Investors follow as Chinese students flock to Thai universities

Hostile Western immigration policies and low tuition fees are contributing to the growth of Chinese students in Thailand but concerns about “diploma mills” may hamper the destination’s appeal. 

In 2022, there were 21,419 Chinese students in Thai higher education institutions, according to government data, a number that has grown steadily since the early 2000s, albeit with some interruptions during the pandemic.  

While this figure pales in comparison with the number of Chinese students in leading Western destinations, Chinese students make up 62 per cent of Thailand’s international student population and play a crucial role in the country’s ambition of becoming an education hub for the wider region. 

Analysts suggest Chinese students were attracted to Thailand by low tuition fees and less competition for university spaces than in China, while increasingly hostile immigration policies in Western destinations were also seen to be boosting intra-Asian mobility. 

“The attraction of Thailand is also one of geographic and, to an extent, cultural similarity, as well as Thailand’s strong reputation as a tourism friendly country with its accompanying ‘experience’ infrastructure,” said Miguel Lim, a senior lecturer in education and international development at the University of Manchester. 

Private Thai universities have reaped the rewards of this interest, enrolling growing numbers of Chinese students paying higher fees. 

Some universities, such as Bangkok’s Krirk University, have almost entirely Chinese student bodies, and offer courses in both English and Chinese languages.

Growing demand from Chinese students has also resulted in increased investment in Thailand’s education system from private Chinese businesses, in turn fostering attraction to the South-east Asian nation.

“The involvement of Chinese investors in Thai universities has accelerated the marketing of Thai education to China, with universities likely tailoring programmes to better meet the needs of Chinese students,” said Ly Tran, a senior lecturer in Deakin University’s School of Education. 

Krirk, along with two other private universities, came under scrutiny in 2019 after they received money from Chinese investors. The government was forced to confirm that they legally remained Thai entities, as the majority of shareholders were Thai nationals. At the time, it was thought that at least 10 other Thai universities were in talks with Chinese investors.

However, there are growing concerns within both Thailand and China about the quality of education on offer at some institutions catering for Chinese students.  

In 2021, the Chinese embassy in Thailand issued a statement saying it had received complaints about some “international colleges” at Thai universities offering Chinese courses. 

“These universities and agencies have recently developed recruitment agents in China and stepped up recruitment efforts, with exaggerated and untrue content and promises in their publicity,” the statement read. 

“Students reported that after enrolling, they found that the project time and faculty strength were quite different from the previous publicity and personal expectations, which caused great trouble to their academic planning.”

Jingran Yu, an assistant professor in Xiamen University’s Institute of Education, said there were “shifting perceptions” about studying in Thailand among the Chinese public, “with growing concerns over the credibility and recognition of degrees from certain institutions”. 

“Media discussions and online forums increasingly scrutinise the quality of Thai university programmes, particularly in light of regional debates about ‘diploma mills’ in South-east Asia,” he continued.

On the other side, there has also been growing tension in Thailand about a perceived influx of Chinese migrants, with foreign investors accused of driving up rents and political questions about the impact of visa exemptions. 

“With some Thai universities reporting that Chinese students make up the majority of their student population, and concerns about Chinese migration being more widely observed in Thailand, government policies and institutional strategies will need to focus on diversifying the student body and improving social licence,” said Tran. 

“A key area of attention should be how to maximise the presence of both Chinese and international students on campus to help internationalise the curriculum, teaching, learning and the student experiences, ultimately enriching learning for all.”

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com