Chulalongkorn University facts for kids
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จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย
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Phra Kiao Chulalongkorn University Seal
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Former names
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| Motto |
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Motto in English
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| Type | Autonomous public university |
| Established | 26 March 1917 |
| Founder | King Vajiravudh of Siam |
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Academic affiliation
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ASAIHL, AUN, APRU, Washington University in St. Louis McDonnell International Scholars Academy |
| Budget | 5,535 million baht (FY2019) |
| President | Bundhit Eua-arporn, PhD (บัณฑิต เอื้ออาภรณ์) |
| Students | 37,626 |
| Undergraduates | 26,202 |
| Postgraduates | 8,029 |
| 2,627 | |
| Location |
Pathum Wan, Bangkok
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13°44′18″N 100°31′56″E / 13.738359°N 100.532097°E |
| Campus | Downtown 2.0944 km2 (0.8087 sq mi) |
| Anthem | "Maha Chulalongkorn" ("Great Chulalongkorn") |
| Colours | Pink |
| Mascot | Chamchuri (tree) |
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Chulalongkorn University (CU), also known as Chula, is a top public research university in Bangkok, Thailand. It was first started in 1899 to train royal pages and government workers. Later, in 1917, it became a national university. This makes it the oldest university in Thailand.
The university is named after King Chulalongkorn. His son, King Vajiravudh, officially named it "Chulalongkorn University" on March 26, 1917. The Rockefeller Foundation helped the university set up its early study programs.
Chulalongkorn University is one of Thailand's National Research Universities. It is also the only Thai university that is part of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU).
CU has many different departments, including nineteen faculties, a School of Agriculture, and several colleges and institutes. Its campus is very large and is located in downtown Bangkok. A special tradition is that graduates receive their diplomas from the King of Thailand. This tradition started with King Prajadhipok (Rama VII).
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History of Chulalongkorn University
King Chulalongkorn wanted to make Thailand more modern. To do this, he needed trained officials. In 1899, he opened the "Civil Service Training School" near the Royal Palace. Students who finished school here became royal pages. They learned how to manage things by working closely with the king. This was a traditional way to join the government.
On April 1, 1902, the King changed the school's name to the "Royal Pages School." Later, on January 1, 1911, King Vajiravudh renamed it the "Civil Service College of King Chulalongkorn." He did this to honor his father and moved the school to Windsor Palace in Pathumwan.
King Vajiravudh helped build the university campus. He also brought different schools from around the city together to form Chulalongkorn. The college offered eight main subjects through five schools.
King Rama VI believed that education should be for everyone, not just government workers. So, on March 26, 1917, the college became "Chulalongkorn University." The schools turned into four main departments, called faculties: Arts and Sciences, Public Administration, Engineering, and Medicine.
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In 1923, the Faculty of Medicine was the first to accept students who had finished high school. Other faculties soon followed. After the 1932 Revolution, the Faculty of Law and Political Science moved to the new Thammasat University in 1933.
In 1938, a special school was created to prepare students for the university. Students spent two years there before joining the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. This preparatory school later became an independent school in 1947. The university then started the Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School (CUD). This school helps train future teachers.
University Symbols
Phra Kiao Emblem
The university's emblem is called Phra Kiao. This is a Thai coronet, which is a special royal headpiece. King Chulalongkorn allowed his personal emblem to be used for the school. When the school became a university, the Phra Kiao remained its symbol. You can see it on official papers, souvenirs, and student uniforms.
Student Uniforms
Students at Chulalongkorn University wear uniforms for classes, exams, and when visiting the university offices. Male students wear a plain white shirt and dark pants. Female students wear a short-sleeved blouse and a dark pleated skirt.
First-year male students must wear a dark blue necktie with the Phra Kiao emblem. For female first-year students, white leather shoes are required. The university's uniform style has been copied by many other universities in Thailand.
Academic Dress
The special robes worn for graduation at Chulalongkorn University are called khrui. These robes are based on traditional Thai ceremonial clothes. They are open in the front and reach the calves. Unlike some Western robes, they do not include a cap or hood.
The color of the felt strip on the robe shows the wearer's degree. For example, black is for bachelor's and master's degrees. Scarlet (bright red) is for doctoral degrees. The color of a cord or ribbon on the strip shows which faculty the student studied in. The King of Thailand has a special yellow robe as the university's Visitor.
VVajiravudh allowed the university to use this traditional Thai gown. The rules for wearing it were set in 1930 by King Prajadhipok.
Examples of Academic Robe Colors
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Robe for the University Visitor (the King) -
Robe for University Officers (like lecturers) -
Faculty of Science BSc Degree -
Faculty of Science MSc or MRes Degree -
Faculty of Science PhD Degree -
Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy B.Acc. Degree -
Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy MAcc Degree -
Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy DCom Degree
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Rain Trees on Campus
Many rain trees grow on the university campus. They are special to students and represent their journey. When the leaves are fresh and green, it's like new students (freshmen) starting their studies. When the trees drop their leaves and pods, the ground becomes slippery. This reminds students to study hard for exams so they don't "slip" (fail).
In the past, many rain trees were cut down. King Bhumibol Adulyadej noticed this. On January 15, 1962, he planted five new trees in front of the university auditorium. He said these trees would be "an eternal memorial."
University Departments and Programs
Chulalongkorn University has 19 faculties, three colleges, one school, and many institutes. These are all places where students learn and research happens.
When the university started in 1917, it had four faculties: Arts and Sciences, Public Administration, Engineering, and Medicine. Over the years, more study areas were added, like Pharmacy, Veterinary Science, Architecture, and Dentistry.
In 2009, the School of Agricultural Resources was created. It helps students learn about farming and natural resources. In 2019, the Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation (ScII) was launched. It offers a unique program that combines arts and science.
