University of California, Berkeley campus

Arts & Humanities

PhD Buddhist Studies at University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley, United States

Programme overview

The Berkeley Group in Buddhist Studies offers an interdisciplinary program of study and research leading to a PhD degree in Buddhist Studies. The group, which cooperates closely with the Departments of South and Southeast Asian Studies (SSEAS) and East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC), emphasizes the study of Buddhism in its many forms within its Asian historical and cultural context. The Group emphasizes the study of Buddhist texts in their original languages, as well as the appreciation of the historical, social, and cultural milieux from which the Buddhist textual legacy emerged.

Faculty: Graduate Division  |  Department: Buddhist Studies Graduate Group  |  Duration: 6 years  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Location: Berkeley, CA, United States

What you will study

Application to Degree Programs Students without a Master’s degree should apply to the M.A./Ph.D. program and will normally complete the M.A. en route to the Ph.D. Students with a Master's degree should check with their prospective advisor prior to submitting their application to confirm that their Master's degree meets the program expectations for admission directly into the Ph.D. program.

Career pathways

Graduates enter career areas including Academia & Education, Nonprofit.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Students without a Master’s degree should apply to the M.A./Ph.D. program and will normally complete the M.A. en route to the Ph.D. Students with a Master's degree should check with their prospective advisor prior to submitting their application to confirm that their Master's degree meets the program expectations for admission directly into the Ph.D. program. The Master's portion of the degree requires 24 units of course work and a capstone thesis project (typically 30-50 pages) supervised by a committee of three Academic Senate faculty members, including a primary academic advisor from the Group's core faculty. Graduates will acquire a sophisticated appreciation of the historical, social, and cultural milieus from which the Buddhist textual legacy emerged. Prospective applicants without an MA or the equivalent may also wish to apply to the Group in Asian Studies or to the Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies. Students entering the program often have a master’s degree in a relevant field, typically East Asian, South Asian, or Southeast Asian studies. A master’s degree in

Duration: 6 years

Apply through the official page: https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/

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