Bangkok: The government continues to provide ODOS scholarships to support human development at all ages. Promoting human development for all ages, the government is continuing to provide ODOS scholarships, creating "bridges of opportunity" to lay the foundation for the country to have a skilled, high-quality workforce, reducing inequality and creating a sustainable economic future.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Thirapha Pairohkul, Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs, revealed that the government prioritizes "human capital," a crucial foundation for national development. The government is accelerating the development of Thais of all ages to their full potential and capabilities, particularly in education. The government has implemented the "Expanding Opportunities and National Development Scholarship (ODOS)" program to reduce inequality in educational access and promote growth and the development of science and technology skills for all children with quality and equality. This program provides scholarships to students with excellent academic performance and good conduct, but who lack access to higher education in fields aligned with national needs.
The government is preparing to provide over 7,200 ODOS scholarships, with a budget of approximately 4.5 billion baht. The project will run from fiscal years 2025 to 2033. These scholarships are divided into three categories: 1) 4,800 free scholarships for high school and vocational certificate students in Thailand, worth 990.14 million baht; 2) 200 scholarships for vocational certificate and bachelor's degree students abroad, worth 2,609.31 million baht (60 scholarships for further study in the United States, 50 scholarships for the United Kingdom, and 90 scholarships for Australia) (this is a continuation of the Type 1 scholarship); and 3) 2,200 undergraduate scholarships in Thailand (this is a continuation of the Type 1 scholarship), worth 1 billion baht.
This year, the government has allocated an additional 1,200 scholarships for Mathayom 4 and vocational certificate level students in the first year of their studies to 602 schools nationwide that are well-equipped in STEM and English. This funding will be generated through a charity lottery, with a budget not exceeding 1 billion baht. The first ODOS program, which opened for applications in July 2025, has already received over 1,718 applicants. Of these, 47.56% are students from poor and extremely poor households, while 52.44% are students from households with an income of no more than 12,000 baht per year. The first ODOS program has resulted in a total of 1,200 recipients. This third program serves as a 'bridge of opportunity' to ensure that underprivileged children can pursue higher education to their full potential.
The application deadline for the ODOS Scholarship Batch 3 has been extended from August 8, 2025, to August 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM, via the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) website at https://scholarshipreg.eef.or.th. This extension provides additional opportunities for students and educational institutions, particularly in areas affected by the conflict along the Thai-Cambodian border and natural disasters, which may face limitations in processing applications within the original deadline.
"The government aims to create opportunities and distribute the ODOS project to every district. The project's objectives, content, and implementation are truly equitable, addressing inequality and providing educational opportunities for continuous and sustainable national development. This aligns with the global situation and represents the government's commitment to ensuring that Thai children and youth have the potential to compete with those of other nations," said Ms. Thirapha.