Buddhist Studies MA
Buddhist Studies MA
Philologist in Buddhist Studies
Degree program
Master
FNYF/97-4/2024
English
4 semesters (2 years)
120
2
30
The goal of this program is to offer students who are either relative newcomers to or already have taken their first steps in Buddhist Studies by studying a language related to Buddhism or a course related to religious studies. Students will gain comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a cultural phenomenon that once united large parts of Asia (and is still relevant today), cutting through and adapting to very different languages and cultures. The program is language-based and text-centric, with a wide variety of choices left up to personal interests in research topics. Students will be able to choose Sanskrit, Tibetan, Pali, Chinese, and several other languages. Teachers and researchers at our department are experts in, or are able to cover a wide-ranging area and we make every effort to offer in-depth personal guidance. We also maintain excellent working relationships with most major scholarly workshops in Europe and North America.
This program is recommended to applicants who would wish to study Buddhism, its scriptures, teachings, and cultural contexts primarily based on its original texts. By the end of the program, students will become able to conduct individual research by handling the chosen languages with confidence and with an in-depth understanding of methodology. Students will be able to gain all this in a friendly, welcoming, and supportive atmosphere in the middle of one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
This program enables students to take their first steps as researchers in Buddhist Studies. Armed with at least one or two languages of classical Buddhism, students will be able to conduct research on their own, to be able to speak and write with confidence and success in their chosen sub-field. Graduates will emerge with a nuanced perspective on Buddhist thought, its impact on a variety of civilisations, and will be able to engage critically with the topic thus contributing to ongoing scholarly discourse.
The MA program in Buddhist Studies taught in English invites students from all over the world to join the department for rigorous study and the first steps towards independent research. The department offers Sanskrit, Tibetan, Pali, and Apabhramsha, while our sister departments can offer Chinese, Japanese, Mongolian, Korean, and a host of other languages that students might deem relevant. The range of topics we can cover is also broad, including early Buddhism, Abhidharma, Yogācāra, Madhyamaka, tantric Buddhism, as well as a large variety of regional Buddhisms. ELTE also offers the opportunity to combine any of these topics with several disciplines such as Religious Studies, Philosophy, or History. Beyond our carefully planned program, our experienced staff is deeply committed to providing customised guidance suited to students' particular research interests.
Although our degree is rather specialized, we strive to offer and strongly encourage our students to gain a rounded humanistic education. Therefore, in most general terms, they would become suitable for any job that requires related skills, e.g., journalism, travel writing, consultant for antiquities, etc.
More specifically, students would typically proceed to a PhD, which would open the gates towards an academic career, whether in an institutional setting or working individually, e.g., as a translator of Buddhist texts. Concerning the latter, a relatively recent highly coveted position is working for the 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha, for which our program would offer excellent preparation.
- University Academic
- Private Academic
- Translator
- Consultant
- Travel guide
EUR 2500
EUR 2500
The application fee is discounted for Early Bird applicants: EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 01/11/2024 - 30/11/2024 and between 01/02/2025 - 31/03/2025; The regular application fee is: EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 01/04/2025-31/05/2025
The application fee is discounted for Early Bird applicants: EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 01/11/2024 - 30/11/2024 and between 01/02/2025 - 31/03/2025; The regular application fee is: EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 01/04/2025-31/05/2025
100 EUR (Entrance exam fee)
100 EUR (Entrance exam fee)
EUR 2500
The application fee is discounted for Early Bird applicants: EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 01/11/2024 - 30/11/2024 and between 01/02/2025 - 31/03/2025; The regular application fee is: EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 01/04/2025-31/05/2025
100 EUR (Entrance exam fee)
Yes
01, Sep, 2025
31, May, 2025
No
Entry requirements
Applicants must hold a university bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent college degree) in the fields listed below:
a) Full credit acknowledgement is only given for a BA degree in Oriental Languages and Cultures (or a BA degree with a different name, but equivalent content).
b) In the case of a BA degree from any other study fields (preferably humanities or religious studies), each degree will be considered individually, and transcripts from your diploma as well as course descriptions will be requested. The applicant must have at least 50 credits from the fields of Oriental Languages and Cultures.
Language requirements
Minimum level of language proficiency (oral) (A1-C2): B2-C1 (English)
Minimum level of language proficiency (written) (A1-C2): C1 (English)
Further comments:
Or equivalent of the above, in special cases exceptions will be made if their case is plead convincingly.
It is expected that the students are proficient to some extent in at least one of the languages of classical Buddhism: Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, etc.
