Thammasat University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Thammasat University

มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์
Official seal of the University
Former names	University of Moral and Political Sciences
Motto	For excellence, for justice, and readiness in leadership
Type	National
Established	27 June 1934; 90 years ago (1934-06-27)
Founder	Pridi Banomyong
Budget	17,444,989,498.60 Baht (2023)
Rector	Supasawad Chardchawarn
Academic staff	2,082
Students	39,952 (2nd term, AY2023)
Undergraduates	34,701
Postgraduates	5,251
Location	Phra Nakhon, Bangkok , Thailand 13°45′27″N 100°29′24″E / 13.75750°N 100.49000°E / 13.75750; 100.49000
Campus	Multiple-campus university Urban and Rural (varied by campus)
Anthem	"Yung Thong" ('Golden Flamboyant')
Colors	Yellow and red
Affiliations	ASAIHL GMSARN LAOTSE
Mascot	Flamboyant Tree

Thammasat University (TU) is a big public research university in Thailand. It has campuses in Tha Phra Chan, Rangsit, Pattaya, and Lampang Province. As of 2019, over 33,000 students study there. The university has 33 different departments and colleges. About 2,700 teachers and staff work at Thammasat.

Thammasat is Thailand's second oldest university. It officially opened on June 27, 1934. Its founder, Pridi Banomyong, named it the University of Moral and Political Sciences. It started as an open university, meaning many people could join. In its first year, 7,094 students studied law and politics.

In 1960, the university changed its rules. It became the first in Thailand to require students to pass national entrance exams. Today, Thammasat offers more than 240 study programs. These are spread across 33 different departments and colleges on its four campuses.

Over 80 years, Thammasat University has grown a lot. It started with law and politics but now offers many subjects. It has taught over 300,000 students. Many of its graduates have become important people in Thailand. These include prime ministers, politicians, and bank leaders.

The original campus, Tha Phra Chan, is in Bangkok. It is near many famous places. This campus was also important during big student protests in 1973 and 1976. The Rangsit campus is where most younger students study. It is located in Pathum Thani Province. Thammasat also has smaller campuses in Lampang and Pattaya.

Getting into Thammasat is quite hard. Only students with top national test scores are usually chosen. This is especially true for subjects like social sciences. QS World University Rankings gave Thammasat University Four QS Stars. This means it is "highly international" and excellent in teaching and research.

University History

The name "Thammasat" comes from an old Buddhist word. It means "study of law."

How Thammasat University Started

Pridi Banomyong monument, Tha Phra Chan Campus

University of Law and Political Sciences logo

Thammasat University began in 1934. It was first called the University of Law and Political Sciences. This was two years after a big change in Thailand's government in 1932. The university took over from an older law school that started in 1907.

Pridi Banomyong was the main person behind Thammasat. He was a key figure in Thailand's democracy. He helped create the law that started the university in 1934. Pridi became the university's first leader.

The university was built on an idea from the People's Party. They believed everyone should get a good education. They felt education should not just be for royal families. The old law school students also wanted their school to become a university. So, Thammasat became the new home for the law school. The first Thammasat building was the old law school. The university moved to the Tha Phra Chan campus the next year.

When it first opened, 7,094 people wanted to join. At that time, another big university, Chulalongkorn, only had 68 graduates a year. Thammasat first offered degrees in law, economics, and political science. It also had a diploma in accounting. Soon, master's and doctoral degrees were added.

In its early years, the university did not need much money from the government. It used money from student fees and from a bank it partly owned.

During World War II, Thammasat played a secret role. It was the hidden base for the Free Thai movement. This group worked against the Japanese who had taken over Thailand. The campus also held Allied civilians, but Thai guards protected them.

University Changes Over Time

After a government change in 1947, Pridi Banomyong left Thailand. The university changed too. In 1949, it created separate departments for law, political science, business, and economics. It also had to sell its bank shares. This meant it then relied on government money. The words "and Political Sciences" were removed from its name. Thammasat was no longer an open university for everyone.

A new law for Thammasat University was passed in 1952. In the 1950s and 1960s, Thammasat added more departments. These included social administration, journalism, liberal arts, and sociology.

