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 program 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) program 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 program 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 work in Thai government agencies, universities, and research institutions, directly translating their international education into national opportunity 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 program has operated continuously since 1990 across five phases each expanding in scope, cluster coverage, and ambition. Phase IV (2018–2032) planned 1,400 scholarships, with the program now entering its next chapter with 9 existing industries 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 program.
Policy & oversightOffice of the Civil Service Commission conducts national competitive examination facilitates scholars before and during their study.
Selection & administrationKey science agencies under MHESI that receive returning scholars and employ them in applied research roles across their respective mandates.
Scholar placementChulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, and other leading Thai academic institutions, as well as Rajaphat University and Rajamangala University of Technology staff returning scholars.
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.
Academic homeEvery NSTDA-funded scholar returns to serve in a designated Thai government body from national research agencies to public universities and government ministries. This ensures the country's investment in overseas education translates directly into domestic S&T capacity.
The diversity of placement agencies reflects the breath of the program: graduates work in frontier research at NSTDA and GISTDA, teach and supervise at Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, and other leading Thai academic institutions, as well as Rajaphat University and Rajamangala University of Technology, and lead technical teams in government ministries across sectors.
* Percentage breakdown is indicative based on available data from the program presentation (July 2026). Exact figures should be verified with NSTDA before publication.
Whether you are a prospective scholar or a university looking to recruit our scholars, 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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