Thaksin University (Songkhla Campus)

Open Days (Student Registration and Educational Services Office): Monday – Friday

Opening Hours (Student Registration and Educational Services Office): 08:30 – 16:30

 

Thaksin University, Songkhla Campus is a public university campus with a significant place in the history of higher education in southern Thailand. Located at 140 Kanchanawanit Road, Moo 4, Khao Rup Chang Subdistrict, Mueang Songkhla District, Songkhla Province, the campus traces its origins to the College of Education, Songkhla, which was officially established on October 1, 1968. The institution subsequently became part of Srinakharinwirot University before gaining independent university status under the name Thaksin University on November 1, 1996. Today, the Songkhla campus serves as an important center for teacher education, the humanities, social sciences, fine arts, economics, business administration, law, and other academic disciplines.

 

The university is distinguished by its long and continuous development. Originally established to expand educational opportunities and prepare teachers for schools in southern Thailand, it has evolved into a multidisciplinary institution with a broader responsibility for research, professional education, community development, and cultural preservation. In 2026, the institution marked 58 years since its original establishment in Songkhla, making the campus a meaningful place for students, graduates, educators, and visitors interested in the region's educational history.

 

Songkhla Campus is situated in Khao Rup Chang, an area of Mueang Songkhla known for educational institutions, residential neighborhoods, public services, and local commerce. Kanchanawanit Road provides an important connection between Songkhla city and Hat Yai, making the campus accessible to students and visitors traveling from different parts of southern Thailand. The university grounds contain teaching buildings, administrative offices, student activity spaces, and shared learning facilities that support daily academic and campus life.

 

The origins of Thaksin University must be understood within the wider development of higher education in Thailand during the mid-twentieth century. At that time, the country's higher education institutions were concentrated mainly in major cities. Expanding educational institutions into regional provinces was therefore an important step toward giving more young people access to university-level learning and preparing a larger teaching workforce for the growing school system.

 

The institution's historical roots can be traced to the College of Education established at Prasarnmit in Bangkok in 1954. As the College of Education developed, it expanded into a multi-campus system serving different regions of Thailand. Songkhla was selected as a location for one of these campuses, reflecting the importance of strengthening higher education opportunities in the South and providing teachers with professional academic training closer to their home communities.

 

On October 1, 1968, the College of Education, Songkhla, was formally established in Khao Rup Chang, Mueang Songkhla. This date remains the official foundation date of Thaksin University. Teaching began in the 1969 academic year with a two-year Bachelor of Education program. In the 1974 academic year, the institution began admitting students into a four-year Bachelor of Education program, expanding both the duration and scope of its teacher-training mission.

 

Another major transition occurred in 1974 when the College of Education system was elevated to university status as Srinakharinwirot University. The Songkhla institution consequently became Srinakharinwirot University, Songkhla Campus. This transition marked an important period of academic and administrative development, allowing educational programs to grow beyond their original foundation while retaining a strong emphasis on the teaching profession.

 

On October 20, 1992, the institution was renamed Srinakharinwirot University, Southern Campus. The new name emphasized its regional responsibilities rather than identifying the institution exclusively with Songkhla Province. It also reflected a period in which the university was preparing for a more independent administrative structure and expanding its contribution to human resource development across southern Thailand.

 

The university gained independent status on November 1, 1996, under the Thaksin University Act of 1996. From that date, it operated as Thaksin University, separate from Srinakharinwirot University. Independence gave the institution a clearer identity and a stronger basis for developing its academic policies and programs in response to the needs of southern Thailand. Its original expertise in education remained central, but the university progressively broadened its academic mission into other disciplines.

 

The later development of the Phatthalung campus represented another major stage in the university's growth. Today, Thaksin University operates two principal campuses: Songkhla Campus and Phatthalung Campus. Each serves different academic and regional purposes, while both contribute to the university's overall teaching, research, and public service missions. Songkhla remains especially significant as the site of the institution's original foundation.

 

In 2008, Thaksin University became an autonomous public university under the Thaksin University Act of 2008. This change established a different framework for institutional governance and administration while retaining its public responsibilities. The university continues to pursue its major missions in education, research, academic service, and the preservation and advancement of arts and culture.

 

The name “Thaksin” is associated with the south, reflecting the university's geographical identity and commitment to southern Thailand. Beyond identifying a place, the name expresses the institution's relationship with the communities, educational needs, cultural traditions, and economic development of the region. It is an identity rooted in the South but connected to wider national and international academic networks.

 

The university's philosophy is “Wisdom, Ethics, and Development,” reflecting the belief that knowledge and intellectual achievement should be accompanied by ethical responsibility and meaningful contributions to society. Its official colors are grey and sky blue. Grey represents thought and intellectual capacity, while sky blue evokes the sea, the sky, and a broad outlook. Together, the colors symbolize visionary thinking and the pursuit of knowledge beyond narrow boundaries.

