The Determinants of Thai Students Decision-Making to Study in The United Kingdom and The United States of America

Abstract

ABSTRACT

            Education is now open for all people who seek for and be eligible to pay for it. Education services have become a commodity in international marketplace. There are a lot of Thai students wish to study the graduate degrees in the UK and the US. They have various choice to choose and many decision to make. Understanding the needs and wants of the students or the demand side as well as the ability to give education as a service product or the supply side, a better arrangement can be planned. Based on the study results, alternatives to studying abroad, such as newer and better study programs in Thailand that suit students’ needs at more reasonable costs may be brought in to consideration.

            This paper discusses the determinants of students in higher education from Thailand to study in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (US) as the two of the most popular countries among all international students, with the best globally recognized education systems. Various study abroad perspective were discussed and also toward other study destinations i.e. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Thailand itself. The possible effects of the UK and US marketing strategies to recruit students in Thailand and related factors influencing decision of the students are brought in to discuss. A questionnaire interview was carried out on students and alumni from Thailand who had chosen to study in the UK or the US including observations from education service agents, higher education institutes 

representatives from the UK and US, and prospective Thai students seeking for education in the UK and US.

               The students had different perspective toward choosing the two countries as the place to further their education but they felt neutral in some of the areas. The majority of the education service agents maintain the good level of effort in recruiting Thai students for both the UK and the US universities. Most of the stakeholders agreed that there are opportunities for the growth of international education in Thailand, also pathways for developments. However, the quality improvement and the cost reduction may need to be in account. The level of English skills of Thai students seems to be a major barrier to international education in Thailand which English is used as a medium. The problem of low English skills of Thai students need to be improved.

Keywords: International education, Higher education, Education in Thailand, Study Abroad, International student, Study UK, Study USA