Mid-level proficiency in another modern language with an established academic literature is highly desirable (e.g., German, French, Russian, Italian, Japanese)
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Document |
Comment |
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Online application form |
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Secondary school certificate (graduation certificate) |
Notarized copy only on request. |
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Bachelor-level degree |
An official copy of your completed Bachelor degree with strong preference for Buddhist Studies or related fields (for example religious studies) |
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Transcript of records |
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CV |
In English, in MS Word format with one low resolution photo |
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Motivation letter |
Mandatory |
| Research work plan | A preliminary research proposal (need not be final) for a proposed thesis project with a study and research plan (detailed outline of your field of interest), a preliminary bibliography (indicating what the applicant has read already). |
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Letter of recommendation |
From a former instructor and/or employer, recommended |
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Copy of the main pages of the passport |
Scanned, in colour all personal details and expiry date must be shown. Passport must be valid. |
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Copy of application fee transfer |
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Copy of the Entrance exam fee transfer |
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Language certificate |
Official test result or certificate must be provided; |
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Other: An official English translation of the certificates and the records if the language of the original is not English |
The application starts in the online application system. Students need to register in the system, fill in the online application form, upload the required documents and follow the instructions during the application process. The application procedure includes 3 periods in order to give the applicants the freedom to submit their application when it’s most suitable for them. The applicants of each period have the same chance to get admittance for the programme. However, please note, that the Faculty of Humanities ELTE reserves the right to cancel the entrance periods in case the number of the admitted applicants reaches the limit during the previous entrance periods.
Period 1 (with Early Bird discount): 01/11-30/11/2024 23:59 (CET)
Period 2 (with Early Bird discount): 01/02-31/03/2025 23:59 (CET)
Period 3: 01/04-31/05/2025 23:59 (CET)
Applications will only be processed if the application fee (100 EUR or 150 EUR depending on application period; non-refundable) has been transferred to the Faculty’s bank account.
For further information and details about transferring the application fee please visit our Faculty’s website: https://btk.elte.hu/prospective-students-financial-issues
BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS OF OUR UNIVERSITY
IBAN Bank Account: HU 03 1003 2000 0142 6201 0000 0000
BIC/SWIFT code: HUSTHUHB
Name of the University: EÖTVÖS LORÁND UNIVERSITY, ELTE BTK
Address: 1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt. 4/a, Hungary
Name of the Bank: Hungarian State Treasury Ltd. (Magyar Államkincstár)
Address of the Bank: 1139 Budapest, Váci út 71.
PLEASE DO NOT MISS TO ADD IN THE MESSAGE SECTION:
Name of applicant
AY (for example: 2025/26/1)
The University’s sub-account number: AC9202/04
The programme is not available for Hungarian citizens.
Results and the official decision will be announced within a month after the entrance exam date, in the application system.
For more information about the application procedures, please visit the Faculty’s website.
Entrance examination and selection process
When the university receives the full application package and it is checked by the Department of International Affairs an entrance exam date option will be sent no later than the application deadline for the relevant period. Please, check your messages in the application system, and the e-mail address that is linked to the account regularly. The applications are examined by the Admission Board no later than after each application period and applicants are notified of the outcome of the selection in the online application system after the decision is official. Admission letters are sent out in the online application system within a few days.
Type of entrance examination: oral
Place of entrance examination: online
Further details of selection and evaluation
The entrance exam contains a discussion about the motivation of the applicant. Successful applicants must have a good command of English to pass the entrance exam. The format of the entrance exam is an online interview. Ranking is based on the overall evaluation of academic excellence (based on the submitted documents) and the results of the entrance exam.
Dr. Péter Dániel SZÁNTÓ, Assoc. Prof.
Head of Department
Admission
Department of International Affairs
E-Mail: admission@btk.elte.hu
Address: 1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt. 4.
Faculty of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) offers more than 100 degree programs to international students in the fields of Business, Education and Psychology, Humanities, Informatics, Law, Primary and Pre-School Education, Social Sciences and Science. Currently, about 3000 international students study at ELTE and the community of international students is growing from year to year. Check out what our international students think and discover the wide-range of opportunities waiting for you at ELTE. Join the growing international community of ELTE.
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) offers more than 100 degree programs to international students in the fields of Business, Education and Psychology, Humanities, Informatics, Law, Primary and Pre-School Education, Social Sciences and Science. Currently, about 3000 international students study at ELTE and the community of international students is growing from year to year. Check out what our international students think and discover the wide-range of opportunities waiting for you at ELTE. Join the growing international community of ELTE.
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