Thammasat University Announcement
on Thesis Publication Requirements for Graduation
of Master’s or Doctoral Degree Students 2026 (B.E. 2569)
……………………………………………….
Whereas it is deemed appropriate to issue a Thammasat University announcement regarding thesis publication requirements for graduation of Master’s or Doctoral degree students
Pursuant to the authority granted in Section 95 of the Thammasat University Regulations on Graduate Studies 2025 (B.E. 2568) and with the approval of the University Council at its meeting No. 3/2025 on March 25, 2025, the Rector hereby issues the following announcements:
Article 1 This announcement is entitled “Thammasat University Announcement on Thesis Publication Requirements for Graduation of Master’s or Doctoral Degree Students 2026 (B.E. 2569)”
Article 2 This announcement shall come into effect as from the day following its publication.
Article 3 This announcement applies to Master’s or Doctoral degree programs approved or revised in accordance with the Announcement of the Higher Education Standards Committee on the Graduate Program Standards 2022
(B.E. 2565)
Article 4 In this announcement,
“National Journal exhibiting quality as determined by the Higher Education Standards Committee” means an academic journal that is of high quality and accepted within that academic field or related discipline. The journal must have been published continuously for a minimum of 3 years and undergo rigorous quality control by at least 3 qualified peer reviewers from various institutions. The academic journal may be published in print or electronic format as long as clear publication guidelines are established.
“International Journal meeting the quality standards set by the Higher Education Commission” means an academic journal published in databases designated by the Higher Education Commission, namely ERIC, MathSciNet, Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science (only SCIE, SSCI , and AHCI databases), JSTOR, and Project Muse , which may be published in print or electronic format.
“Academic Conference Presentation” means the presentation of a research article in the form of a full paper at a national or international academic conference, which is peer-reviewed by a committee of experts and published in the relevant conference proceedings. The full paper may be in print or electronic format and may be published before or after the conference.
“ Patent” means a patent as defined in accordance with the Patent Act.
“ Petty Patent” means a petty patent as defined in accordance with the Petty Patent Act.
“Innovative Work” means creation that is considered new or significantly improved from something previously done, resulting in advancements in standards, efficiency, value, and quality, which is utilized to create a wide-ranging impact, commercially or publicly, and illustrates one or more of the following characteristics:
( 1) Technological innovation works, such as products , services , processes related to production, or
( 2) Social innovation works such as organizational structure, management systems, financial management, business, marketing, or any other similar activities
“Innovative Work or Invention” means creation that is considered new or significantly improved from something previously done, resulting in advancements in standards, efficiency, value, and quality, which is utilized to create a wide-ranging impact, commercially or publicly, and illustrates one or more of the following characteristics:
(1) Technological outputs, such as products, services, or processes related to production
(2) Social outputs, such as organizational structure, management systems, financial management, business marketing, or any other activities, including designing problem-solving processes, creating value in new dimensions by specifying new approaches, new methods, or means of enhancing effectiveness and efficiency
“Creative Work in Science and Technology” means academic work in the form of invention of tools, labor-saving equipment, new strains of plants or animals, or microorganisms with special properties for specific uses, such as vaccines, products, or other inventions that are beneficial to the economy and society, developed from the application of scientific and technological knowledge through well-established methodologies in a particular field of study.
“Aesthetic and Artistic Creative Work” means work or a set of creative work that demonstrates aesthetic and artistic values, manifesting the owner’s creative ability, and can be described in terms of its underlying philosophical, ethical, and aesthetic principles, reflecting the values of truth, goodness, and beauty. The work must be accompanied by explanations of the principles that contribute to understanding its meaning and value. Examples include creative work in literature, performing arts, and music, architecture, design, painting, sculpture, printmaking, or other forms of art.
“Academic Work for Industry” means academic work that benefits the industry in which the value chain is operated domestically, resulting in positive changes that advance the industry’s development or offer solutions to the industry.
“Academic Work for the Development of Teaching and Learning” means academic work which may be conducted in the form of studies, experimental research, or research and development, with the goal of promoting and developing desirable characteristics or solving learning problems of students. The components of the work include a description or key evidence, such as:
(1) Problems related to teaching and learning
(2) Concepts, theories, principles, reasons, or beliefs that the teacher employs in designing innovative teaching and learning approaches that promote student development or solve pedagogical problems. These innovations may be new teaching methods, new approaches to teaching, newly developed inventions, or significant adaptations of existing materials, such as new lesson plans, new activities, new teaching techniques, or new media integrated into teaching and learning.
