Royal Thai Government Scholarships

The Royal Thai Government Scholarships, handled mainly by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok, Thailand, are fully funded and don't require you to commit to anything after. They're designed to bring in great students from Asian countries, like Pakistan, for Master's and Ph.D. programs. This setup creates a really international place to learn, where students from different backgrounds can work together on research and get to know each other.

For Pakistani students wanting to boost their education and careers at a well-known international institute, the RTG scholarships are a big deal.

Programs Offered

The Royal Thai Government (RTG) Scholarships, administered mostly through the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), provide fully supported Master's and Doctoral studies to Asian students, including Pakistanis.
Academic Focus Areas:

AIT schools include Engineering and Technology (SET), Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD), and Management (SOM).
Infrastructure Development, Energy Technology, Oil/Gas/Natural Resource Development, and Environmental Engineering and Management are among the specific thematic areas covered by GMS scholarships.

Key Scholarship Types (Managed by AIT)

His Majesty the King's Scholarships: For Doctoral (SET, SERD) and Master's (SET, SOM) programs for outstanding Asian candidates.
Her Majesty the Queen's Scholarships: Master's programs in environmental subjects (SERD) for outstanding Asian students.
Loom Nam Khong Pijai (GMS Scholarships): Master's programs focusing on development in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, with possibilities for wider Asian eligibility.

Benefits

The Royal Thai Government Scholarships are extremely thorough, providing substantial financial support to successful applicants. Benefits often include:

Full Tuition and Registration Fees: All academic fees are covered for the duration of the program.
Accommodation: On-campus housing costs at AIT's residential campus are covered.
Living Allowance/Stipend: A monthly stipend is provided to cover basic living expenditures.
Books Allowance: A budget for scholarly books and materials.
Thesis Allowance: Financial assistance with fieldwork, data collection, and thesis printing.
Health and Accident Insurance provides coverage for medical emergencies and accidents.

Scholarships' approximate value:

Doctoral programs cost around 1.96 million Thai Baht (MB) over 41 months (7 semesters).
Master's programs cost around 1.10 million Thai Baht (MB) for 22 months.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Royal Thai Government Scholarships, Pakistani applicants must generally meet the following criteria:

Citizenship: Hold citizenship in an Asian country (including Pakistan). Some scholarships may prioritize specific regions or countries.
Academic excellence:
- Master's programs require a minimum GPA of 3.5 (or equivalent) in a four-year undergraduate degree from a recognized university.
- Doctoral programs require a minimum GPA of 3.5 (or equivalent) in undergraduate and master's degree programs from authorized universities. Some sources mention a lower GPA of 2.75 for bachelor's degrees, 3.0 for doctoral degrees at other universities (not ranked in the top 1000 by QS), and 3.5 for master's degree. It is critical to review the exact scholarship requirements.
English Proficiency: Show a high level of proficiency in English. This is generally demonstrated by:
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System): 6.0 (Overall and Writing bands).
- AAT English Entry Test (AIT EET) score of 6.0 or better.
- Some universities may waive IELTS if your previous degree was exclusively taught in English.
Recommendation Letters: Academic or professional referees are typically asked to provide two recommendations.
Research Proposal: A clear and compelling research proposal, especially for Master's and Doctoral programs.
Age Requirements: Candidates should be under 50 years old.
Health: Must be in good physical and mental shape.
No Other Scholarships: No other scholarships should be received concurrently.

How To Apply

Research: Identify the specific RTG scholarship and program at AIT that suits you.
Online Application: Visit the official AIT admissions website (ait.ac.th/apply-online/), create an account, pay the ~US$25 fee, and fill out the detailed online form, indicating your scholarship need.
Document Upload: Prepare and upload a comprehensive CV, official degrees/transcripts, two recommendation letters, a research proposal (for Master's/PhD), English proficiency scores (IELTS/AIT EET), passport copy, and a strong Statement of Purpose.
Submission: Submit the complete online application by the deadline.

Special Note for TIPP (Thailand International Postgraduate Program):

For TIPP, you generally need to be nominated by the National Focal Point for International Development Cooperation in Pakistan (a relevant government agency). Hard copies of your application and documents might need to be submitted through the Royal Thai Embassy in Islamabad.

Key Deadline:

For the August intake, a common deadline for RTG Scholarships is February 28th. Always confirm the exact date on the official AIT website for the specific year you're applying.

FAQs

1. Can I, as someone from Pakistan, get a Royal Thai Government Scholarship?

Yes, these scholarships are usually available to students from Asian countries like Pakistan. You will need to meet all the usual academic and English language requirements, though.

2. Do these scholarships pay for everything?

Yes, the Royal Thai Government Scholarships handled by AIT cover everything. This includes tuition, housing, living costs, and some other expenses.

3. Do I need an IELTS score?

Yes, you typically need a current IELTS score (usually around 6.0 overall, with at least 6.0 in each section) or a good score on the AIT English Entry Test (AIT EET). Some schools might accept an English certificate from your old school if you studied in English, but it's better to have an IELTS score to be sure.

4. Can I get a part-time job while on the scholarship?

Not really. Student visas in Thailand don't usually allow part-time work unless it's a special study-work thing or a paid internship. If you get a scholarship, they expect you to focus on studying.

5. How much does it cost to apply?

There's normally a small application fee to use the AIT online system, around US$25 or 800 Thai Baht.

6. What papers are most important when I apply?

Your grades, a good research plan (if you're going for a Master's or PhD), strong letters of recommendation, and proof you're good at English are all very important. A well-written personal statement will also help a lot.

7. How hard is it to get one of these scholarships?

It's very hard to get one of these scholarships because they pay for so much and AIT is a good school. Just meeting the basic requirements doesn't mean you'll get it. Your application has to be really good.

8. When should I start working on my application?

You should start getting your application ready early, like months before the deadline. That gives you time to get recommendation letters, write a good research proposal, and study for English tests if you need them.

9. If I get the scholarship, how does the visa thing work for Pakistani students?

Once you're offered the scholarship and get accepted to the school, you apply for a non-immigrant ED (Education) visa at the Thai Embassy in Islamabad. They'll tell you what papers you need, but it's usually your acceptance letter, scholarship letter, passport, and proof you have money (even though the scholarship covers it, the embassy might still ask). Getting the visa usually takes 3-5 weeks.

10. Where can I get more info or ask questions?

The AIT website (ait.ac.th) is the best place to find the newest info. You can also find contact info for the Admissions and Scholarships people at AIT on the website.