Number of students – 2500

Number of low income students receiving financial aid – 1666

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) actively targets and supports students from low-income households through, for example, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Scholarship program. In 2024, 10 out of 38 candidates were awarded the ADB Scholarship, which specifically requires a family income not exceeding USD 50,000 per year and an individual income limit of USD 25,000 per year. This program focuses on students from ADB member countries in Central Asia, such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as developing member countries (DMCs) like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka, and the Mekong Region countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

Source: Google Sheet
Please note that the names of the candidates are not disclosed to protect their privacy.
The candidates highlighted in yellow and with a red border are the recipients of the scholarships.

AIT has set graduation and completion targets to support students from the bottom 20% of household income groups, for example, through initiatives like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Scholarship program. In 2024, 10 students who fell within this low-income category successfully graduated with the assistance of the ADB Scholarship. This program specifically targets students whose family income does not exceed USD 50,000 per year, helping them to overcome financial barriers and achieve their educational goals. By focusing on completion targets, AIT ensures that students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds have both the financial support and resources needed to complete their studies successfully.

Source: Google Sheets
Please note that the names of the graduates are not disclosed to protect their privacy.

1282 students from developing countries earn scholarship support in 2024

Every year, AIT provides various levels of scholarship support to academically talented students who lack the financial means to fund their postgraduate level education. The support commonly covers basic needs including food, housing, transportation, legal services, along with tuition fees. In keeping with its mission, the scholarships target deserving students who aspire to contribute to the development of their home countries.

In 2024, a total of 126 students from 8 low-income countries received partial or full scholarships. In addition, a total of 1156 students representing 21 lower middle-income countries received partial or full scholarships. AIT officials explain that scholarships are part of the institute’s vision to be a catalyst for innovation and sustainable development in Asia and beyond.

Sources: Google Sheets




The Institute manages a number of Master’s level scholarships provided by the Royal Thai Government (RTG) to qualified candidates with excellent academic qualifications. They provide opportunities for students of diverse backgrounds from Thailand and all countries in Asia to study and do research work together in the truly international environment, and to build a good foundation for international understanding among people of Asia.

The RTG scholarships are granted by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Thai Ministry of Education. These scholarships cover the full tuition and registration fees, as well as a monthly stipend and accommodation allowance for students pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees at AIT. The scholarships are open to students from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Mongolia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Philippines.

His Majesty the King’s Scholarships are granted to qualified candidates with excellent undergraduate achievements from any Asian country to pursue a Master Degree in any of the disciplines offered at AIT’s School of Engineering and Technology (SET) and its School of Management (SOM).

Her Majesty the Queen’s Scholarships are granted to qualified candidates with excellent undergraduate achievements from any Asian country to pursue a Master’s degree in the environmental-related field offered at the School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD).

Another scholarship is the Bangchak Master’s Scholarship, which is sponsored by the Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited, a Thai energy company. This scholarship covers the full tuition and registration fees, as well as a monthly stipend and accommodation allowance for students pursuing a Master’s degree in the fields of energy, environment, or food engineering and biotechnology at AIT. The scholarship is open to students from Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, China, India, and Bangladesh .

Other scholarships available at AIT include the WE Consultant Scholarships, the Thai Pipe Scholarships, the AIT-UNESCO-IHE Joint Master’s in Urban Water Engineering and Management, the Japanese Government Scholarships, the BRIDGEX Scholarship for Structural Engineering, the . Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP), and many others.

References:
https://ait.ac.th/financial/royal-thai-government-scholarships/
https://ait.ac.th/financial-aid/

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Support for Students from Low and Lower-Middle Income Countries

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) is deeply committed to advancing access to higher education for talented students from low and lower-middle income countries through its fully funded scholarships such as the Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB–JSP) and the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Programme. These programs are designed to build human resource capacity and promote inclusive development across Asia and the Pacific by supporting students who demonstrate strong academic merit and a clear commitment to contributing to their home countries’ development goals.

