Program Overview
Brilliant Burma is an independent not-for-profit school on the Thai-Burma Border that prepares and assists multi-ethnic students in achieving an international university education, builds capacity for professionalism and responsibility, and fosters commitment to work toward the peaceful and positive transformation of Burma. Our program has demonstrated results and offers a truly unique, innovative and empowering curriculum designed to cultivate and train for leadership, critical thinking, and expressive, as well as university potential.
Brilliant Burma continues to innovate and, in addition to our Core Academics, has added an Advanced Certificate in Media Arts to our program.
Academic Schedule
Our Core Academics should be considered a full-time endeavor. Students have class every weekday, with homework and assignments requiring self-study during off hours.
Brilliant Burma's program is designed to run as one complete academic year of three consecutive terms. However, we admit and integrate new students at the beginning of each term, as space allows. We found that this admission policy allows for greater knowledge and skill transmission between cohorts, improves student diversity and experience, and still maintains a suitable level of program cohesion. Students that complete three full-load terms graduate from our program. We allow committed students to continue past one year of instruction at Brilliant Burma.
Brilliant Burma follows the Thai calendar for public holidays. Students receive at least one week off between terms. In April and May we offer a six week intensive study program.
| T4 (2012) June - September |
T5 (2012) October - December |
T6 (2013) January - March |
Summer Intensive April and May |
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4 June 2012 (Monday) Vassa 13 August 2012 (Monday) Queen's Birthday - Observed TERM BREAK 17 - 28 September 2012 23 October 2012 (Tuesday) Chulalongkorn Day 28 November 2012 (Wednesday) Loy Kratong 5 December 2012 (Wednesday) King's Birthday 10 December 2012 (Monday) Constitution Day TERM BREAK 24 December 2012 - 4 January 2013 11 March 2013 (Monday) Makha Bucha TERM BREAK 1 April 2012 - 19 April 1 May 2013 (Wednesday) Labor Day 6 May 2013 (Monday) Coronation Day - Observed 24 May 2013 (Friday) Visakha Bucha |
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Core Academics
Core Academics is based on western university standards and is only for motivated students with a high level of English proficiency. This program offers study in academic English and TOEFL preparation, and instruction is provided by experienced native English-speaking teachers.
Brilliant Burma strongly believes that academic excellence requires more than proficiency in English and, as part of Core Academics, offers a weekly Friday Cafe series of one-day activities and workshops to train students with more comprehensive and specialized learning in varied subjects.
We also offer additional seminars, typically lasting six to twelve weeks. The seminars we offer vary each term. In the last year we have offered seminars in Nonviolent Struggle, Competitive Debate, Sustainability, Art Studio, and TOEFL Plus.
Academic and professional mentoring is provided to all students to assist them in the planning and preparation to study at an international university and in their future professional endeavors. We help guide students in setting goals, establishing direction, developing the necessary tools, and ultimately being self-reliant in pursuit of their ambitions.
Media Arts Training
Building on a foundation of solid academic preparation for an international university education, Brilliant Burma continues to set itself apart with an educational program that inspires and empowers students to expand and explore their future potential. Now, we have taken a powerful step forward by offering a unified program in media arts training.
Media arts covers a wide range of training areas and we have selected options we believe are most useful for our studentsʼ educational and professional futures. Students in pursuit of earning our certification will successfully complete courses in: Journalism & Advocacy, Website Design, Graphic Design, Filmmaking & Photography, and a mentored independent study or internship.
Our media arts training is hands on and prepares students with the fundamentals necessary to continue in the area of media arts in a professional or educational context.
Started in June 2012, the results of our first term of Media Arts Training can be seen with the release of the Brilliant Burma Journal, in print and online; and the creation of Meme Film, a mentored student project designed to demonstrate the students' ongoing work and development in documentary film and photography, and share "the truth of our lives and surroundings, as refugees living on the Thai-Burma border". Meme Film's website is scheduled for release at the end of October.
Apply to Brilliant Burma
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| Brilliant Burma students spoke at Child Development Center (CDC) - Mae Sot, to explain our program. With few post-X education opportunities available along the Thai-Burma border, students nearing graduation at CDC were eager to learn about a possible way to continue their education. |
Brilliant Burma seeks to recruit outstanding youth that desire to achieve an international university education and demonstrate commitment and self-responsibility. The workload and expectations of our program are very high and only highly motivated and committed students should apply. Students that fail to meet expectations or demonstrate commitment are dismissed.
Prospective students can apply for admission to either Core Academics or Media Arts Training, or both. Selected courses and seminars are also open to the general community, as space allows.
As space allows in our dormitory, Brilliant Burma provides food and housing for students who pursue both Core Academics and Media Arts Training simultaneously.
Application Requirements:
Pass our tests and demonstrate academic potential and committment.
Application Process
- Submit a completed Brilliant Burma Application Form and one professional letter of reference. You may apply at any time.
- Brilliant Burma evaluates your application and reference and contacts qualified applicants to schedule an entrance exam and interview.
- Canidates are evaluated competitively for the available spaces each term.
Core Academics & |
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Website Design Course |
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Please contact us if you have any questions about the application process or program. Inquiries, completed applications, and letters of reference should be sent to brilliantburma@gmail.com