Important Protests at Thammasat

In 1973, Thammasat became a key place for student protests. These protests led to a big event on October 14. Many students gathered at Thammasat to protest the arrest of student activists. The protests lasted several days. They ended with a violent clash near the Democracy Monument. After this, Thailand's military leaders left the country. Sanya Dharmasakti, who was the head of Thammasat at the time, became the new Prime Minister.

6 October Memorial, Tha Phra Chan

Three years later, on October 6, 1976, another sad event happened at the Tha Phra Chan campus. Students were protesting against a former leader returning to Thailand. Violence started when two workers were killed for handing out protest papers. Students then performed a play about this event on campus. Some newspapers showed photos of the play, but one student in the photo was changed to look like a royal. This made some people very angry.

Police and angry groups surrounded Thammasat University. On October 6, they attacked the students. The attack lasted for hours. Many students were hurt or killed. Some tried to escape by jumping into the Chao Phraya River.

One of the student leaders from that time was Seksan Prasertkul. He wrote a famous protest song. He later became a teacher at Thammasat University.

Growing the University

In the 1980s, Thammasat built a new campus in Rangsit. This campus was for new science and technology departments. It welcomed its first students in 1985. The engineering department opened in 1989, and medicine in 1990. By the late 1990s, all first-year students studied at Rangsit.

Today, almost all undergraduate classes are at Rangsit. Some international English programs and special programs are still at Tha Phra Chan. Most graduate classes are taught at Tha Phra Chan.

The Rangsit campus was also used for the 1998 Asian Games. Thammasat University is part of international university networks. These networks help students and teachers exchange ideas and learn from each other.

University Symbol

The university's symbol shows the middle part of the Democracy Monument, Bangkok. This monument honors Thailand's Constitution from 1932. The symbol is placed on a 'wheel of law'. This wheel represents the university's name in an old language called Sanskrit.

University Campuses

Thammasat University has two main campuses in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area. These are Tha Phra Chan and Rangsit. It also has two smaller campuses in Lampang and Pattaya.

Tha Phra Chan Campus

Tha Phra Chan campus across the Chao Phraya River

Thammasat 60th Anniversary Plaza

The Tha Phra Chan Centre is in Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok. It is surrounded by many famous Thai places. These include Sanam Luang, the Grand Palace, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It is also next to the Chao Phraya River. This was Thammasat's first permanent campus. It was bought in 1935 with money from public donations.

The most famous building on campus is the Dome. It was made from four old military buildings. The Dome was where Pridi Banomyong had his office. It was also the secret meeting place for the Free Thai Movement during World War II. Weapons were even hidden in its attic.

The Tha Phra Chan campus was important during the student protests in 1973 and 1976.

Eight departments are based at Tha Phra Chan. These include law, political science, economics, and liberal arts. As of 2019, mostly graduate programs and international English programs are offered here. The campus also has a football field, a gym, libraries, and cafeterias.

Dome Administration Building, Rangsit

Rangsit Campus

The Rangsit Centre is the second and largest Thammasat campus. It is in Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani Province. This is about 42 kilometers north of Bangkok. Shuttle buses connect it to Tha Phra Chan.

Thammasat University started new programs in engineering, technology, science, and medicine at Rangsit in the 1980s and 1990s. Since 2006, almost all bachelor's degree classes are taught here. The campus also has the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology. This institute focuses on engineering and technology research. The Thailand Science Park and the Asian Institute of Technology are also nearby.

The Rangsit campus has three main areas: academic, housing, and sports. The Thammasat University Sport Centre was used for the 1998 Asian Games.

In December 2019, the Rangsit campus opened Asia's largest rooftop garden. This 7,000 square meter space helps fight climate change, like flooding. It is open to anyone who wants to grow rice, vegetables, or herbs.

Other Campuses

• Pattaya Centre is in Pattaya, Chonburi Province. This large area was given to the university in 1987. Construction started in 1997. This campus offers advanced courses in rural development and management.

• Lampang Centre is in Hang Chat District, Lampang Province. The university approved this campus in 1996. It started classes in an old city hall. In 2003, it moved to its current location. This campus offers special courses on local development and design to a smaller group of students.

University Departments and Colleges

Dome Building, university headquarters

Thammasat University has 19 departments (faculties), seven colleges, and seven institutes.

