Buddhist Studies MSc

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Theology and Religious Studies

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Full-time
  • MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026
Part-time
  • MSc | 2 years | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

School of Divinity

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme website
Study location

New College

Accreditation

Not available

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About the degree programme

The MSc in Buddhist Studies offers a truly multidisciplinary foundation in the field. The programme will introduce you to ancient and modern Buddhism, as well as the variety of ways you can study Buddhist cultures, including:

  • art
  • material culture
  • texts
  • ideas and practices
  • ethics
  • philosophy 

The programme will be taught by some of the leading scholars in Buddhist Studies from across several schools at the University of Edinburgh. You will benefit from the breadth and range of this expertise, particularly in areas of South Asian, Southeast Asian, and East Asian Buddhism. You will also be able to specialise in an area of your own particular interest.

Who is this programme for?

This programme is designed for highly-motivated graduates from any relevant discipline including, but not limited to:

  • anthropology
  • art history
  • Asian studies
  • literature
  • philosophy
  • psychology
  • religious and theological studies

This programme may appeal particularly to applicants with undergraduate degrees in Asian languages (including those who have studied in Asia) but who lack a disciplinary grounding in the field.

Study options

This programme is a Master of Science (MSc) degree.

It is run full-time over one year, or part-time over two years. 

More information about course options and the programme structure is included in the programme details section.

Programme rankings

  • 8th in the world for the study of Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)
  • The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 ranked the School 1st in Scotland and 5th in the UK for its research power in theology and religious studies
  • Edinburgh is ranked the 6th best student city in Europe and 13th in the world (QS Best Student Cities 2025)

Programme benefits

  • Enable you to achieve a wide-ranging understanding of Buddhism in Asia  
  • A muitidisciplinary approach that will appeal to those who wish to benefit from understanding Buddhism from multiple perspectives 
  • Benefit from a focus on different historical periods in the history of Buddhism  
  • Comprehensive analysis of Buddhist texts, languages and literature 
  • Benefit from analysing Buddhism with a stress upon ethics, Buddhism as practiced, and the philosophical ideas of Buddhist traditions

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time
Part-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Costs

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured scholarships

Divinity scholarships are awarded on academic merit. Most are open to all, but some are ring-fenced for applicants from certain parts of the world.

Awards are made for masters programmes. Typically, awards are for full or partial fee costs.

School of Divinity scholarships

If you live in the UK, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan for study from one of the UK’s governments.

You should check that your chosen programme is eligible for the funding you want to apply for.

View details: UK government loans for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject.

We may also consider your application if you have relevant qualifications and experience; please contact us to check before you apply.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 6 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 135 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

You will study a wide range of courses from various schools across the University of Edinburgh. These include overviews of the study of Buddhism, Buddhist ethics and literature, Buddhist philosophy and Buddhist art. Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese Buddhism. You will also have the opportunity to study several Buddhist languages.

Compulsory courses

On this programme, you will complete the following compulsory courses:

  • Approaches to Research in Divinity and Religious Studies (10 credits, Semester 1)
  • Approaches to Research: Buddhist Studies (10 credits, Semester 2)
  • Envisioning Buddhist Studies: Methods and Themes (20 credits, Semester 1)
  • Dissertation (MSc in Buddhist Studies) (60 credits, Semesters 1 and 2)
Approaches to Research

The two Approaches to Research courses will allow you to develop the postgraduate research skills you need to engage with important methodological literature and preparing your dissertation proposal.

Envisioning Buddhist Studies: Methods and Themes

This course will introduce you to the many ways in which Buddhism has been and can be studied. Course sessions focus on:

  • textual, historical, visual, philosophical and ethnographic approaches
  • modelling the application of different methods (and combinations of methods) to the study of particular topics or themes
Dissertation

Your choice of specialisation area will be informed by the topics you cover in your courses, and will be reflected in your dissertation project.

Option courses

The programme director will guide you through the wide range of option courses available for you to choose from. You will take four option courses worth 80 credits in total.

