Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University

What Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University does

The Faculty of Political Science at Thammasat University (คณะรัฐศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์) is a public academic institution in Bangkok, Thailand, established on June 14, 1949 as one of the four original founding faculties of Thammasat University and recognized as one of the oldest political science faculties in Thailand. It operates across two campuses (Tha Prachan in central Bangkok and Rangsit in Pathum Thani) and delivers degree programs in three academic departments: Politics and Government, International Relations, and Public Administration. The portfolio spans an English-taught undergraduate international program (BIR), master's programs (MIR, EPA, MPE), and doctoral programs (PhD, D-EPA), supported by the Professor Direk Jayanama Library (32,000+ resources), the Direk Jayanama Research Center (established 2011), and two academic journals (Ratthasatsarn, 1978; Ratthasatnithet).

The faculty's commercial operations are diversified across tuition and academic fees (partially government subsidized), short-term training programs for public and private sector professionals (over 20 years of operation), hourly venue rental at both campuses (500-2,800 THB/hour plus equipment fees), souvenir sales (Singhadang polo shirts at 489 THB, PolSci TU t-shirts at 299 THB), and a Political Science Fund accepting donations via QR code, bank transfer, and in-person channels. International engagement is anchored by nearly 20 partner universities across Japan, France, Indonesia, Poland, Canada, and South Korea, generating 40-50 inbound exchange students annually and a visiting scholars pipeline that has included researchers from Harvard, Cambridge, Princeton, Waseda, and Tsinghua. Most recent strategic activity includes a March 6, 2026 MOU with the University of Bristol, a 1 million THB donation from Dr. Hiroshi Yamamoto in February 2026, and the launch of a digital BIR Online Score Reporting System for Academic Year 2026 admissions.

Name

Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University

Legal name

คณะรัฐศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ (Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University)

Website

https://polsci.tu.ac.th

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Faculty of Political Science at Thammasat University is a public academic institution in Bangkok, Thailand, established in 1949 as one of Thailand's oldest political science faculties, offering undergraduate through doctoral programs in politics, international relations, and public administration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education, Research & Academic Congresses (THAHAJAD), Faculty & Staff Exchange Programs (EDAIABAB)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Political science degrees
• International student exchange
• Professional executive training
• Academic research publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangkok

HQ country

Thailand

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue from tuition fees for undergraduate and graduate programs. As a public university faculty, fees are partially subsidized by the Thai government. Programs include regular undergraduate, BIR international program, graduate programs (MIR, EPA, MPE, PhD, D-EPA).
2. Short-term Training Programs: The 'Public Administration and Private Sector Efficiency Development Program' provides short training courses for professionals in both sectors. Programs have been running for over 20 years. Training is offered in both online and in-person formats. In-house training services are also provided for external organizations.
3. Venue Rental Services: Hourly room rental services at both Tha Prachan and Rangsit campuses. Rooms range from小型 seminar rooms (500 THB/hour) to large multipurpose rooms (2,800 THB/hour). Additional fees apply for audiovisual equipment (400 THB/hour for LCD projector) and after-hours staffing.
4. Souvenir Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including 'Singhadang' polo shirts (489 THB) and 'PolSci TU' t-shirts (299 THB). Proceeds support faculty academic activities and operations. Sales are conducted in-person and via LINE.
5. Donations and Fundraising: The Political Science Fund accepts monetary donations to support student scholarships, academic service activities, facility maintenance, and teaching equipment enhancements. Donations are accepted via QR code e-donation, bank transfer, and in-person at both campuses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Faculty of Political Science at Thammasat University delivers higher education across undergraduate (BIR), master's (MIR, MPE, EPA), and doctoral (D-EPA, PhD) levels in Politics and Government, International Relations, and Public Administration. It supplements instruction with the Professor Direk Jayanama Library (over 32,000 resources), the Direk Jayanama Research Center (est. 2011), two academic journals (Ratthasatsarn, Ratthasatnithet), international exchange programs with nearly 20 partner universities, visiting fellow hosting, short-term executive training, and venue rental services.

Product overview

The Faculty of Political Science at Thammasat University offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and academic services. At the undergraduate level, it provides the BIR (Politics and International Relations) program. At the graduate level, it offers the MIR, EPA, MPE, and D-EPA doctoral programs. Beyond degree programs, the faculty operates the Professor Direk Jayanama Library (with over 32,000 resources), the Direk Jayanama Research Center (established 2011), two academic journals (Ratthasatsarn since 1978 and Ratthasatnithet), student exchange programs with ~20 partner universities, visiting fellows programs, short-term training services, room rental facilities, and branded souvenirs. The portfolio is structured around core academic degree programs supported by research infrastructure, international exchange services, professional development training, and campus facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BIR Program: Bachelor of Political Science Program in Politics and International Relations, an English-taught undergraduate program
• MIR Program
• MPE Program
• EPA Program
• D-EPA Program
• Direk Jayanama Research Center
• Professor Direk Jayanama Library
• Ratthasatsarn (รัฐศาสตร์สาร)
• Ratthasatnithet (รัฐศาสตร์นิเทศ)

