Thailand is highly ranked on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:
There are four main types of higher education institutions (HEIs) in Thailand:
1. Public Universities: These are directly funded and controlled by the Government, and their administration is overseen by public functionaries. They make up more than half of the HEIs in Thailand, though the Government has made transitioning to autonomy a key goal.
2. Autonomous Universities: They have more freedom than public universities when it comes to their syllabus and hiring. However, they still receive some funding from the Government, and are not completely free to manage their internal affairs. The Government makes financial self sufficiency an important goal for Autonomous Universities.
3. Private Universities: They do not receive funding from the Government. However, they must still abide by the standards set out by the Ministry of Higher Education, and must receive accreditation from a central body. Their quality is generally lower than public and autonomous HEIs, due to the intense competition in the sector.
4. Rajamangala Universities of Technology: They were formed through the amalgamation of technical and vocational Institutes, and now cater to the demands of the Thai workforce to produce a steady stream of technically qualified graduates who can immediately join the industry and start contributing significantly.
All the major Universities in Thailand offer short term certificate programs of two kinds: to professional leaders looking to upgrade their skills, and to junior technical employees as part of their training. Language learning courses for tourists and international workers are also available, especially in Universities located in Bangkok. The duration of these programs is usually between three and six months, and distance learning is available for many of them.
Most undergraduate full time Bachelor’s degree programs in Thailand last four years, irrespective of the field of study. However, integrated medical and dental programs require six years of study for completion. The first half of the undergraduate degree duration is spent in general preparation, and the second half gives the candidate domain specific knowledge related to his/her department.
Master's degree programs in Thailand are offered in Thai and English; therefore, international students have several options in the larger universities. Postgraduate programs usually take four semesters to complete. Master's theses may focus on original research, but they can also just involve advanced specialized study in a particular field, as a preparation for a doctoral degree.
Each Faculty in a Thai University typically has a set of majors within it, and each major has multiple doctoral streams. PhD Degrees in Thailand are primarily awarded in technical fields, and last between 3 and 5 years. Candidates are expected to complete original research work, and the quality of output will be evaluated by an external defense panel before the PhD degree is awarded.
The country has various universities that offer approximately all the disciplines of study to study in Thailand for international students. Some of the popular disciplines available in Thailand are-
Business and Supply Chain Analytics | Urban Design | Chemical Engineering |
Business Law | Nursing Science | Global Studies |
Social Entrepreneurship | Mass Media Studies | Philosophy |
Service Innovation | Traditional Chinese Medicine | Optometry |
Thai Studies | Electrical Engineering | Economics |
Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Thailand.
The name of the city | No. of Universities |
Bangkok | 78 |
Nonthaburi | 4 |
Phitsanulok | 4 |
Maha Sarakham | 3 |
Nakhon Pathom | 6 |
Average Monthly Expenses in Thailand for International Students
Tuition fees in Thailand are lower than in all European countries, and most Asian nations. For example, the tuition fee per semester for undergraduates in Chulalongkorn University is between 76,000 and 106,000 Thai Baht (2,200 and 3,100 USD). Master’s program fees are only slightly higher: the range is between 88,700 and 133,900 Thai Baht per semester.
Accommodation costs for international students in Thailand can exceed 60,000 Thai Baht per year. Expenditure on food is of a similar scale (5,000 THB per month). Students should also expect to spent 5,000 Thai Baht per year each on books and medical insurance, while budgeting a small amount for transportation and entertainment.
Applicants for a long term Visa to study in Thailand must complete the steps listed below, and submit the following documents: