As Chinese students flock to Thai universities, some are in for a hard lesson

Thailand’s universities may rank below their counterparts in the US and Singapore, but lower costs and entry standards can still give them the edge

While their popularity is increasing, complaints of exploitation are also on the rise

Reading Time:3 minutes

A Thai monk walks past an advertisement in Bangkok. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:45am, 20 Oct 2019Updated: 12:12pm, 20 Oct 2019

Thailand’s higher education sector is experiencing growing demand from Chinese students, but as thousands flock to the country to study, some are leaving the Land of Smiles less than happy with their experience.

While relatively low costs and, in some cases, lower entry standards help to draw Chinese students to the country, increasing numbers feel they are being exploited – either by the universities themselves or by unscrupulous middlemen marketing their services. They have complained of being overcharged or offered substandard courses.

Tang, 35, is among them. The PhD candidate said he paid an “education agent” in Beijing 120,000 yuan (US$17,000) to pursue a two-year MBA at one of Thailand’s private universities in 2017. This included a semester fee, air travel and accommodation.

A tuk-tuk in Bangkok. Thailand’s low cost of living is a key draw for Chinese students. Photo: Dickson Lee

“When I came to Thailand I found out that other Chinese students paid around 100,000 yuan (US$14,000). That was when I knew I had been overcharged. To this day, I don’t know how much the real fee was.”

The website for Tang’s MBA English-language course said the overall semester fee was 230,000 baht or 53,000 yuan.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x