Products and services

• BIR Program (Bachelor of Political Science in Politics and International Relations) Undergraduate program in politics and international relations offered in both regular and international (English-taught) formats for domestic and international students.
• Regular Master's Program (M.Polsci) Regular master's degree program in Political Science for Thai students.
• MIR Program (Master of International Relations) Graduate-level master's program focusing on international relations, available for both regular students and exchange students from partner universities.
• EPA Program (Executive Program in Political Analysis) A graduate-level executive program in political science targeting working professionals.
• MPE Program (Master of Politics and Governance) A master's program in politics and governance, one of the three major academic tracks offered by the faculty.
• Regular Doctoral Program (Ph.D., Political Science) Regular doctoral program in Political Science offered by the faculty.
• D-EPA Program (Doctoral Executive Program in Political Analysis) A doctoral-level executive program in political science targeting experienced professionals.
• Short-term Training Programs Public and in-house training programs for public and private sector personnel, with over 20 years of experience in management development. Includes upskilling and reskilling courses, available both online and in-person, with customized in-house training for external organizations.
• Room Rental Service Venue rental service offering rooms of various sizes (20-150 people capacity) at both Tha Prachan and Rangsit campuses, equipped with Wi-Fi and audiovisual equipment.
• Faculty Souvenirs Branded merchandise including 'Singhadang' polo shirts (489 THB) and 'PolSci TU' t-shirts (299 THB), with proceeds supporting academic activities. Sales are conducted in-person and via LINE.
• Professor Direk Jayanama Library A specialized library housing over 32,000 resources including books, journals, dissertations, CD-ROMs, videos, and rare book collections, serving Thammasat students, faculty, and the public. Includes a computer zone, service inquiry counter, study rooms, and rare book area.
• Direk Jayanama Research Center Established in 2011, a research center supporting faculty research through grants, seminars, publications, and short courses addressing contemporary issues like AI, climate change, and geopolitics. Offers additional grants for publications in top-tier international journals.
• Ratthasatsarn Journal (รัฐศาสตร์สาร) Established in 1978, Thailand's premier political science journal publishing three issues annually covering political science, history, economics, philosophy, humanities, sociology, law, and psychology.
• Ratthasatnithet Journal (รัฐศาสตร์นิเทศ) A journal bridging theoretical frameworks with practical applications, publishing two issues annually for academics, students, researchers, and the broader public.
• Student Exchange Program Outbound and inbound exchange programs allowing students to study at nearly 20 partner universities in countries including Japan, France, Indonesia, Poland, Canada, and South Korea for 1-2 semesters.
• Visiting Fellows Program Program hosting international scholars from institutions such as Waseda University, Harvard, Cambridge, and others for research visits ranging from weeks to a full year, with support for teaching and research activities.
• Exchange Student Internships Coordination service for exchange students to undertake internships at government agencies, private organizations, or international organizations in Thailand such as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and United Nations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40-50 international exchange students admitted annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of BristolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026Signed Memorandum of Understanding to promote educational cooperation. The Faculty hosted a signing ceremony on March 6, 2026 (2569 in Thai calendar) to establish formal academic collaboration.
• Partner Universities (Japan, France, Indonesia, Poland, Canada, South Korea)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNearly 20 partner universities across multiple countries for outbound student exchange programs. Students can study abroad for one semester to one full academic year. Includes institutions in Japan, France, Indonesia, Poland, Canada, and South Korea.
• Waseda UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty. Scholars visit primarily for data collection relevant to their research.
• Ludwig Maximilian University of MunichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty for research visits.
• Harvard UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious US university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• University of CambridgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty for research visits.
• Princeton UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• Keio UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• Kyoto UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• Kobe UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• Tsinghua UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• Xiamen UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• Guangxi UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• Kyushu UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• Purdue UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• Monash UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• University of São PaulominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• University of GothenburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• University of Hawaii at ManoaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.
• Social Sciences University of AnkaraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurkish university that has hosted visiting scholars from the Faculty.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID): Switzerland-based graduate-only institution specializing in international relations, political science, and development studies. Comparable as a focused political science/IR school with a research-center structure, executive training, and global visiting scholars.

Direct peers

• Sciences Po: Premier French political science and international relations institution with multilingual degree programs and strong international exchange pipelines. Directly comparable as a dedicated political science school combining UG, graduate, and research center functions with deep global partner networks.
• Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University: Thailand's other leading political science faculty. Most direct domestic peer—same discipline, same national TCAS recruitment channel, same Thai public-university context—making it the closest benchmark for student demand and program design.
• School of International and Political Studies (SIPA), Chulalongkorn University: Domestic Thai peer focused on international relations and political studies within Chulalongkorn. Competes for the same TCAS applicant pool and Thai graduate market in IR-adjacent disciplines.
• Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (NUS): Asian graduate school focused on public policy, international relations and governance with executive programs. Comparable as a regionally leading political science/public administration school offering MPA-style and executive programs alongside research output.
• SOAS University of London: UK university specializing in Asia, Africa and the Middle East with strong politics and international relations programs. Comparable as an area-studies oriented school offering UG/graduate degrees, exchange programs, and language-region focused research centers.
• S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS, NTU Singapore): Graduate-only school of international relations and political science at Nanyang Technological University. Closely comparable on the international relations and policy-research axis, with visiting fellows, journals, and government-linked training programs.
• London School of Economics — Department of Government / International Relations: Global leader in political science and IR with strong undergraduate and graduate offerings, large international student body, and active visiting-scholar and journal publishing activities. Mirrors the structure of UG/grad programs, research centers, and policy journals.

Broad incumbents

• Harvard Kennedy School: Globally prominent public policy and government school at Harvard. Comparable as a higher-tier incumbent offering overlapping graduate and executive programs in political science, public administration, and policy research with significant visiting-scholar activity.

Regional players

• Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University: Regional Thai peer in the social sciences with political science offerings. Comparable as a domestic competitor for Thai students outside Bangkok, and as a peer for applied political science research in Southeast Asia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/polscitu
• Facebookfacebook.com/polsci.tu.official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/faculty-of-political-science-thammasat-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/polsci.tu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University