Congratulations on choosing Thailand for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree abroad! You’ll have a great time in this beautiful country, which is a paradise for tourists from all over the world.
But what are the main steps one needs to follow to apply to a Thai university? Let’s find out!
1. Find a Thai university to apply to
In case you haven’t already decided where you want to enrol, here are some of the top-ranked universities in Thailand:
- Chulalongkorn University
- Mahidol University
- Mae Fah Luang University
- King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
Find other universities in Thailand.
2. Learn where to submit your university application
Since not all higher education institutions in Thailand have the same application procedures and requirements, you need to follow the steps indicated on the official website of the university where you want to enrol.
A good rule of thumb is to contact the university when you have doubts. By doing this, you can avoid headaches like a delay in your application process.
3. Meet the university entry requirements
We’ve already mentioned that the application criteria vary among universities. In general, you need to provide:
- filled-in application form
- proof of paying the application fee (if applicable)
- high school diploma (to apply for a Bachelor’s)
- Bachelor’s diploma (to apply for a Master’s)
- transcript of records
- proof of English proficiency
- proof of financial resources (to live and study there)
- medical certificate
- passport-sized photo(s)
- copy of valid passport and/or personal ID
- letter(s) of recommendation
- personal statement
You’ll probably be asked to send official copies or official translated copies of most of these documents. That can take extra time (and, of course, money), so include it in your planning.
4. Meet the language requirements
International students need to prove a reasonable level of English skills to study in Thailand. Most universities ask that students present the results from one of these English language tests:
Learn more about IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE Academic.
5. Apply before the application deadlines
The application deadlines depend on many factors:
- intake periods (for some programmes, there’s just one in autumn, for others there are two: one in autumn, one in spring)
- the university where you want to enrol
- the type of study programme
- your nationality
You will notice that general application deadlines range from March, April and May (for courses that start in autumn) to November, December, or January (for courses that start in spring).
Since deadlines can change from one year to another, the best piece of advice we can give is to check the official dates on the university website.
6. Final steps after receiving your acceptance letter
- confirm your enrolment after receiving the acceptance letter/university offer
- apply for a student visa in Thailand
- apply for medical insurance
- search for scholarships and grants. You can also apply for our Studyportals Scholarship.