Study Master in Thailand 2025
Study in Thailand
Why Study in Thailand?
Thailand has a very diverse and open culture that encourages debate and discussion and the country promotes sustainable and holistic solutions to problems. Approximately 400 master’
s degree programs in the country are aimed at international students and are taught in English. Many higher education institutions in Thailand are highly regarded, especially in the areas of environmental studies, agriculture, energy, law and Buddhist studies. In addition, many graduate programs exist in business and management and most of these are taught in English.
Universities in Thailand
Thailand has 80 public universities and 71 private higher education institutions. Of the 80 public universities, 63 are classified as limited admission universities, 2 as open admission universities and 15 as autonomous universities, which include 2 Buddhist universities. Most higher education institutions welcome international students, and about 20,000 foreign students study in Thailand each year. The most popular study areas for international students are Thai and English language, business administration, and international business and marketing.
Tuition and Program Duration
Tuition and fees vary across universities and programs. Tuition for master’s degree programs at public universities is usually about $1,000 (US) to $2,000 (US) per year. Tuition at private universities is about $75 (US) to $125 (US) per credit hour.
Master’s programs generally require two years and 36 credit hours to complete. Students normally earn 9-15 credit hours each semester.
Academic Year
The academic year at most schools is composed of two 16-week semesters and a summer session. The first semester runs from June through October, the second semester runs from November through March and the summer semester runs from April through May. Some universities use the Western semester calendar of September through December and January through May, and some universities use trimesters. By 2014, it is expected that all universities in Thailand will use the Western semester system to better align with the international community.
Post-Graduate Opportunities
There are many opportunities to work in Thailand after graduation, especially for multinational companies. Thailand has a very diverse economy; major industries include tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry, computers, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics and automobiles. Students who want to remain in Thailand to work must apply for a Non-Immigrant Visa at the Thai embassy or consulate in their home country.
Students who wish to pursue PhD studies in Thailand will also find many opportunities for further study and should work with the specific institution they are interested in attending.
Visa Requirements
International students require a visa to study in Thailand; however, in many cases the school that the student is planning to attend can help with the paperwork. Before arriving in Thailand, students must obtain an Education Visa (Non-Immigrant ED visa) from the Thai embassy or consulate in their home country. The Education Visa is only good for 90 days, so after arriving in Thailand students must apply for a one-year student visa, which can be extended for additional one-year periods as needed. The visa fee is THB 1,900 (about 60 USD).
After receiving the visa, students must notify the Immigration Office every 90 days of their current address; missing this notification results in a fine of THB 2,000. Students are also required to demonstrate that they have adequate finances for residing in Thailand during their studies. Single students must show they have THB 20,000 (about 650 USD) and students with families must have THB 40,000 (about 1300 USD).
Health Insurance
Thailand has a very modern health care system that includes government health services, non-governmental organizations and private medical services.Thai citizens holding a Universal Coverage Health card generally receive free medical services.However, all others must pay for services, whether they are obtained at public or private facilities.Students should obtain health insurance in their home country before arriving in Thailand, as many private hospitals will not treat patients without proof of health insurance.
Tips
Travelers checks, Visa and MasterCard provide the best currency exchange rates.US dollars are also readily accepted;however, travelers may not enter the country with more than 20,000 USD in cash. Tipping is not required; however, servers and taxi drivers appreciate it when people round up the bill so no change is required.
Change currency
Basic monthly living cost
Rent in a shared flat
330Share of utilities
21Internet subscription
15Local transportation
28
Sample lifestyle cost
Fast food combo
5Cinema ticket
6Pint of local beer
2
About Thailand
Thailand occupies the western half of the Indochinese peninsula and the northern two-thirds of the Malay Peninsula in southeast Asia. Its neighbors are Burma (Myanmar) on the north and west, Laos on the north and northeast, Cambodia on the east, and Malaysia on the south.Thailand is about the size of France.
Thailand is located in Southeast Asia and has borders with Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia and coastlines along both the Gulf of Thailand and the Strait of Malacca. Never colonized, the modern country is known for its hospitality, delicious cuisine, enchanting cities and historic temples.The country boasts a wide range of terrain and scenery, from beaches and mountains to tropical landscapes.Thailand has a globalized economy, with international flights from most major countries in the world. Many international corporations have offices in the country and Thailand is also home to a regional headquarters of the United Nations.The unit of currency is the Baht and the country is the world’s second-largest producer of tungsten and third-largest producer of tin.
