Market report Thailand

Market Report Thailand – Study Abroad Market

In this Market Report on Thailand, we examine socio-economic conditions, education systems, and student mobility trends. Compared with major Asian sending markets such as China or Vietnam, Thailand remains a relatively small study-abroad market. Thailand’s outbound tertiary student mobility rate has been stable for more than two decades—at 1.2% around the year 2000 and approximately 1.4% by 2023 (UNESCO Institute of Statistics).

While outbound mobility rates are not always a strong predictor of absolute growth, Thailand’s outbound numbers have increased only gradually. Between 2012 and 2020, the number of Thai students enrolled in full degree programs abroad grew by about 10%, reaching roughly 28,000 students. According to the most recent UNESCO data, this figure has since risen to around 40,270 Thai students studying abroad, indicating a modest post-pandemic rebound but continued low growth compared with other regional markets.

In contrast, internationalization at home has taken a flight in Thailand. More and more Anglo-Saxon universities are opening branches in Thailand and in Bangkok in particular. Collaborative degree programs (joint or shared degrees) is a another development that has gained a lot of ground. UK universities alone have initiated 128 collaborative programs with Thai universities. Other countries that have initiated similar partnerships are China, USA, Germany, Australia and Canada.

On a policy level, the ASEAN International Mobility for Students project has lead to an increase of outward student mobility (semester programs) to countries like Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. This program is comparable to the European Erasmus program. Another regional developments that aid the mobility of students is the introduction of a regional credit transfer system (ASEAN countries).

The Thai Higher Education Commission identified nine institutions that haven been upgraded to national research universities. The aim of this measure was to improve research standards and output. Also, it was meant to increase research funding. These nine universities are: Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, Chiang Mai University, Khon Kaen University, Thammasat University, Mahidol University, Prince of Songkla University, Suranaree University of Technology and the King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. All this and more in the Market Report on Thailand.

Thai Education System

General education policy is under the purview of the national Ministry of Education (MOE), which oversees basic, vocational and higher education, with the majority of public (and private) education institutions falling under its remit. Specialized higher education institutions are the exception as they may be under the jurisdiction of other governmental departments, such as the Ministry of Public Health (source; wenr.wes.org).

Secondary education

Secondary education, for children aged 12 to 18, is divided into 2 cycles:

• lower secondary education (Matayom 1-3/Grade 7-9); and
• senior secondary education (Matayom 4-6/Grade 10-12).

Admission to Higher Education

A Certificate of Secondary Education or a Certificate in Vocational Education is required to be admitted into higher education. Candidates may apply to 5 faculties at either one or several universities. Admission depends on whether the applicant’s results comply with the chosen university’s standard requirements. The Central University Admission System (CUAS) has been in force since 2006. To be admitted to university, students need to take an entrance examination. (Source: Nuffic)

Higher Education system

Higher education in Thailand is provided at universities, technical institutes, professional and technical colleges, and teachers’ colleges. Higher education in Thailand is divided between 2 types of institutions. Firstly, institutions which fall under the Ministry of Education, such as state universities and private institutions for higher education, technical/professional and agricultural institutions, and teacher training colleges. Secondly, specialized training institutions which fall under various ministries or government organizations.

Bachelor
Bachelor Most bachelor’s programs take 4 years to complete. Some programs take 5 years to complete (architecture, art, graphic art, and pharmacy). Medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine programs take 6 years of study.

Master
Master’s degree programs usually take 2 years. A bachelor’s degree with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3 is required for admission to the master.

PhD
A master’s degree with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.5 is required for admission to the PhD phase. The doctoral degree (PhD) requires 2 years of study

The Thai Study Abroad Market

Latest Thailand Higher Education Study Abroad Data (source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics)

At this point a total number of 40,720 students from Thailand are studying abroad as part of a degree in higher education (2024 data). According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics these are the most popular study abroad destinations among Thai students:

IB schools in Thailand

• International School Bangkok – Bangkok – www.isb.ac.th
• KIS International School – Bangkok – www.kis.ac.th
• Regents International School – Pattaya – www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/pattaya
• Prem Tinsulanonda International School – Chiang Mai – www.ptis.ac.th
• NIST International School – Bangkok – www.nist.ac.th
• St Andrews International School, Green Valley Campus – Rayong – www.standrewsgreenvalley.com
• St Andrews International School – Bangkok – www.standrews.ac.th
• Ruamrudee International School – Bangkok – www.rism.ac.th
• UWC Thailand International School – Phuket – uwcthailand.ac.th

Scholarships for students from Thailand