Thailand: Postgraduate study

How does the higher education system work?

Standards and quality within the Thai higher education system are monitored by the Commission on Higher Education (Thailand) .

In general, the Thai academic year is made of two semesters: semester one from June to October; semester two from November to March. The university year runs from June to March with a summer break over the hottest period of the year.

Students are awarded credits and a full explanation of the credit system can be found at Study in Thailand , which is published by the Commission on Higher Education (Thailand). At undergraduate and postgraduate levels, grading systems are generally letter based with ‘A’ being excellent.

What courses are available?

A wide range of Masters and Doctoral programmes welcome non-Thai students at a number of Thai universities (public and private). Similar to UK postgraduate education, Masters degrees are usually one or two years in length and a Doctorate between two and five years.

Knowledge of Thai is not necessarily essential and there are a growing number of international programmes available aimed at non-Thai nationals. There are over 600 postgraduate programmes available in English. Subject areas are very varied with several universities offering courses across a range of faculties. For a list of courses that can be studied in English, see the Study in Thailand  report, which can be downloaded from the Commission on Higher Education (Thailand).

Where can I study?

Links to all universities in Thailand can be found on General Education Online - Colleges and Universities in Thailand  and on Wikipedia - List of Universities in Thailand . Not all university websites have an English language version.

Applying for postgraduate study

A first degree from a recognised UK university is generally accepted. Specific requirements vary between institutions so check on individual university websites. The Study in Thailand  publication also has further information.  

Some international programmes offer multiple start dates and application deadlines will be dependent on these. Contact the relevant institution to find out specific dates. Applicants should allow time for student visas to be processed prior to arriving in Thailand.

Applications are usually made direct to the universities. In addition to a Bachelors degree there may also be a requirement to undertake an entrance exam, such as the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), for those applying to business schools, or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for non-business subjects. An interview may also be involved in the application process.

Fees and scholarships

At public institutions, fees for Masters degrees are likely to range from £600 to £1,200 and for Doctoral programmes the average fee is £3,000.

Private institutions charge per hour and a postgraduate qualification hourly rate would be between £45-£75 per hour.

Additional costs for student activities, health services, ID card, graduation fee, etc. can range from £75-£250.

Scholarships are limited. It is advisable to check the international students’ sections of individual university and departmental websites to find out what is available.

Are there any exchange programmes?

Some UK universities have exchange programmes with universities in Thailand.

The DUO-Thailand Fellowship Exchange Programme has been set up by the Commission on Higher Education (Thailand) to encourage educational exchanges between Thailand and Europe. You can find more details about the programme and how your university can take part at ASEM-DUO .

The British Council in Thailand is working with UK universities to develop science and technology partnerships. For more details see the British Council’s Science work in Thailand .

Will my qualification be recognised in the UK?

In some areas, where professional training has been undertaken in Thailand, further qualifications may be needed in order to work in the UK. However, in general, Thailand has a recognised university education system. For a fee, postgraduate qualifications obtained in Thailand can be assessed against UK qualifications by the UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom)  in a ‘Statement of Comparability’.