 

The university emblem includes three grey textbooks representing the core principles of wisdom, ethics, and development. A crown and the institution's Thai and English names complete the design, expressing academic excellence, dignity, and institutional identity. The university's symbolic tree and flower are the Parichat tree, also known as Parichat or Thonglang in Thai, scientifically identified as Erythrina variegata L. Its vivid red flowers are associated with traditional Thai cultural imagery and symbolism.

 

The atmosphere of Songkhla Campus reflects both its historic foundations and its continuing evolution as a modern learning environment. Its lecture halls, faculty buildings, administrative offices, and shared spaces support academic instruction, practical training, discussions, and student activities. These facilities also provide opportunities for independent study, collaboration, digital learning, and the development of skills that extend beyond formal classroom teaching.

 

One important administrative landmark is the Thaksin University 50th Anniversary Building, which houses the Student Registration and Educational Services Office for Songkhla Campus. The office is located in Room 18103 on the first floor. Students and visitors who need assistance with registration-related matters, academic records, or other services provided by this office can use its published location, contact number, and operating hours when planning their visit.

 

Prem Auditorium, known in Thai as Ho Prem Dontri, is another significant campus facility. Associated with musical, cultural, and university activities, it provides a setting for performances, events, and the exchange of artistic ideas. The university used this venue for activities associated with its institutional anniversary in 2026, demonstrating its continuing role in campus culture and the collective memory of students and alumni.

 

Lan Pu Liap is a culturally meaningful place within the university community. University activities held in October 2026 included ceremonies paying respect at this location. Such activities illustrate the way academic institutions in Thailand can combine modern higher education with local traditions, shared memories, and expressions of respect for places that have symbolic importance to their communities.

 

Library and learning facilities also play a central role in university life. Thaksin University has developed learning environments designed for research, collaborative work, and individual study, including Smart Learning Space facilities. Such spaces reflect a wider transition in higher education from libraries serving primarily as book collections to flexible environments supporting reading, group projects, exhibitions, academic events, and creative work.

 

Teacher education remains one of the university's most distinctive academic strengths. The Faculty of Education continues an institutional tradition that began with the College of Education more than half a century ago. Its academic fields include teaching methods, educational assessment, psychology, curriculum development, educational technology, and the preparation of teachers in several school subjects. These disciplines are closely connected to the long-term improvement of schools and educational opportunities in southern Thailand.

 

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences contributes to the study of language, society, history, culture, and contemporary communication. Its programs include Thai, English, Chinese, Japanese, and Malay, as well as history, public administration, community development, geography, and other fields. This range is particularly meaningful in southern Thailand, where different languages and cultural traditions are an important part of regional identity, commerce, tourism, and cross-border connections.

 

The Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts provides another distinctive dimension of the Songkhla campus. Its academic programs cover visual arts, design, music, and performing arts, connecting artistic education with professional creativity and cultural expression. Such disciplines are relevant to the creative economy, visual communication, cultural industries, and the preservation and contemporary interpretation of regional artistic traditions.

 

Economics, accounting, marketing, business administration, entrepreneurship, and logistics are also important academic areas at Songkhla Campus. These fields respond to the changing needs of businesses and organizations operating within southern Thailand and beyond. Programs in law, public administration, and management further support professional development in governance, public service, business operations, and the legal system.

 

According to the university's official 2026 academic program database, Songkhla Campus has undergraduate program listings associated with nine faculties and colleges: the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; Faculty of Science and Digital Innovation; Faculty of Education; Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts; Faculty of Economics and Business Administration; Faculty of Law; Management for Development College; International College; and Faculty of Nursing. Some listings represent different majors, study modes, or combined-degree pathways rather than entirely separate degree titles.

 

Students considering admission should pay careful attention to the campus specified for each academic program. Thaksin University operates both Songkhla and Phatthalung campuses, and a program available at one location is not necessarily offered at the other. Study plans may also differ according to major, full-time or special-program status, and admission requirements. The university's current admissions and registration information should therefore be consulted before an application is submitted.

 

Postgraduate education at Songkhla Campus includes graduate diplomas, master's programs, doctoral programs, and certain combined-degree pathways. These opportunities support the development of advanced professional and research skills in areas such as educational administration, curriculum and instruction, educational research, business administration, law, and sustainable development. The availability of postgraduate study also strengthens the university's role in professional development and academic research across the region.

 

Research and academic services form another important part of Thaksin University's mission. Knowledge developed through university education can be applied to practical challenges involving schools, communities, government agencies, and local businesses. This relationship between academic work and public service helps connect higher education with the everyday needs of society, whether through training, research collaboration, educational development, or the sharing of specialist knowledge.

