Facts & figures
Philologist in Buddhist Studies
English
Program
The ELTE Master’s Program in Buddhist Studies is designed for students who already possess a foundational knowledge of the history, social history, and cultures of East, Southeast, and Inner Asian peoples, as well as the major branches of Buddhism, and who wish to deepen their understanding of these subjects.
Buddhism is one of the world’s major historical religions. It serves as the state religion, the dominant religious tradition, or a culturally defining historical heritage in numerous Asian countries and regions, including India, Bhutan, China, historical Tibet, Mongolia, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, and parts of Central Asia. At the same time, Buddhism has been gaining increasing popularity in Western societies. One reason for this growing interest is that, beyond its religious teachings, the Buddhist tradition has accumulated a wealth of valuable insights into human behavior and its transformation, many of which remain highly relevant and applicable today. Accordingly, the program places particular emphasis on exploring the psychological, pedagogical, and social-theoretical dimensions of Buddhism, as well as their potential practical applications.
In addition to an in-depth study of Buddhist religion and philosophy, the Master’s Program in Buddhist Studies places strong emphasis on language training, as students are expected to read primary texts in their original languages. Therefore, in addition to holding a bachelor’s degree, applicants must demonstrate sufficient proficiency in at least one classical Buddhist language – Pāli, Sanskrit, Chinese, Tibetan, Korean, Japanese, or Mongolian – equivalent to at least the level of a BA minor specialization.
Program Details
This program is recommended for students who wish to gain an in-depth understanding of the Buddhist cultures of Asian peoples while developing advanced proficiency in one or more Eastern languages.The curriculum is delivered within a broad interdisciplinary framework that includes the following fields: religious studies, philosophy of religion, sociology of religion, history of religions, cultural history, philosophy, source studies, and research methodology. More specifically, the program focuses on the religions and philosophies of South, East, and Inner Asia.
The program aims to provide students with:
• Specialized theoretical knowledge of Buddhism within the fields listed above.
• Training in classical Buddhist languages, including Pāli, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Mongolian, Chinese, and Korean.
• Experience in the study of primary sources through textual analysis, ritual analysis, and fieldwork.
• Skills in conducting independent research, delivering presentations, and participating in academic discussions.
One of the program’s greatest strengths is that it provides graduates of any Eastern-language undergraduate program with the opportunity to continue their studies at the master’s level, building upon their existing linguistic expertise. At the same time, students are required to study a second Buddhist language, enabling them to engage with the textual tradition through multilingual sources.
The study of primary sources is complemented by theoretical coursework in areas such as the academic study of religion, various aspects of Buddhist philosophy, and broader cultural and historical subjects. Beyond the examination of texts preserved in Sanskrit, Pāli, Chinese, Tibetan, Mongolian, Japanese, Korean, and other Asian languages, the program also explores the rituals of contemporary Buddhist communities, meditation, yoga, techniques and psychology of self-observation, the literature of Buddhist peoples, their musical traditions, fine and applied arts, as well as the role of Buddhism in shaping identity within modern societies and the transformations of these roles over time.
Structure
Career
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.
- University Academic
- Private Academic
- Translator
- Consultant
- Travel guide
Admissions
| EU/EEA students | Non-EU/EEA students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee/semester | EUR 2500 | EUR 2500 |
| Application fee |
The application fee is discounted for Early Bird applicants: EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2026 - 30/11/2026 and between 01/02/2027 - 31/03/2027;
The regular application fee is: EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 01/04/2027-31/05/2027
|
The application fee is discounted for Early Bird applicants: EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2026 - 30/11/2026 and between 01/02/2027 - 31/03/2027;
The regular application fee is: EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 01/04/2027-31/05/2027
|
| Entrance exam fee | 100 EUR | 100 EUR |
| Other cost |
Entry requirements
Applicants must hold a university bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent college degree) in the fields listed below:
a) 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).
b) 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.
Language requirements
Non-native speakers of English must demonstrate a very good level of English-language skills: minimum B2 level CEFR
Following minimum results are preferred:
TOEFL IBT (Internet-based test): 72-94
IELTS (International English Language Testing System): 6.0
Duolingo: 100
In special cases exceptions will be made if their case is plead convincingly.
