Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University

Maha Chulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University

มหาวิทยาลัยมหาจุฬาลงกรณราชวิทยาลัย
Type	Public, Buddhist University
Established	1887
Location	Bangkok , Thailand
Colours	pink
Website	www.mcu.ac.th

Part of a series on
Theravāda Buddhism
Buddhism
History Pre-sectarian Buddhism Early schools Sthaviras Buddhist councils Vibhajjavāda Mahāvihāra Tambapaṇṇiya Dīpavaṃsa Mahāvaṃsa Pali Text Society
Key figures Bhāṇaka Moggaliputta-Tissa Mahinda Sanghamitta Tissa Buddhaghoṣa Buddhadatta Dhammapāla Parakramabahu I Mahākassapa (12th century) Sāriputta (12th century) Anawrahta Ram Khamhaeng Sumangala Thera Anagarika Dharmapala Mongkut Vajirananavarorasa Ledi Sayadaw U Nu U Nārada Mahasi Sayadaw U Ba Khin S. N. Goenka Mun Bhuridatta Ajahn Chah Maha Ghosananda Kripasaran Mahapragya Pragyananda K. Sri Dhammananda Narada Mahathera Asoka Weeraratna Walpola Rahula Jayatilleke Kalupahana U Dhammaloka Nyanatiloka Nanamoli Nyanaponika Bhikkhu Bodhi Ajahn Sumedho Ajahn Brahm Analayo Varanggana Vanavichayen Dhammananda Bhikkhuni Ayya Tathaaloka Ayya Khema Kee Nanayon Dipa Ma
Literature Pāli Tipiṭaka Paracanonical Commentaries Sub-commentaries Paritta Visuddhimagga Abhidhammattha-saṅgaha Vimuttimagga Abhidhammāvatāra Yogāvacara's manual
Orders (Nikāya) Thailand, Laos, Cambodia Mahā Dhammayuttika Myanmar Thudhamma Shwegyin Mahādvāra Mūladvāra Veḷuvana Anaukchaung-dvāra Hngettwin Gaṇavimutti Dhammayuttika Sri Lanka Amarapura–Rāmañña Siam Bangladesh Saṅgharāja Mahāsthabir
Traditions Pariyatti, paṭipatti, paṭivedha Abhidhamma Vassa Pavāraṇā Vipassana movement Kammaṭṭhāna Thai Forest Sri Lankan Forest Esoteric Theravāda Dhammakaya
Festivals Vesākha Pūjā Māgha Pūjā Āsāḷha Pūjā Kaṭhina Abhidhamma Day Uposatha Theravāda New Year
Higher education MBU MCRU IBC ITBMU SPSU BPU Sihanouk Sihamoni CSC Sangha College Kertarajasa Syailendra Nalanda DDIBU
v t e

Maha Chulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University (MCRU) (Thai: มหาวิทยาลัยมหาจุฬาลงกรณราชวิทยาลัย, RTGS: Maha Chulalongkon Ratchawitthayalai) is one of two public Buddhist universities in Thailand, as well as being the oldest Buddhist university in the nation. It has facilities at Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit in Bangkok and at Wang Noi in Ayutthaya Province.

The university was founded in 1887 by King Chulalongkorn with the purpose of establishing a higher education institute for Buddhist monks, novices, and laypersons with an emphasis on Buddhist studies and other subjects. The university began offering classes in 1889. It adopted its current name in 1896.

By bills passed in 1997, both of Thailand's Buddhist universities — MCU and Mahamakut Buddhist University — became public universities.

Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University is organized into several academic units: Faculty of Buddhist Studies, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Social Sciences, graduate school, and the International Buddhist Studies College.^[1]

The faculties offer 26 undergraduate programs, ten master's programs, two doctoral programs, and other academic training. Two of its master's programs, Buddhist studies and philosophy, are internationally oriented and conducted in English. MCU offers a PhD in Buddhist studies (in English).

A new, larger main campus has been built in Wang Noi, Ayutthaya Province, just north of Bangkok.^[2] Classes have begun at the new location.

In addition to the main campus, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University has extension campuses in the following provinces:

• Chiang Mai
• Khon Kaen
• Lamphun
• Loei
• Nong Khai
• Nakhon Phanom
• Nakhon Pathom
• Nakhon Ratchasima
• Nakhon Sawan
• Nakhon Si Thammarat
• Phayao
• Phitsanulok
• Phrae
• Surin
• Ubon Ratchathani

The university hosts the Secretariat for the International Association of Buddhist Universities and is often one of the main organizers for the United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations.

The university has an affiliated college: Mahapanya Vidayalai at Hat Yai, Songkhla Province.

• List of Buddhist universities across the world
• International Buddhist Studies College

• Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University

13°45′18″N 100°29′24″E / 13.75500°N 100.49000°E / 13.75500; 100.49000