How to apply

Application procedure

Applicants must complete an application form, and submit it along with supporting documents to SSBU by email or in person.

Supporting documents

• An essay (1,500 words) on a topic which is related to areas of study offered at SSBU. See the list of courses mentioned above for areas of study offered at SSBU.

• A personal statement, which clearly explains why you wish to take our programme, and outlines your relevant background experience.

• A copy of Degree Certificate or Dhammacariya Certificate with officially certified English translation, (if the original is not English or Myanmar).

• A copy of Academic Transcript (with officially certified English translation) (no transcript needed for Dhammacariya Degree holder).

• IELTS or TOEFL English Language certificate. (5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each skill for IELTS, or 516-529 overall with a minimum of 490-515 in each skill for TOEFL, or any other equivalent.)

• A recommendation letter from the abbot/abbess of current residing monastery/nunnery or the head of previous university/college.

• Certificate of Health.

• A copy of ID card (for locals) or passport (for foreigners).

Application closing date

Our application deadline is the Wednesday 1st February 2023. We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible.

Entrance examination and interview

Shortlisted candidates will be invited (by email) to sit an entrance (written) examination and an interview during the first week of March 2023.

The entrance examination will consist of two components: Testing the level of Pāli and general knowledge of Buddhism, lasting for 2 hours.

Fees, accommodation and food

For monastics

Tuition, accommodation, and food are free, fully sponsored and provided by the University.

For lay people

Tuition and food are free, fully sponsored and provided by the University.

MA in Pāli and Buddhist Studies: Philological Pathway

Programme Overview

The MA in Philological Pathway aims to provide a solid philological foundation to students of Pāli and Theravāda Buddhism. The teaching uses text-based and it is catered to those students who wish to enhance their reading and analytical skills in Pāli and other Indic languages of Buddhism. Essential skills in textual studies, including elements of general linguistics, textual criticism, literary theory and digital humanities will be included in the reading courses.

Academic and Languages Requirements

• Applicants who apply for the Philological Pathway are expected to hold a B.A. in Pāli, Buddhist Studies, or equivalent, including a Dhammācariya Degree from Myanmar, Pāli IX from Thailand, or Prachina Pandit from Sri Lanka.
• Applicants are expected to have good knowledge of Pāli.
• For the English language entry requirements, applicants are expected to have IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each skill; or 516-529 overall with a minimum of 490-515 in each skill for TOEFL, or any other equivalent.

Structure of the Degree Programme

Students on the Philological Pathway must complete a total of 360 credits, made up of a combination of compulsory and optional courses, and a compulsory dissertation (120 credits).

Compulsory courses include:

• Intermediate Pāli Grammar Crunch

• Advanced Pāli Grammar

• Sanskrit I

• Sanskrit II

• Theravāda Buddhist Meditation

Optioal courses include:

• Vinaya Texts • Pāli Scientific Literature

• Sutta Texts • Traditional Pali Learning: How to

• Jātaka Literature Read the atthakathā

• Pāli Poetry and Poetics

• Pāli Manuscripts and Epigraphy in

• Introduction to Prakrit Myanmar

• Introduction to Pāṇinian Sanskrit Grammar

• Classical Pāli byākaraṇa

• Pāli Comentarial Literature

• Texts in Context

• The Paṭṭhāna

In addition, students must complete a compulsory dissertation (120 credits). Students must also take a ten-day meditation retreat every year during term break.

In the Applied Pathway, the student will acquire

• Analytical skills to engage competently with primary and secondary sources;

• An overview of Buddhism as a religion in history and in the contemporary world;

• Tools to help them understand and appreciate diverse cultures and worldviews

within Buddhist communities and beyond; and

• An orientation in relation to the variety of Buddhist religious forms, and perceived commonalities across this diversity.

Academic Language Requirements:

• Applicants will be expected to hold a B.A in Pāli, Buddhist Studies, or equivalent.It is recommended that applicants should have some background academic training in Buddhism.

• Applicants are expected to have foundation levels of Pāli.

• For the English language entry requirements, applicants are expected to have IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each skill; or 516-529 overall with a minimum of 490-515 in each skill for TOEFL, or any other equivalent.

Structure of the Degree Programme

• Students on the Applied Pathway must complete a total of 360 credits, made up of a combination of compulsory courses, optional courses and a compulsory dissertation (120 credits).

