Bachelor of Arts in Buddhist Studies with Himalayan Language
The Centre for Buddhist Studies offers a four-year program in Buddhist Studies with Himalayan Language leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA). The courses in the BA program fall within two main areas of study: Buddhist Philosophy, History and Culture, and Himalayan Language. For the BA degree, approximately two thirds of the courses concern Buddhist philosophy while the remaining third consists of courses in Himalayan languages such as Tibetan, Sanskrit, and Nepali, although students can choose to emphasize philosophy over language, or language over philosophy.
By the end of the BA program, successful students will have developed a broad knowledge of the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist tradition and its historical and philosophical development, and a deep knowledge of the Tibetan approach to Buddhist philosophical study. In terms of language ability, depending on the emphasis placed by each student, he or she will be conversant in modern Tibetan and Nepali, able to read classical Tibetan and Sanskrit, and follow teachings directly in Tibetan, or possess some combination of these skills.
For a detailed description of the program, including Admission Requirements, please see our BA Course Description.
To view the Fall 2026 course offerings, please visit this page.
There are opportunities for BA students to take some of their classes online after their first year. We offer all of our language classes and text classes on campus and online, for credit and not-for-credit. To complete the full degree, however, a significant on-campus presence will be required.
Please visit our admissions page for application details and program-specific dates
“If you are interested in learning Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy in general, then I would highly recommend the BA. The teachers are amazing and there is a wonderful atmosphere here where everything is close. It’s a community of students and I think it is an incredible experience.”
Victor Olin (Sweden)
Complete the first year of your BA in Buddhist Studies online – visit the BA Online program page for full details.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must have a higher secondary school transcript (through grade 12) and students from Nepali high schools should have a minimum score of second division/45 percent.
English Language Requirements
All applicants who are not native speakers or do not hold a BA degree from a university in an English-speaking country should submit documentation establishing their English language proficiency. TOEFL and IELTS exam results are acceptable.
The required test scores for entry into the BA are as follows: TOEFL-iBT score of 90, with the writing score at least 22; a CEF/CERF/GeR level in English of B2; an IELTS score of at least 6.5 with no score lower than 5.5 on any one band, or a TOEFL test score at least 575, or a Duolingo test (DET) score of at least 120, with no band less than 120.
Fees
You will find the Tuition Fee List for all programs linked on the right-hand side of this admissions page.
In accordance with Kathmandu University guidelines, RYI course fees are determined by each student’s home base and nationality. A three-tier system is in effect which covers (i) Nepali students, (ii) SAARC students and (iii) other international students. Please select below to find out the fees structure for your particular circumstances.
Please see our Admissions Process for more details on applying.
