Thammasat University
มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์
Thailand's second-oldest university, founded by Pridi Banomyong for law and politics, with a large set of English-taught degrees.
- Tuition
- THB 225.6K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1934
- QS World Ranking
- #555
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Mixed
About TU
Thammasat University was established on 27 June 1934 by Pridi Banomyong as the University of Moral and Political Sciences, an open university for law and politics, making it Thailand's second-oldest university. In 1960 it became the first Thai university to require a national entrance examination. Its landmark Dome Building at Tha Phra Chan, beside the Grand Palace and the Chao Phraya River, housed Pridi's office and served as a centre of the Free Thai movement in the Second World War.
Today Thammasat is a comprehensive university with more than 240 programmes across 33 faculties, colleges and institutes on four campuses: Tha Phra Chan in central Bangkok, the large Rangsit Centre in Pathum Thani about 42 km north, and regional centres in Pattaya and Lampang. Its traditional strengths are law, political science, economics and commerce, and it has since added engineering, medicine and health sciences at Rangsit.
Thammasat runs one of Thailand's largest sets of English-taught international programmes, including the BBA at Thammasat Business School, engineering and technology at the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT) and area studies at Pridi Banomyong International College (PBIC). Nearly 200 new international students attended orientation for semester 1/2026. Thai applicants are admitted through the national TCAS system, and international applicants through programme-specific rounds using SAT, IELTS, TOEFL and national exam scores.
Excellence, Integrity, and Leadership in Society
University motto
Why students choose TU
The BBA international programme at Thammasat Business School is taught entirely in English, with a published fee of 124,600 baht a semester for non-Thai students.
SIIT offers English-taught engineering, technology and management degrees with several admission rounds a year, from portfolio rounds in November to TCAS in May.
Pridi Banomyong International College's BA in Thai Studies is, according to the college, the only English-language bachelor's in Thai Studies in Thailand, with an option to spend two years at SOAS, University of London.
Alumni include former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, former Bank of Thailand governor Veerathai Santiprabhob and former ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan.
Admissions
Academic Year 2027 (first semester starts August 2027)
Selectivity
Thammasat does not publish a university-wide acceptance rate. Each programme sets minimum scores for each admission round; international programmes also interview applicants.
Typical entry requirements
| SAT (SIIT engineering, 2026 criteria) | Minimum Math 620 and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 400 |
|---|---|
| ACT (SIIT, 2026 criteria) | Composite 21.5, with Math and Science at least 20 |
| High school from abroad (PBIC) | Completed upper secondary education; foreign transcripts assessed under TU's 2025 equivalency guidelines |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 61 PBIC requires IELTS (Academic) 6.0, TOEFL iBT 61, TU-GET 500 (paper) or 61 (computer), or SAT Reading and Writing 400, taken within two years. Applicants in Inter Program Admission 1 with IELTS 4.5 or TOEFL iBT 32 may be admitted on condition of passing a pre-sessional English course. Requirements vary by programme. |
Deadlines
- SIIT Inter Portfolio 1 Non-binding Next deadline · In 55 days30 November 2026
Applications 3-30 November 2026; interview 19 December 2026; results 20 January 2027.
- SIIT Inter Portfolio 2 Non-binding In ~5 months15 March 2027
Applications 15 February-15 March 2027; interview 7 April 2027; results 21 April 2027.
- SIIT Inter Program Admission 1 Non-binding In ~7 months6 May 2027
Applications 19 April-6 May 2027; written exam and interview 18 May 2027; results 31 May 2027.
- TCAS Round 3 (Admission) Non-binding In ~7 months11 May 2027
Applications via mytcas.com 7-11 May 2027 (second window 12-13 May); results 22 and 27 May 2027.
- SIIT Inter Program Admission 2 Non-binding In ~8 months31 May 2027
Applications 24-31 May 2027; interview 2 June 2027; results 9 June 2027.
The dates shown are SIIT's published schedule for Academic Year 2027 plus the national TCAS Round 3. Other faculties and international programmes (such as the BBA and PBIC) publish their own schedules.
How to apply
Thai applicants apply through TCAS (mytcas.com) and TU's admissions site. International applicants apply directly to each international programme (for example SIIT's online application or the BBA's non-Thai application portal), submitting transcripts, English test scores and standardised test scores; many rounds include a written exam or interview.
What admissions looks for
- Standardised or national test scores that meet each programme's minimums, such as SAT Math for engineering.
- English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, TU-GET or SAT Reading and Writing) for international programmes.
- Performance in written exams and interviews in the international rounds.
- For portfolio rounds, a portfolio that shows interest and ability in the chosen field.
Tips for applying to TU
- 1 SIIT's portfolio rounds open in November, months before TCAS, so international and Thai students aiming for SIIT can apply early.
- 2 Check each programme's own minimum scores: SIIT, the BBA and PBIC set separate criteria and deadlines.
