MA Buddhist Studies

Start of programme: September

Mode of Attendance: Full Time or Part Time

FROM 2017-18

Students must take 180 credits comprised of 120 taught credits (including core and option modules) and a 60 credit dissertation.

Select the equivalent of FIVE Modules comprising full (1.0 OR 30 credits) and half (0.5 OR 15 credits) Modules including the dissertation.

The MA Buddhist Studies suits students with different academic backgrounds and prospective personal objectives, from those interested in broadening their knowledge of Buddhism as a whole or of specific Buddhist traditions to those intending to embark on language-based research or fieldwork among Buddhist communities.

It typically suits:

students planning to pursue further research in Buddhist Studies, which may involve at a subsequent stage the acquisition of a doctoral degree and a career in higher education.
students willing to pursue a career or professional activity, for which advanced knowledge of Buddhism as a global cultural force is essential.
students who wish to pursue the academic study of religions as a complement to their personal experience and commitments.
students from traditionally Buddhist countries, willing to broaden their knowledge of Buddhism as a global religion, and to be introduced to an academic approach that is characterised both by its critical distance and by its empathy.

Students must complete 120 credits of MA taught modules in addition to the compulsory dissertation (60 credits).

Students must choose the core module (15 credits) "Critical Concepts in Buddhist Studies".

Up to 30 credits modules must be selected from List A.

Up to 15 credits modules must be selected from List A or B.

Up to 30 credits modules can be selected from List A, B, or Relevant Language Courses in other Departments.

Up to 30 credits modules can be selected from the open options History of Art and Archaeology and Music lists below.

The structure of MA Buddhist Studies provides a unique study pathway, characterised both by its coherence and by its flexibility. The core module "Critical Concepts in Buddhist Studies" is taught by four staff whose expertise cover most of Buddhist Asia, provides students with a broad and stimulating journey into key notions and methods in the study of Buddhism. Students will moreover have to submit a Dissertation in Buddhist Studies of 10,000 words, on a topic chosen from the module chosen as major. The remaining modules may be chosen in the large pool of modules on Buddhist topics and languages, thus allowing each student to build up a specialized knowledge of one or more areas of Buddhist Asia. Students are allowed to take modules taught outside the department of Religions and Philosophies up to one module, which may or may not include a language.

Students may be allowed to study for the MA on a part-time basis:

The part-time MA may be taken over two years, in which case the student takes two 30 credits (or equivalent 15 credits) in the first year, and two 30 credits (or equivalent 15 credits) and the dissertation in the second year.

Alternatively, it can be taken over three years in which case the student can distribute the 120 credits evenly in each of the three years.  The dissertation can be written in year two or three, but it is strongly recommended that this be undertaken in the final year of the degree. It must be submitted in September of the year in which the student registers for it.

For more information, please contact Antonello Palumbo (ap47@soas.ac.uk) or Vincent Tournier (vt6@soas.ac.uk)

List A (major)

List B

Relevant language courses available in other Departments

Relevant courses available in the Department of History of Art and Archaeology

Relevant courses available in the Department of Music

This is the structure for 2017/18 applicants

Programme Specification

• MA Buddhist Studies programme specification 2017-18 (pdf; 206kb)
• MA Buddhist Studies programme details 2017-18 (pdf; 137kb)

Disclaimer

Tuition Fees

Full details of postgraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's Postgraduate Tuition Fees page.

This is a Band 1 tuition fee.

Fees for 2017/18 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. 

Scholarships

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section

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