法政大學於1934年6月27日成立。由普利迪·班頌榮教授命名為道德與政治科學大學。班頌榮教授希望創建一所大學，教育泰國人民了解兩年前首次引入該國的民主制度。

大學的理念體現在普利迪·班頌榮教授在國王攝政王面前的演講中：

「大學，形象地說，是一個能解渴的知識綠洲。每個公民都應該在教育自由的原則下，有機會獲取高等教育。」

忠於班頌榮教授的理念，道德與政治科學大學迅速成為一所開放大學，接納所有擁有高中文憑和在職人員。沒有入學考試，學費低廉，教科書價格便宜。作為泰國第一所開放大學，學生不需要每天上課，只需參加期末考試來評估他們的進步。第一年有7,094名學生申請入學，大多來自工人階級家庭。當時只提供兩個專業——道德科學和會計學學位。

1947年11月8日的政變對大學產生了巨大影響。此後不久，大學的名稱改為法政大學，並放棄了開放大學制度，增加了四個新的學位課程——法律、政治學、經濟學和商業與會計學。2495年的法政大學法規定每個課程都提供自己的學位。

1973年10月，在學生不安和全球推動新自由時代的呼聲中，法政大學成為學生起義的中心，要求新憲法和議會政府。

在危機期間，國王普密蓬·阿杜德任命當時法政大學校長桑雅·達瑪薩提教授為新總理。法政大學繼續在泰國民主和政治變革與發展中發揮重要作用。

1975年，時任法政大學校長的裴永伯教授意識到推動國家前進需要增加對科學和技術的重視。懷著這樣的願景，他開始擴展科學和技術學位課程，並建立了位於Rangsit的新校區，以緩解Taprachan校區的擁擠情況。在與工業部的工業園區接洽後，法政大學獲得了972英畝土地，用於擴展Rangsit校區，並自那時起，該校區一直發展良好。

1994年，法政大學在Chonburi-Rayong公路周圍開發土地，建立了另一個區域校區，成為法政大學芭堤雅校區，專注於科技和工業發展的教學、學習和研究。這一明智的選擇很好地支持了這一使命，因為Chonburi本身已是一個高度工業化的地區。

2004年12月20日，法政大學繼續在芭堤雅發展，啟動了芭堤雅學習度假村，為泰國東部地區的人民提供更多教育機會。今天，芭堤雅校區提供汽車工程和軟件工程的學士學位課程，作為大學長期努力的一部分，旨在將該校區建設成為科學和技術的主要教育中心，以滿足該國東部地區日益增長的工業經濟需求。戰略計劃的中心還包括實現可持續發展的長期努力，將法政芭堤雅校區真正打造成一個“綠色校區”。

在泰國北部，法政大學再次響應年輕人對高質量高等教育的需求。隨著1996年7月8日Lampang校區的成立，來自泰國北部的學生不再需要離家遠行，就能享受法政大學Lampang校區社區的優勢。

1998年，Lampang校區的第一堂課開課，社會行政學院是第一個引入的學院。Lampang校區後來擴展到其他課程，包括法學、社會行政、應用藝術、跨學科研究、公共衛生和科技的學士學位課程，所有學位課程均遵循法政大學曼谷主校區實施的嚴格學術標準。

2011年，曼谷及周邊地區遭遇了泰國歷史上最嚴重的洪水之一。法政大學Rangsit校區應急響應，為受災的周邊居民提供臨時庇護，為缺乏食物和住所的災民提供幫助。超過8,000名志願者分發食物、藥品和生存包給來自Patumthani和其他附近省份的人們，展示了法政大學的真正精神。法政大學在指導學生達到最高道德標準和社區服務方面的目標仍然真實，正如校訓所言：“我愛法政，因為法政教會我愛人民。”