Compulsory courses include:

• Pali Grammar

• Sanskrit I

• Theravada Buddhist Meditation

Optional courses include:

• Sutta Studies

• Theravāda Abhidhamma

• Pāli Metre

• Pali Poetry and Poetics

• Introduction to Prakrit

• Introduction to Pāṇinian Sanskrit Grammar

• Classical Pāli byākaraṇa

• Academic Study of Buddhism

• Buddhist Philosophy

• History of Buddhism in India and Different Parts of the World

• History of Indian Buddhism

• Buddhist Psychology

• Buddhist Counselling and Psychotherapy.

• Buddhism and Ayurveda

• Hinduism and Buddhism

• Buddhist Ethics

• Buddhist Social Philosophy

• Empirical Research in Buddhism

• Leadership and Management from Buddhist Perspectives

In addition, students must complete a compulsory dissertation (120 credits). Students must also take a ten-day meditation retreat every year during term break.

Teaching staff on MA in Philological Pathway include:

Dr. Aleix Ruiz-Falqués, Lecturer of Pāli, SSBU; Dr. Anuja Ajotikar, Lecturer of Sanskrit, SSBU.

Teaching staff on MA in Applied Pathway include:

Teaching staff on MA in Applied Buddhism include Ven. Prof. Dr. K. Dhammasami (Oxford Sayadaw) (Dhammācariya, MA and MPhil Kelaniya, DPhil Oxford), Professor of Buddhist Philosophy; Ven. Vicittābhipala (Dhammācariya, MA Kelaniya), Lecturer in Meditation; Ven. Dr. Narinda, (Dhammacariya, MA Kelaniya, PhD Peradeniya), Lecturer in Buddhist Ethics; Dr. Pyi Phyo Kyaw, (BA Oxford, MA SOAS, PhD King’s College London), Lecturer in Theravada Studies; Dr. Anuja Ajotikar, (MPhil Pune, PhD ITT Bombay), a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Sanskrit Library, Lecturer in Sanskrit; Ven. Dr. Devindābhipala, (Dhammācariya, BA Buddhist and Pali University, MA Kelaniya, PhD Assumption), Lecturer in Buddhist Sociology; Ven. Dr. Naw Kham La Dhammasami,(BA BPU, Sri Lanka, MA Kelaniya, MPhil & PhD Peradeniya), Lecturer in Buddhist Psychology; Ven. Dr. Paññābhoga, (Dhammācariya, MA Kelaniya, PhD Mahidol), Lecturer in Abhidhamma Studies; Ven. Dr. Pannananda, (BA(Hons) Kelaniya, MA Kelaniya, MPhil Kelaniya, PhD Peradeniya), Lecturer in Sutta Studies; Ven. Dr. Paññādīpa, (MBS Hong Kong, MA SSBU, MSc and PhD Toronto), Lecturer in Buddhism and Science; Sayalay Dr. Nimala, (BA & MA Buddha Dhamma, Yangon, PhD New Delhi), Lecturer in Meditation; Sayalay Dr. Yuzana Nyani, (BA & MA Buddha Dhamma, Yangon, PhD New Delhi), Lecturer in Abhidhama Studies; Sayalay Paññātherī, (MA Kelaniya, MBA Asian Institute of Technology and PhD Candidate, SSBU); Prof. Aung Tun Thet, PhD (Yangon University of Economics), Lecturer in Buddhist Economic.

Teaching and Learning Format

Teaching and learning

One of the aims of SSBU is to train our students to a high standard of education in multidisciplinary MA programe so that they become confident, independent teachers and researchers after graduation. In order to achieve this aim, we follow teaching and learning methods and approaches that put students at the centre. This means that responsibility for the learning path is in the hands of students. Moreover, teaching focuses on skills and practices, such as essay writing and research projects, that enable lifelong learning and independent problem-solving.

As part of academic training to become an independent learner, we expect each student to undertake 34 hours of independent study per week. Each week we will provide up to nine hours of teaching through lectures and seminars

In terms of student’s workload, one credit typically equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

Methods of assessment vary between courses. They typically involve the submission of regular essays, some courseworks, class tests and written examinations. A few courses are assessed through only one or two of these methods.