“So are you applying for the scholarship?” a friend of mine asked over MSN. Slightly confused I asked her which scholarship she was talking about. After a few minutes I found out that applications for a doctorate scholarship in European Studies had been announced by the Office of Civil Service Commission.

The deadline was within three days and if this friend hadn’t told me about it, I would have missed it entirely. Just because of that instant message, my life over the past five years completely changed directions. Just because of this little piece of information.

The wise people of this world do not exaggerate when they say that information is power. Scholarships, some worth millions of baht, are available both here in Thailand and in the UK, but unless you’re running in the right circles, you’ll most likely be oblivious of them.

Just off the top of my head, the most popular scholarships in Thailand are the Fulbright, British Chevening, and the various Office of Civil Service Commission (OCSC) scholarships. The latter requires you to be a civil servant for double the time you spend abroad, so might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but spending some time repaying the country who provided you with your elitist education really shouldn’t be that much of a deal.

Scholarships don’t find you. You need to find them. Some of these are notoriously difficult to find, but think of it as a test of your determination. The OCSC website is quite good for updating their scholarship applications information, but make sure you check weekly since you never know when one might pop up.

Here’s the first fact you might not know about getting a scholarship to study abroad from Thailand. Getting a scholarship from Thailand normally requires two very important qualities: a fairly good GPA and very good English. A minimum GPA of about 3.25 is usually the requirement for a Masters’ scholarship. For an OCSC scholarship at a popular ministry, for example, expect the TOEFL score cut to be overt 620. The requirements will be lower for less popular ministries.

Ironically, this means that except in the most unusual circumstances (or in the case of the One Tambon Scholarship), it usually means that those who win the scholarships are usually among Thailand’s most privileged and best connected. Students with international school backgrounds, should they desire one of these scholarships, will usually be handed an almost unfair advantage under the current system for scholarship applications. Knowledge in particular subject areas come only a close third to good GPAs and English skills.

The second fact is that scholarships are even more plentiful when you’ve got a foot in the door – when you’re already a student in the UK. Thai undergrads and postgrads in the UK are usually unaware that several departments actually have funding to offer students should they wish to further their education.

This of course means that your chances are better if you study at a less popular UK university. From my knowledge, as many as five places might be available for thirty applicants for a PhD at some of the less well known universities (ie. not Oxbridge or an university in a town with a team in the Football Premier League). If you’ve done well at your university (at least 2nd upper class) at your undergrad or master’s level and your tutors know you, the chances are very good that you might receive funding.

Getting a scholarship, however, requires patience and determination. Unless you’re running in the right circles, it really requires you to know yourself and what you want. Develop your skills and make sure you know what you want and where you want to be. Search in the right places, ask around if you don’t know where, and you’ll be surprised to find out how scholarships are often available for those who deserve them.