Get A Masters Degree In Thailand?

[deepsea149]

I hope I am in the right forum for this.....

I am in the middle of a pretty big decision concerning college and I was hoping someone who is experienced can offer me some advice.

I have a Bachelors Degree from the U.S. (Political Science) and I am debating on whether to get my Masters from Thailand or not. I want to study badly in Thailand; however, after reading several postings in the forums, the consensus seems to be that a Thai Degree may not hold that much weight compared to one coming from the U.S. I believe I would like to get a Masters in Thailand and possibly find employment in the Country. Specifically, I am looking at a Masters in Sustainable Development from Chiang Mai University, or a Masters in International Relations from Thammasat University.

With the limited information above, would anyone suggest a Masters degree from a Thai University? Or, maybe spend that money more wisely on one from a U.S. University?

'DeepSea149'

[arthurwait]

Thais with enough money to do so get theirs abroad.

Get your masters in America and come afterwards, you'll still be young enough to get the Thai university girls in their uniforms.

[Shot]

What are your plans with a Political Science degree?

[deepsea149]

I got the Bachelors in Political Science because it interested me and I was setting myself up for Law School. However, since graduating I got a really good paying job (don't like it though, time to move on) and Law School was delayed. I am not that keen on going to law school now, but am very interested in getting a Masters nonetheless.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

A Thai degree will carry a little more weight in international corporate/academic circles than an online-only degree, but not much.

It will satisfy the bureacratic requirements domestically of course, but doubt if it will be worthwhile economically, since the decent jobs are in international circles anyway, being a full-fledged professor at a uni here doesn't pay as well as waiting tables at a decent restaurant back home.

So I'd only recommend it as a lark if you're independently wealthy, great way to meet hot babes, or if you're looking to actually learn how to do something and plan on getting paid for your effective performance as a freelancer in a field where the sheepskin doesn't matter anyway.

What about studying in say Singapore and hopping over for weekends and holidays?

[NanLaew]

I want to study badly in Thailand

That is a given for Thailand.

And don't bother looking for work here either unless you "want to work badly in Thailand" and there's already plenty farangs doing mediocre jobs along with their Thai workmates.

[brit1984]

Check the world university rankings for the universities you are considering applying for in Thailand, and then see which US universities are similarly ranked. This should put things into perspective somewhat.

Sent from iPhone; please forgive any typos or violations of forum rules

[tjhorner]

Many of good, regionally accredited US university offering all online Master degree programs. Key word here is regionally accredited, I would stay away from national accreditation; not to say there are not some good ones, but there are too many borderline diploma mills with national accreditation. Go Dawgs, UGA alum here. IM if your in BKK

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Many of good, regionally accredited US university offering all online Master degree programs. Key word here is regionally accredited, I would stay away from national accreditation; not to say there are not some good ones, but there are too many borderline diploma mills with national accreditation. Go Dawgs, UGA alum here. IM if your in BKK

Are you making this comment in response to my claim that a Thai masters would carry a bit more weight than an online-only Masters from a US uni?

If so, do you think the ones you're talking about would actually carry more credibility than one from say Chula?

How do the online-only programs verify that you haven't just hired someone to do all the work for you?

[brit1984]

Many of good, regionally accredited US university offering all online Master degree programs. Key word here is regionally accredited, I would stay away from national accreditation; not to say there are not some good ones, but there are too many borderline diploma mills with national accreditation. Go Dawgs, UGA alum here. IM if your in BKK

Are you making this comment in response to my claim that a Thai masters would carry a bit more weight than an online-only Masters from a US uni?

If so, do you think the ones you're talking about would actually carry more credibility than one from say Chula?

How do the online-only programs verify that you haven't just hired someone to do all the work for you?

One could ask the same question about Chulalongkorn

Sent from iPhone; please forgive any typos or violations of forum rules

[BigJohnnyBKK]

How do the online-only programs verify that you haven't just hired someone to do all the work for you?

One could ask the same question about Chulalongkorn

It was a genuine question. Feel free to answer either or both.

I would think you'd be taking quite a bit more risk in person, especially being one of very few farang in a given program the professors would certainly know your face and even if it's just occasionally the school admin must get your passport sometimes.

