Education Fees in Thailand
Q. How much does it cost to send a child to school in Thailand?
A. Education is free if your child is a Thai national (one Thai parent and born in Thailand). Private and international schools vary wildly on price. But, as a rough guide:
Nursery school/kindergarden/junior school: 30,000-50,000 Baht per semester ($1,000-$2,000)
Private school/secondary school: 100,000-300,000 Baht per semester ($3,000-$10,000)
Schools normally have 2 semesters (or terms), although some have 3.
If you have children in Thailand at some point you will need to think about saving so they can go to university, which can be very expensive. The earlier you start saving, the more likely you will achieve your target.
For help and advice concerning saving money to pay for your child’s education in Thailand, contact an independent financial advisor in thailand. If you are from the UK, you can now tranfer your UK pension offshore to reduce your UK tax bill effectively to zero. Click here for your free QROPS guide
Q. How much does it cost to send a child to school in Bangkok?
A. Education is free if you are a Thai national and have one Thai parent. Fees for books and classes may be 10,000 baht per year for a child in Isaan. To send a child to an international kindergarden is 30,000 – 50,000 Bahy per term. Here is an example of a school on Suknumvit soi 31 in the centre of the city in Bangkok:
International Kindergarten in Bangkok
UK junior school in Bangkok
Private/International Schools
The facilities and quality of teaching in international schools are usually of a very high standard and the class sizes are small. There are over 70 international schools in Bangkok alone.
The curriculum may vary between schools although most follow either the American or British curriculum. There are also schools that offer the International Baccalaureate or use national systems from Germany, Switzerland, Japan or India. International school students study internationally recognized courses such as AP, GCE “A” Level, IGCSE and the IB, which allow them to attend higher education institutes in countries outside Thailand.
Thai studies are a compulsory subject in international schools as in government schools. Most international schools offer wide ranging extra curricula activities including sports, arts, dance and community service.
Each school will follow its own admissions procedure which can include placement tests and inspection of prior academic records. Typically there is a fee for the admissions process. Normally, schools will require students to have a Non-immigrant ED visa in order to enroll. The parent must make direct contact with the school before attempting to obtain a Non-immigrant ED visa and if possible, prior to coming to Thailand. If the family is on a tourist visa, they will be required to leave the country in order to obtain the necessary visa (see admission requirements below).
For a full list of international schools in Thailand, Click here
For a quick synopsis of some of the international schools in Bangkok, Click here
Public/Government Schools
Education is compulsory for all Thai children from ages 6-15. It isn’t compulsory for pre-school children to attend nursery school or kindergarden, however there are facilities for children aged 3-5.
Government or public schools are free for Thai nationals. Children that have at least one Thai parent are considered Thai nationals if their birth was registered in Thailand by the Thai parent. As a Thai national, they are able to register in a Thai public school and receive all of the educational benefits allocated to a Thai national. The only documents required when registering are a birth certificate and a house registration document (‘tabien baan’).
Parents are required to pay a nominal fee for books and necessities. They are also required to buy a school uniform.
The following are the five areas in the government school curriculum:
- Basic skills in Thai language and mathematics
- Life experience including social studies, natural science, health education, citizenship and conservation
- Character development including moral education, physical education, music, performing arts and art education
- Special experience (for grades 5-6) involving English language or special vocational skills relevant to the needs of the community
- Thai studies (except in preschools)
Although there have been recent improvements in the teaching of the English language in Thai schools, many acknowledge that there is still much to be done to improve this and most of the teachers will be Thai (even the ones teaching English).
Many government schools run an English-language programme that may be available to foreign students, but there are fees for this. These programmes are much cheaper than an international school, but class sizes will be bigger and the method of teaching may be of a lesser standard.
Higher Education Institutions
Click here for a list of universities in Thailand
Admission Requirements for Foreign Students
Some or all of the following documents are usually required for foreign students enrolling in international or government schools. Check with the school for individual requirements.
- Passport valid for six months beyond intended length of stay
- Non-immigrant ED visa
- All documentation from previous school (if applicable)
- Birth Certificate
- Health Certificate
- Immunization Records
The following documents are required for foreign students enrolling in a higher education school:
- High School Certificate or equivalent
- Academic records from previous schools
- Non-immigrant ED visa
Note: An admission exam may also be required before a student is accepted into a program of study.
School Hours & Public Holidays
Government school times do vary but the school day usually starts at 08:30 when the National Anthem is sung. It ends at around 15:30. International schools may have differing start and finish times depending on the school.
Private international schools:
- 5 week holiday in July and August
- 2 weeks at Christmas
- 2 weeks at Easter.
Thai state schools:
- 1st October – 1st November (approximately)
- 1st March – 30th April (approximately)
For advice on saving for school fees in Thailand, you need to contact an independent financial advisor in Thailand.