(3) The process and results of putting the innovation into practice with learners in real situations should demonstrate that learners are developed to have desirable characteristics, with supporting evidence that changes in learners have occurred in the desired direction, leading to learning in both learners and teachers.
“Academic Work for the Development of Public Policy” mean work derived from research analysis and synthesis in economic, social, political, environmental, scientific, engineering, or other academic fields, contributing to new public policy proposals, or conceptual or empirical guidelines regarding public policy, or the implementation of such policies, for the government to use in formulating policies, laws, plans, orders, or other measures, with the ultimate goal of solving existing problems or developing beneficial outcomes for the public
whether at the national, local, or international level.
“Case Study” means written work developed from the study of individuals or institutions (government agencies, private sector organisations, etc.), involving the examination of events, management practices, cases, or real-life situations to create a case study. This involves gathering information and analysing it in line with academic principles to identify the causes of problems and other factors, then using this information to inform decision-making and determine solutions, or to present proposals for organizational development, or to foster understanding of individual or organisational behaviour; to stimulate analytical thinking, reasoning, and decision-making based on academic principles; or to analyze facts and exercise discretion in legal cases.
“Translation” means the translation of the original source that is literary or academic works considered important and valuable in their respective fields, and the translated texts evidently contribute to academic advancement in the disciplines. The work must be a translation from a foreign language into Thai, or vice versa, or from one foreign language to another.
“Dictionary, Encyclopedia, Directory, and other similar academic work” means a reference that describes and provides information about words, topics, or other sub-units based on systematic and academic research. The collection reflects the latest academic status or state-of-the-art in that particular subject. The compilation of words, topics, or sub-units, must be systematically referenced, and is the work of a single author. It includes an introduction that clarifies principles, discipline-related principles, or theories used, as well as a user’s guide, and a consolidated bibliography or bibliography divided into sub-units, including an index when appropriate.
“Software” means a computer program as defined in accordance with a copyright law.This applies to software developed from research, or as an invention, or the creation of new knowledge that can be clearly explained in terms of the underlying principles, including software that applies discipline-related principles for the purpose of analyzing various types of academic data. The tool must possess one of the following characteristics:
(1) The operation of a project in which software is developed using a numerical method or an Engineering Design operation which directly contributes to an improvement of the design process.
(2) Work involving modification, alteration, and development at the Source Code level to improve the operating system, with significant system improvements.
(3) Projects that involve efficient data collection and evaluation in accordance with research and technology development. Evidence must be presented to demonstrate clearly how the system’s operation has improved after the implementation of information technology and software. This includes system improvements, needs surveys, and clear outputs or indicators that demonstrate the technology is not merely a replacement for the existing system. The results must also align with the nature of the relevant research and development.
“Work conducted as Academic Services to Local Community and Society” means work that benefits society or the local community, resulting from the application of knowledge in at least one academic discipline, and demonstrating tangible and measurable results that are widely acknowledged by the public; work that benefits the local community and society, influencing positive changes in one or more areas related to the community, lifestyle, education, arts and culture, environment, occupation, economy, politics and governance, quality of life, or health; work that leads to the registration of a patent or other forms of intellectual property that can be demonstrably used to solve problems or develop society and yield clear benefits; or work that catalyzes a change in awareness and understanding of problems and solutions in the community. This excludes profit-seeking and business-oriented activities that yield personal returns.
Article 5 Master’s degree students under the Academic Program (Plan 1) are to follow these criteria for thesis publication to fulfil the requirements for graduation:
(1) Students in the Thesis Only Plan are required to complete one of the followings:
(1.1) Having at least one academic paper based on the thesis or part of the thesis published, or at least accepted for publication, in a quality international journal as determined by the Higher Education Standards Committee.
(1.2) Having at least one academic paper based on the thesis or part of a thesis published, or at least accepted for publication, in a quality national journal as determined by the Higher Education Standards Committee.
(1.3) Having at least one innovative or creative work with commercial, social, or economic applications , or at least one patent, or petty patent.
(1.4) Having at least one innovative work or invention in the form of national or international exhibitions, or through displays, public performances, or recordings of images, sound, photographs, or video recordings, organized by a recognized professional academic institution, or in printed format, or by electronic media that has been assessed for quality assurance by a panel of peer reviewers from various institutions who are the experts in that field or related fields.
(1.5) At least one creative work in science and technology, or creative work in aesthetics, art, or academic work for industry, or academic work for the development of teaching and learning or academic work aimed at developing a public policy, or case study, or translation, or dictionary, encyclopedia, and similar academic works, software, or community and work conducted as a social service project.
