Higher education is the principal concern of the Ministry of University Affairs, which coordinates the operation of 18 state universities and 28 privately operated universities and colleges (1994). Education at this level copes with thousands of secondary school graduates wishing to continue their further studies.

Most of the privately-run colleges offer courses and programmes leaning heavily towards science and technology. It is clear that these colleges are responding both to the increasing demands of a large number of high school graduates and also to current needs for advanced technology.

Admission to state universities is through a competitive national university entrance examination, held annually in April by Ministry of University Affairs.

At present there are at least 45 universities and 36 teacher training colleges in Thailand offering Diplomas and Degrees. The first university, Chulalongkorn University was founded in 1917. In keeping with a government plan to decentralize education, many universities are located in large regional centres throughout the country. These include Chiang Mai University in the North, Khon Kaen University in the Northeast, and Prince of Songkla University in the South. These universities offer a wide variety of courses at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels, covering such fields as Agriculture, Archaeology, Architecture, Arts, Business Administration, Education, Economics, Engineering, Humanities, Law, Medicine and Nursing, Science, and Statistics. Scholarships are provided by the government and private sector for outstanding and needy students.

The language of instruction at most state-run universities is Thai, with the exception of the economics and engineering major courses at Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University and Thammasat University, which are conducted in English. Special courses are taught in English at the discretion of a university.

In addition to conventional universities, two open universities have been established to expand educational opportunities for working people and secondary school graduates. One of these, Ramkhamhaeng University, provides campus instruction in Science and Humanities, supplemented by television and radio programmes, while the other, Sukhothaithammathirat University, employs television and radio programmes as well as correspondence courses and cassette tapes. The latter is said to be the most modern and best equipped open university in Southeast Asia.

Not all of the institutes at the higher education level come under the responsibility of the Office of University Affairs. The Police Cadet Academy at Sampran District, for example, is under the supervision of the Police Education Bureau, whereas Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy at Khao Cha-ngok is both academically and financially the responsibility of the Institute of Army Academies of the Ministry of Defence. Such academies offer Bachelor's Degrees to their graduates who go on to serve as police or military officers.

Education beyond the Bachelor's Degree level is also available for military officers. The Armed Forces Staff College is reserved for high-ranking officers at administrative level who wish to pursue special training in military planning and administration.

Education at a degree level is also extended to Buddhist monks. There are two Buddhist universities, Mahamakut University and Mahachulalongkorn University, established with the approval of the Ecclesiastical Elders' Council and budgetary support from the Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Education.

Although the large majority of students at the university level are in social science or humanities, applied science and technology is gaining in importance, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology (KMIT) is an example of such an attempt to increase graduates in these needed areas. KMIT provides direct, relevant technical training both at the Bachelor's and Master's Degree levels in the fields of engineering and architecture for the development of the nation.

Programmes of studies at the Master's Degree level are offered in at least 30 universities, whereas those at the Doctorate's Degree level are offered at over 10 universities, some of which offer evening classes.