Recently, many "scholarship students" have shared their experiences of receiving government scholarships to study abroad but facing numerous challenges. Some return to Thailand only to find no suitable positions matching their fields, while others have positions but receive salaries and benefits that differ from their signed contracts. In some cases, life difficulties prevent them from working to repay the scholarship, ultimately resulting in debts of tens of millions of baht.
So, what risks and obstacles must "government scholarship students" bear? Let's delve into the root causes of these problems and explore how to plan carefully before deciding to accept a scholarship.
The term "scholarship-bound students" is not new and was not just a trend in 2026. Going back two years, a YouTube channel called"Tingnood Lab"by Dr. Wisarut Pinrod, a scholarship student funded by the Ministry of Science in 2008 (now known as the Science and Technology Scholarship), shared experiences after completing his PhD in the United States and returning to work at the National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC).
Dr. Wisarut reflected on the problem of “scholarships not as promised,” saying that in grade 12 he decided to accept this scholarship because the agency advertised benefits such as medical reimbursements for parents and good salaries. But after graduating and starting work, his job title remained the same while his salary was half of what was promised. Benefits also changed significantly—for example, parents over 65 years old could only claim up to 1,000 baht per medical visit. The scholarship contract also included a clause stating recipients must accept such changes.
Having received scholarships from undergraduate to doctoral levels, he is bound to work for 22 years. Though he has worked for 3 years already, if he chooses to pay the penalty instead of working, he would owe 45 million baht. Thus, he decided to keep working until he completes the obligation at age 52, living frugally by cooking at home, cutting his own hair, and avoiding air conditioning or water heaters to save electricity.
Another case is Dr. Keng-Prapakon Winaisathaporn, a former doctoral scholarship student from the Ministry of Science and Technology, now about 50 years old, who once told Thairath Plus that during her PhD studies she developed mental health issues that led the university in the UK to refer her to psychiatric treatment in a hospital.
After completing her studies and returning to work as a university employee in Thailand for a time, her untreated mental illness caused her to send an email resignation directly to the university president, which was not a formal resignation letter according to regulations. Eventually, the university sued Dr. Keng for breaching the scholarship contract, demanding 16 million baht in compensation.
Dr. Keng's case reached the court, and she appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court. After the case gained attention on social media in 2022, she later stated, “The final announcement at a meeting with the Ministry of Higher Education was that we would not have to repay the debt or wait for the court's decision. The ministry would handle the matter and seek a government position for me to return to work.”
In 2024, when Dr. Keng gave the interview, she was working as a researcher for a foundation under the Ministry of Finance.
Although these two cases may not represent all the problems faced by government scholarship students, they serve as warnings for those considering signing long-term binding contracts to think carefully.
Government scholarships come in various forms, so "scholarship contracts" may have different conditions depending on the agency. However, scholarships requiring long-term repayment are often given to high school students, with the government sponsoring studies from prep school to prepare for university, continuing through bachelor's and master's degrees, and sometimes up to doctoral levels.
Government scholarships cover many expenses, such as tuition fees, monthly allowances, accommodation, health insurance, and educational materials. The amount varies depending on the country or contract conditions.
(Examples of scholarship expenses in various countries from the Office of the Civil Service Commission can be readhere)
A main condition that scholarship recipients often overlook is the length of the work obligation. Some agencies require working for twice the duration of study. If one fails to graduate or other issues arise, the recipient must repay the "scholarship amount" plus a "penalty twice that amount" (depending on contract terms).
To illustrate, here are preliminary estimated figures calculated by theTort and Civil Liability System, Comptroller General’s Department,under conditions of a 3-year scholarship contract with no work repayment, penalties set at double the amount, with salary and costs subject to penalties if work obligations are met.
(These estimates come from https://tcls.cgd.go.th/civil-web/education-calculate and inquiries with the Comptroller General’s Department and Ministry of Finance on 10 and 11 June 2026 GMT+7).
Scholarships are opportunities for those in need, but before signing any government or private scholarship contract, what should be considered? Thairath Money has compiled key points here.
Ultimately, "government scholarships" are life opportunities but come with responsibilities. Recipients must clearly understand contract terms before signing. The government should ensure transparent communication with applicants and provide ongoing support when problems arise. While penalties exist to ensure recipients return to serve and reduce national loss, all conditions should be openly explained before agreement.
Note: As of 13 June 2026, the service obligation calculation system by the Comptroller General’s Department is under revision.
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