Health Sciences
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Nursing
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Faculty of Psychology
- Faculty of Sport Sciences
- Faculty of Veterinary Science
Science and Technology
- Faculty of Architecture
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Science
- School of Agricultural Resources
Social Science and Humanities
- Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy (also known as Chulalongkorn Business School)
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Communication Arts
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Political Science
Integrated Faculty
- School of Integrated Innovation
International Programs
Chulalongkorn University offers many international programs. These include 17 Bachelor's, 48 Master's, and 34 Doctoral programs. Students from other countries can apply based on special rules.
Some Bachelor's Degrees offered internationally are:
- Chula International School of Engineering
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Architecture - International Program of Design and Architecture -INDA- and CommDe
- School of Integrated Innovation - Bachelor of Arts and Science in Integrated Innovation (BAScii)
- Chulalongkorn Business School - The Bachelor of Business Administration
- Faculty of Communication Arts
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Political Science
- Faculty of Psychology
Graduate Institutes
- College of Population Studies
- College of Public Health Science
- Graduate School
- Language Institute
- Petroleum and Petrochemical College
- Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration
Research Institutes
- Aquatic Resources Research Institute
- Energy Research Institute
- Environmental Research Institute
- Institute of Asian Studies
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
- Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute
- Social Research Institute
- Transportation Institute
Research at Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn University has many research centers. They study topics like:
- Aquatic Resources
- Energy
- Environment
- Social issues
- Biotechnology and Genetics
- Metals and Materials Science
- Asian Studies
- Transportation
University Rankings
| University rankings | |
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| Global – Overall | |
| ARWU World | 501–600 (2023) |
| QS World | 211 (2024) |
| THE World | 601–800 (2024) |
| USNWR Global | =547 (2023) |
Chulalongkorn University is often ranked as the top university in Thailand. It also ranks highly among universities in Asia and around the world. For example, in 2024, it was ranked 211th globally by QS World University Rankings. These rankings look at things like how good the teaching is, how much research is done, and how well graduates find jobs.
Scholarships for Students
Chulalongkorn University offers many scholarships to help students pay for their education. These include:
Research Scholarships
- The 90th Anniversary of Chulalongkorn University Scholarship
- CU.Graduate School Thesis Grant
- Overseas Research Experience Scholarship for Graduate Student
Education Scholarships
- The 100th Anniversary Chulalongkorn University for Doctoral Scholarship
- H.M. King Bhumibhol Adulyadej's 72nd Birthday Anniversary Scholarship
- ASEAN Scholarship
- Scholarship for International Graduate Students
University Campus
The university campus is located in downtown Pathum Wan District. It covers a large area of about 637 rai (about 250 acres). The university also owns other land that is used for businesses or other institutions.
Centenary Park
On the west side of the campus is the Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park. This park was built to celebrate the university's 100th anniversary in 2017. It has a special pond and a rain garden that help manage water and prevent flooding in Bangkok.
Student Accommodation
The Chulalongkorn University International House (CU iHouse) is a tall building with 846 rooms. It provides housing for international students and teachers. The rooms are fully furnished and have good security. The university also has shuttle buses that go to the residence.
Honorary Degrees
The university has given special honorary degrees to important leaders and people from around the world. This includes two U.S. presidents:
- Lyndon B. Johnson, October 29, 1966
- Bill Clinton, November 26, 1996
- Nelson Mandela, July 17, 1997
University Traditions
Students at Chulalongkorn University have many fun traditions:
- Chula–Thammasat Traditional Football Match: This is an exciting annual football game between Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University. It happens in January and started in 1934.
- Loy Krathong: This is a yearly festival that celebrates the full moon in November. Many students and people from Bangkok come to the university to float their krathongs (decorated baskets) on the university's pond.
- Chulalongkorn Academic Exhibition: Every three years, the university holds a big exhibition to show off its academic work and research. It's one of the most important academic events in Thailand.
Student Activities and Clubs
The university has over 40 student clubs. These include clubs for Buddhism and traditions, religious studies, and Thai classical music. There's also a "Morals Network" that works to make sure student activities are good for the university's reputation. The Cheer Club helps organize the Chula-Thammasat football match.
Famous Alumni
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Many successful people have studied at Chulalongkorn University. Here are a few examples:
- Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, a princess of Thailand
- Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, a princess of Thailand
- Thawan Thamrongnawasawat, a former Prime Minister of Thailand
- Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, a Thai politician and Speaker of the House
- Chadchart Sittipunt, the current Governor of Bangkok
- Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a Thai politician and businessman
- Chit Phumisak, a famous Thai historian and writer
- Nidhi Eoseewong, another well-known Thai historian
- Panipak Wongpattanakit, an Olympic gold medalist in taekwondo
- Urassaya Sperbund, a popular Thai actress and model
- Artiwara Kongmalai, a famous Thai rock music singer
International Achievements
Chulalongkorn University students and teams have achieved great things on the world stage:
- Olympic Medals: Students won two medals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics:
- Tawin Hanprab, Silver medal in Men's −58 kg taekwondo.
- Panipak Wongpattanakit, Bronze medal in Women's −49 kg taekwondo.
- Microsoft Imagine Cup: The PH21 team, made of Computer Engineering students, won first prize in the games category at the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2016.
- RoboCup Competitions: The university's RoboCup team, Plasma‐Z, has won several awards in robotics competitions, including becoming champions of the World RoboCup Small‐Sized Robot League in 2008 in China. Another team, Plasma-RX, won first prize in the Rescue robot league at World RoboCup 2008.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Chulalongkorn para niños
- Academic dress of Chulalongkorn University
- Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkorn University
- Education in Thailand
- Chula United football club
- Department of Statistics | Chulalongkorn Business School
