Buddhist Studies for Undergraduates
At the undergraduate level, Buddhist and Asian Studies form an integral part of the BA degree offerings within the Department of Religion and Theology. The Department provides two single-honours degrees: a BA in Religion and Theology and a BA in Religion and Theology with Study Abroad. We also offer a joint-honours degree in Philosophy and Theology.
Across all these degree courses, students have the opportunity to explore units in Buddhist and Asian Studies. Some examples of units available at the undergraduate level include:
- Introduction to the Religions and Philosophies of Asia
- Critical Perspectives on Asian Religions
- Asian Traditions of Meditation
- Introduction to Sanskrit
- Death and Afterlife in Buddhism
- Mahayana Buddhist Literature in East Asia
- Zen Buddhism
- Sex, Humour, and Piety: Life in the Ancient and Medieval Buddhist Monastery
- Esoteric Buddhism in East Asia
In addition, you can study Buddhism within a broader context through courses focusing on Asian religions, such as Chinese Religions, Japanese Religions, and Indian Religions.
Buddhist Studies for Postgraduates
Our postgraduate programmes in Buddhist Studies at the Centre for Buddhist Studies attract students from around the world, including Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the UK, and the USA. Graduates from our Buddhist Studies programmes have gone on to secure academic positions at prestigious institutions such as Central Florida, Tel Aviv, Sydney, Sun Yat-Sen University (Taiwan), Dharma Drum (Taiwan), and more.
We offer the following research degrees:
- MPhil (1 year full-time)
- MLitt (2 years full-time)
- PhD (3 years full-time)
In the UK, research degrees differ from taught degrees. As a research student, you will work closely with one or, at most, two advisers, who will guide you through your research project. While you may take taught courses (such as language courses) if deemed beneficial by you or your adviser, the primary focus is on independent research from the outset. Your degree will be assessed through the submission of a completed thesis.
At Bristol, we encourage applications from candidates with a clear research proposal in mind. Applicants should have a strong first degree in Buddhist Studies or a closely related field. Prior knowledge of a relevant Asian language is typically required. PhD candidates are initially accepted as MLitt students and may apply to upgrade to PhD status after submitting 15,000–20,000 words of research, demonstrating their ability to produce work of PhD calibre.
For those considering a research project at the Centre for Buddhist Studies, we recommend that your research aligns with the expertise and research interests of our directors, who will supervise your work. If you are uncertain, feel free to contact the directors directly to discuss your project. Their areas of expertise include:
- Dr Rita Langer: Theravāda Buddhism (particularly Sri Lanka), Buddhist rituals and their origins (South and Southeast Asia), Buddhist sermons.
- Dr Benedetta Lomi: Japanese Religions, East Asian Buddhism, and Ritual Studies.
- Dr Yael Shiri: Indian Buddhism, vinaya (monastic discipline), and Buddhist narrative traditions in literature and art.
For further details on postgraduate applications, please contact us at pg-hums@bristol.ac.uk.
Recent and Ongoing Postgraduate Research in Buddhist Studies
PhD Research (Ongoing)
- Hyo Eun CHO
Title: Discussing Unskilful Qualities from the Unfolded Ancient Text: The Research of the Theory of Defilements Through Two Chapters in the Śāriputrābhidharma-śāstra
Supervisors: Rupert Gethin, Rita Langer - Soho KIM
Title: Five Senses and Places within Chan Practice: Historical Origins, Formations, and Changes in Meditation Methods and Techniques
Supervisors: Benedetta Lomi, Rita Langer - Blair Thomson
Title: Brushing Suchness. The Development of Japanese Buddhist Calligraphy during the Kamakura Period
Supervisors: Benedetta Lomi, Rita Langer - Chris Williams
Title: Western Rationalism and the Visionary Nature of Meditative Experience in the Buddhist Tradition
Supervisors: Rupert Gethin, Rita Langer
PhD Research (Graduated)
- Bernat Clos Font (2023)
Title: What the Buddha Felt: A Study of Vedanā in Early Buddhism
