Study in China from Thailand: Chinese Government Scholarship, Deadlines and Degree Recognition

Thai students can study in China on a Chinese Government Scholarship or self-funded, applying straight to a Chinese university. This guide covers the official scholarship channel in Thailand, last round's deadline, what to prepare, and what to check so your degree counts at home, especially for medicine.

The Chinese Government Scholarship in Thailand

Thailand's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI, อว.) publicised the 2026/2027 Chinese Government Scholarship call:

• A full scholarship covering tuition, accommodation, a monthly living allowance and health insurance, under the funder's conditions.
• For staff: civil servants and staff of agencies under MHESI, and lecturers, education staff and other staff of higher education institutions and university demonstration schools.
• Levels: bachelor's, master's and doctoral study, plus general and senior scholar programs.
• Deadline: 9 February 2026 at 4.30 pm.

If you are not eligible for MHESI's call, you can apply for a Chinese Government Scholarship place directly through a Chinese university (Type B), which sets its own deadline, or for the university's own scholarships. See our scholarship comparison and CSC application guide.

Deadlines: last round and this round

MHESI's 2027/2028 call had not been posted when we last checked; this table and our application deadlines page change when it is. The deadlines page also lists the Chinese universities' own deadlines we have checked.

Self-funded: apply to the university directly

You can apply to a Chinese university on its own online system and pay only its own fees. See how applying directly works, what a first year costs and the official fees on our tuition fees page.

Documents and language scores to prepare

This round's Chinese Government Scholarship notices (for example the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia's) set these rules:

• Ages: under 25 for bachelor's, under 35 for master's, under 40 for PhD.
• CSCA: bachelor's applicants need a valid score report from a test taken after 1 March 2025. See our CSCA guide.
• Language: HSK 4 for Chinese-taught master's and PhD programs; IELTS, TOEFL or similar for programs taught in other languages, as each university requires. See HSK requirements.

And these documents:

1. The application form, in Chinese or English, and a passport valid for at least 12 months from the start of your studies
2. Notarized highest diploma and transcripts, with notarized Chinese or English translations of documents in other languages
3. A pre-admission document from a Chinese university: a pre-admission notice or an invitation letter from a school or professor
4. A study plan: at least 200 words for bachelor's, 500 for non-degree and 800 for master's and PhD
5. Two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors (master's, PhD and senior scholars)
6. The Foreigner Physical Examination Form (valid six months) and a certificate of no criminal record (usually issued within six months)

See our application documents checklist for details.

Getting your degree recognised in Thailand

If you may want a government job, check the degree before you enrol. For appointing civil servants, the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC, สำนักงาน ก.พ.) recognises qualifications from institutions accredited by the authority legally responsible in that country. OCSC's e-Accreditation database lists the qualifications it has recognised; OCSC says the database only helps you find them, and the official reference is its circular letters (PDF). For other posts, ask the employer what it requires.

MBBS: the Medical Council's exams

To practise in Thailand, graduates of foreign medical schools take the exams of the Medical Council of Thailand's Center for Medical Competency Assessment and Accreditation (CMA, ศรว.). A 2023 exam notice for foreign graduates asked candidates to:

• hold Thai nationality and a medical degree from a foreign institution,
• have completed post-graduate training as an intern,
• have passed CMA steps 1 and 2, and step 3 (OSCE and MEQ), before the final long-case exam,
• and show the Medical Council's certification of the curriculum and institution.

So before you accept an MBBS offer, ask the Medical Council whether it certifies that university's program. Our MBBS guide lists the universities on China's MBBS list and their checked fees.

Free help with your application

You can apply on your own using the steps above. If you'd like help choosing universities or preparing documents, ask for free application help. Help is free for students.