Why Cambodian Students Choose Thai Universities and How to Apply

Why Cambodian students look to Thailand

Thailand sits next door, which cuts your travel cost and time compared to studying further afield, and its universities run a wide range of programs taught in English rather than only in Thai. Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other university cities also offer a cost of living close to what you already know from Phnom Penh, so the adjustment is smaller than moving to Europe, Australia or North America. Add in Thailand's ASEAN-focused scholarship programs built specifically for students from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, and Thailand becomes one of the more accessible study-abroad options for Cambodian students.

How many Cambodian students actually go

More than 2,500 Cambodian students have studied at Thai universities over the past decade, and 2,132 of them received a scholarship named for Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, according to Cambodia's government information portal . That scholarship reflects the close bilateral tie between Cambodia and Thailand on education specifically, distinct from Thailand's broader regional scholarship programs open to more ASEAN countries.

Scholarship routes into Thai universities

• Thailand's MHESI Scholarships Programme, Group 1, funds master's and doctoral study conducted in English or another international format at Thai universities, and it is reserved specifically for applicants from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, per MHESI's published scholarship notice

• The Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Scholarship funds Cambodian students specifically, reflecting a long-standing bilateral education partnership between Cambodia and Thailand

• Individual Thai universities also run their own scholarships for ASEAN or CLMV applicants on top of the national programs, so check the international office of any university you are targeting directly

Where Cambodian students apply

Thailand's larger public universities, including Chulalongkorn University, Thammasat University, Mahidol University, Kasetsart University and Chiang Mai University, all run international programs taught in English alongside their Thai-medium programs. Mahidol is a common choice for health sciences, Kasetsart for agriculture and life sciences, and Chulalongkorn and Thammasat for business, law and the social sciences. Match your program choice to your field first, since Thai universities vary sharply in strength by subject the same way universities anywhere do.

How to apply

1. Decide whether you are applying directly to a university's international program or through a scholarship such as MHESI Group 1 or the Sirindhorn Scholarship, since the application channel and deadline differ between the two

2. Check the specific entry requirement for your target program: most international programs ask for your Bac II certificate or equivalent secondary transcript plus an English test score, while Thai-medium programs expect Thai language ability

3. Submit your application directly to the university's international affairs or admissions office if going the direct route, or through the MHESI or embassy scholarship portal if applying for funding

4. Once you have an offer or acceptance letter, apply for a Thai Non-Immigrant ED Visa at the Royal Thai Embassy or a Thai consulate, since you need this visa class specifically for full-time study in Thailand

5. After you arrive, register with Thai immigration and your university's international student office within the timeframe your visa requires, since both steps keep your visa status valid through your program

Getting your Thai degree recognized in Cambodia

Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport reviews foreign degrees before you can use them for public sector jobs or further study back home, so confirm your target Thai university and program sits on an accredited list before you commit years of study to it. Thai universities in the public system, and most well-established private ones, hold accreditation through Thailand's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, which most Cambodian employers and MoEYS recognize without extra hurdles. If you plan to come home and work in a regulated field such as medicine or law, check the specific licensing body's foreign-degree rules early, since these run separately from general degree recognition.

Cost compared with studying at home

Public university tuition in Thailand's international programs generally costs more than Cambodia's public universities charge, since Thai public universities price international-track programs closer to what they charge Thai students in special programs rather than the heavily subsidized general-track rate. Scholarships close most of that gap for Cambodian students who win one, which is why the MHESI and Sirindhorn scholarship routes matter more for Thailand than for some other study destinations. If you are self-funding without a scholarship, compare the specific program's published fee against a comparable program in Cambodia or Vietnam before committing, since the gap varies widely by university and field.

Before you go

• Start your English test prep early if your program requires an IELTS or equivalent score, since most Thai international programs set a minimum score you need before enrollment, not just before graduation

• Budget for costs beyond tuition: student housing, health insurance and the visa and registration fees you pay after arrival all add up separately from your tuition bill

• Reach out to current Cambodian students at your target university through its international student association if one exists, since they can tell you what the application process and first semester actually look like beyond the official checklist

Practical differences to expect

Course delivery in Thailand's international programs runs close to what you would expect at any English-medium university, with lectures, assignments and exams in English even though campus life outside class runs in Thai. Comparative reviews of the two education systems note that Thailand's higher education sector is larger and more internationally connected than Cambodia's, with more accredited institutions and a longer track record of hosting international students, which shows up in more established support services for foreign students on Thai campuses.