The College of Religious Studies, Mahidol University, was founded in 1999 and is located at the Namthong Building, just opposite the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Salaya, Nakhorn Prathom, Thailand.

The College is dedicated to the study and research in the field of religious studies and fosters mutual understanding, cooperation, and respect among people of different religious traditions both in Thailand and throughout the world, so that common concerns might be creatively addressed. In teaching and research, the College also strives to nurture global ethical values and promote peace and human well-being.

The 21st Century has come with all its promise and potential. Southeast Asia and the rest of the world are entering a new and challenging historical stage. Accordingly the College has designed its program to meet these challenges.

Continuing in its mission, the College advances the academic study of religion among members of the monastic and lay communities with special emphasis on Buddhism. Its academic programs address emerging issues that are new challenges to religion such as those which concern globalization, women’s rights, new scientific discoveries, and the use of modern technology in medicine. Other dimensions of the programs include training students in modern languages, computer, and critical thinking, along with religious studies, to enable them to live meaningfully in the globalized world.

The College of Religious Studies is currently offering Bachelor's and post graduate degrees to produce competent teachers and scholars of religion as well as chaplains/ counselors to serve modern needs of Thailand and the wider global community.

Job Opportunities
In a globalized world the broad inter-cultural studies of our students prepares them for careers in multicultural settings such as government and multinational corporations.  Many of our graduates go on to study in such areas as law, education, management, psychology, political science etc, and then move on to careers in academics, law, counseling, media, banking, teaching, the airline industry etc.

For the graduate monks, they often go on to hold high positions within the Thai sangha serving as abbots, temple administrators, heads of meditation centers and as missionaries in many parts of the world.