Thai students study in overseas universities more and more, but should they?
I have recently started thinking about how Thai students study in overseas universities because a lot of my students learning English from me in Thailand are desperate to study in a foreign university.
Every year, almost 75,000 Thai students go to study overseas. Every day, one of my students comes to ask me for help taking TOEFL, TOEIC or IELTS exams, so they can get good scores and apply to international universities.
But, for Thai students, is it really necessary to study at a university overseas? Or, is a Thai university good enough?
Check out these pros and cons, if you’re a Thai student planning on studying overseas, before you decide if a Thai or foreign university is best for you.
Pros for when Thai Students Study in Overseas Universities
English Language Abilities Improve – The main reason most Thai university students want to study at a university overseas is so they can improve their English. In this case, yes, it’s a huge pro to be able to study overseas if you want to improve your English skills.
Every Thai student I have who has studied overseas is markedly better at English than even my best Thai students who have only learned English in Thailand.
Opportunity to Learn About Another Culture – The one tiny negative I often see with Thais is they think Thailand is the best country in the world. This is fine and good but many have never left Thailand, so how do they know?
Studying at a university overseas gives a Thai university student a chance to learn about and experience another culture and, the ones I know who have, came back to Thailand much more open-minded and a lot more culturally aware.
Learning about another culture can be a huge advantage, even in Thailand, especially as more international companies are moving to Thailand and a lot of jobs now require working with foreigners.
Degrees From Foreign Universities Are Better Than Thai Degrees – Overall, degrees at foreign universities are much better to have than Thai degrees. Even Chulalongkorn University, Thailand’s best university, isn’t particularly high up on the list of best universities in the world.
If you want a truly stellar education, especially in subjects like medicine, engineering, computer science and MBAs, you are much better going to a foreign university.
When you come back to Thailand, with an overseas degree, your chances of getting a good job will be much higher too.
Some Jobs Will Only Hire Graduates With Overseas Degrees – Some companies in Thailand now will only hire Thai employees with degrees from universities overseas.
For many of the international companies, this holds true for every position. For some of the Thai companies, this holds true for some positions.
So, with a university degree from a university overseas, you will definitely have chances with some companies you wouldn’t have without one.
Cons for when Thai Students Study at Overseas Universities
Expensive Cost of Foreign Universities – The cost for any university outside Thailand is far higher than for any Thai university. Even the top Thai universities only charge 20% of most US, Australian or British universities and then you will have living expenses in a foreign country on top of that.
Living Expenses Overseas – The cost of living in any developed country in the world is far higher than in Thailand. Any Thai student going to study overseas is going to need at least $25,000 per year in order to pay for university fees, books, plane travel, dorm rooms, food and miscellaneous stuff.
Some universities will require a much higher outlay than that and, that kind of money can take a long time to make up after you graduate. Staying at a Thai university, especially for an undergraduate degree, is much more cost-effective.
On top of that, most Thai university students studying in Thailand live at home, so there’s no need for a lot of money to be spent on living expenses.
Missing Family and Friends – Thais are family-oriented and missing family and friends can be even more severe for Thai university students overseas. Make sure, before you decide to study abroad, that you can be away from your family and friends for at least a year at a time.
If you can’t, you will quickly find it can be an expensive experiment, especially when you have to quit college and come home because you’re so homesick. I know two students who quit midway through the year and came back to Thailand, because they couldn’t stand being away from home any longer.
Their parents laid out an awful lot of money for what turned out to be a harsh lesson in how Thailand is just better for some people.
Thai University Degrees Often Good Enough – For many jobs in Thailand, a Thai university degree is good enough and it is your work experience that dictates how successful you are.
One of the Partners in the company I currently work for graduated with both an undergraduate and graduate degree from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, and he made Partner a full five years earlier than is normal in the company.
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He did it on an excellent work ethic and two decent Thai university degrees.
Check, therefore, before you make a decision to find out if you really do need that foreign degree or, if what career you are planning on following is just as obtainable with a Thai university degree.
There are many pros and cons to consider for Thai students planning on studying overseas. For me, as a foreigner, I love Thailand too much and know that Thais do too. So, I often think how difficult it must be for them to leave their country and family, just to get a university education outside the country.
So should Thai students study in overseas universities?
My advice to you would be, think long and hard before you decide to do so. It can be a great benefit for some people but it is definitely not for everyone.
Consider all the pros and cons carefully, especially the financial aspect of it, and then make your decision.