在這個快速變化的世界中，法政大學必須調整其學習和教學模式，並發展“主動學習”教育方法。法政大學已發展成為一所全面的機構，提供涵蓋社會科學、人文、健康和科技的所有領域的課程和專業。國際課程也在各學院和國際學院開設，以滿足全球公民在各個知識領域的需求。

2017年，法政大學準備與泰國共同成長，制定了五年戰略計劃，將法政大學定位為通過世界級研究和教育培養年輕領袖的頂尖機構。戰略計劃的五個目標包括：1）培養具備所謂“GREATS”素質、創業技能和至少三門語言能力的畢業生，2）產生高質量的研究和創新，幫助解決社會和世界問題，3）通過國內和國際合作建立廣泛的網絡，4）提升法政大學的學術和健康服務質量，以達到國際標準，5）將現代、尖端的管理系統融入組織的整個運作。

在成立84年後，法政大學認識到在這個時代發生的所有變化，並意識到我們的責任不僅僅是培養畢業生，還要培養“下一代領袖”，為泰國和國際社區服務，並使法政大學在國際社區中更具知名度。

法政大學仍然忠於創辦人普利迪·班頌榮教授及其創建這一偉大學習機構和文化象徵的理想，法政大學已成為泰國的知識、道德和精神中心。法政大學繼續在每一位學生心中灌輸服務國家和人民的願望，並自豪地將泰國推向世界的光輝榜樣。當學生從法政大學畢業時，這不僅意味著他們準備好就業，還意味著他們具有社區和社會責任感，並有強烈的願望將知識用於全人類的福祉。今天的法政大學已從其謙遜的起點——知識追求者的小池塘，變成了一條智慧的長河，為所有人服務。

Thammasat University was inaugurated on June 27, 1934. The original name of the University, as given by Professor Dr. Pridi Banomyong, was the University of Moral and Political Sciences. Professor Dr. Banomyong wished to establish a university to educate Thai people of democracy introduced to the nation for the first time two years earlier.

          The philosophy of the University was marked after the speech of Professor Dr. Pridi Banomyong delivered before His Majesty the King's Regent as follow:

“..... A university is, figuratively, an oasis that quenches the thirst of those who are in pursuit of knowledge. The opportunity to acquire higher education rightly belong to every citizen under the principle of freedom of education…..”

          True to the ideas of Professor Dr. Banomyong, the University of Moral and Political Sciences quickly became an open university that accepted everyone with a high school diploma and working people in general. No entrance examination was required, while tuition fee was minimal and textbooks were inexpensive.  As the first open university in Thailand, students were not required to attend classes every day, but to take final examination to assess their progress. In the first year, 7,094 students applied to attend the University, mostly from working - class families. At that time, only two programs were offered---Moral Science and Accountancy degree programs.

          The coup d’tat on November 8, 1947 had a dramatic effect on the University. Soon after, the University’s name was changed to Thammasat University  (TU), and the open university system was abandoned, with four new degree programs being introduced-- Law, Political Science, Economics, and Commerce and Accountancy. Thammasat University Act of 2495 B.E. mandated that each program offer its own degree.

          Echoing student unrest and a global push for a new era of freedom, Thammasat University became the center of student uprising in October 1973, with the demand for a new constitution and a parliamentary government.

          His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej appointed Thammasat’s then rector Professor Sanya Dharmasakti as the new Prime Minister during this time of crisis. Thammasat University continued to play a key role in changes and development of democracy and politics in Thailand.

          In 1975, Professor Dr. Puey Ungpakorn, then rector of Thammasat University, realized that moving the country forward would depend on increasing focus on science and technology. Given such vision, he then set out to expand science and technology degree programs alongside with establishment of a new campus in Rangsit to relieve the crowded Taprachan campus. After contacting the Industrial Estates of the Ministry of Industry, Thammasat acquired 972 acres for expanding the University to Rangsit Campus, and since then development there has continued well until the present.

