MABuddhist Studies
| Study location | Hungary, Budapest |
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| Type | Master, full degree studies |
| Nominal duration | 4 semesters (120 ECTS) |
| Study language | English |
| Awards | MA (Philologist in Buddhist Studies) |
| Course code | Arts and Humanities |
| Accreditation | FNYF/97-4/2024 |
| Entry qualification | Bachelor diploma (or higher) Applicants must hold a university bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent college degree) in the fields listed below: 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). 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. The educational and outcome requirements are defined by the Ministry of Human Capacities, Regulation No. 18/2016. (VIII. 5.). Details of the application and admission process are defined by the Organisational and Operational Regulations of ELTE. The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original. You must take the original entry qualification documents along with you when you finally go to the university. |
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| Territory requirements | Applications are accepted from the following territories (based on citizenship): Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Burundi, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo - Kinshasa, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Georgia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Korea, St Lucia, Syria, São Tomé & Príncipe, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen. |
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| Language requirements | English Minimum level of language proficiency (oral): B2-C1 (English) TOEFL PBT (Paper-based test): 550-677 or The language of instruction for the entire program is English. IMPORTANT: 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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| Other requirements | At least 2 reference(s) should be provided. — Bachelor-level degree. An official copy of your completed Bachelor degree Other: An official English translation of the certificates and the records if the language of the original is not English Optional documents for admissions — Letter of Authorization: If the applicant uses the services of a non-contracted third party during the application process, a Letter of Authorization must be signed. Applications will not be processed without. |
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| More information |
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Overview
Short description, aim of program:
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.
Strength of program:
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.
Admission:
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. 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, 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 if the applicant has been awarded with scholaship.
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.
Programme structure
Find the detailed structure of the program on the site of the Faculty:
Career opportunities
Career opportunities:
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.
Job examples (including but not limited to):
• University Academic
• Private Academic
• Translator
• Consultant
• Travel guide