Chiang Mai University provides comprehensive scholarship programs targeting students experiencing poverty and economic vulnerability. These initiatives aim to reduce income inequality by expanding access to higher education for vulnerable populations living below the poverty line. Additionally, these integrated support mechanisms address income inequality by ensuring students experiencing extreme poverty not only gain university admission but also successfully complete their studies, creating pathways to break intergenerational cycles of deprivation and economic vulnerability.
Scholarship Opportunities for Chiang Mai University Students
Chiang Mai University provides students with opportunities to apply for scholarships through three main scholarship categories
1. Chiang Mai University Main Campus Scholarships
The Chiang Mai University Main Campus Scholarships are funded through the university budget and donations from individuals, companies, businesses, foundations, and other organizations. These scholarships are provided to CMU students who demonstrate financial need and good conduct. The scholarship award ranges from THB 10,000 to THB 50,000 per academic year, depending on each student's financial circumstances. The university announces the eligibility criteria, application requirements, and application procedures twice each academic year, as follows: (1.1) Scholarships for First-Year Students: Applications are generally open before the beginning of the first semester. (1.2) Scholarships for Students of All Year Levels: Applications are generally open from the second semester onward.(1.3) CMU Presidential Scholarship: The Scholarship is a full scholarship for graduate students at the master's and doctoral levels. It aims to attract highly capable and talented students to pursue graduate studies at Chiang Mai University and to support the development of high-quality research that can be published in internationally recognized academic journals.
2. Teaching Assistant/Research Assistant (TA/RA) Scholarships
Teaching Assistant/Research Assistant Scholarships are available for graduate students and are intended to attract students with strong academic performance and high potential to pursue their studies at Chiang Mai University. Recipients work as either Teaching Assistants or Research Assistants alongside their studies. The program aims to enhance students' knowledge-transfer skills and provide practical experience in teaching and research.
3. Faculty-Based Scholarships
Faculty-based scholarships are scholarships considered and allocated by the faculty or college in which students are enrolled. Each faculty or college provides scholarships to eligible students within its respective academic unit. Across 20 faculties and 2 colleges, approximately 1,500 scholarships are allocated each year. Students can follow scholarship announcements through their respective faculties or colleges or contact the Quality Development/Student Affairs Unit of their affiliated faculty or college for further information.
4. Student Employment Scholarships
Student Employment Scholarships provide students with opportunities to work within Chiang Mai University during periods when they do not have classes. The program aims to provide students with income while studying, thereby helping to reduce the financial burden on their families. In addition to providing financial support, the program enables students to gain practical work experience, develop a sense of responsibility and self-reliance, improve their time-management skills, and develop a positive attitude toward earning income through work. Students who participate in the program receive compensation at a rate of THB 50 per hour for their work at Chiang Mai University.
Bottom financial quintile admission target
Chiang Mai University Main Campus Scholarships
In the 2025 academic year, Chiang Mai University awarded more than 817 scholarships to students from low-income families, helping expand access to undergraduate education and create opportunities for students to complete their degrees, build better futures, and contribute to society. The scholarships amounted to a total of THB 18,964,300, comprising 198 scholarships providing financial support throughout the entire period of study until graduation, valued at THB 7,528,500, and 619 scholarships supporting students for a specific academic year, totaling THB 11,435,800. Through this financial assistance, the university reaffirms its commitment to educational equity and ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent students from the bottom 20% of household income group from pursuing higher education and realizing their potential.
Faculty-Based Scholarships
The International College of Digital Innovation targets currently enrolled Thai undergraduates (2nd–4th year) who are either in the bottom 20% of household income groups or who experienced an unforeseen circumstance during their studies that adversely affected their finances. In 2025, The college offered 20 scholarships totaling 715,000 baht in the first semester. The scholarships were tiered by need as follows:
- 8 Scholarships at 100% tuition (55,000 baht each)
- 8 Scholarships at 50% tuition (27,500 baht each)
- 4 Scholarships at 25% tuition (13,750 baht each)
Preparation Scholarships for New CMU Students
The CMU Promotion Committee collaborates to provide financial assistance for students, in the bottom 20% of the household income group,admitted through the 17 Northern Provinces quota system who face extreme poverty. This anti-poverty program annually offers 10,000 baht per student to cover essential expenses including transportation, clothing, and educational materials during the first semester. In academic year 2025, the university awarded 100 scholarships totaling 1,000,000 baht, expanding to 150 scholarships in 2026, demonstrating commitment to poverty alleviation and social protection for economically disadvantaged youth.
Hill Tribe Student Project
Hence, it runs jointly with Thailand's Department of Provincial Administration, targeting students from hill-tribe communities— Karen, Hmong, Mien, Akha, Lisu, Lahu, Lua, Khmu, and Mlabri peoples— across a defined 15-province zone in the North, which are Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Sukhothai, Nan, Kamphaeng Phet, Phrae, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Uttaradit. In 2025, the application offered 19 scholarships allocated across 9 faculties, each worth 30,000 baht/year for the full duration of the program.
Low or lower-middle income countries student support
Chiang Mai University is committed to supporting students from low-income backgrounds, including international students from economically disadvantaged countries and non-Thai nationals residing in Thailand, to promote equitable access to higher education and ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent students from pursuing their educational goals.
CMU Presidential Scholarship
Chiang Mai University’s Presidential Scholarship reflects the University’s strong commitment to promoting accessibility and expanding opportunities for graduate education, particularly for international students from low- and lower-middle-income countries, including Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and other countries with lowor lower-middle income. Launched in the first semester of the 2019 academic year, the scholarship program has become an important mechanism for attracting and supporting qualified international students in pursuing advanced degrees at CMU while alleviating financial barriers to higher education. For the 2025 academic year, a total of 240 scholarships will be awarded, categorized as follows:
- Doctoral Degree Scholarships: 140 awards
- Master’s Degree Scholarships: 100 awards
Student Loan Fund
The Student Loan Fund offers two types of loans: general loans for students with limited financial resources and specialized loans for students pursuing priority fields of study that are essential to national development. These loans cover both tuition fees and living expenses, with repayment commencing after graduation. The program serves as an important financial safety net, particularly for students experiencing economic hardship. By providing financial assistance to students from households in the bottom 20% of the household income group distribution, the Fund helps reduce financial barriers to higher education, ease the burden of daily living expenses, and enable students to pursue their studies with greater financial security and stability throughout their university journey.
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