          More development came in 1994, when Thammasat University launched another regional campus by developing land around Chonburi-Rayong Road, Bang Lamung District, Pong Sub-District, Chonburi Province. This became the home of the Thammasat University Pattaya Campus, dedicated to teaching, learning and research in technology and industrial development. The fortuitous choice worked well for this mission, as Chonburi was already a highly industrialized area.

          More changes came on December 20, 2004 when Thammasat University continued its development in Pattaya with the launch of Pattaya Learning Resort to provide greater educational opportunities to the Thai people of Eastern Thailand. Today, bachelor degree programs in automotive engineering and software engineering are offered at Pattaya Campus as part of the University’s long-term endeavor to establish the Campus as prime educational center of science and technology to cater for the growing industrial economy in the Eastern part of the country. Also central to the strategic plan is a long-term effort to achieve sustainable development and make Thammasat Pattaya a truly “Green Campus.” 

          In Northern Thailand, Thammasat again responded to rapid demands of young people for quality higher-level education. With the establishment of the Lampang Campus on July 8, 1996, students from the Northern part of Thailand no longer had to study far away from their home, but could enjoy the strengths of Thammasat University Lampang Campus community.

          The first lecture class at Lampang Campus was held in 1998, with the School of Social Administration being the first to be introduced. The Lampang Campus later expanded to include other curricula, including bachelor’s degree programs in law, social administration, fine applied arts, interdisciplinary studies, public health and sciences and technology with all degree programs adhering to the same rigorous academic standards practiced at Thammasat University main campus in Bangkok.

          In 2011, Bangkok and nearby areas were hit with one of the worst floods in the history of Thailand. The Rangsit campus of Thammasat University rose to the occasion, providing temporary shelter to serve the people who lived nearby and were left without food and shelter by the devastation. More than 8,000 people volunteered to give away food, medicine and survival bags to the people from Patumthani and other nearby provinces, showing Thammasat University’s true spirit. Thammasat’s goal of guiding students to the highest standards of ethics and community services remained true, as they came together to serve the society in times of need – giving truth to the motto, “I love Thammasat because Thammasat teaches me to love the people.”

          Amidst rapid changes in the world, Thammasat University, therefore, must adjust its learning and teaching pattern and develop the “Active Learning” approach of education. Thammasat University has grown into a fully comprehensive institution offering programs and courses in all areas encompassing social sciences, humanities, health, and sciences and technology. International programs are also available at faculties and international colleges to cater to the growing needs of global citizens for diverse fields of knowledge.

          In 2017, Thammasat University has prepared to grow along side with Thailand by designating five-year strategic initiatives to position Thammasat as premier institution that seeks to build young leaders through world-class research and education. The five goals of the strategic plan include 1) equipping graduates with the so-called “GREATS” qualities, with entrepreneurship skills and proficiency of at least three languages, 2) generating high-quality research and innovations that help solve social and world issues, 3) building a far-reaching network through national and international collaboration, 4) leveraging quality of Thammasat’s academic and health services to achieve international standards, and 5) incorporating modern, cutting – edge management systems into the entire operation of the organization.

          Entering into the 84th year after its establishment, Thammasat University recognizes all the changes that have occurred in this age and is aware that our duty is not only to produce graduates but also to groom “Next-Generation leaders for Thailand and international communities” with a goal to make Thammasat more well known among international communities.

          Thammasat University community remains true to its founder Professor Dr. Banomyong and the ideals that led him to found this great learning institution and cultural icon, which has grown to be Thailand’s intellectual, moral and spiritual center. Thammasat continues to instill in each and every student the desire to serve the country and its people, and move Thailand forward proudly as a shining beacon to the entire world. When a student graduates from Thammasat, it means that student is not just ready to get a job – it means he or she has a sense of community and social responsibility – and a burning desire to use knowledge for the good of all. Thammasat University today has changed from its humble beginnings as a small pond of knowledge-seekers, to its status today as a river of wisdom for all