Financing for equity in higher education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students
4. Support for students' living costs
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
According to UIS data, Thailand’s gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education was 46.18% in 2023. Government expenditure per tertiary student, as a share of GDP per capita, was 18.56% based on 2013 estimates. Data on household contributions per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita are not available.
Tuition-free status
The 1999 National Education Act guarantees twelve years of free basic education, from pre-primary through upper secondary levels, but does not cover higher education.
Public universities, overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), operate with administrative and financial autonomy, allowing them to set tuition rates within state-approved frameworks. This arrangement was reinforced in 2019 when tertiary education oversight was formally integrated into MHESI. The 1998 Student Loan Fund Act confirms the absence of a legal guarantee for free higher education, establishing income-contingent loans for students unable to pay tuition and living costs upfront, with repayment beginning after graduation once a minimum income threshold is reached.
Governance
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) is the principal government body responsible for the financing and governance of higher education in Thailand. MHESI collaborates with the Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC), which manages academic policy, and the Bureau of the Budget, which allocates annual financial resources. The Ministry of Finance oversees macro-level funding structures and loan schemes, including the Student Loan Fund.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Although higher education is centrally administered, resources are transferred to regional institutions and, indirectly, to local governments through direct budget allocations to regional public universities and community colleges. According to the 2025 Thailand Budget in Brief, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) has a total budget of 132.3 billion THB, with the largest share allocated to national universities such as Chulalongkorn and Kasetsart. Rajabhat and Rajamangala Universities of Technology also receive substantial funding, while research agencies and public organisations account for a smaller portion (in millions of THB): Rajabhat Universities, 21,486.5; Rajamangala Universities of Technology, 10,581.0; National Universities, 92,735.6; Research Institutes & Agencies, 6,251.9; Other HEIs and Public Organisations, 3,239.1; total MHESI budget, 132,294.1.
Central funding is often supplemented by targeted programmes to enhance access for underserved populations. The One District One Scholarship (ODOS) programme, initially launched in the early 2000s and later revived, enables students from every district to pursue studies locally or internationally, promoting equity in higher education.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
Public higher education institutions receive operational and developmental subsidies from the government. The 2003 Private Institution of Higher Education Act, as amended in 2007, allows private institutions of higher education to receive government subsidies. This legislative change was implemented to promote greater access to higher education and to support the development of private institutions.
Allocation and equity
Public higher education institutions receive operational and developmental subsidies from the government. The 2003 Private Institution of Higher Education Act, as amended in 2007, allows private institutions of higher education to receive government subsidies. This legislative change was implemented to promote greater access to higher education and to support the development of private institutions.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
Admission quotas exist for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including ethnic minorities and southern conflict-affected provinces.
Several universities in Thailand implement special admission pathways for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. These may include students from low-income families. The 2007 Persons with Disabilities Empowerment Act ensures that individuals with disabilities have the right to access education and related services.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
Equitable Education Fund (EEF): The 2017 Constitution mandates the creation of a fund aimed at reducing disparities in education and assisting underprivileged children and youth. In response, the Equitable Education Fund (EEF), established by the 2018 Equitable Education Fund Act aims to award full scholarships to selected students from the poorest 20% of families who perform well academically relative to peers in the same income group, avoiding comparisons with students from wealthier backgrounds. The Fund plans to identify and assist approximately 2,800 scholarship recipients each year.
Student Loan Fund: The Student Loan Fund (SLF), established under the 1998 Student Loan Fund Act and overseen by MHESI and the Ministry of Finance, provides income-contingent loans to tertiary students from families with limited financial means. Loans cover tuition and living expenses, with repayment beginning after graduation once a minimum income threshold is reached.
Other scholarship programmes support academically outstanding students, students from low-income families, female students in STEM, and students from underrepresented regions. The Minister of MHESI oversees policies and operations related to these scholarships, including Thailand Scholarships and the Royal Thai Government Scholarship Programme, which finance domestic and international education for top-performing students. On 13 May 2025, the Cabinet approved the Outstanding Development Opportunity Scholarship (ODOS) project, aimed at reducing educational inequality and developing skilled human resources. ODOS will provide 7,200 scholarships to 4,800 students across upper-secondary, vocational, and bachelor’s levels, both domestically and abroad, with a particular focus on STEM fields. The programme has a total budget of 4,599.45 million THB, funded by government sources and initiatives such as the charity lottery, and will run from 2025 to 2033. The scholarships include 4,800 for domestic upper-secondary and lower vocational studies, 200 for overseas higher vocational and bachelor’s studies, and 2,200 for domestic bachelor’s studies.
4. Support for students’ living costs
The Royal Thai Government Scholarship Programme provides coverage for tuition, housing, and a living stipend at the Asian Institute of Technology’s residential campus throughout the full 22-month master's degree programme.
