U.S. Veterans: Study in Thailand on Veterans Affairs' Benefits (GI-Bill) Some tips, and the approval process for Thai universities
If you are eligible for one GI Bill, you get a benefit of 36 months. This should be enough at most Thai universities to graduate from a Bachelor degree program.
If you are eligible for two GI Bills, you can use both your Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and your Post 9/11 GI Bill to study at a university in Thailand with a combined benefit of 48 months. If you are eligible for both and you are thinking about going beyond a four-year degree, then you might want to look at using your Montgomery GI Bill first and then switching to the Post 9/11 GI Bill (source). The other way around is not possible, so you would lose 12 months benefits.
If you are not shure about your eligibility or benefits, the VA Department make a grade Benefit Comparison Chart. That page also offers access to some case studies for both Active Duty and Reserves.
Although there's a payment difference between both GI Bills, it should be enough to study any single degree undergraduate program and have a comfortable life as well, due to the still very low cost of living in Thailand, if compared to western countries and the U.S.
To enjoy your benefits, the program of education you want to study must be approved. Following Thai universities have the necessary approval. The links point to the original list from where you can access institution profile, maximum benefits, and programs approved. Please note: It is not sufficient that the university has the approval - the program of education you want to study must be approved!
Full legal name of the institution, local alternative name(s), and the English equivalent, as appropriate.
Address of the institution.
Full name and title of the person or person(s) authorized to certify VA forms for your institution.
Language or languages used in conducting classes.
Sponsorship, such as Ministry of Education, province, state, canton, municipality, specific church organization, or religious order.
Is your Facility considered to be a public or private Institution?
Does the Ministry, Department, or Office of Education, etc., officially classify the school as an institution of higher learning? (i.e., as a college, university, or similar establishment offering postsecondary level academic instruction leading to the conferring of a degree). If so, what type of degree?
Provide the name of the program of study and the name of the student for which you are requesting approval. Only programs that eligible persons are enrolled in, or are thinking of enrolling in, should be requested.
Be sure to include the academic prerequisites for enrollment (for example, is High School graduation a requirement?).
Please indicate the total length of the program.
Reference to a specific program by name and page number in the college catalog or direct web link address will be sufficient.
Will the institution agree to accept students found to be eligible for VA benefits (United States veterans, servicepersons, reservists, and eligible dependents enrolled under title 38, United States Code or title 10, United States Code), at the student’s expense, in accordance with the provisions of the law, and at rates for tuition, related instructional fees, and expenses not greater than those required of other students similarly circumstanced?
Will the institution agree to maintain sufficient records to show the progress of each VA student and to promptly inform the VA when the conduct or progress of any VA student is not satisfactory in accordance with the regularly prescribed standards and practices of the institution?
Will the institution agree to complete the enrollment certifications and agree not to include any courses that are audited (no credit applied toward program requirements)? Will the institution also agree to promptly inform the VA when it comes to the school’s attention that any VA student:
Has changes in hours of credit or attendance, or
Has interrupted or discontinued a course or program of study, giving the date(s) of withdrawal and the reason(s), if known, or
Receives grade(s) for any course(s) that will not be used when computing graduation requirements.
Will the institution give appropriate credit for previous education and training of VA students, shorten the training period proportionately, and reflect the credit granted on the enrollment certifications?
Will the institution, if and when requested by VA, make all appropriate records pertaining to the enrollment of VA students available for examination by VA or its representatives?
Will the institution routinely furnish VA with current publications concerning the courses and programs of study which are approved under the law?
The application should be dated and subscribed by an official authorized to commit the institution to an agreement with VA, showing his or her title or position.
That process should be possible to go for any university that has some halfways English speaking personnel.
Please note that we cannot take any responsibility for the correctness of the data shown on this Web site. We try our very best, but we depend on universities, their Web sites, and fellow students and lecturers, to get updates when ever programs, conditions, or tuition fees change.
