Chiang Mai University demonstrates systematic commitment to poverty alleviation and economic equality through targeted scholarship frameworks specifically designed for students in the bottom 20 percent of household income distribution. These integrated support mechanisms address income inequality by ensuring students experiencing extreme poverty not only gain university admission but also successfully complete their studies, creating pathways to break intergenerational cycles of deprivation and economic vulnerability.
University Graduation Completion Targets
The institution establishes explicit graduation targets for economically disadvantaged students, recognizing that financial barriers often lead to study abandonment. The Preparatory Scholarship Program expands opportunity in the 17 northern provinces through initial enrollment support of 10,000 baht covering transportation, clothing, and essential materials, with 121 scholarships distributed in 2566 increasing to 160 in 2567, demonstrating pro-poor commitment to reducing student dropout rates. The University’s primary anti-poverty program targets families with annual income below 100,000 baht, or 150,000 baht for households with medical expenses, multiple children in education, or more than four dependents—establishing clear poverty line criteria aligned with bottom financial quintile identification. The Central University Scholarship Program allocates 600-1,000 annual scholarships through institutional budgets and donations, systematically supporting low-income completion rates across undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Targeted Support for Bottom Financial Quintile Students
Specialized initiatives provide continuous, targeted, and coordinated approaches to ensure poorest students overcome financial barriers to graduation.
Highland Student Program: Partnering with the Ministry of Interior, offers 19 scholarships supporting ethnic minority students with Thai citizenship across nine faculties, addressing social protection needs for historically marginalized populations experiencing deprivation.
CMU Presidential Scholarship: Provides 200 annual graduate scholarships including full tuition coverage, 12,000 baht monthly living allowances, health insurance, and international travel support—comprehensive financial services enabling uninterrupted study without economic distress.
Student Development Division Scholarship: Specifically targets continuing students with family income below 360,000 baht annually, providing sustained cash transfers addressing basic services including food, accommodation, transportation, and educational materials.
These integrated scholarship frameworks demonstrate institutional dedication to poverty reduction through education, creating social safety nets that transform livelihoods and promote sustainable economic development for marginalized communities. By systematically removing financial barriers, these programs enable students from the poorest quintile to access quality education, breaking cycles of intergenerational poverty and building pathways toward economic resilience and social mobility.