Thammasat University Stadium, Rangsit Centre

Studying Law

The Faculty of Law was one of the first departments. It grew from an old law school. This department offers degrees up to the doctorate level. It also has special programs in business law.

Studying Business and Accounting

The Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy started in 1938. It is one of the oldest business schools in Thailand. It offers many programs like business administration, accounting, and marketing. It has a special program where students can get both a bachelor's and master's degree in five years. It also has Thailand's first international business program taught in English.

This department is known as Thammasat Business School (TBS). It has received top international awards for its quality.

Studying Political Science

The Faculty of Political Science started in 1949. Many Thai leaders and politicians have graduated from here. It offers studies in politics, public administration, and international affairs. It has programs for both undergraduate and graduate students. There are also international programs taught in English.

This department is sometimes called Singha Daeng ('red lion').

Studying Economics

The Faculty of Economics started in 1949. It is the oldest economics department in Thailand. Under the leadership of Dr. Puey Ungpakorn, it grew a lot. Dr. Puey got money from a foundation and brought in teachers from US universities.

In 1969, it started a master's program taught in English. Now, it also has bachelor's and PhD programs in English. The department has many teachers with doctoral degrees. It is considered one of the best economics programs in Thailand. Its graduates often get into top universities around the world.

Studying Social Administration

This department helps students learn about social welfare and justice. It was the first school in Thailand to teach about social welfare studies.

Studying Liberal Arts

The Faculty of Liberal Arts started in 1961. It first taught general subjects to all university students. Now, it offers many undergraduate and graduate degrees. These include psychology, history, languages (English, French, Japanese, Chinese, German, Russian, Spanish), and literature.

• English Department: This department is well-known in Thailand. It offers programs in translation, languages, and literature. Students can join activities and exchange programs. It also has advanced programs for teaching English and for English in business.

• International Programs: The Faculty of Liberal Arts also has four-year international programs taught in English. For example, the British and American Studies (BAS) program lets students explore the culture, history, and politics of the US and UK. The ASEAN-China International (IAC) program focuses on business, languages, and media in China and Southeast Asia.

Studying Journalism and Mass Communication

The Department of Journalism started in 1954. It was the first place in Thailand to offer higher education in journalism. It became a full department in 1979. Today, it offers programs in newspaper, radio, TV, advertising, and public relations. It also has master's and doctoral degrees.

There is an international program for journalism and mass media studies (BJM). The department has its own radio station, editing rooms, and broadcasting rooms for students to practice. It also publishes a magazine and newspaper.

Studying Sociology and Anthropology

This department started as part of the Social Administration department. It became a separate department in 1976. It aims to train experts who can research and help society.

Studying Science and Technology

The Faculty of Science and Technology started in 1986. It was the first full science department at the Rangsit Campus. It began with subjects like mathematics, statistics, and computer science. Now, it teaches many science subjects. These include chemistry, biotechnology, physics, and food technology. It also has international programs.

Studying Engineering

The Faculty of Engineering started in 1989. It began with electrical and industrial engineering. Later, it added civil, chemical, and mechanical engineering.

The department also has international programs taught in English. The TEP program allows students to study two years at Thammasat and two years at a foreign university. Many graduates continue their studies at top universities in the UK.

Studying Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine started in 1990. It is the ninth public medical school in Thailand. It offers undergraduate and graduate medical courses. It also has master's and doctoral programs in medicine. Thammasat's medical school is known for its special teaching methods. It focuses on learning through real-life cases and community problems.

Studying Architecture and Planning

The Faculty of Architecture started as a program in 1999 and became a full department in 2001. It offers programs in architecture, interior architecture, and urban planning. It also has programs in landscape architecture and real estate development.

Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT)

The Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT) is at the Rangsit Campus. It started in 1992. It offers science, technology, and engineering education. All its programs are international and taught in English. SIIT is part of Thammasat University, but it manages itself. It has strong connections with research agencies and international universities.

SIIT is known for its research. It has many research publications. It also gets many important research grants for PhD students.

Studying Pharmaceutical Sciences

This department focuses on research in pharmaceutical sciences. It aims to improve health in the community. It offers programs in pharmaceutical sciences and pharmaceutical care.

