The Top 5 Universities in Bangkok


 

Image by ScorpionPK sourced from wiki media commons

Bangkok is now considered as one of SE Asia’s prime cities. As the capital of Thailand, and with more than 12 per cent of the population situated here alone, the city has long been considered as the main learning hub in the nation.

In fact, these days, 5 of the universities in Thailand are included in the QS World University Rankings, with 2 of those coming into the top 400 in the world.

Somewhat bizarrely though, the actual rankings of nationwide Thai universities, and particularly the ones in Bangkok, do seem to vary (sometimes considerably) according to who is compiling the order of the rankings. And although this may be open to interpretation along various lines of logic, it does go some way to explaining the fierce rivalry and competitive nature between the universities that is apparent within the country of Thailand.

The seemingly most popular Universities in Bangkok are contained within the 2020 Bangkok University Ranking, which features 42 recognized tertiary-education institutions based on specific criteria.

These guidelines include having accreditation from appropriate Thai higher education-related bodies, being able to offer four-year undergraduate or postgraduate degrees (both master and doctoral degrees), and being able to deliver courses primarily in a face-to-face, non-distance learning educational format.

Whichever rankings you do look at when considering the universities in Thailand though, and particularly those in Bangkok, you are most likely to come across the following five featured within this article, however the order may run.

These 5 universities in Bangkok are likely to be among the most vaunted and most-attended universities by the majority of young attendees and would-be-attendees alike in Bangkok that you might have any possibility of running into.

1. Chulalongkorn University

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Chulalongkorn University is generally considered to be both the highest-ranking and the most esteemed university in Thailand. This public (government) and autonomous research institute is actually ranked 245th by the QS World University Rankings, and has been 50th in the QS Asia University Rankings since 2018.

Originally founded by the Thai King Chulalongkorn as a training facility for royal employees (at the Grand Palace), while the modern campus came into being as a national university in 1917 at the behest of another Thai monarch, King Vajiravudh (the son of Chulalongkorn).

The facility is situated pretty much in the centre of the city, not too far from the popular young people’s hangout area of Siam, which makes for another obvious selling-point to those applying to undertake study there.

The University hosts and promotes a wide variety of high-profile events and gatherings across the annual academic calender, which obviously takes in the major Thai festivals and holidays such as Loy Krathong (a celebration of Full Moon Day in November) and such like.

The institute even holds its own Academic Exhibition, long-heralded in Thailand as one of the most esteemed academic fairs. The university is also one of Thailand’s National Research Facilities, and is thus funded and supported by The Office of National Education Standards and Quality Assessment of Thailand.

And again going back to the QS World University Rankings by Subject in 2017, Chulalongkorn University is ranked globally for 20 of the curriculum subjects including particular engineering disciplines, and sciences such as chemistry, biology, pharmacy and medicine, and modern languages.

Chula (as it is also known by locals) claims to be committed to meeting and complying with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its ‘operation, research, and innovation’ policy along with its outreach and engagement activities.

On its own website, the university claims to have been ranked No.1 in Thailand for the last 7 years consecutively in World University Rankings. Bold claims indeed, from the most well-established and highly regarded establishment in the nation (depending on who you talk to!).

Needless to say, the admission process does tend to be highly ‘selective’ in its approach, with many of the chosen applicants averaging scores within the national top ten.

ADDRESS: 254 Phayathai Road, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330
WEBSITE: https://www.chula.ac.th

2. Thammasat University

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Thammasat University is the second oldest institution in the country after Chulalongkorn, and the two universities have a long and well-documented rivalry, which usually comes to a head in the form of an annual football match between their respective teams.

Thammasat began initially in 1934 with humanities and social science, and has proclaimed itself on many occasions to be “the university for the people”.

Many other subjects have been included in the curriculum for around forty years or so now though, including ever-expanding fields of science and technology, along with more health-related areas of study, keeping in line with the university’s ideal of being a contributor to society.

Research and innovation are strongly favoured and represented by the university, along with the ideal of nurturing students from diverse backgrounds, developing their potential in terms of their usefulness in serving society.

