Scholarships to study abroad in Malaysia and Thailand: quality learning close to home

🔄 Cập nhật lần cuối: 08/10/26

Scholarships to study abroad in Malaysia and Thailand are reasonable choices for families who want their children to study in an international environment while still close to home, at a moderate cost and only a few hours flight from Vietnam. Malaysia stands out with international campuses of British and Australian schools; Thailand is strong in graduate programs and development scholarships. This article summarizes the main sources of scholarships and how to choose appropriately.

Why choose Malaysia or Thailand?

• Close to home: fly directly from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok in only about 2-3 hours, many low-cost airlines operate, convenient to return home during Tet holidays.
• Cost: tuition and living expenses are significantly lower than in the UK, Australia, and the US.
• English Program: Malaysia uses English widely in higher education; Thailand has many international programs at major universities.
• International degrees: in Malaysia, many British and Australian schools open branch campuses and issue degrees similar to the main campus.

Scholarship to study abroad in Malaysia

Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS)

This is a scholarship from the Malaysian Government (Ministry of Higher Education) for outstanding international students to study postgraduate studies at Malaysian schools. According to the official portal, the scholarship is aimed at candidates with outstanding academic achievements and extracurricular activities; Applications are opened annually and candidates entering the next round are invited to interview. Specific conditions, countries and benefits are outlined in each year's instructions, which should be read carefully before submitting.

University scholarships

This is the most popular source for undergraduates. Public schools such as Universiti Malaya and private schools and international campuses (eg Monash, Nottingham, Heriot-Watt, Curtin, Taylor's, Sunway) often have:

• Entrance scholarships partially reduce tuition fees based on high school, A-Level, IB or preparatory scores.
• The scholarship is maintained according to GPA each year.
• Special incentives for ASEAN students or for each enrollment period.

Many "2+1" and "3+0" transfer programs allow you to study entirely in Malaysia or transfer to the UK or Australia, helping to save significantly. Refer to the article Cost of studying abroad in other countries.

Scholarship to study abroad in Thailand

Thai Government Scholarship (TICA)

The Thai International Cooperation Agency (TICA) has the TIPP program (Thailand International Postgraduate Program), implemented since 2000, providing postgraduate scholarships to people from developing countries. Focus areas include sustainable economics, health, agriculture and food security, climate adaptation, trade, inclusive development and science and technology. List of countries and programs are announced each year.

Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)

AIT is an international graduate institute headquartered near Bangkok, with many Vietnamese alumni. AIT's admissions page lists many scholarship sources for masters and doctoral degrees, including AIT scholarships open to all nationalities, Japanese Government scholarships for doctoral degrees for some Asian countries including Vietnam, and ADB-JSP scholarships from the Asian Development Bank for citizens of member countries with ADB loans.

Scholarships from Thai universities

Large schools such as Chulalongkorn, Mahidol, Thammasat, Kasetsart have scholarships for international students, especially ASEAN students, mainly at the graduate level, in the form of tuition exemption and monthly allowance. See more ASEAN scholarships and Southeast Asia regional programs.

Quickly compare two destinations

Note when choosing schools and scholarships

1. Check the accreditation and recognition of diplomas before submitting your application.
2. Read carefully the conditions for maintaining the scholarship: many scholarships reviewed according to GPA each year; see keep the scholarship throughout the course.
3. Be wary of units promising "100% scholarships" source unknown; see How to find reputable scholarships and avoid traps.
4. Compare total costs, not just tuition; reference Compare scholarships from other countries when budget is limited.

Flights to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok have many options from low-cost airlines to traditional airlines, but checked baggage varies a lot. VeDuHoc has more than 30 Bookers that compare prices across multiple airlines, advise on suitable luggage packages for international students, send flight information via Zalo to parents and support booking tickets to return home for Tet. If a better price is found after you have paid, HVSC will refund the difference. See air tickets to study abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Is a degree from an international campus in Malaysia valid?

With official campuses of British and Australian schools, degrees are usually issued by the parent school and have equivalent value. However, you need to check each program specifically.

Are Malaysian scholarships available for bachelor's degrees?

MIS government scholarships are mainly for postgraduates. Bachelor's degree mainly depends on school scholarships.

Do I need to know Thai to study in Thailand?

Not required for international programs taught in English, but learning basic Thai makes life more convenient.

Are AIT scholarships for Vietnamese people?

Yes, AIT has scholarships open to all nationalities and some sponsored scholarships for Vietnamese citizens, depending on the year and program.

Scholarships to study abroad in Malaysia and Thailand help you access international education right in the region at a reasonable cost. Once you have chosen a school, contact VeDuHoc via hotline/Zalo 090.1800.918 for support in booking tickets and luggage for your first trip.

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