Salaya Campus, opened in 1982, is located just a few hundred meters from Bangkok’s city limits in Phuttamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom Province, on 520 acres (210 hectares) of natural beauty, landscaped gardens and tropical foliage. The relaxing semi-rural setting, within easy reach of central Bangkok, makes it ideal for studying or working in tranquility without losing out on the myriad opportunities available in the city proper.

Most international undergraduate students at Mahidol attend Mahidol University International College (MUIC) on Salaya Campus. Because all first-year native Thai students in national programs also study at Salaya, there is ample opportunity for international undergraduates to get to know their Thai counterparts. Many international postgraduate students, including full-time and visiting students and short training course participants, study or perform research at Salaya. Salaya is also home to many foreign staff members, including lecturers and administrative personnel at MUIC and other academic, research and administrative divisions.

The Central Library is the hub of the Mahidol University Library and Information Center (MULIC). It contains an extensive collection of over 1 million books, theses, research reports and bound journals; 1,500 printed journals; 15,000 electronic journals and 16,000 electronic books; 13,000 audiovisual materials; hundred of computer terminals and multimedia viewing equipment; a full range of specialized services including online reference services, multi-database searching and document delivery services.

Ten other branch libraries are linked to the Central Library by the computer database MULINET, of which 6 are located on Salaya Campus, at the Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Institute for Population and Social Research, Institute of Language and Culture for Rural Development, Institute of Nutrition, ASEAN Institute for Health Development and Ratchasuda College.

The College of Sports Science and Technology has five swimming pools (one Olympic-sized) and a fitness center with weight equipment, sauna and aerobics, available for use by students, staff and the general public. Annual membership for using only swimming pools costs 200 baht for students and 400 baht for staff, allowing use of the pools for 20 baht per visit. To use all health, fitness, and exercise equipment, students and staff are required to apply for membership at SS Sports Centre of various types such as 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. For price details, please visit the centre’s website at www.ss.mahidol.ac.th. or call 0-2441-4296-8 ext. 103. A medical certificate, easily and inexpensively available from any doctor, is required for membership. Proper swimming attire and a bathing cap must be worn while swimming. (Swimming equipment can be purchased at a shop near the pools).

Additional sport facilities, all free of charge, include a large indoor stadium for basketball, badminton and other indoor sports, four outdoor tennis courts, three large soccer fields, a volleyball court, a pétanque court and a running track. Bookings should be made to reserve the courts and the stadium at the window on the outside wall of the stadium. The spacious layout of the campus also allows much opportunity for jogging, cycling or exercise.

There are many nice, affordable eateries both on- and off-campus. The main cafeteria in the Student Union has a large selection of Thai rice and noodle dishes costing 15-25 baht and inexpensive drinks. Snack food is available at two convenience stores. Not far away the College of Sports Science and Technology runs a bakery café. Many university buildings also have smaller, inexpensive cafeterias, and small snack shops and food stalls are dotted around campus as well.

At Mahidol University International College, a more upscale restaurant on the second floor, the Herb Garden, offers lunch buffets for 160 baht per person Tuesday and Thursday and a 195 baht set menu on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. A pleasant student-operated cooperative coffee shop, Cup-pa is adjacent to the MUIC building; while the Princess Café behind the Food Science Lab, Faculty of Science, with indoor and outdoor café seating and serves fresh coffee and Western-style dishes and snacks. Another relaxing spot to eat is near Thai House, where a Thai restaurant has open-air seating overlooking a small lake. Many restaurants also are found in the Phuttamonthon 4 Road area opposite the university gates.

Computers and Internet -- Each academic department on Salaya Campus has its own computer lab and the Office of the President has a computer lab on the ground floor with over 100 computers equipped with high-speed Internet connections. Computers with Internet connections are also available in campus libraries, and each campus dormitory room provides network access.

Students pay a 300 baht per semester computer fee as part of their registration fees for Internet and Intranet access and a 10-megabyte email account (although in certain programs this fee must be paid separately). Contract staff can pay 600 baht for a 6-month email account with 25 megabyte of storage space, while visiting staff lacking a contract pay 250 baht per month. To open an account, contact Mahidol University Computing Center (MUCC) in person or by mail at:

Health Care -- All staff and students are covered by the Mahidol health insurance plan for treatment at Mahidol’s three hospitals -- Siriraj Hospital at Bangkok Noi Campus, and Ramathibodi Hospital and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases at Phayathai Campus. Additional medical services are also available at the Dental Clinic at the Faculty of Dentistry on Phayathai Campus and the Golden Jubilee Medical Center on Salaya Campus. Students can also visit the Student Health Center in the Student Union complex, or a specialized Sport Clinic at the College of Sports Science and Technology.

General information about using university health care services can be found in the ‘Health Care' section of the 'Guidebook for International Students and Staff at Mahidol University'.

Buses are a convenient way to travel between Bangkok and Salaya Campus. The air-conditioned buses No. 515 and No. 547 run on different routes from Phuttamonthon 4 Road to Victory Monument in central Bangkok. Regular bus No. 124 runs from Phuttamonthon 4 Road to Pinklao west of the Chao Phraya River (and continues into central Bangkok), connecting to the Express River Ferry at Pinklao Bridge Other Regular buses No. 125 and No. 84 also runs on different routes from Phuttamonthon 4 Road to Samsen Train Station and Klongsarn Pier. [... further information at Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) ... ]

Continue straight on Boromrajchonnee Road, following the signs to Nakhon Pathom or Nakhon Chaisi, and eventually the sign to Salaya. The exit to Salaya is on the left; once off Boromrajchonnee Road, stay in the right lane, which veers off to the right on a flyover, crossing Boromrajchonnee Road onto Phuttamonthon 4 Road. The well-marked gates of Mahidol University are immediately on the left after descending from the flyover.

A toll-free elevated expressway with faster traffic also runs from the Pinklao area over Phra Pinklao Road and Boromrajchonnee Road most of the route to Salaya. The route coming from Rama 8 Bridge goes directly onto the elevated expressway while the other two routes begin at ground level.

Salaya Pavilion Hotel at Mahidol University International College

Telephone --Telephone service varies from place to place, though a surcharge of 100 baht per month is standard. Most apartments do not have a direct line; individual calls usually cost a 5 baht flat rate and often have a time limit, about 10 minutes on average. Calls to mobile phones and long distance cost more. International calls are often not possible in apartments, but they can be made at international public phone booths and post offices.

By contrast, on a direct line calls usually cost 3 baht per local or mobile call with no time limit. A direct line is necessary to access the Internet. Another option is to buy a mobile phone, which is very popular in Thailand. Using a mobile often reduces telephone costs. Note that mobile phones purchased outside Thailand may not work on our local networks

Reference : Guidebook for International Staff and Students by International Relations Division