The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) is Thailand's flagship public R&D organisation and the body responsible for administering the Thai Government Science and Technology Scholarship programme on behalf of MHESI.
NSTDA is a public research and development organisation established in 1991 under what is now the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI). Our mandate is to build Thailand's capacity in science, technology, and innovation through applied research, technology transfer, and human resource development.
One of NSTDA's core responsibilities is administering the Thai Government Science and Technology Scholarship (GSTS) programme one of the largest and longest-running government scholarship initiatives in Southeast Asia. Working in close partnership with the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC), we select, fund, and monitor scholars studying at world-leading universities, ensuring they return to strengthen Thailand's public sector S&T workforce.
NSTDA is headquartered at Thailand Science Park in Pathum Thani, a major hub for research, innovation, and technology-based enterprises in Thailand.
NSTDA operates as a statutory body under MHESI, mandated to develop Thailand's long-term science and technology capabilities.
NSTDA oversees the selection, university placement, monitoring, and welfare of government-funded S&T scholars studying worldwide.
Beyond scholarships, NSTDA conducts applied research across biotechnology, nanotechnology, electronics, and national computing infrastructure.
NSTDA collaborates with universities and research institutions globally to place scholars and build lasting academic relationships.
Thailand's ability to compete in the global knowledge economy depends on a pipeline of highly skilled scientists, engineers, and researchers. The GSTS scholarship programme exists to build that pipeline systematically, strategically, and sustainably.
Fund outstanding Thai scholars to study at the world's leading universities, gaining expertise that cannot yet be obtained domestically. Address critical shortages of engineers, scientists, and technology specialists in the Thai public sector.
Ensure graduates return to serve in Thai government agencies, universities, and research institutions directly translating their international education into national capability and innovation. Every scholar is an investment in Thailand's future.
Establish enduring partnerships between Thai public institutions and world-class overseas universities. Through the placement of over 5,850 scholars since 1990, NSTDA has built one of the most extensive international academic networks in the region.
The GSTS programme has operated continuously since 1990 across five phases each expanding in scope, cluster coverage, and ambition. Phase IV (2018–2023) planned 1,400 scholarships, with the programme now entering its next chapter with 12 science clusters and 6 emerging priority areas.
The GSTS programme is not run by NSTDA alone. It operates through close coordination between the Ministry, the Civil Service Commission, and the agencies that scholars ultimately return to serve.
Understanding this ecosystem helps international partners universities, research institutes, and foreign government bodies know who to engage with and what role each organisation plays in the scholarship lifecycle.
Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. The parent ministry overseeing NSTDA and the strategic direction of the scholarship programme.
Policy & oversightOffice of the Civil Service Commission. Conducts the national competitive examination, manages scholarship agreements, and oversees the bond and return-to-serve process.
Selection & administrationKey science agencies under MHESI that receive returning scholars and employ them in applied research roles across their respective mandates.
Scholar placementChulalongkorn, Mahidol, and other leading Thai universities receive scholars returning for domestic placements and host HR Development scholarship recipients.
Scholar placementMinistry of Industry, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and other public bodies also host returning scholars in technical and research positions.
Scholar placementOverseas universities primarily in the US, UK, and Japan serve as the academic homes of NSTDA scholars. NSTDA welcomes expressions of interest from new partner institutions.
Academic partnerEvery NSTDA-funded scholar returns to serve in a designated Thai government body from national research agencies to public universities and ministries. This ensures the country's investment in overseas education translates directly into domestic S&T capacity.
The diversity of placement agencies reflects the breadth of the programme: graduates work in frontier research at NSTDA and GISTDA, teach and supervise at Chulalongkorn and Mahidol, and lead technical teams in government ministries across sectors.
* Percentage breakdown is indicative based on available data from the programme presentation (July 2025). Exact figures should be verified with NSTDA before publication.
Whether you are a prospective scholar, a university seeking to host our students, or a government agency with a partnership enquiry we welcome your message.
Pathum Thani Province, 30 km north of Bangkok accessible via expressway and public transit links from the city centre.
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