Supervisors: Rupert Gethin, Rita Langer - Indaka N Weerasekera (2022)
Title: Finding a Space in the Crowd: The Notion of Solitude in Pāli Buddhist Literature
Supervisor: Rupert Gethin - Ruby Morgan (2022)
Title: Can Nāgārjuna Escape Nihilism? An Investigation into David Burton’s Emptiness Appraised: A Critical Study of Nāgārjuna’s Philosophy
Supervisor: Rupert Gethin
Degree: MPhil - P. Cholvijarn (2020)
Title: The Origins and Development of Sammā Arahaṃ Meditation: From Phra Mongkhon Thepmuni (Sot Candasaro) to Phra Thep Yan Mongkhon (Sermchai Jayamaṅgalo)
Supervisor: Rupert Gethin - Laura D. Frude (2020)
Title: Verbal Magic in the Pali Canon: A Study on Protective-Chants, Truth-Acts, and Vows
Supervisor: Rita Langer
Degree: MPhil - Jacob Lucas (2018)
Title: Mindful Life or Mindful Lives? Exploring Why the Buddhist Belief in Rebirth Should Be Taken Seriously by Mindfulness Practitioners
Supervisors: Rupert Gethin, Joel Krueger (University of Exeter) - Hilary Page Herdman (2017)
Title: Encircling the Sacred: Pilgrimage – A Comparative Study in the Buddhist and Late Antique Christian Traditions (Origins to the 7th Century CE)
Supervisor: Paul Williams - Luke Andrew Perera (2017)
Title: Christian Theology and Mahāyāna Buddhism: Prospects and Possibilities for Comparative Theology
Supervisors: Rupert Gethin, Gavin D’Costa - Panos Bolanakis (2017)
Title: The Ecstasy of Transformation: Self-Transformation and Ecstasy in Hesychasm and Theravāda Buddhism
Supervisors: Rupert Gethin, Carolyn Muessig - Elaine Margaret Robson (2014)
Title: A Christian Catechism in Tibetan: An English Translation and Study of Ippolito Desideri’s Tibetan Manuscript
Supervisor: Paul Williams - Massimo Rondolino (2014)
Title: Italian and Tibetan Siddhas: A Comparative Approach to the Study of Gtsang Smyon Heruka’s Hagiographic Works
Supervisor: Paul Williams - Andrew J. Wormald (2014)
Title: Voices of Experience: Modernity and Buddhist Meditation in Republican-Era China
Supervisor: John Kieschnick - Chutima Maneewattana (2014)
Title: Reading Samuel Beckett in the Light of Buddhism: A Case Study in the Tradaptation of Waiting for Godot into a Thai Buddhist Context
Supervisors: Rupert Gethin, joint supervision with Drama - Ingmar Fédéric Heise (2012)
Title: Buddhist Death Rituals in Fujian
Supervisor: John Kieschnick - Chin-ling Tsai (2012)
Title: Buddhist Education and the Rise of the Buddhist University in Modern Taiwan
Supervisor: John Kieschnick - Pascale F. Engelmajer (2011)
Title: ‘A Woman May Turn Out Better Than a Man’: The Spiritual Path of Women in the Pāli Canon
Supervisor: Rupert Gethin - Bhatsakorn Kota (2010)
Title: Abhidhamma Study in Monastic Culture: Sukhothai Kingdom to Present-Day Thailand
Supervisor: Rupert Gethin
Degree: MPhil - Shih Nam Sak (2006)
Title: The Role of Mindfulness of Breathing (Ānāpānasati/Smṛti) in Early Buddhism and the Abhidharma
Supervisor: Rupert Gethin - Kin Tung Yit (2004)
Title: A Study of a Stereotyped Structure of the Path in Early Buddhist Literature: A Comparative Study of the Pāli, Chinese, and Sanskrit Sources
Supervisor: Rupert Gethin - Jundo Nagashima (2003)
Title: A Study of the Late Madhyamaka Doxography
Supervisor: Paul Williams - Andree Dominique Messent (2003)
Title: The Yogācāra-Svātantrika-Madhyamaka School of Buddhism and Its Influence on Rnying Ma Doctrine with Special Reference to Śāntaraksita’s Madhyamakālamkāra
Supervisor: Paul Williams - Daniel Amadé Scheidegger (2003)
Title: Lights and Visions in Rdzogs Chen Thinking
Supervisor: Paul Williams - Paul Alan Fuller (2003)
Title: Wrong-View (Micchā-Diṭṭhi) and Right-View (Sammā-Diṭṭhi) in the Nikāyas and Early Abhidhamma
Supervisor: Rupert Gethin - Sarah Heymans (2002)
Title: Stories About ‘How to Live the Best Kind of Life’: Narrative and Ethics in the Dhammapada Aṭṭhakathā
Supervisor: Rupert Gethin - David Burton (1998)
Title: Studies in Early Indian Madhyamaka Epistemology
Supervisor: Paul Williams - Ornan Rotem (1995)
Title: Wisdom Arising from Reflection: An Exploration of Cintāmayī Prajñā Arising from Kamalaśīla’s Bhāvanākrama I
Supervisor: Paul Williams - Nigel Tetley (1988)
Title: The Doctrine of Rebirth in Theravāda Buddhism: Arguments For and Against
Supervisor: Steve Collins