Image by Supanut sourced from wiki media commons

Thammasat claims to produce the highest number of graduates with useful skills, knowledge and adaptability, thus endowing them with the highest degree of employability in Thailand.

The university is constantly developing and implementing new and innovative programs, including a recently-introduced online master’s degree program, in keeping with modern times and requirements. Program information can now be delivered digitally, meaning that is not restricted only to full-time attendee students.

ADDRESS: 2 Prachan Road, Pra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Pra Nakhon, Bangkok, 10200
WEBSITE: https://www.tu.ac.th

3. Mahidol University

Mahidol University was established as Thailand’s first medical school more than 130 years ago. The institute is now 58th in the Asian rankings, and 334th in the world rankings.,

Mahidol now serves as a public research university with its main focal point being on health sciences. In line with this, the institute is apparently the recipient of the highest funding for research in Thailand, allowing it to function as a capable, modern facility.

The University’s main campus is obviously in Bangkok, although it also has remote campuses in three other provinces, namely Nakhon Sawan, Kanchanaburi and Amnat Charoen.

Image by ScorpionPK sourced from wiki media commons

Mahidol University is ranked among the top 150 universities in the world for medicine, the subject for which it is most renowned, in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017.

Address: 999 Putthamonthon Sai 4 Road, Salaya, Putthamonthon District, Nakhon Prathom 73170
Website: https://www.mahidol.ac.th

4. Kasetsart University

Kasetsart is a Bangkok University that has significantly risen up the regional and local rankings in recent years. It has become increasingly regarded as a university of academic excellence, and is constantly striving to operate according to global standards.

Kasetsart (or Kaset for short for locals) is a university that considers itself as an increasingly important player of a key role in higher education, and as a focal point of academic resources that will contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in Thailand.

Image by David Supervid sourced from wiki media commons

The Bangkok university was founded in 1943, and is currently ranked 149th in Asia. Its guiding ideology is related to the development of graduates who are, in its own words, ‘knowledgeable, rational, conscious and moral individuals, well-prepared for completing work of a high standard and competing in the world market’.

Kasetsart University is located in a leafy and scenic suburban setting on the outskirts of the metropolis of Bangkok, and is now accessible by the recently expanded BTS Skytrain line which actually has a stop outside the campus.

Kaset is regarded as a prime coeducational tertiary education provider in Thailand, and offers courses and programs such as pre-bachelor degrees like associate or foundation degrees, alongside bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees.

The Kasetsart facility operates a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations, and as with all of the universities featured within this report, International students are welcome to apply for enrolment.

ADDRESS: 50 Phahonyothin Road, Lat Yao Sub District, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900,
WEBSITE: https://www.ku.ac.th

5. King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi

The 60-year-old facility at King Mongkut’s University of Technology in Thonburi is set within a 52- acre campus. It is a non-profit, public higher education institute situated on the outer recesses of Bangkok on the western side.

This is the main campus of the university out of four in total, and it is home to Faculties of Engineering, Science, Industrial Education and Technology, Energy and Environment, Information Technology, Liberal Arts, Management and Innovation, Field Robotics, Scientific and Technological Research and Services, along with a computer centre and a library.

In its own words, the institute is all about ‘academic excellence and energetic research culture in science, engineering and design.’ Clearly one of the university’s main objectives is related to technical training in scientific and technological fields.

Image by KMUTT sourced from wiki media commons

Set in the slightly more suburban backdrop of the Thonburi district of Bangkok, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) is a large, coeducational higher education institution accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education which is ranked 153rd in Asia in 2019, and 7th in the country (according to QS World University Rankings).

This Bangkok higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations, and also encourages and welcomes international students to apply for enrolment.

This university also has a current initiative to encourage and educate its young learners towards an approach to continued learning and development outside of the classroom environment, cultivating an attitude of ‘awareness and continuous striving for innovative solutions’.

ADDRESS: 126 Pracha Uthit Road, Bang Mod, Thung Khru, Bangkok 10140
WEBSITE: https://www.global.kmutt.ac.th

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