Buddhist Studies MPhil

About

You will be requested to select a primary Buddhist canonical language. The options currently available are Pali, Sanskrit, Classical Tibetan and Classical Chinese. You may select another of these languages as an optional subject.

The first year focuses on intensive training in all aspects of your chosen language, without presuming previous knowledge of it, and takes advantage of the world class linguistic expertise available at Oxford.

Study of the chosen language is complemented by training in various aspects relevant to the study of Buddhism, including historical, literary, philosophical and ethnographic. Teaching happens through lectures, seminars and tutorials, utilising the small group practice characteristic of Oxford. Your training is also supported by a rich provision of visiting lectures, research seminars and workshops.

This solid base of training is built on in the second year with the in-depth study of important Buddhist texts in the original language in which you are specialising and an analytical approach to Buddhist studies as an academic discipline.

You are also required to choose one optional paper. Possible options are a second primary Buddhist language or a paper chosen from a list published annually such as, for example, Buddhist philosophy or Anthropology of Buddhism. These optional courses are subject to availability of teaching each year.

Assessment

The first year is assessed by a qualifying exam in Trinity term, ensuring that you have fully comprehended the first year’s teaching activities.

Your assessment at the end of the second year is specified by the given course instructor.

The final examination, administered in Trinity term of the second year, consists of the following four components:

  • a thesis on a subject approved by the Faculty Board;
  • an advanced language paper consisting of a translation from seen and unseen texts in the chosen primary Buddhist language, to be assessed by a timed examination;
  • a paper on approaches to the study of Buddhism, to be assessed by a timed examination; and

EITHER:

  • a language paper in a second primary Buddhist language, to be assessed by a timed examination. The second primary Buddhist language can be studied either at a basic or at an advanced level. The former will be assessed by a timed examination in the chosen second primary Buddhist language; the latter by a translation from seen and unseen texts in the chosen second primary Buddhist language, to be assessed by a timed examination. If you intend to study a second primary Buddhist language at an advanced level you must satisfy the Faculty Board that you possess an adequate knowledge of your chosen language;

OR:

  • a paper chosen from a list published annually, assessed as specified by the course instructor. This paper will be chosen at the beginning of Michaelmas term preceding the examination.

 

Teaching Staff
Resources for study

Libraries and museums

Oxford has excellent library resources for Buddhist studies, which are kept in collections associated with the different parts of Asia. For South and Inner Asian studies these resources are supported by the Bodleian Libraries which includes the Indian Institute Library.

The Bodleian Asian and Middle Eastern Collections possesses one of the finest collections of pre-modern South Asian manuscripts in the world. For East Asian studies, there are, in addition to the main Bodleian collection, special libraries both for Japanese and for Chinese studies. Other relevant collections are located in the Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library and the Theology Faculty.

Additionally, the Nizami Ganjavi Library at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and certain colleges (for example, Wolfson College) also have substantial stocks of books  related to Buddhism and primary Buddhist languages.

The Ashmolean Museum and the Pitt Rivers Museum offer classes which can provide important resources for the study of Buddhist art and material culture.

Faculty resources

Students have access to the University's centrally provided electronic resources, the Faculty's IT Officer, and other bibliographic, archive or material sources as appropriate to the topic. There is a computing room for the use of graduate students in the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, as well as a common room where tea and coffee are available and staff and students can meet.

Oxford colleges

Oxford’s colleges provide support, facilities and membership of a friendly and stimulating academic community. All colleges provide library and IT facilities, welfare support, and sports and social events. Although your academic studies will be directed by the faculty, colleges can be a valuable source of support. Please check the application guide for information about colleges.

How to apply

Improving access to graduate study

The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is taking part in initiatives to improve the selection procedure for graduate applications, to ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly.

Socio-economic data (where it has been provided in the application form) will be used as part of an initiative to contextualise applications at the different stages of the selection process. 

FAQs

Can I submit one 4,000 word piece of written work instead of two 2,000 word pieces?

Not for our courses. We ask for two pieces which will show a range of ability rather than two highly similar pieces and you may find it useful to check the criteria your written work will be assessed for when choosing your samples. Your samples can be extracts from longer pieces of work and if this is the case, please indicate this on a cover page, or at the beginning of each piece of work.

How do I select my Buddhist language?

Please confirm your Buddhist language choice at the beginning of your statement of purpose. Please note it's not normally possible to change your Buddhist language once you are accepted on the course.

Where can I find out about funding available for applicants?

Your best guide to funding opportunities will always be the University's admissions webpages. We recommend that you use the Fees, funding and scholarship search which is a useful tool for finding any funding that you may be eligible to apply for.

If you submit your application by the January deadline you will automatically be considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships. There’s no separate scholarship application process or extra supporting documentation required for funding. Based on the information supplied in your graduate application, you will be automatically considered for scholarships where you meet the eligibility criteria with most scholarships using academic merit and/or potential as the basis on which award decisions are made.

However, please note, in addition to submitting an application form for your chosen course, the scholarships listed on the following page also require an additional application to be considered for them.