In academic year 2020, Thammasat University offered admission programs specifically for two underrepresented groups, namely, (1) “White Elephant Program”: poor-but-well-performing students from rural areas of 38 provinces, and from Bangkok, and (2) “Deep South Program”: poor-but-well-performing students from three deep southern provinces. The admitted students were provided with full or partial scholarships. In total there are 17 faculties and colleges participate in this program and admitted these students.
The White Elephant Program provides 284 positions for rural poor students (from the 38 provinces) and 65 positions for urban poor students (from Bangkok). Fifty full scholarships and 100 partial scholarships are provided. For the Deep South Program, 9 positions with full scholarship are offered.
The students who would be eligible for this program must be from low income household (such as farming or wage laborer households, or low level government staff), whose total annual income (income of parents and those who pay for educational expenditure) is no more than 240,000 baht/year (7954.92 US Dollar).
The eligible students must also be registered in the 38 provinces as follows: (1) Central region (7 provinces) – Ang Thong, Singburi, Chainat, Lopburi, Suphanburi, Ratchaburi, Karnchanaburi, Prachuab Kiri Khan; (2) Eastern region (3 provinces) – Prachinburi, Srakaew, Trad; (3) Northern region (9 provinces) – Lumpang, Tak, Sukhothai, Nan, Phrae, Phayao, Uttradit, Chiangrai, Mae Hong Sorn; (4) Northeastern region (15 provinces) – Udorn Thani, Nong Bua Lampoo, Sakonnakorn, Yasothorn, Mukdaharn, Amnart Chareon, Burirum, Surin, Sri Saket, Nakornphanom, Kalasin, Mahasarakham, Nakorn Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchthani, (5) Southern region (3 provinces) – Ranong, Trang and Pattalung. For the Deep South Program, the provinces include Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani.
Application can be accessed through this website: https://www.tuadmissions.in.th/
Recruitment process was designed to ensure that the opportunities are given to the right students. A committee is formed, and considers the applications and supporting documents. The committee has to evaluate the applicants’ academic records, and their socio-economic conditions from the documents. Then the committee organizes an unannounced visit to the applicants’ home to validate the evidence provided in the documents. After validating both academic records and socio-economic status, Ordinary National Educational Test (O-NET) and General Aptitude Test (GAT) results of the applicants will also be considered along with other criteria.
Thammasat University has offered admission positions for the under-represented groups under this regulation and criteria since 2009.
Please see more details:
Thammasat for SDGs 