Malaysia Steps Up Push To Attract Over 20 Pct More Thai Students

By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock

BANGKOK, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is setting its sights on attracting over 20 per cent more Thai students to its higher education institutions as it banks on proximity, affordability and post-study opportunities to strengthen its appeal across the border.

Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) chief executive officer Novie Tajuddin said the agency is tapping the network of the Thai International Education Consultants Association (TIECA), Thailand's only professional association for education agents with 78 active members, to raise awareness among prospective Thai students about the benefits of pursuing studies in Malaysia.

According to EMGS statistics, 634 Thai students were actively studying in Malaysia in 2025, with more than 60 per cent enrolled in undergraduate programmes and about 40 per cent pursuing postgraduate studies.

Novie said Thai student enrolment increased from 300 in 2024 to 360 in 2025, and EMGS hoped its collaboration with TIECA could help attract more Thai students to pursue their studies in Malaysia.

“Malaysia's geographical proximity to Thailand, affordability and quality of education were among the factors attracting Thai students to pursue their studies in Malaysia,” he told Bernama after the launch of the Study in Malaysia Education Fair by Malaysia's Ambassador to Thailand, Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, here on Tuesday.

Novie said Thai graduates are also eligible for Malaysia's one-year Graduate Pass, which allows international graduates to remain in Malaysia and work in permitted sectors after completing their studies.

The education fair, a collaboration between EMGS, Tourism Malaysia and the National Association of Private Educational Institutions (NAPEI), was held in Chiang Mai on Aug 9, Bangkok on Aug 11 and will conclude in Hat Yai on Aug 13.

Novie said EMGS also worked closely with the Thai Embassy in Malaysia to strengthen student engagement and education cooperation between the two countries.

EMGS, a company under the purview of the Ministry of Higher Education, is primarily responsible for facilitating visa processing for international students and promoting Malaysia as a global hub for talent and knowledge.

Meanwhile, Wan Zaidi proposed that Malaysian public and private universities offer dedicated scholarships for Thai students pursuing tertiary education in Malaysia.

"Such scholarship programmes would significantly encourage more Thai students to consider pursuing their studies in Malaysia," he said.

-- BERNAMA