- 3 If your IELTS is between 4.5 and 6.0, PBIC's Inter Program Admission 1 may accept you on condition of a pre-sessional English course.
- 4 For PBIC's Chinese Studies programme, HSK Level 4 (180 points) places you in a separate study plan; otherwise the college tests your Chinese.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in THB
International programmes offer merit scholarships: SIIT holds a scholarship examination and awards for academic excellence, and the BBA offers a Highest Admissions Score Award. PBIC lists scholarships for its students. The BBA estimates its whole four-year programme at about 920,000 baht for Thai students and 996,800 baht for non-Thai students.
- About 996,800 baht
- BBA whole programme (4 years), non-Thai
- 5,000 baht
- SIIT damage deposit (new students, refundable)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters: first semester August-December, second January-May, plus a summer term
BBA International Program (Thammasat Business School)
An English-taught business degree at Tha Phra Chan, with semesters from August and January.
Engineering at SIIT
English-taught engineering and technology degrees with several international admission rounds a year.
BA in Thai Studies (PBIC)
An English-taught Thai Studies degree with a 2+2 option at SOAS, University of London.
Law (Faculty of Law)
The university's founding discipline, taught since 1934.
Food science (new longevity-focused programme)
A new food science programme focused on longevity, announced by the university in 2026.
Research
- In 2026 a Thammasat engineering team represented Thailand in an international APSCO CubeSat competition.
- The Rangsit campus has a 7,000 square metre urban rooftop farm, opened in 2019 to help offset flooding and other climate impacts.
- The university's strategic plan (2022-2027) commits it to being a comprehensive university serving society.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy (Thammasat Business School)
- Faculty of Political Science
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Liberal Arts
- Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Science and Technology
- Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology
- Pridi Banomyong International College
- Chulabhorn International College of Medicine
Student life
Student life is split between two very different campuses. Tha Phra Chan, in Bangkok's old city beside the Grand Palace and the river, hosts the international programmes and postgraduate study, while Rangsit, 42 km north, is a large residential campus with most bachelor's students, housing and a sports centre used for the 1998 Asian Games. Thammasat has a strong tradition of student activism tied to the events of October 1973 and 1976, and the annual Chula-Thammasat traditional football match is a highlight. International students get an orientation day each semester, led by the Vice Rector for International Affairs.
- The Chula-Thammasat traditional football match, a long-running rivalry with Chulalongkorn University.
- The Thammasat Sport Centre at Rangsit, a venue for the 1998 Asian Games and the 2007 Summer Universiade.
- The Dome Building and the Pridi Banomyong monument at Tha Phra Chan.
- Orientation for international students each semester, attended by nearly 200 new students in 1/2026.
Housing. The Rangsit Centre has a dedicated housing zone for students; Tha Phra Chan students generally live off-campus in Bangkok.
Location
Tha Phra Chan sits in Bangkok's historic Phra Nakhon district, surrounded by Sanam Luang, the Grand Palace, Wat Mahathat and the Chao Phraya River. The Rangsit Centre in Pathum Thani, north of the city, is a self-contained campus linked to Tha Phra Chan by shuttle bus. Bangkok offers a lively, affordable student lifestyle, though traffic between the campuses can be slow.
Nearest airport: Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK); Don Mueang (DMK) is closer to Rangsit
Notable alumni
- CL Chuan LeekpaiFormer Prime Minister of Thailand; studied law at Thammasat
- SP Surin PitsuwanPolitician and former ASEAN Secretary-General
- VS Veerathai SantiprabhobFormer Governor of the Bank of Thailand; BA Economics 1988
- RB Rewat BuddhinanThai pop music pioneer and co-founder of GMM Grammy; economics graduate
- TW Thongchai WinichakulHistorian of Thailand at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
- SC Sirikan CharoensiriHuman rights lawyer
Frequently asked questions
How much does Thammasat's BBA international programme cost?
The BBA charges 124,600 baht per regular semester for non-Thai students and 115,000 baht for Thai students, or about 996,800 and 920,000 baht for the four-year programme.
What SAT score do you need for SIIT at Thammasat?
SIIT's published 2026 minimums for engineering were SAT Math 620 and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 400.
What IELTS score does Thammasat require?
It depends on the programme. PBIC, for example, requires IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 61, and may accept IELTS 4.5 with a pre-sessional English course in its first international round.
When are Thammasat's application deadlines for 2027?
SIIT's rounds for Academic Year 2027 run from Inter Portfolio 1 (3-30 November 2026) to Inter Program Admission 2 (24-31 May 2027), with TCAS Round 3 on 7-11 May 2027.
Which Thammasat campus will I study at?
Most bachelor's programmes are at the Rangsit Centre north of Bangkok, while international programmes such as the BBA and PBIC are based at Tha Phra Chan in central Bangkok.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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