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Thammasat University (Tha Prachan)

Name: Thammasat University (Tha Prachan)
Address: Phra Borommaha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, TH
Telephone: 02613333, 054268701
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Thammasat University or in brief TU is Thailand's second oldest institute of higher education. Officially established to be the national university of Thailand on 27 June 1934, the university was originally named by its founder, Pridi Banomyong, the University of Moral and Political Sciences ( Mahawitthayalai Wicha Thammasat Lae Kan Mueang), reflecting the political fervor of Thailand.

It started as an open university, with 7,094 students enrolled in its first academic year studying law and politics. The guiding philosophy of the university was "to teach students to love and cherish democracy".

In 1952, the university's name was shortened to its present one by the military junta of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram who also became the first rector of the university. Nevertheless, Thammasat University has always been involved in the politics of Thailand, counting most Thai political leaders among its graduates.

In 1960, the university ended its free-entry policy and became the first university in Thailand to require passing national entrance examinations for admission. Thammasat today offers more than 240 academic programs in 23 different faculties and colleges on four campuses.

Over the 80 years since its founding, Thammasat University has evolved from an open university for law and politics to a prestigious international university offering all levels of academic degrees in many fields and disciplines. It has graduated more than 300,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

The university's alumni have included most of Thailand's prime ministers, leading politicians, and government figures, Bank of Thailand governors, court presidents and judges, as well as most of the city's governors.

Tha Phra Chan Campus, the original campus of the university, is in Phra Nakhon, Bangkok. The campus is in close proximity to many tourist destinations and was the site of the 14 October 1973 uprising and the 6 October 1976 massacre. Rangsit campus, where most undergraduate programmes are concentrated, is in Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani.

Thammasat has smaller regional campuses in Lampang, Pattaya, Narathiwat, and Udon Thani. It is ranked 447 in the world by QS.

Website : www.tu.ac.th