ADB–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB–JSP) offers comprehensive financial support to nationals of ADB’s developing member countries—such as Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam—enabling them to pursue postgraduate studies at AIT. The scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and provides a subsistence allowance that includes a housing allowance. Accommodation may be covered based on actual dormitory costs or a reasonable off-campus housing allowance agreed upon between ADB and AIT. It also includes student medical and accident insurance, book allowance, and thesis/research allowance to cover research-related expenditures such as photocopying, school supplies, communication costs, local travel, and accommodation for fieldwork. Scholars receive round-trip economy-class airfare for the most direct route between their home country and AIT, as well as a flat allowance for visa fees, airport taxes, and luggage expenses (including financing of excess luggage up to 20 kg upon return). In special cases, language and computer training may also be funded if deemed necessary for the completion of the study program..The selection criteria consider preference to women candidates and preference to applicants with lesser financial capacity. 

DAAD Scholarship receipients of 2024

DAAD In-Country/In-Region Programme, offered through AIT’s partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), supports postgraduate students from Southeast Asian nations including Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. The scholarship aims to strengthen higher education systems in the region and foster regional collaboration through academic mobility. It provides full tuition coverage, a monthly bursary of 500 EUR for accommodation, food, and living expenses, an annual study and research allowance of 460 EUR, a printing allowance of 400 EUR (granted once at the end of the program), and travel allowances for non-Thai scholars at the beginning and end of the scholarship period. Health insurance is also included as part of the tuition coverage. These comprehensive benefits ensure that scholars can focus entirely on their academic and research pursuits without financial burden.The selection criteria consider, female applicants, refugees with recognized refugee status, and candidates from other less privileged regions or groups are especially encouraged to participate in the program.

In 2024, AIT awarded ADB–JSP scholarships to 10 students and DAAD In-Country/In-Region scholarships to 15 students. These ADB–JSP and DAAD scholarships facilitate academic excellence and contribute to building a skilled workforce ready to drive sustainable development in their respective countries and Southeast Asia, respectively.

References:

• AIT Financial Aid and Scholarships Page: https://ait.ac.th/financial-aid/
• AIT ADB–JSP Scholarship Page: https://ait.ac.th/admissions/scholarships/adb-japan-scholarship-program/
• AIT DAAD Scholarship Page: https://ait.ac.th/admissions/scholarships/daad-scholarships/
• https://ait.ac.th/2024/08/new-daad-scholars-bring-global-perspectives-to-aits-gender-and-development-program-applications-open-for-august-2025-intake/
• https://ait.ac.th/2024/06/ait-graduates-win-prestigious-adb-jsp-thesis-of-the-year-award-2024/

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The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) provides financial assistance to the local community to help start and scale financially and socially sustainable ventures. In 2024, AIT—primarily through the AIT Entrepreneurship Center (AIT EC)—offered cash awards, in-kind venture support, mentoring, and exposure to investors and industry experts, with a clear focus on solutions that deliver social impact and commercial viability.

Through Tech Planter Thailand 2024, AIT EC awarded the “AIT EC Surprise Award” (18,888 THB) to a local team identified for strong business potential and societal benefit. The TECH PLANTER program (run by Leave a Nest with partner companies) discovers research-driven projects and nurtures them into startups. Thai teams pitched to a 10-member judge panel from Japan and Thailand, receiving market feedback and connections—practical support that complements the cash award and advances community startups toward sustainability and investment readiness. (Timeframe: 2024; Amount disbursed: 18,888 THB; Support: cash award + mentoring/feedback; Focus: Thai deep-tech teams and local market relevance.)

AIT EC also ran the AIT SDG Summer School 2024 (SDG Open Hack), a two-day venture-building program that drew 20+ teams and selected 13 finalists working on SDG-aligned health innovations. Prize funding supported early venture costs and impact activities: 1st prize €1,500 (earmarked for travel to represent AIT at the SDG Olympiad in Paris), 2nd prize 10,000 THB, and 3rd prize 5,000 THB. Winners included Mindful Milk (plant-based probiotic milk for gut & mental health), Virtual Puen (digital companion for mental wellness), and Pro Fine (centralized patient-data system to improve healthcare access). These awards, plus pitch coaching and ecosystem exposure, directly help local teams advance sustainable, community-benefiting solutions. (Timeframe: 2024; Amounts: €1,500, 10,000 THB, 5,000 THB; Reference: AIT SDG Summer School 2024).

Reference: https://ec.ait.ac.th/

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