(2) Students in the Coursework and Thesis Plan are required to complete one of the following:
(2.1) Having at least one academic paper based on the thesis or part of a thesis published, or at least accepted for publication, in an international academic journal, which may be published in print or electronic format.
(2.2) Having at least one academic paper based on the thesis or part of the thesis published, or at least accepted for publication, in a national journal of high quality and recognized in the academic field or in related fields, which may be published in print or electronic format with a definite publication date.
(2.3) Having at least one innovative or creative work with commercial, social, or economic applications, or at least one patent, or petty patent.
(2.4) Having at least one innovative work or invention presented in the form of national or international exhibitions ,or through displays, performances, public performances, or recordings of images, sound, photographs, or video recordings, organized by a recognized professional academic institution, or in printed format, or by electronic media that has been assessed for quality assurance by a panel of peer reviewers from various institutions who are the experts in that field or related fields.
(2.5) Having at least one creative work in science and technology, or creative work in aesthetics, art, or academic work for industry, or academic work for the development of teaching and learning, or academic work aimed at developing a public policy, or case study, or translation, or dictionary, encyclopedia and similar academic works, software, or community and work conducted as a social service project.
(2.6) Having at least one academic paper presented at an academic conference.
Article 6 Doctoral degree students are to follow these criteria for thesis publication to fulfil the requirements for graduation:
(1) Doctoral degree students under Plan 1 are required to complete
one of the following:
(1.1) Having at least two academic papers based on the thesis or part of the thesis published, or at least accepted for publication, in a quality international journal as determined by the Higher Education Standards Committee.
(1.2) Having at least one academic paper based on the thesis or part of the thesis published, or at least accepted for publication, in a quality international journal as determined by the Higher Education Standards Committee, and at least one innovative or creative work with commercial, social, or economic applications, or at least one patent.
Doctoral degree students (Plan 1) in Social Sciences and Humanities
may publish two academic papers in a national journal of the quality standard as determined by the Higher Education Standards Committee in this case they wish to publish only in national journals.
(2) Doctoral degree students under Plan 2 are required to complete
one of the following:
(2.1) Having at least one academic paper based on thesis or part of the thesis has been published, or at least accepted for publication, in a quality international journal as determined by the Higher Education Standards Committee.
(2.2) At least one innovative or creative work with commercial, social, or economic applications, or at least one patent.
Doctoral students (Plan Two) in Social Sciences and Humanities
may publish at least one academic paper in a high-quality national journal as determined by the Higher Education Standards Committee.
Article 7 Doctoral degree students in both Plan One and Plan Two programs who wish to present their thesis in the form of an innovative or creative work with commercial, social, and economic applications must adhere to the following guidelines:
(1) An assessment of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) or Societal Readiness Level (SRL) must be conducted with the expected outcome of Level 7 or higher.
(2) The assessment must be conducted by an external committee consisting of at least three experts in the same or related fields who are widely recognized for their profound expertise and distinguished experience in the field with the approval of the University Council.
The experts who conduct the assessment must possess the following qualities:
(1) Having knowledge and expertise related to the student’s thesis topic or field of study related to the curriculum.
(2) Having at least ten years of work experience related to the student’s thesis topic or field of study related to the curriculum.
(3) Having one of the following creative or innovative works:
(3.1) Works that demonstrate creativity and have been presented in
a national or international exhibition, or works that result in the presenter being honored as an individual with recognized creative achievements by the national or international organizations, such as the Silpathorn Award, the Golden Suphannahong Awards, or displays performances, public performances, recordings of images, sound, photographs, or video recordings, organized by a recognized professional academic institution, or in printed format, or by electronic media that has been assessed for quality assurance by a panel of qualified peer reviewers in that field or related fields who are invited from various institutions. Quality assessment by a panel of peer reviewers from various institutions who are the experts in that field or related fields.
(3.2) Works that have been registered as a patent or a petty patent.
(3.3) Works that are in the process of registering for a patent or a petty patent.
(3.4) Works with documented evidence proving their commercial or research use or works that have developed for further applications.
Article 8 Faculties, colleges, institutes, or other designated units of the university that administer Graduate Studies may set more rigorous publication criteria or a higher number of publications than specified in this announcement, subject to the approval of the University Council.
Article 9 The Rector shall be responsible for implementing this announcement and shall have the authority to issue guidelines or orders for its implementation, in accordance with this announcement.
Announced on February 2026 (B.E.2569)
(Professor Supasawad Chardchawarn )
Rector