Not to mention the fact that paying a farang to attend your seminars, on top of getting the thesis written would be pretty expensive.

[brit1984]

How do the online-only programs verify that you haven't just hired someone to do all the work for you?

One could ask the same question about Chulalongkorn

It was a genuine question. Feel free to answer either or both.

I would think you'd be taking quite a bit more risk in person, especially being one of very few farang in a given program the professors would certainly know your face and even if it's just occasionally the school admin must get your passport sometimes.

Not to mention the fact that paying a farang to attend your seminars, on top of getting the thesis written would be pretty expensive.

There are plenty of Farangs in Thailand desperate for a few baht to live the dream, but as you allude to the real point is neither are particularly serious...

Sent from iPhone; please forgive any typos or violations of forum rules

[tjhorner]

Many of good, regionally accredited US university offering all online Master degree programs. Key word here is regionally accredited, I would stay away from national accreditation; not to say there are not some good ones, but there are too many borderline diploma mills with national accreditation. Go Dawgs, UGA alum here. IM if your in BKK

Are you making this comment in response to my claim that a Thai masters would carry a bit more weight than an online-only Masters from a US uni?

If so, do you think the ones you're talking about would actually carry more credibility than one from say Chula?

How do the online-only programs verify that you haven't just hired someone to do all the work for you?

No this wasn't in response to your post, but since you brought it up...... I would say if a US university has regional accreditation (that's just about every brick and mortar) and offers a online masters program, then I would assert that it would definitely be as good or better than any program offered here in Thailand. The Thai degree may have an advantage in Thailand with Thai employers, but on the International market and given the fact that the OP is American and will with most probability return to the US, then a Thai masters might not be in his best interest. The OP, if qualified, could also receive US financial aid and grants with an online degree program.

I am completing the last term of an MBA from Troy University and doing so, all online. Online programs tend to require more writing, ie research papers/case studies. Quizzes, test, and finals are proctored; either through an approved testing center or via a special webcam proctoring service.

My cost of living is so much cheaper here in BKK (including the visa expenses), that I can afford to study full time and not work; while that could not be a possibility in the US. (Atlanta, GA)

edited for spelling error

Edited June 10, 2012 by tjhorner

[nietzche]

I want to study badly in Thailand

That is a given for Thailand.

And don't bother looking for work here either unless you "want to work badly in Thailand" and there's already plenty farangs doing mediocre jobs along with their Thai workmates.

No offense to anyone, but a Thai University degree even from Chula means nothing in the West. Even if you wanted to stay in Thailand afterwords, the only thing you could do would be teach at a University at best.

I am also an American, and I know that several top U.S. universities like; Texas A&M, University of Florida, Iowa State, NYU, Fordham University, offer 100% online degrees.

Several leading UK universities also offer 100% online graduate degrees.

You can still be based here and would still receive Federal Direct Loans, financial aid, etc. But you would graduate with a "real" degree, while still living in Thailand.

For a Masters degree, you can take out up to $20,500 worth of Government Federal Direct Loans per year (50% subsidized) to use towards tuition, and paying your living expenses.

Stanford University also offers online Masters degrees in; Engineering, Computer Science, Statistics, and some other subjects.

An Online Masters from top tier U.S universities, you receive the same degree as someone studying as cohort. No difference.

Thai's who have the money will send their children to the U.S and U.K for their education. Only the upper middle's in Thai society go to Chula, Thammasat, etc.

You have to keep you're options open. There is a good chance that you may want to return to the U.S. later in life. In that case the time and money you spent doing a Thai degree will have been wasted as most companies/agencies would not accept it.

[deepsea149]

Good post Neitczhe, informative and to the point. Thank you.

[lannarebirth]

Do not attend a Thai university unless you're getting a degree in Thai Language. Even for Thai History or Thai Culture I'd recommend to get degree outside of Thailand.

[Berkshire]

An Online Masters from top tier U.S universities, you receive the same degree as someone studying as cohort. No difference.

You really think so? Because if it were true, there would be a heck of a lot more people earning their degrees online, don't you think? That does not appear to be the case. In fact, online degrees tend to be considered rather dodgy.

