Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand is a fascinating study destination. Tourism remains a major part of the country’s international profile: Thailand received about 35.38 million international visitors in 2017 and 35.55 million in 2024 after the post-pandemic rebound.
International tourism does not automatically translate into international student enrollment, but Thailand remains an attractive option for students who want affordable tuition, warm weather, diverse food, active city life, and a wide range of university options. In this article, we will look at cheap universities in Thailand.
Thailand has an aging population, and many universities have responded by expanding international partnerships, English-taught programs, and other forms of internationalization. Program availability, visa rules, and tuition fees can change, so students should always check official university and Thai government pages before applying.
In this article, we will go over cheap universities in Thailand for international students. Universities in Thailand can be relatively affordable, with the lowest option in this list starting from 16,000 THB per semester for some bachelor’s programs and 27,000 THB per semester for some master’s programs at Prince of Songkla University’s Faculty of Management Sciences.
Affordable Schools in Thailand for International Students
1. Prince of Songkla University
- Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: from 16,000 THB/semester (Bachelor’s) | from 27,000 THB/semester (Master’s) | from 77,000 THB/semester (PhD)
Prince of Songkla University (PSU) was established in 1967 as the first university in southern Thailand. It was created to serve the needs of the region, contribute to local development, and actively participate in the community. PSU has five campuses, 39 faculties, colleges, and institutes, and four hospitals that support healthcare education and benefit the community.
Prince of Songkla University is one of the cheapest universities in Thailand for international students. The bachelor’s fee starts from 16,000 THB (about USD 500) per semester for programs such as Finance and Marketing and goes up to 79,500 THB (about USD 2,400) per semester for programs such as Management and Entrepreneurship. For master’s programs, tuition starts from 27,000 THB (about USD 800) per semester for the Master of Public Administration and 35,500 THB (about USD 1,100) for the Master of Business Administration, while the MBA International Program costs 60,000 THB (about USD 1,800) per semester. Doctoral tuition is 77,000 THB (about USD 2,300) per semester for the Doctor of Philosophy in Management Program.
2. Khon Kaen University (KKU)
Khon Kaen University is a major public university in Northeast Thailand and a well-known research center in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and engineering. The International College (KKUIC) and various faculties offer English-taught degrees with a practical, regional focus, industry connections, and an active campus community. KKU’s location in Khon Kaen can also help students keep living costs lower than in Bangkok while still giving them access to modern facilities and a large alumni network.
Regarding tuition fees, undergraduate international engineering programs start from 50,000 THB (about USD 1,500) per semester for students from Mekong-region countries and 65,000 THB (about USD 1,900) per semester for students from other regions. KKU International College bachelor’s programs generally range from 60,000 THB (about USD 1,800) to 73,000 THB (about USD 2,200) per semester. For master’s programs, tuition starts from 40,000 THB (about USD 1,200) per semester for several engineering programs, while KKUIC’s M.Sc. in International Technology and Innovation Management lists tuition at 50,000 THB (about USD 1,500) per semester. Doctoral engineering programs list tuition at 47,500 THB (about USD 1,400) per semester. Several graduate programs also add an international student fee of 15,000 THB (about USD 450) per semester.
3. MahaSarakham University
- Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: from 35,000 THB/semester (undergraduate) | graduate fees vary by program
Mahasarakham University (MSU) began as a College of Education in 1968, became a regional campus of Srinakharinwirot University in 1974, and later became an independent public university in 1994. It has since expanded beyond teacher training into a comprehensive university with a broad range of academic fields.
MSU has campuses in Maha Sarakham Province, including its city campus and its Kham Riang campus in Kantharawichai District. The university offers programs across many disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, business, education, engineering, architecture, informatics, health sciences, and other fields.
Mahasarakham University is a cheap university in Thailand for international students. Published international curriculum listings show bachelor’s options from 35,000 THB (about USD 1,000) per semester, such as English for International Communication, and programs such as International Business at 57,000 THB (about USD 1,700) per semester. Graduate tuition varies by program, so applicants should confirm the exact current fee with MSU before applying.
4. Naresuan University (NU)
- Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: from 80,000 THB/semester (Bachelor’s) | from 120,000 THB/semester (Master’s) | from 150,000 THB/semester (Doctoral)
Naresuan University in Phitsanulok is a comprehensive public university known for research, applied science, teacher education, and health-related programs. NU’s green campus, modern labs, and international office make it an appealing option for students who want a balanced city-campus lifestyle away from Bangkok’s higher cost of living.
The bachelor’s tuition ranges from 80,000 THB (about USD 2,400) per semester to 306,400 THB (about USD 9,200) per semester. For master’s programs, tuition ranges from 120,000 THB (about USD 3,600) per semester to 400,000 THB (about USD 12,000) per semester. For doctoral programs, tuition ranges from 150,000 THB (about USD 4,500) per semester to 600,000 THB (about USD 18,000) per semester. NU also charges per-semester international student fees of 60,000 THB (about USD 1,800) for bachelor’s students, 30,000 THB (about USD 900) for master’s students, and 45,000 THB (about USD 1,300) for doctoral students.