 

Thaksin University also has a particularly important relationship with the study and preservation of southern Thai culture. One institution associated with this mission is the Institute for Southern Thai Studies, located on Ko Yo in Mueang Songkhla District. This institute is geographically separate from the main Songkhla campus on Kanchanawanit Road. Its folklore museum and cultural collections provide opportunities to study traditional lifestyles, crafts, tools, art, beliefs, and other aspects of southern Thailand's cultural heritage.

 

The cultural context of Songkhla is especially rich. The city has long been associated with maritime trade and cultural exchanges involving Thai, Chinese, and Malay communities. These historical connections are evident in its architecture, language, food, customs, and religious traditions. For university students, researchers, and visitors, the region provides an important real-world setting for understanding how culture, education, society, and economic activity influence one another.

 

University traditions and student activities contribute to a shared sense of identity among students, staff, and alumni. Activities connected with student orientation, respect for teachers, arts and music, academic exhibitions, and institutional anniversaries are part of the wider cultural life of the university. In October 2026, anniversary-related events included musical activities and ceremonies at important locations on campus, demonstrating the continuing importance of institutional history and community traditions.

 

The Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts has also been involved in cultural activities connected with Songkhla Province, including preparations associated with the 2026 Chak Phra tradition. Chak Phra, a significant Buddhist cultural tradition in southern Thailand, illustrates the close relationship between religious practices, artistic expression, and local community life. University involvement in such activities offers a way for students to connect academic learning with living traditions.

 

For visitors interested in educational tourism, Thaksin University, Songkhla Campus offers opportunities to explore the history of higher education in southern Thailand and learn about the contemporary work of a regional public university. Public lectures, exhibitions, cultural performances, and other announced university events may provide suitable opportunities for outside visitors to participate. Access to teaching buildings, laboratories, and restricted facilities should be arranged with the relevant university office in advance.

 

The campus can also be included in a wider cultural visit to Songkhla. The surrounding city is known for its historic old town, traditional architecture, seaside landscapes, local food, and museums. Combining a university visit with Songkhla's cultural attractions provides a broader perspective on the relationship between education, community life, and the region's history.

 

Getting There: Thaksin University, Songkhla Campus is located on Kanchanawanit Road in Khao Rup Chang, Mueang Songkhla District. Visitors traveling from Hat Yai can follow the main road toward Songkhla and use the university's official campus name in a navigation application. Private vehicles, taxis, and suitable local transport connections can be used. Those traveling by public transport may need to transfer to a local vehicle to reach their specific destination on campus. Visitors attending meetings or handling administrative matters should confirm the exact building and office before traveling.

 

The Student Registration and Educational Services Office at Songkhla Campus is located in Room 18103, on the first floor of the Thaksin University 50th Anniversary Building. Its published office hours are Monday to Friday, from 08:30 to 16:30, and its telephone number is +66 74 317 644. The main campus telephone number is +66 74 317 600. These office hours should not be interpreted as the operating hours of every campus building or as unrestricted public access hours for the university grounds.

 

Thaksin University, Songkhla Campus is therefore more than an educational institution. It represents an important chapter in the expansion of higher education throughout southern Thailand, beginning with the College of Education, Songkhla, in 1968 and continuing through its development into a multidisciplinary public university. Its enduring contribution lies in the education of generations of students, the development of professional knowledge, and the connection of academic learning with the cultural and social life of southern Thailand.

 

 

 

 

A: It is located at 140 Kanchanawanit Road, Moo 4, Khao Rup Chang Subdistrict, Mueang Songkhla District, Songkhla Province 90000, Thailand.

 

A: The Student Registration and Educational Services Office operates Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 16:30. Other departments and university facilities may follow different schedules.

 

A: The institution was originally established on October 1, 1968, as the College of Education, Songkhla. It became the independent Thaksin University on November 1, 1996.

 

A: Its former names included the College of Education, Songkhla; Srinakharinwirot University, Songkhla Campus; and Srinakharinwirot University, Southern Campus.

 

A: The university's 2026 academic program database lists nine faculties and colleges associated with undergraduate-level and related program listings at Songkhla Campus, covering the humanities, science and digital innovation, education, fine arts, business, law, management, international studies, and nursing-related certificate education.

 

A: Thaksin University has two main campuses: Songkhla Campus in Songkhla Province and Phatthalung Campus in Phatthalung Province.

 

A: Visitors may attend public university activities when these are open to outside participants. Visits to teaching buildings, laboratories, or restricted facilities should be arranged with the responsible university office.

 

A: The main campus telephone number is +66 74 317 600. The Songkhla Student Registration and Educational Services Office can be reached at +66 74 317 644.