The range of optional courses offered across various schools may include the following:

  • Buddhist Studies in Practice
  • Buddhist Literature
  • Lives of the Buddha in Indian Art and Literature
  • Theravada Buddhism from Benares to Bangkok
  • Buddhist Ethics
  • Buddhist Monasticism Across Time and Place
  • Introducing Sanskrit
  • Intermediate Sanskrit
  • Indian Philosophies of Mind and Language
  • Japanese Philosophy
  • Buddhist Philosophy
  • Buddhism and the State in Early East Asia
  • Chinese Religions
  • Japanese Religious Traditions
  • Tibetan Buddhism  
  • Art for the Afterlife: Buddhist Relics in Asian Material Culture
  • Art and Belief in the Himalayas
  • Sanskrit
  • Tibetan

Option courses for 2026 entry will be confirmed in Spring 2026. 

Buddhist Studies in Practice

One of the optional courses for this programme, ‘Buddhist Studies in Practice’, offers you the chance to pursue an experiential learning option. This course allows you to complete an activity such as:

  • a translation
  • the creation of a teaching resource
  • a piece of curatorial work

Your activity will be supervised by an appropriate colleague who is based either:

  • at the University of Edinburgh, or
  • with one of our existing partnerships with local schools and the National Museum of Scotland

Your work for this course will be assessed through an extended piece of reflective writing.

This course may be of particular interest if you do not wish to pursue PhD study, but instead wish to develop other professional skills. A supervised research essay option is also available.

The options on offer change from year to year. If you would like to find out more about which courses will be available in your chosen year of study then please contact the Programme Director.   

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Full-time
Part-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Placements

If you choose to take the optional course ‘Buddhist Studies in Practice’, this may involve a short placement with a relevant organisation, such as:

  • the National Museum of Scotland
  • a local school
  • a local Buddhist organisation

Teaching and assessment

Assessment

You will learn and be assessed through a combination of: 

  • short written assignments
  • presentations
  • essays
  • in-class tests
  • exams

Learning outcomes

By the end of the programme, you will be able to:

  • explain the major methods used in the academic study of Buddhism, and assess their strengths and limitations, informed by an understanding of the history of the field and its current debates
  • engage closely and critically with a range of primary sources relevant to the study of Buddhism, including textual, visual and material sources
  • critically assess a range of scholarship in Buddhist Studies and allied fields
  • plan and complete an independently designed research project that contributes to the field of Buddhist Studies
  • select appropriate methods and theoretical frameworks in approaching individual pieces of research in different areas of Buddhist Studies, and justify their selection
  • produce and articulate clearly a coherent argument in both written and oral form

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Your first point of contact for teaching or academic advice and guidance will be your Academic Cohort Lead who is named on our student record. Your Academic Cohort Lead is the Programme Director for your masters programme.

The School has its own Peer Support model where fellow students can offer you support and academic advice throughout your studies.

Our academic staff

  • Professor Naomi Appleton: Buddhist literature and the Jātakas
  • Dr Yashaswini Chandra: South Asian art
  • Dr Paul Fuller: Buddhist ethics and engaged Buddhism
  • Professor Gentz: Chinese philosophy and religion
  • Dr Halle O’Neil: East Asian Buddhist art
  • Dr Abigail MacBain: Japanese Buddhism
  • Dr Takeshi Morisato: Buddhist philosophy
  • Dr Upali Sraman: Buddhist monasticism and Buddhist languages

Where you will study

Study location

The School of Divinity is based at New College, an impressive neo-gothic building in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. It commands spectacular views over the city centre towards the sea and is a distinctive feature on the Edinburgh skyline, close to Edinburgh Castle.

You will benefit from a self-contained college setting just five minutes walk away from the main University campus. We have our own library, study space and on-site café, situated in the grand Rainy Hall. This provides a great place to meet friends and study and is also the venue for our whole School Christmas Dinner and Burns Supper!

