Is IGCSE equivalent to Thai Mathayom 6 (Grade 12)? The official criteria, and what to study next
Short answer: IGCSE alone is not enough to count as Mathayom 6 for Thai university entry. The council of university presidents' (TUPA) criteria for the British system require at least three GCE A Levels, or another route such as the GED. This guide covers who decides equivalency, the published criteria, and why IGCSE still matters.
The short answer
IGCSE is a Year 11 qualification; Mathayom 6 corresponds to finishing Year 13 or Grade 12.
TUPA's qualification criteria (the TCAS67 notice): British-system students need GCE A Level results in at least 3 subjects at A* to E, or the GED in 4 subjects with at least 145 in each.
Under the Ministry of Education regulation of 2020, each university decides the equivalency of foreign qualifications for admission, so always check the criteria of the programme you apply to.
Who decides equivalency
The regulation and related notices are on the OBEC Bureau of Educational Testing page (Thai).
| Purpose | Decided by | Source |
|---|---|---|
| University admission | Each university | MoE regulation on basic-education qualification equivalency, 2020, clause 16 |
| Other purposes, e.g. jobs | Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) | Same regulation, clause 17 (OBEC's Bureau of Educational Testing is secretariat) |
Published criteria
Every one of these needs A Levels (or equivalent). IGCSE is a base some count alongside them, like Chula's five IGCSE subjects, but none accepts IGCSE alone in place of Mathayom 6.
We could not find official TCAS68–TCAS70 versions of the TUPA notice when checking; TCAS67 is the latest confirmed. Check the current year on mytcas.com before applying.
| Who | Criteria for British-system students | Source |
|---|---|---|
| TUPA (TCAS67) | GCE A Level in at least 3 subjects at A* to E · or GED 4 subjects, each ≥ 145 | TCAS67 qualification notice |
| Chulalongkorn (not yet graduated) | IGCSE / GCSE / O Level in at least 5 subjects plus GCE A Level in at least 3 at A* to E | HSCES equivalency FAQ 2565 |
| Mahidol ICT International (2027 entry) | AS / A Level in at least 3 subjects at C or above, CGPA ≥ 2.50 · IGCSE Maths counts as a maths score, not as the qualification | Admission notice |
Already have IGCSE: what next
The direct route is at least 3 A Levels or the IB Diploma, both at Mathayom 6 level (IGCSE, A-Level, IB vs the Thai curriculum).
For science, engineering or medicine, the A Level subjects matter as much as the grades, and many faculties require chemistry (which faculties IGCSE leads to · medicine with A-Level Chemistry).
Why IGCSE still matters
IGCSE is not the qualification you apply with, but many schools use IGCSE grades to admit students to A Level or IB, some universities count IGCSE subjects alongside, and A Level Chemistry builds directly on IGCSE Chemistry. A solid IGCSE makes A Level much easier.
Note
Checked against official notices on 27 October 2026. TUPA and university criteria can change every year; confirm with the university or OBEC before planning or applying. This guide is not an equivalency ruling.
Try: all 12 IGCSE Chemistry topics, interactive, on one page
Stuck on something the AI explanation did not fix? Book a lesson with Boom.
See the online IGCSE Chemistry course