Published by Ken Research
Posted on October 6, 2021
6 min readLast updated: January 30, 2026
Thailand's medical education system has grown with 23 schools. Graduates undergo three years of compulsory training, facing challenges like rapid knowledge changes.
Growth of Medical Education System in Thailand: Siriraj Hospital was first modern medical hospital of Thailand founded in 1888 and thus became the first medical school of country. By 2006, there were twelve medical schools across the country and now there are twenty three medical schools. The medical education system has seen incremental growth over the years. Most of educational institutions are publically funded. The initial phase of medical training in the country saw influence of traditional Thai medicine in the schools but gradually it shifted from traditional medicine to research based problem solving approach. With modernization, Thailand has rapidly changed its attitude towards how future doctors should be trained. The factors that have influenced the reforms in medical education are changes in the need of society, changes in the nature of students, evolution in learning and teaching processes, rapid changes in technologies supporting medical practices and education, enormous explosion in medical knowledge, changes in the health system, etc. There is immense progress on the parameters dictating the quality and standard of the medical education in Thailand.
Changes in Medical Education: From mid-2000s, majority of schools in Thailand have started using a common enrollment process in student selection. In the past, each medical school had their own recruitment process. Students had to apply to each school and sit for many entrance examinations all through their last year in high school. Cooperation among medical schools not only reduces the burden of students in taking the examinations, but also enables the schools to design a special test for the required characteristics of medical students. The first such recruitment started in the year 2006, and is now called BMAT which is used by almost all the medical colleges.
Compulsory Training for Medical Students and Postgraduate Routes: All the medical school graduates have to work for the government for three years. The initial year work is usually in provincial hospitals under the supervision of senior doctors, and then another two years are spent in either provincial or community hospitals. Apart from the residency training programs, young doctors can also choose to apply for Master’s or Doctor of Philosophy degree courses in medical schools. There are currently three faculties (Siriraj, Ramathibodi, and Prince of Songkla) which offer the MD and PhD programs in order to produce doctors and researchers. In these programs, third-year medical students can choose to postpone their MD study and do their PhD first, and then come back to study in the clinical years. These programs have been carried out for more than fifteen years, and most graduates work in medical schools both in preclinical and clinical departments.
Challenges Faced by Thai Medical Education System: Medical Education in Thailand has seen a long journey with various turns with intense progress. The journey has given the system its fair share of challenges to deal with, which include keeping pace with rapidly changing knowledge and installing same coping abilities in the students, maintaining the quality of training of students with their increasing demand, mental health issues arising for medical students under heavy pressure, funds and scholarships to arrange the education and to retain good quality staff in the faculty of medicines of various colleges.
The report titled “Landscape of Thailand Medical Education Market-Increasing Number of Top Rated Universities coupled with Undertaking Cutting Edge Research Driving the Industry” by Ken Research suggested that the Colleges have faced a slight downfall in terms of No. of Intake, Enrollment and Graduates amid COVID-19. Major merits of pursuing medicine in Thailand Universities are factors such better opportunities in the country, low cost of lifestyle, widespread training opportunities, low fees and good public infrastructure.
Key Segments Covered
Market Segmentation basis Type of Institution (Number of Colleges)
Private College
Public College
Market Segmentation basis Region (Number of Colleges)
North
Central
Southeastern
Southwestern
Eastern
Peninsula
Northeastern
Physician
Admission Process
Intake Status
Selection Process
Total No. of Graduates
Total Number of Intake
Internal Medicine
Admission Process
Intake Status
Selection Process
Total No. of Graduates
Total Number of Intake
Ophthalmology
Admission Process
Intake Status
Selection Process
Total No. of Graduates
Total Number of Intake
Key Target Audience
Public Medical Colleges
Private Medical Colleges
Aspiring students of Bachelor in Medical Education
Aspiring students of Master in Medical Education especially Internal Medicine and Ophthalmology
Time Period Captured in the Report:
Base Year: 2020
Study Period: 2016–2020
Colleges Covered:
Landscape on Thailand Medical Education institutions include faculties of medicine of following colleges,
Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University
Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University
Faculty of Medicine Khon Kaen University
Faculty of Medicine Chiang Mai University
Faculty of Medicine Srinakharinwirot University
Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital Mahidol University
Faculty of Medicine Thammasat University
Faculty of Medicine Prince of Songkla University
Faculty of Medicine Naresuan University
Faculty of Medicine Siam University
Faculty of Medicine and Public Health, HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical Science, Chulabhorn Royal Academy
School of Medicine Suranaree University of Technology
Faculty of Medicine University of Phayao
Faculty of Medicine Mahasarakham University
Faculty of Medicine Burapha University
College of Medicine Rangsit University
School of Medicine Walailak University
School of Medicine Mae Fah Luang University
Faculty of Medicine, Princess of Naradhiwas University
College of Medicine and Public Health Ubon Ratchathani University
Phramongkutklao College of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital Navamindradhiraj University
Key Topics Covered in the Report
Thailand Medical Education Introduction
Detailed Landscape of Private and Public Colleges
Market Ecosystem
Market Segmentation basis Institution and Regions
Admission Process for both Bachelor and Master Course
Detailed Analysis on Physician Courses (Market Size on the basis of Intake Enrollment and Graduates with Statistics for Each College)
Detailed Analysis on Internal Medicine Market Size on the basis of Intake Enrollment and Graduates with Statistics for Each College)
Detailed Analysis on Ophthalmology Market Size on the basis of Intake Enrollment and Graduates with Statistics for Each College)
Major Universities and Colleges in Thailand Medical Education Market
For more Information on the Research Report, Refer to Below Link: –
Thailand Medical Education Market
Related Reports by Ken Research
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The article discusses the growth and challenges of Thailand's medical education system, focusing on compulsory training for graduates.
Thailand's medical education has shifted from traditional medicine to a research-based approach, with a common enrollment process.
Challenges include keeping up with rapid knowledge changes, maintaining training quality, and addressing student mental health issues.
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