee table for international students. At Norton University, fees are paid before each academic year and are non-refundable. Language study is a useful benchmark: the Khmer for Foreigners course at the Royal University of Phnom Penh costs $800 for a full year or $200 per level, according to the university.

Where to study

Phnom Penh is home to all five Cambodian universities in our directory. The Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), founded in 1960, serves about 30,000 students in bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes in science, social sciences and humanities, engineering, education and development studies. The Royal University of Agriculture covers agronomy, animal science, veterinary medicine, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, and agro-industry, from associate degrees to doctorates.

The private sector includes Norton University, Build Bright University and Cambodian Mekong University, which offer associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes in fields such as business, IT, law, languages, tourism and hotel management. Build Bright University also has branches in other provinces, including Siem Reap and Battambang.

Information technology, tourism, law, modern languages, education and business administration are among the subjects most often offered by the Cambodian schools in our directory.

Practical life and learning Khmer

Learning some Khmer makes daily life and fieldwork much easier. RUPP's Khmer for Foreigners course is a non-degree course with four graded levels, each offered four times a year for 8 to 10 weeks, with classes of 1.5 hours each weekday. Students who finish all four levels can continue with classes alongside Cambodian students in the Department of Khmer Literature. For health, Norton University asks for a medical certificate on admission; arrange your own health insurance before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in Cambodia?

Some programmes, especially at private universities, are taught in English, and universities such as Norton University test foreign students' English on admission. Other programmes are taught in Khmer, so check the language of each programme.

What do I need to apply to a Cambodian university?

Usually a secondary school diploma with transcript (translated into English if needed), a passport, an application form and fee, and the university's entrance exam. Norton University also asks foreign students for an English test and a medical certificate.

Is there a student visa for Cambodia?

The Cambodian embassy in Washington does not list a separate student visa; visitors usually enter on a visa such as the business (E) visa, which can be extended at the immigration office. Confirm the right visa with your university before you travel.

Where can I learn Khmer in Cambodia?

The Royal University of Phnom Penh runs a Khmer for Foreigners course with four levels; it costs $800 for a year or $200 per level, according to the university.