16 October 2026 • 4 min read
Where to Study Buddhist Studies as an Undergraduate (BA Guide)
Dedicated Buddhist Studies BA programmes in Asia and the US, how to get a Buddhist Studies education through a Religious or Asian Studies degree, and what to do during your BA to set up an MA or a dharma career.
If you want to study Buddhism at university, the first surprise is that very few universities offer a degree with "Buddhist Studies" in the title at undergraduate level. That's fine — most people who now teach Buddhist Studies did a BA in Religious Studies, Asian Studies, Philosophy, or an Asian language, and specialised later.
This guide covers both routes: the handful of dedicated Buddhist Studies BA programmes, and how to build a strong Buddhist Studies foundation inside a broader degree.
Checked October 2026. Programmes, fees and deadlines change every year. Treat this as a starting list and always confirm details on the university's own website before applying.
Route 1: dedicated Buddhist Studies BA programmes
These are degrees where Buddhism is the core subject from day one. Most are in Asia, and several are taught fully or partly in English.
| Programme | Where | Language | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA in Buddhist Studies with Himalayan Languages — Kathmandu University Centre for Buddhist Studies at Rangjung Yeshe Institute | Boudhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal | English, with Tibetan, Sanskrit and Nepali language study | Four-year degree, based at a monastery a few minutes' walk from the Great Stupa. One of the few places that combines an accredited university degree with intensive classical Tibetan. |
| BA in Buddhist Studies — Buddhist College of Singapore | Singapore | English or Chinese (parallel streams) | Four-year programme; applicants to the English stream sit an English entrance exam. |
| International Buddhist Studies College (IBSC) — Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University | Ayutthaya / Bangkok, Thailand | English | Offers English-taught Buddhist Studies programmes at several levels. Check which bachelor's tracks are open in your intake year — they vary. |
| Pali and Buddhist Studies — University of Peradeniya | Kandy, Sri Lanka | Sinhala and English | A long-established Theravāda studies department within a national university. |
| BA (Hons) in Buddhist Philosophy — Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sinhala and English | Four-year honours degree with a strong Pali textual focus. |
In the United States
There's no large US research university offering a BA titled "Buddhist Studies", but a few Buddhist-founded colleges offer undergraduate degrees shaped by Buddhist thought and practice:
- Naropa University (Boulder, Colorado) — a Buddhist-inspired, nonsectarian university. Its BA in Religious Studies combines academic study of religion with contemplative practice.
- Dharma Realm Buddhist University (Ukiah, California) — a small, accredited college at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Its BA in Liberal Arts is a "great books" programme reading Eastern and Western classics side by side, and it offers no-loan financial aid through service scholarships and grants.
Route 2: Buddhist Studies inside a broader degree
This is how most academics in the field started, and it's often the stronger choice if you're aiming for an MA and PhD at a research university. Look for a BA in:
- Religious Studies / Study of Religions — the most common route in the UK, US, Canada and Australia.
- Asian Studies or a regional programme — South Asian, East Asian, Tibetan or Southeast Asian Studies.
- An Asian language and culture degree — e.g. Indology, Sinology, Japanology, Tibetology. In German-speaking countries Buddhist Studies is usually taught inside these institutes, and many of these degrees are taught in German.
- Philosophy — if your interest is Buddhist philosophy, a department with someone working on Indian or Chinese philosophy can be ideal.
How to tell if a department is good for Buddhist Studies
Before applying, check:
- Faculty. Is there at least one permanent lecturer or professor who researches Buddhism? Look at the department's staff pages and their recent publications. One engaged specialist matters more than a famous university name.
- Languages. Can you start Sanskrit, Pali, Classical Tibetan, Classical Chinese or Japanese? Graduate programmes in Buddhist Studies almost always expect at least one source language — starting during your BA gives you a huge head start.
- Study abroad. Partnerships with universities in Asia (or programmes like the one in Kathmandu above) let you spend a semester immersed in language and living tradition.
- Library and events. A good Asian studies library, a Buddhist studies centre, visiting lectures and reading groups are signs of a living community.
What to do during your BA
Whichever route you choose, these are the things that make the next step easier:
- Start a classical language early and keep going — even two years of Sanskrit or Tibetan makes your MA application stand out.
- Write a long research essay or dissertation on a Buddhist topic. MA and PhD applications ask for a writing sample.
- Get to know two or three professors. You'll need academic references, and they're also the people who will tell you which MA programmes suit you.
- Spend time in a living tradition. Many dharma centres and monasteries take volunteers for weeks or months — cooking, gardening, retreat support, translation help. It deepens your understanding and looks great on applications. Browse current volunteer openings.
- Keep an eye on scholarships. The Khyentse Foundation offers Buddhist Studies scholarships to students from all traditions, including BA students — typically in the range of a few hundred to a few thousand US dollars.
What comes next
When you're nearing the end of your degree, read our guide to where to apply for an MA in Buddhist Studies. If you already know you want an academic career, our PhD guide explains what doctoral programmes look for — it's worth reading early, because the preparation starts during your BA.