Graduate Programs 碩博士班

Master’s Program

The master’s program involves two years of course work and practice, as well as a thesis which is typically completed during the student’s third or fourth year of study, though one may attempt to complete the program within the first two years, provided one possesses the necessary research tools and a well thought-out research plan prior to entering the program.

By the end of the first semester, students are asked to choose an area of specialization which determines the general focus of their course work as well as their language requirements. In addition to placing great emphasis on the acquisition of the classical and modern research language skills necessary for traditional textual study, the program also seeks to expose students to a wide range of methodological approaches to the study of Buddhism, making extensive use of both modern Western and Japanese scholarship.

For more detailed information on the program’s courses for the academic year 2016-2017 please refer to following documents (Chinese only):

Doctoral Program

The department of Buddhist Studies’ doctoral program was established in 2012, admitting three to four students each year. The program’s course work focuses on the theme of Buddhist Meditation Traditions and Contemporary Society (佛教禪修傳統與現代社會) and guides students in their exploration of the following issues related to the history and contemporary uses of Buddhist contemplative practices:

  • origins and development of Buddhist meditative traditions
  • comparison and dialogue between traditions
  • theory and practice
  • contemporary applications and critical-reflection

To broaden the students’ horizons and encourage comparative research, students choose both a primary and secondary area of specialization. Students are expected to develop the capacity to use a wide range of methodological approaches in their research of Buddhist meditative traditions. In addition to acquiring the language skills necessary for textual work, students are encouraged to develop an interdisciplinary outlook and make use of tools from the digital humanities, or consult relevant literature from the fields of cognitive science.

For more detailed information on the program’s courses for the academic year 2016-2017 please refer to following documents (Chinese only):