Studying Learning Sciences and Education

This department started in 2014 at the Rangsit Campus. It combines different subjects to teach about education and learning. It offers master's degrees in learning sciences and a bachelor's in learning sciences. This department also runs Thammasat Secondary School. This school uses active learning and teaches about sustainability.

Chulabhorn International College of Medicine (CICM)

The Chulabhorn International College of Medicine (CICM) is a medical school that started in 2012. It is the first in Thailand to offer an international medical course taught in English. Students learn general sciences first, then move to pre-clinical and clinical studies. Thammasat University Hospital is the main training place.

Language Institute

The Language Institute of Thammasat University (LITU) started in 1985. It helps students at Thammasat learn English. LITU teaches English courses at all three main campuses. It also offers language services to the public.

LITU teaches English to new students and throughout their studies. It also has international graduate programs. These include teaching English and English for international communication.

College of Innovation

This college started in 1995. It focuses on combining different subjects. It offers degrees in areas like technology management, cultural management, and service innovation. It has bachelor's and master's programs.

School of Global Studies

The School of Global Studies is a new part of Thammasat University. It focuses on global health and social innovation. It does research on public health and teaches students. It offers bachelor's degrees in global studies and social entrepreneurship. It also has master's degrees in innovation and sustainability.

International Programs

Thammasat University offers many programs for international students. These include bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. They cover social sciences, humanities, science, technology, urban design, and health sciences.

University Rankings

• Thammasat University has Four QS Stars. This means it is very international. It is excellent in both research and teaching. It offers a great environment for students and teachers.
• Thammasat is ranked 2nd for being highly competitive in Thailand's university admissions.
• In the QS World Ranking (2019), Thammasat was 601-650th globally. It was 3rd in Thailand.
• In QS Asia (2019), Thammasat was ranked 108th among Asian universities.
• For QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019, Thammasat was 2nd in Thailand. It was ranked 200–250th in the world.

QS World University Ranking by Subject 2019

Pridi Panomyong and teachers at Thammasat University, 1935

Famous People from Thammasat

Many important people have been part of Thammasat University.

Pridi Phanomyong's statue. He was the first chancellor and founder of the university. Dome Building, Tha Prachan Campus

Well-Known Teachers

• Princess Galyani Vadhana: A princess of Thailand. She was the head of the foreign language department.
• Pridi Phanomyong: The university's founder. He was a former prime minister and a leader of the Free Thai movement.
• Puey Ungpakorn: A former head of the Bank of Thailand. He was also a leader and teacher at Thammasat.
• Sanya Dharmasakti: A former prime minister and a former leader of the university.
• Abhisit Vejjajiva: A former prime minister and a former teacher.
• Theerayut Boonmee: A former student activist and social critic. He is now a teacher.
• Ammar Siamwalla: A current member of the National Legislative Assembly. He was a professor of economics.

Famous Graduates

Many Thammasat graduates have become leaders in Thailand. These include several prime ministers like Tanin Kraivixien, Chuan Leekpai, Samak Sundaravej, and Somchai Wongsawat. Many other ministers and bank leaders also studied here.

Some other famous graduates include:

• Sirikan Charoensiri: A human rights lawyer.
• Mom Rajawongse Pridiyathorn Devakula: A former head of the Bank of Thailand.
• Somkid Jatusripitak: A former deputy prime minister.
• Wissanu Krea-ngam: A deputy prime minister.
• Thongchai Winichakul: A professor of history.
• Charnvit Kasetsiri: A Thai historian and former university leader.
• Rewat Buddhinan: A pioneer in Thai pop music.
• Direk Jayanama: A Thai diplomat and politician.
• Aniporn Chalermburanawong: An actress and Miss Universe Thailand 2015.
• Ranee Campen: A famous actress.
• Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit: A Thai politician.
• Vachirawit Chivaaree: A Thai actor and singer, known as Bright.
• Metawin Opas-iamkajorn: A Thai actor, known as Win.
• Putthipong Assaratanakul: A Thai actor, known as Billkin.

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See also

In Spanish: Universidad Thammasat para niños

• Education in Thailand
• List of universities in Thailand
• List of colleges and universities
• Pridi Phanomyong
• Puey Ungpakorn