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Thailand’s national curriculum, set by the Ministry of Education, is designed mainly for pupils in the local school system. Most schools teach it in Thai, but English Programme (EP) and bilingual schools deliver part of the same curriculum in English.
For Thai families, this can offer stronger English without leaving the local system. For international families, it can provide more Thai language and cultural immersion than a fully international school. The differences in qualifications, university entry and language are worth understanding first.
Quick Comparison: Thai vs UK vs US Curriculum
| Thai (Core Curriculum) | British (Cambridge) | American (AP/Diploma) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ages | 6–18 (Prathom 1–Mathayom 6) | 5–18 | 5–18 |
| Key exams | O-NET, feeding into TCAS university admissions | IGCSE, A Level | Diploma, AP, SAT/ACT (varies) |
| Assessment | School-based plus O-NET at key year groups | Exams + coursework | GPA, testing varies |
| Final-year load | Broad national core, subject to school design | 3–4 A Levels | Flexible, credit-based |
| Uni recognition | Thailand; overseas usually needs A Levels or foundation | Global | Global |
| Strengths | Affordable, EP option adds real English immersion | Structured exams, specialisation | Flexibility, AP options |
Schools shown for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.
What Is Thailand's National Curriculum?
Thailand’s Basic Education Core Curriculum covers Prathom 1 to Mathayom 6. English is studied throughout school.
O-NET assesses pupils at Prathom 6, Mathayom 3 and Mathayom 6. It measures achievement against national standards but does not feed directly into the current TCAS university admissions system.
TCAS requirements vary by university and may include school grades, TGAT, subject-specific TPAT tests and Thai A-Level subjects.
Most local schools teach mainly in Thai. EP and Mini English Programme schools follow the same national curriculum but teach some subjects in English. EP normally uses more English than MEP, while Thai language and culture remain compulsory.
What Is the Difference Between the Thai and UK Curriculum?
British qualifications concentrate into three or four A Levels for the final two years. Thailand's Core Curriculum stays broader throughout, without the same staged narrowing, and university entry runs through O-NET and TCAS rather than a single set of terminal exams like A Levels. Families weighing an EP school against a fully British international one may find doris's IB vs British curriculum guide a useful reference, since EP and bilingual schools sit at a genuinely different point on that spectrum.
What Is the Difference Between the Thai and US Curriculum?
The American system runs on GPA and credit accumulation with broad early subject choice. Thailand's system is more centrally set through the Core Curriculum, with O-NET results mattering more for local university admission than continuous GPA tracking does in the US. Students moving from a Thai school, even an EP one, to US universities will typically still need SAT or TOEFL scores, since O-NET results are not designed with international admissions in mind.
Year Group Conversion
| Thai Level | UK Year | US Grade | Typical Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prathom 1 | Year 2 | Grade 1 | 6–7 |
| Prathom 6 | Year 7 | Grade 6 | 11–12 |
| Mathayom 3 | Year 10 | Grade 9 | 14–15 |
| Mathayom 4 | Year 11 | Grade 10 | 15–16 |
| Mathayom 6 | Year 13 | Grade 12 | 17–18 |
Schools shown for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.
Why Families Choose English Programme and Bilingual Schools
Thai families can gain stronger English without leaving the national curriculum or local university pathway. Fees also tend to be lower than at fully international schools.
For international families, these schools offer more Thai language and cultural immersion. The trade-off is that the main qualification remains Thai rather than IGCSE, A Levels or the IB Diploma.
Some schools add an external programme for pupils planning to study overseas, but this is not guaranteed.
What Do Families Actually Give Up?
An EP or bilingual education is not the same as a fully international one, and families should go in with that expectation clear: the exit qualification is still Thai, tied to O-NET and Mathayom 6 graduation, not an internationally portable exam like IGCSE or the IB Diploma. Some EP schools do layer an external qualification, such as the Global Assessment Certificate, on top for students who want an internationally recognised university route, but this is school-specific rather than guaranteed. Families who know their child will study abroad should confirm which pathway, if any, a bilingual school offers before enrolling on English provision alone.
English Programme and Bilingual Schools on doris
These schools follow Thailand's national curriculum in full, with a government-recognised share of subjects taught in English rather than a separate foreign syllabus layered on top.
| School | Location | About |
|---|---|---|
| Sarasas Ektra School | Yan Nawa, Bangkok | Sarasas Ektra follows the Thai curriculum through a bilingual Thai-English model. Years 10–12 can include the Global Assessment Certificate, an additional university-preparation programme. Confirm current fees directly with the school. |
| Sarasas Witaed Suksa School | Samut Prakan, greater Bangkok | this school is part of the Sarasas network and combines the Thai curriculum with English-medium teaching. Confirm the current English-to-Thai teaching balance and fees directly. |
| Ambassador Bilingual Academy | Mae Hia, Chiang Mai | Located in Chiang Mai, ABA offers a Thai-English programme from Pre-K to Grade 12. Published 2026–27 tuition ranges from THB 123,900 to THB 174,300. Listed annual totals with compulsory charges range from approximately THB 165,400 to THB 222,300. An entrance fee also applies.Schools shown for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school. |
English Programme and Bilingual Schools on doris
Sarasas Ektra School
Located in Bangkok, Sarasas Ektra follows the Thai curriculum through a bilingual Thai-English model. Years 10–12 can include the Global Assessment Certificate, an additional university-preparation programme. Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Sarasas Witaed Suksa School
Located in Samut Prakan, this school is part of the Sarasas network and combines the Thai curriculum with English-medium teaching. Confirm the current English-to-Thai teaching balance and fees directly.
Ambassador Bilingual Academy
Located in Chiang Mai, ABA offers a Thai-English programme from Pre-K to Grade 12. Published 2026–27 tuition ranges from THB 123,900 to THB 174,300. Listed annual totals with compulsory charges range from approximately THB 165,400 to THB 222,300. An entrance fee also applies.
Schools shown for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an English Programme (EP) school the same as an international school? No. EP and bilingual schools follow Thailand's national Core Curriculum with a government-regulated share of subjects taught in English, while international schools generally run a fully separate foreign curriculum such as British, American or IB throughout.
What is O-NET and does it matter for EP students? O-NET is Thailand's national standardised test, sat at key year groups, and it feeds into TCAS, the national university admissions system. EP and bilingual students sit the same O-NET as students in standard Thai schools, since they remain on the national curriculum.
Can a non-Thai-speaking child join an English Programme school? Generally yes, more easily than a fully Thai-medium school, since a substantial share of instruction is in English. Thai language and culture remain compulsory subjects, though, so some baseline Thai study is expected over time.
Do EP schools lead to an internationally recognised qualification? Not automatically. Some schools layer an external qualification, such as the Global Assessment Certificate, on top of the Thai national track for students planning to study abroad, but this varies by school and should be confirmed directly rather than assumed.
doris is a free, impartial international school discovery platform designed to help parents find the right international school for their children worldwide. Every school profile includes fees, curriculum, admissions, pupil numbers and more. Parents can compare schools, contact schools directly, access expert parent guides, and connect with a community of parents around the world. Start your search at doris.
This guide was written by Aziza F, part of the doris editorial team. doris sources school data from institutions worldwide and speaks directly with parents navigating the school search process. Fee data reflects published and publicly available information for the 2025 to 2027 academic years as noted per school and is reviewed annually. External sources: Ministry of Education Thailand, moe.go.th, Cambridge Assessment International Education, cambridgeinternational.org.
Schools are listed for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.