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).
| Document | Comment |
|---|---|
| Online application form | - |
| Secondary school certificate (graduation certificate) | Notarized copy only on request. |
| Bachelor-level degree | An official copy of your completed Bachelor degree with strong preference for Buddhist Studies or related fields (for example religious studies) |
| Transcript of records | |
| CV | In English, in MS Word format with one low resolution photo |
| Motivation letter | Mandatory |
| Research work plan | A preliminary research proposal (need not be final) for a proposed thesis project with a study and research plan (detailed outline of your field of interest), a preliminary bibliography (indicating what the applicant has read already). |
| Letter of recommendation | From a former instructor and/or employer, recommended |
| Copy of the main pages of the passport (needs to be valid) | Scanned, in colour all personal details and expiry date must be shown. Passport must be valid. |
| Copy of application fee payment receipt | |
| Copy of the Entrance exam fee payment receipt | |
| Language certificate | Official test result or certificate must be provided; see program specific proficiency requirements. |
| Other: An official English translation of the certificates and the records if the language of the original is not English |
The application starts in the online application system. Students need to register in the system, fill in the online application form, upload the required documents and follow the instructions during the application process. The application procedure includes 3 periods in order to give the applicants the freedom to submit their application when it’s most suitable for them. The applicants of each period have the same chance to get admittance for the programme. However, please note, that the Faculty of Humanities ELTE reserves the right to cancel the entrance periods in case the number of the admitted applicants reaches the limit during the previous entrance periods.
Period 1 (with Early Bird discount): 01/10-30/11/2026 23:59 (CET)
Period 2 (with Early Bird discount): 01/02-31/03/2027 23:59 (CET)
Period 3: 01/04-31/05/2026 23:59 (CET)
Applications will only be processed if the application fee (non-refundable) has been paid on the University’s online payment platform.
Before making the payment please visit the Faculty’s website (go to section Application and Entrance Exam fees) for detailed guidance on how to use the payment platform.
Payment platform: https://epay.elte.hu/
The programme is not available for Hungarian citizens.
Results and the official decision will be announced within a month after the entrance exam date, in the application system.
For more information about the application procedures, please visit the Faculty’s website.
Entrance examination and selection process
After the university receives the full application package and it is checked by the Department of International Affairs, applicants will be invited to an oral entrance exam. An entrance exam date option will be sent no later than the application deadline for the relevant period. Please, check your messages in the application system, and the e-mail address that is linked to the account regularly.
Type of entrance examination: oral
Place of entrance examination: online
Procedure of the entrance examination
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. Applicants must show a photo ID at the start of the interview, and a camera showing the student and his/her surroundings must be on throughout the interview. The applicant is prohibited from using earphones or headphones during the online oral examination. Ranking is based on the overall evaluation of academic excellence (based on the submitted documents) and the results of the entrance exam.
Results and the official decision will be announced in the application system. Admission letters are sent out also in the online application system within a few days.
For more information about the application procedures, please visit the Faculty’s website
Written Application Stage
Applicants are required to submit a motivation letter outlining their previous studies in Eastern languages, as well as any additional language skills they possess, particularly indicating the languages in which they are able to read academic literature. The letter should also describe any prior studies related to Buddhism. Applicants should additionally discuss any other relevant academic background, such as religious studies, anthropology/ethnology, or philosophy. Personal experiences may also be included, for example visits to Asian countries or involvement with Buddhist communities. If the applicant has published any work related to the field, this should be mentioned as well. Finally, the motivation letter should explain the applicant’s primary interests in Buddhism, including the perspectives from which they approach the subject and the specific areas of Buddhist studies that attract them most.
Applicants are required to submit a 3-5-page research proposal (using 12-point font and 1.5 line spacing) outlining the topic they intend to pursue for their master’s thesis.
The proposal should briefly describe:
— the academic background and previous research related to the topic,
— the scientific problem or research question to be addressed,
— the material or sources to be examined,
— the methodology to be employed, and
— a preliminary bibliography.
Oral Interview Stage
The admissions interview is based primarily on the applicant’s motivation letter. The interview focuses on assessing the knowledge, experience, and academic interests described in the letter, as well as the depth of the applicant’s engagement with the subject matter. If necessary, the applicant’s language proficiency may also be evaluated during the interview.
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.
Contacts
Admission
Department of International Affairs
E-Mail: admission@btk.elte.hu
Address: 1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt. 4.
Dr. Péter Dániel SZÁNTÓ, Assoc. Prof.
Head of Department
Find the detailed structure of the program on the website of the Faculty.