Mahidol University originates from Thailand’s first hospital, Siriraj Hospital founded by H.M. King Chulalongkorn in 1888, and the hospital’s medical school granted its first medical qualification in 1893. The university was founded as the University of Medical Sciences in 1943, and was renamed with great honor by H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1969, after his father H.R.H. Prince Mahidol of Songkla, who is widely regarded as the ‘Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health in Thailand’.

Thus, Mahidol University was top among Thai Universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2010-2011 (ranked at 306) and in the QS Asian University Rankings (ranked at 28). It was also second in Thailand in the QS World University Rankings 2010 (ranked at 228).