Academic facilities

The School has great facilities for postgraduates including study rooms, kitchen facilities and a cafe for staff and students open during the teaching semester.

Postgraduates can also opt-in to our mentoring scheme, in which staff members are matched with students outside their area of specialism to offer career and pastoral support.

The New College library holds one of the largest theology and religious studies collections in the UK. Its special collections include:

  • historical archives
  • manuscripts
  • printed books and objects

Current collections support the School of Divinity's teaching and research activities in:

  • biblical studies
  • the history of Christianity
  • religious studies
  • theology and ethics
  • world Christianity

The collections continue to develop in new and evolving areas, such as:

  • science and religion
  • Christian-Muslim relations
  • Buddhist and Jewish studies
  • religion and literature

Many other study and student support facilities are only a short walk away in George Square, including the University's Main Library.

Beyond the University – but located close to the School of Divinity – the National Library of Scotland holds more than 5 million volumes, including every book published since 1710 in the United Kingdom (and numerous volumes published in the United States in cooperation with British presses). Scotland’s National Archives are also nearby.

Virtual tour

Career opportunities

Graduates of this programme may choose to pursue:

  • an academic career in areas such as:
    • Buddhist studies
    • Asian religions
    • cultural studies or
  • work in areas such as:
    • teaching religion
    • museum curation
    • editing and publishing
    • politics
    • civil service
    • journalism
    • working with NGOs and businesses with an Asian focus

Further study

After graduating from this programme, you will be well-prepared for PhD study or further training in a variety of professions including:

  • teaching
  • academic publishing
  • translation
  • work in cultural institutions

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
14 September 2026 30 August 2026

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You must submit one reference with your application.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

What our students say

Find out what our students think of New College in these short graduation interviews:

Our community

Community is what sets our School of Divinity apart. Time and time again students tell us that this is what drew them to New College and what they liked the most about studying here.

From the start we try our very best to make you feel part of our community and help postgraduate students integrate into life at New College, the University, Scotland, and the UK. When you join the School, at the start of the academic year, you will be invited to Welcome Week, an intensive introduction to study and life in Edinburgh.

Our community benefits from monthly gatherings with faculty and fellow students which offer a supportive forum to discuss issues as diverse as work-life balance, publishing strategies, and dealing with writer’s block. We also have an active postgraduate student committee that organises regular social events.

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

Within New College, students join all kinds of university clubs and societies, such as the New College choir, New College Pride, and the five-a-side football team. 

The postgraduate committee organises social events, including quizzes and the welcome Ceilidh (a Scottish dance event).

Staff and students meet together for seasonal and community events such as Diwali Potluck, Christmas lunch, Eid Meal and Burns supper. 

There are also regular monthly gatherings with faculty and fellow students, and you can participate in worship/reflections from a range of faith traditions.

The city of Edinburgh

A cultural capital 

Edinburgh has an incredibly energetic and diverse cultural life. There are dozens of museums and galleries with unique collections and cinemas specialising in arthouse and world film. Apart from the renowned Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe Festival every August (the largest arts festival in the world), it hosts many other cultural events every year. 

Edinburgh's surroundings 

A short journey will take you to the old port of Leith and waterfront pubs and cafes, or the fishing villages of Fife, to the Pentland Hills or country parks and beaches. Further afield, Scotland’s magnificent scenery, its villages and coastlines, and other vibrant cities are all easily accessible. Edinburgh is also a haven for cyclists, with quiet and scenic routes crisscrossing the city. 

UNESCO world heritage site 

With a population of around 450,000, our city mixes architectural beauty and history with a lively and cosmopolitan environment. It is a safe and prosperous city with many parks and green spaces for recreation and reflection. It offers an exciting array of entertainment, arts, culture and sport, with the lush Scottish countryside and dramatic coastline just a few miles away. 

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply.

Contact us
Phone:+44 (0)131 650 8952

Academic contact

Dr Paul Fuller

Lecturer in Buddhist Studies

  • School of Divinity
  • College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • University of Edinburgh

Contact details

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