The Association of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (TCUP) has made changes to allow for new ways of submitting applications and screening students under the Thai University Central Admissions System (TCAS) for the next academic year, after the previous system faced criticism for restricting students' opportunities.
Following difficulties in the 10-month-long procedure for the five rounds of admissions to be evaluated, and different end dates for schools nationwide, the TCUP will now reduce the entire admissions process to six-and-a-half months from December 2018 to mid-June for the 2019 academic year.
However, the council has seen fit to retain the five rounds of admissions as it said this does not infringe on the opportunities students are given, and can be adjusted.
''As a result of the complaints lodged against us with the failure of the TCAS for this academic year, the TCUP has revised the shortcomings of its admissions process, and key adjustments have already been made for the third round of admissions," TCUP president Suchatvee Suwansawat said on Wednesday.
The third round of admissions is called the "joint direction admission" system, in which students have central exams organised by the National Institute of Educational Testing Service.
Previously, candidates were allowed to choose up to four departments, but the TCUP did not ask students to rank their preferences, resulting in many students obtaining their last choice despite having adequate scores for higher placements.
Under the adjusted rules, Mr Suchatvee said students would be allowed to rank their preferred placements.
"We have increased their options from four choices to six. This will maximise our efforts to satisfy students with their desired institution,'' he said.
The TCUP will use data from students' preferred ranking, and students will only be given one offer, he said.
For this year's TCAS, students who selected the Consortium of Thai Medical Schools as one of their desired placements were given extra opportunities as the umbrella of institutions under it comprised multiple institutions.
Students who wish to enroll at a medical school will have to select one institution as a single choice for the system to be fair.
Admission fees are also being reduced under the changes. This year's charge is 50-100 baht per placement.