[nietzche]

An Online Masters from top tier U.S universities, you receive the same degree as someone studying as cohort. No difference.

You really think so? Because if it were true, there would be a heck of a lot more people earning their degrees online, don't you think? That does not appear to be the case. In fact, online degrees tend to be considered rather dodgy.

Berkshire, a few years ago I was working as a programmer for an Investment Bank in NY. My employer was associated with Stanford, as are major tech heavy companies like Cisco, Google, etc.

As an employee in a relevant field, I had the opportunity to apply for the M.S in Computer Science from Stanford and it would be fully paid for in advance by my employee (employee benefit). This was assuming I was accepted. I seriously considered it, but decided to go back to grad school as a full time resident student in NYC.

In hard sciences like; computer science, software engineering, statistics, it is becoming increasingly more common for leading universities in the U.S to offer distance graduate degree programs due to the fact that the people who apply are generally extremely qualified.

However, the admission requirements are the exact same, so you still have to firstly be admitted to the respective graduate school before you can apply for a distance learning degree.

You can easily Google "Distance Masters Degree's" for all of the universities I have mentioned and that will prove my point.

A Phd. for the most part is in effect a "distance" degree, in that you only attend taught modules for either 1 year or 2 years and you spend the other 2 to 3 years doing independent research. The research nature of many thesis masters degrees makes it possible to offer programs at 100% distance.

Do not confuse distance "graduate" degrees with distance "bachelors" degrees. No respectable university would offer an "online" bachelor degree due to the fact that these degree types are very different in their nature.

[tjhorner]

I think will you find distance bachelors degrees to become more and more prevalent in the coming years. Some, already good schools offer them; Gonzaga, Cornell, George Washington, Tulane, Villanova, UMass, Oregon State, Troy University, University of South Carolina and many more. I don't consider any of these schools subpar. And I from I can determine there is no distinction that the online program differs than the regular in class program, and in some cases, the programs are integrated. There is no footnote next to your degree stating that it was obtained via nontraditional methods......

Edited June 12, 2012 by astral
No need for full quote

[saorsa]

I'm living in Thailand, but doing a distance learning MSc in Project Management with Aberdeen Uni. I would have thought (hoped) that this would be thought of as superior to an MSc on the same course at a Thai uni.

[nietzche]

I think will you find distance bachelors degrees to become more and more prevalent in the coming years. Some, already good schools offer them; Gonzaga, Cornell, George Washington, Tulane, Villanova, UMass, Oregon State, Troy University, University of South Carolina and many more. I don't consider any of these schools subpar. And I from I can determine there is no distinction that the online program differs than the regular in class program, and in some cases, the programs are integrated. There is no footnote next to your degree stating that it was obtained via nontraditional methods......

Once the more respectable Uni's started offering distance degree's, the stigma associated with them disappeared. However, in the beginning, it was only the fly by night schools that were offering them.

I think the U.S. government is cracking down on shady for profit colleges anyway.

Good luck to the OP when he figures out what he want's to do anyway.

Edited June 12, 2012 by astral
No need for full quote

[meand]

I have a Master's degree from the states, and it is worth about 2 dead flies here. I have actually thought it may have hurt me a few times, in that they think maybe they had to pay me more. Anyway, it is very weird here, you either have EXACTLY what they are looking for, all else is equivalent to a BS degree in psychology.

On the other note, if you actually value a good education, get it in the US. I repeat, get it in the US. There is something about education over here that they can't, and don't even want to, get right. Other posters have said the degrees from here are useless, they should be, that is for sure. The first time you have to visit a Thai "doctor" you will probably have a pretty good idea what i'm talking about.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

if you actually value a good education, get it in the US. I repeat, get it in the US.

Of course for the US substitute "your home country" assuming you're from one with a relatively high standard of development in that area.

I understand some place called Oxbridge or something's nearly as good as some of the lesser community colleges stateside. . .

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Do not attend a Thai university unless you're getting a degree in Thai Language. Even for Thai History or Thai Culture I'd recommend to get degree outside of Thailand.

Especially Thai History, unless you're specialising in historical revisionism for propaganda purposes. It's very much illegal to teach (or to try to independently learn about) that subject here if you value factual accuracy.

