Thread: Foreign student enrolment in non-degree university courses to become harder

Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the Immigration Bureau are to take pro-active steps to tighten controls on the enrolment of foreign students in non-degree courses offered by Thai universities, to prevent them from working or overstaying in Thailand.


It is reported that non-Thais, Chinese nationals in particular, apply for student visas to attend such courses, which allow them to stay in Thailand for a longer period than a tourist visa, and a significant number of them have worked here illegally.


Higher Education Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi said that the ministry will now require Thai universities offering non-degree courses to foreign students to send details of the courses to the ministry for assessment.


If the courses are approved, she said the ministry will notify the Immigration Bureau, so it can issue student visas for periods which match the courses’ lengths, adding that any universities which fail to comply will not be able to apply for visas on behalf of their foreign students.


Regarding the non-degree courses, the minister said that officials will determine whether they are appropriate, whether class attendance is online, on-site or hybrid and their length. She stressed a course should not exceed six months.


The permanent secretary, Suphachai Pathumnakul, said officials will conduct periodic random checks, to determine whether the foreign students are actually attending the courses and the universities must report the number of students who complete the courses each year to the ministry.


Pol Lt-Gen Panumas Boonyalak, commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, said that each university must assess how many foreign students they can enrol each year and whether they can manage them properly.

Foreign student enrolment in non-degree university courses t

Much like the Muay Thai "education visas" on offer now then. Some of which are laughably available as online learning.

Bang goes my masters in elastic band twiddling, I saw it a step to a PhD in dual pricing techniques in covertly racist two tier amenities.

Elastic band twiddling is seriously underrated IMHO. They make it look so easy.

Originally Posted by BLD

Elastic band twiddling is seriously underrated IMHO. They make it look so easy.

Agreed start with widdling with a rubber

Thailand Enforces Stricter Education Visa Rules to Combat Misuse

Thailand has rolled out a crackdown on Non-Immigrant ED (education) visas, introducing five new measures to address widespread misuse by foreigners exploiting these visas to extend their stay without pursuing studies. Announced on April 30 by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) and the Immigration Bureau, the reforms aim to restore integrity to Thailand’s international education system while aligning with broader immigration controls.


The crackdown was spurred by cases of visa abuse, notably at a Chiang Mai campus, where over 500 Chinese students held ED visas but did not attend classes. Authorities also flagged instances of scammers and individuals involved in illegal activities using these visas, prompting a reevaluation of the system. Below are the five measures now in effect:


Mandatory Program Approval: Educational institutions must submit detailed information about non-degree international programs to MHESI for approval before enrolling foreign students. This ensures that courses meet educational standards and are not merely fronts for visa issuance.


Enhanced Data Reporting: Schools are required to provide regular, detailed reports on student enrollment, attendance, and program progress. This measure aims to create a transparent record, making it easier to identify discrepancies or non-compliance.


Random Compliance Inspections: The Immigration Bureau and MHESI will conduct unannounced checks at educational institutions to verify that students are actively attending classes. These inspections target institutions with suspicious enrollment patterns to ensure visa holders are genuinely studying.


Data Sharing for Investigations: Any irregular or suspicious data identified during inspections or reporting will be shared with MHESI for further investigation. This could lead to visa revocations for students and penalties for institutions failing to comply.


Program Revocation Penalties: Institutions found violating the new regulations risk having their programs revoked. Such penalties could also impact their ability to offer international programs in the future, incentivizing compliance.


The measures come amid Thailand’s broader immigration reforms. While the crackdown aims to protect Thailand’s reputation as an educational destination, it may pose challenges for legitimate international students, who now face increased scrutiny, and for institutions, which must navigate heightened administrative requirements.

Authorities added that the reforms target visa abusers while preserving opportunities for genuine students. However, some worry that overly stringent rules could deter prospective learners, potentially impacting Thailand’s education sector. The Immigration Bureau has pledged to monitor the measures’ impact and adjust as needed to balance security and accessibility.

Thailand Enforces Stricter Education Visa Rules to Combat Misuse - The Pattaya News

Why do they even allow non-degree programs to be eligible for a visa?

If you want to learn a language, there are better ways to learn it than studying at a university.