5. Chulalongkorn University
- Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Tuition Fees: from 76,000 THB/semester (undergraduate) | from 76,000 THB/semester (graduate)
The oldest higher education institution in Thailand is Chulalongkorn University. This cheap university in Thailand was named after one of Thailand’s kings and was established as a university in 1917. It is located in Bangkok and has more than 35,000 students. Chulalongkorn University has 19 faculties, a school of agricultural resources, several colleges, institutes, and a graduate school.
An interesting aspect is that the King used to be the one who handed over diplomas at graduation ceremonies. Nowadays, this is done by members of the royal family. Because one of the institutions that merged to create the university was a royal school, students are required to wear uniforms.
The tuition fees at Chulalongkorn University are competitive for international students. The bachelor’s fee starts from 76,000 THB (about USD 2,300) per semester for arts and social science-related groups and goes up to 106,000 THB (about USD 3,200) per semester for the highest listed life-science group. For graduate students, standard group-based tuition starts from 76,000 THB (about USD 2,300) per semester for arts and goes up to 133,900 THB (about USD 4,000) per semester for the highest listed life-science group. Some special programs charge different rates, so students should confirm the exact fee for their chosen program.
6. Sripatum University
- Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: from 56,150 THB/semester (Bachelor’s)
Sripatum University was originally founded in 1970 as a college. Seventeen years later, it became a university. It has multiple schools and colleges, including Sripatum International College (SPUIC). At this university, students also wear uniforms.
SPUIC focuses on international, business-oriented undergraduate options, including business administration, airline business, China-ASEAN business, and pathway-style study options. Program names and partner arrangements can change, so students should check SPUIC’s admissions page for the current list before applying.
SPUIC’s published fee schedule for foreign students shows bachelor’s tuition from 56,150 THB (about USD 1,700) per semester for the B.B.A. International Program. Other listed programs include the B.B.A. China-ASEAN Program, with semester tuition up to 79,450 THB (about USD 2,400), and the B.A. Airline Business International Program, with several semesters listed at 66,500 THB (about USD 2,000). Total program tuition varies by program, with the B.B.A. International Program listed at 496,000 THB (about USD 14,900), the B.B.A. China-ASEAN Program at 650,200 THB (about USD 19,500), and the B.A. Airline Business International Program at 562,400 THB (about USD 16,800).
7. Bangkok University
- Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: from 22,600 THB/semester (some bachelor’s programs for foreign students) | from 73,450 THB/semester (BU International bachelor’s programs) | from 199,630 THB for the whole degree (Master’s) | from 568,980 THB for the whole program (Doctoral)
Bangkok University (BU) is a private institution that was established in 1962. Along with its campus in the capital city, the university also has a campus in Rangsit. Depending on the program, students may study at different campuses during different parts of their degree.
International programs in English currently include several bachelor’s programs through BU International, including marketing, entrepreneurship, media and communication, business English, creative communication design, international tourism and hospitality management, culinary arts and design, innovative media production, and business administration majors. BU also offers selected English-taught graduate programs, including electrical and computer engineering, global communication, innovation management, and knowledge management and innovation.
Tuition fees depend on the program. Some regular bachelor’s programs for foreign students list semester tuition from 22,600 THB (about USD 700), while BU International bachelor’s programs list first-year semester tuition from 73,450 THB (about USD 2,200) to 97,400 THB (about USD 2,900), depending on the program and semester. Total BU International bachelor’s tuition ranges from 524,750 THB (about USD 15,700) to 731,130 THB (about USD 21,900). For foreign master’s students, total program tuition ranges from 199,630 THB (about USD 6,000) to 374,530 THB (about USD 11,200). For foreign doctoral students, total program tuition ranges from 568,980 THB (about USD 17,000) to 1,199,920 THB (about USD 35,900).
FAQs: Studying in Thailand
How is the Admissions Process at Universities in Thailand?
Admissions methods vary by university and program. Many public-university admissions use the Thai Central Admission System (TCAS), which currently operates through four main rounds: Portfolio, Quota, Admission, and Direct Admission. Private universities usually run their own admission processes, which may include interviews, tests, essays, portfolio reviews, or document screening.
What is the Language of Instruction at Universities in Thailand?
Thailand’s official language is Thai, so many degree programs are taught in Thai. However, many universities also offer international or English-taught programs. Availability changes by university, level, and intake year, so students should check the current program page before applying.
How Expensive are Universities in Thailand?
As in many countries, tuition fees for international students in Thailand can be higher than fees for domestic students. However, Thailand can still be affordable compared with many other study destinations. Depending on the university and program, tuition can range from low-cost public-university programs to higher-priced medical, health science, design, and private international programs.
Some Thai universities list tuition by semester, while others list the total cost of the whole program. If a program looks unusually expensive, check whether the amount is for one semester, one year, or the entire degree.
Is Thailand an Expensive Country to Study?
Like many countries in the region, Thailand can be relatively affordable for students, although costs vary by city and lifestyle. University estimates show that students outside Bangkok may budget around 3,000 to 6,000 THB per month for accommodation and 6,000 to 10,000 THB per month for general living costs. In Bangkok, Chulalongkorn University estimates at least 10,000 THB per month for food and personal expenses, with meals often around 50 to 100 THB. Students should also budget for housing, utilities, books, insurance, transportation, visa-related costs, and personal expenses.
We hope this article on cheap universities in Thailand was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Study in Thailand and Available Programs for International Students!
