🇹🇭 Thailand · Study Abroad
How to study in Thailand as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Quick answer
To study in Thailand you apply to the university, which issues an acceptance letter; you then apply for a Non-Immigrant ED (education) visa at a Thai consulate and, after arrival, report to immigration and extend the stay as needed (with 90-day reporting). Many international programs are in English. Explore the university sites and apply by the deadline.
Thailand hosts public and private universities with a growing number of international (English-taught) programmes, especially in Bangkok. International students apply directly to the institution and then obtain a Non-Immigrant ED visa. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) oversees higher education and quality.
- Public and private universities with growing international (English-taught) programmes, especially in Bangkok.
- Apply directly to the institution and then obtain a Non-Immigrant ED visa.
- MHESI oversees higher education and quality.
Step-by-step
- 1
Choose your course and institution
Choose your program and apply to the university; many international programs are in English. Explore the university sites.
- 2
Meet academic and language requirements
Meet the academic entry requirements and prove language ability (e.g. an English or local-language test) at the level the course demands.
- 3
Apply for admission
Apply for admission through the relevant application route by the deadline, with transcripts, test scores and supporting documents.
- 4
Receive offer and enrollment document
On acceptance, obtain your official enrollment/acceptance document, which you will need for the visa application.
- 5
Apply for your student visa
Apply for a Non-Immigrant ED (education) visa at a Thai consulate; after arrival, report to immigration and extend as needed (90-day reporting).
- 6
Arrive, enroll and know the rules
Arrive before the term, complete enrollment and any residence registration, and note the rules on part-time work and post-study stay.
Checklist
- Course, level and institution chosen
- Academic + language requirements met
- Admission application submitted by deadline
- Offer + enrollment/acceptance document received
- Proof of funds + health cover prepared
- Student visa applied for + granted
- Arrival, enrollment + registration done
- Work-hours and post-study stay rules understood
Official authorities
- Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI)
Official higher-education authority.
Frequently asked questions
What is an ED visa?
Thailand’s Non-Immigrant ED (education) visa for studying; you obtain it at a consulate and extend it at immigration after arrival.
What is 90-day reporting?
A requirement to notify immigration of your address every 90 days while on a long-stay visa such as the ED visa.
Are courses taught in English?
Many international programs, including at Chulalongkorn, Mahidol and AIT, are in English; others are in Thai, so check each program.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- Royal Thai Government — Official portal of the Royal Thai Government
- Thai Immigration Bureau — Visas, 90-day reporting, and re-entry permits
- Revenue Department — Thai personal income tax and VAT
- Board of Investment (BOI) — Foreign-investment incentives and the LTR long-term visa