A degree in "Thai Culture" offered outside of Thailand? Would love to find out more.

What do y'all think is the most reputable linguistics program with Thai language as the centrepiece? I'm assuming Chula, but. . .

Edited June 11, 2012 by BigJohnnyBKK

[Berkshire]

On the other note, if you actually value a good education, get it in the US. I repeat, get it in the US. There is something about education over here that they can't, and don't even want to, get right. Other posters have said the degrees from here are useless, they should be, that is for sure. The first time you have to visit a Thai "doctor" you will probably have a pretty good idea what i'm talking about.

So if these Thai doctors are so useless, as you seem to suggest, who do you go to see if you're ill? I get it, you're making fraudulent statements yet again. My experience in Thailand has been that the medical profession here is rather competent and professional in what they're doing. Surely the Thai medical schools should get some credit. Not to mention all of these other professions thriving in Thailand, including architects, engineers, business people,accountants, IT specialists, etc., as a result of Thai education. People like you and me are attracted to live in Thailand because of the work of said people who built this country. By some measurements, Thailand is doing better than the USA in certain areas, such as fiscal responsibility. Surely if things are as dismal as you say, you would not have chosen to live in Thailand, correct?

[BigJohnnyBKK]

So if these Thai doctors are so useless, as you seem to suggest, who do you go to see if you're ill? I get it, you're making fraudulent statements yet again. My experience in Thailand has been that the medical profession here is rather competent and professional in what they're doing. Surely the Thai medical schools should get some credit. Not to mention all of these other professions thriving in Thailand, including architects, engineers, business people,accountants, IT specialists, etc., as a result of Thai education. People like you and me are attracted to live in Thailand because of the work of said people who built this country. By some measurements, Thailand is doing better than the USA in certain areas, such as fiscal responsibility. Surely if things are as dismal as you say, you would not have chosen to live in Thailand, correct?

While I disagree with his over-generalization - you can usually rely on the reputation of the hospital in order to find a decent doctor here - I also do so with your IMO overly optimistic one.

There are some professionals here in Thailand that are competent, but in my experience not the run-of-the-mill ones, takes a fair amount of digging, you certainly can't just open up the yellow pages and find a decent [insert profession here] by back-home standards.

In those professions requiring advanced degrees, not just medicine, those at the top of their field here are very often educated abroad. And of course that in itself doesn't guarantee anything, referrals from people you trust are really the best indicator, and finding a good professional can be more work than the whole rest of the project put together, especially for a newcomer without local contacts.

Relative newcomers to Thailand should note that "lawyer" is not one of the professions requiring advanced degrees, that just as in the west, expertise and honesty rarely coincide, and my last statement above applies to this one profession to a cubed extent compared to others.

In areas of general business-oriented common sense such as fiscal responsibility, I would argue any Thai superiority doesn't come from their academic formal education system but wisdom passed down from their (often Chinese) forebears.

[tjhorner]

The 2 doctors and 1 dentist that I have dealt with in Thailand have been educated in US....

[Furbie]

The only program I would recommend for a Westerner in Thailand is the MBA or EMBA from Sasin. It is accredited in the US, Europe and Asia. It is also taught in conjunction with the Kellogg School in the US (a top US buisness school) and has professors come from many top Universities in countries like Japan and the UK. It is also highly ranked in terms of academic standing in Asia and admission is highly selective.

Good luck.

[lannarebirth]

The only program I would recommend for a Westerner in Thailand is the MBA or EMBA from Sasin. It is accredited in the US, Europe and Asia. It is also taught in conjunction with the Kellogg School in the US (a top US buisness school) and has professors come from many top Universities in countries like Japan and the UK. It is also highly ranked in terms of academic standing in Asia and admission is highly selective.

Good luck.

I wasn't aware of that option. Kellogg and Wharton schools are certainly stellar affiliations.

http://www.sasin.edu/programs/emba/index.html

[Berkshire]

The 2 doctors and 1 dentist that I have dealt with in Thailand have been educated in US....

That's a red herring and you know it. Pretty much every Thai doctor/dentist got some or most of their education in Thailand. Surely you know this.