There are a wide range of opportunities for studying Buddhism at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
MSc Buddhist Studies
Launched in 2025, our one-year (or two-year part-time) on-campus taught masters in Buddhist Studies draws on multi-disciplinary expertise from across the ECBS.
We also welcome enquiries for postgraduate research programmes, whether Masters by research or PhD. We have no specific Buddhist Studies programme for postgraduate research, but programmes in Asian Studies, History of Art, Philosophy or Religious Studies offer the chance to specialise in Buddhist topics. Please browse members' profiles and contact appropriate individual members of the committee to chat about your project and supervision.
For PhD programmes, potential applicants are expected to have two supervisors. Applicants should submit their applications to the school where their principal supervisor (or lead co-supervisor) is affiliated. It is not necessary for the assistant (or co-) supervisor to be affiliated with the same school as the principal supervisor.
Funding opportunities and application requirements can be accessed via the relevant programme pages, which you can find on the Degree Finder webpage.
Undergraduate Study
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Depending on your interests there are many combinations and options within degree programmes that allow you to study Buddhism.
Current students can search for relevant courses on Path. For a few ideas or relevant programmes see the following options:
Asian Studies
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Literatures, and their languages of composition are important parts of the study of Buddhism.
The University has over 150 years of experience in the study and teaching of Asian languages.
The University offers degrees in Japanese and Chinese that can unlock these cultural treasure chests.
History of Art
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From The Buddha’s birthplace of Lumbini in modern day Nepal to the Tibetan Buddhist monastery of Kagyu Samye Ling in the Scottish Borders, the places where Buddhists have lived and practiced over the centuries are rich in history and alive with artefacts.
An interest in Japanese temple architecture or a yearning to discover the oases of the ancient Silk Route might lead you to History of Art at Edinburgh College of Art.
Religion, Culture and Society
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The study of religion can be approached from numerous directions. From texts and their translation and interpretation to ethnography and immersive fieldwork.
Perhaps you are interested in the modern Buddhists of California, the dynamics of Taiwanese diaspora communities, or wish to make a comparison of the two.
The School of Divinity offers it all along with a thriving community of scholars and students.