Climate
Thailand has a relatively mild climate with temperatures that remain about the same year round. However, the country experiences three seasons – rainy, hot and cool. March and April are the warmest months with high temperatures around 38 degrees C and low temperatures around 28 degrees C combined with humidity around 80 percent. The rainiest months are June to October and the coolest months are November through February.
Culture
Thailand’s largest city, Bangkok, is a popular foreign tourist destination, with both nightlife and historical attractions such as the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Wat Pho. Thailand’s central location in Southeast Asia also makes it easy to travel to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, China and other nearby Asian countries.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Thailand is very low. Small apartments can be rented for about $60 (US) to $215 (US) per month. Students can expect to pay only about $30 (US) each month for food.
Visa Requirements
Non-immigration visa ED (education) - This type of visa is issued to applicants who wish to study, attend a seminar, training session, or internship in Thailand.
What type of Visa do you need?
Visa name
Non-immigration visa ED (education)
Price and currency
USD 80
The price of the student visa is country-dependent and can be around 80 USD. The fee may be subject to change.
The visa can only be paid for in cash either at the embassy or by sending the required amount of money by mail. The price of the visa is based on whether it is a single or multiple-entry visa. The fees also vary from country to country depending on the currency.
Who can apply for the visa?
In order to study in Thailand, all foreigners need to apply for a student visa.
Please note: Holding a student visa requires you to take at least three courses in Thailand. Taking four courses is recommended, however, so that you have solid proof of your studies in Thailand.
Where can you make the application?
Thai Embassy or Consulate-General
You are required to apply for a visa only at the Thai Embassy or Consulate-General in your home/residence country or at the designated Thai Embassy.
If you are in Thailand with a 60-day tourist visa, you can change your visa without leaving the country within the first 30 days of your visa - the other 30 days might be needed for processing your non-immigrant ED visa. The tourist visa must be valid for at least 21 more days in any case. If it's not, you will have to leave Thailand to apply for a visa from abroad. Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Singapore are the near-by options to do so.
How to make the application?
You are usually required to submit the following documents when applying for a student visa:
- Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months
- Visa application form completely filled out
- Recent (4 x 6 cm.) photograph of the applicant
- Recommendation letter addressed to the Consulate
- Letter of acceptance from the concerned academic institute/organization
- For those wishing to study in a Private institution, an official letter from the Ministry of Education of Thailand, or other sub-authorities concerned, approving the enrolment of foreign students and a copy of the registration certificate of the concerned academic institute are required
- Academic record and the Student ID (if currently studying)
- For those wishing to attend seminars, or training sessions, or internships, a recommendation letter from the concerned organization addressed to the Consulate is also required.
You need to validate your visa within the first 90 days in the country, regardless of your visa type.
When should you apply?
It will take at least four working days for the embassy to process your application after you bring it to them. This varies from country to country so consult the Thai embassy or consulate in your own country for more information.
The student visa is valid for 3 months. Holders of this visa may apply for an extension of stay at the Office of the Immigration Bureau and may be granted such extension for a period of one year from the date of first entry into Thailand.
Independent of how long you stay in Thailand, you need to notify the Immigration Bureau every 90 days and tell them your current address. It’s a simple form you need to fill in, and there is no fee.
Processing time
4 Days
Work opportunities
You are not allowed to work when you are in Thailand on a student visa. If you get an official job with the according visa and a work permit, you can also study on this visa, but not the other way around.
Hours per week
0
Why do you need this type of visa?
Your visa application may among other things be rejected if you are not taking a required number of courses, or if you provide incorrect or incomplete documents.
Institutions
- Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Mahidol University
- มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏพระนครศรีอยุธยา
- Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University
- มหาวิทยาลัยนราธิวาสราชนครินทร์
- Mae Fah Luang University
- วิทยาลัยเชียงราย
- Walailak University
- Rangsit University
- สถาบันเทคโนโลยีแห่งสุวรรณภูมิ
- Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University