Degree programmes

Listed below, you will find details concerning our B.A. and M.A. degree programmes, as well as information about PhD studies at our department.

We offer a wide ranging B.A. programme with a minimum duration of 6 semesters. Among the available options you can concentrate on one of the department's three key research areas (pre-modern South Asia, modern South Asia, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies). Subsequently, you can develop this specialisation further by taking up one of our three M.A. programmes.

↓ B.A. programme

↓ M.A. programmes

↓ Extension curricula

↓ Doctoral programmeDegree programmes

B.A. programme

B.A. programme "Languages and Cultures of South Asia and Tibet"

The bachelor’s programme in Languages and Cultures of South Asia and Tibet at the University of Vienna aims at developing students’ basic competences in two or more selected languages of South Asia and Tibet from the past and present (classical Sanskrit and Tibetan, Old Indic, Prakrit, Hindi, Nepali, Modern Tibetan, and additional relevant languages from the cultural area, depending on the current range of courses offered). It also familiarises students with the associated philological methods. Moreover, it provides an overview of: history of the language and linguistic anthropology, literature, philosophy and religion, culture and society, history and art of South Asia and Tibet, as well as subject-specific specialised knowledge in these areas.

Duration: The amount of work for the B.A. programme "Languages and Cultures of South Asia and Tibet" adds up to 180 ECTS points, split into 18 modules. 30 ECTS have to be assessed in extension curricula. The designated duration is 6 semesters

Download Curriculum (PDF, German)

M.A. programmes

M.A. programme "Culture and Society of Modern South Asia"

The interdisciplinary master’s programme in Culture and Society of Modern South Asia at the University of Vienna aims at equipping students with extensive interdisciplinary knowledge of the cultural, regional, linguistic and social diversity of the South Asian continent in the present, as well as of the historic developments that have shaped it since the beginning of the modern period. This also includes the acquisition of a critical understanding of the symbolic worlds, actions and ideas of different actors. Students actively use the linguistic competences in modern Indian languages that they acquired in previous studies to deal with written texts and/or oral accounts from the modern era. In this way, they are able to expand their knowledge of the cultural and social processes in the modern and present period.

Duration and scope: The amount of work is 120 ECTS points for all our M.A. programmes. The designated duration is 4 semesters.

Download Curriculum (PDF, German)

M.A. programme "Languages and Cultures of South Asia"

The master’s programme in Languages and Cultures of South Asia provides insight into the diversity and development of the linguistic, literary, philosophical, and religious traditions of South Asia throughout its history of more than three thousand years up until the present day, while also providing an overview of the correlations between these traditions. At the same time, the master’s programme also takes into account the roles of language, literature, philosophy and religion in cultural contexts, such as economy, (regional) history, politics, society, media, arts and performing arts.

Duration and scope: The amount of work for all our M.A. programmes is 120 ECTS. The designated duration is 4 semeters.

Download Curriculum (PDF, German) (Please note that currently only the research focus "Philosophies and Religions of South Asia" is offered)

M.A. programme "Tibetology and Buddhist Studies"

The master’s programme in Tibetology and Buddhist Studies investigates the cultural and social developments in Tibet and their pre-modern prerequisites in the area of history of philosophy and religion, history, history of literature, social and cultural anthropology and history of arts from a philological perspective. In addition, the master’s programme explores the diversity and historical development of the religious and philosophic traditions of Buddhism in the past and present, with a particular focus on the philosophical and religious schools and traditions. Furthermore, it focuses on the interdependencies between these traditions and other traditions with which Buddhism came in contact over the course of its development and spread, as well as on the role of Buddhism in cultural contexts, such as literature, science, (regional) history, politics, society and arts.

Duration and scope: The amount of work is 120 ECTS for all our M.A. programmes. The designated duration is 4 semesters

Download Curriculum (PDF, German)

Extension curricula

EC "South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies"

This extension curriculum aims at developing students’ competence in topics and methods of South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist studies: history of the language, literature, philosophy and religion, culture and society, history and art of South Asia and Tibet from the pre-modern to modern period.

This EC is offered only in summer term! We therefore recommend completing it within one semester.

Download Curriculum (PDF, German)

EC "South Asian Studies"

This EC aims at developing students’ basic command of topics and methods of South Asian Studies: history of language, literature, philosophy, religion, culture and society, history, and art of the subcontinent

This EC is offered only in winter term! We highly recommend to finish it within one semester.

Download Curriculum (PDF, German)

EC "Tibetan and Buddhist Studies"

This EC aims at developing students’ comprehension and skills concerning topics and methods of Tibetan and Buddhist studies: history of the language, literature, philosophy and religion, culture and society, history and art of Tibet and Buddhism.

This EC is offered only in winter term. We therefore recomment completing it within one semester.

Download Curriculum (PDF, German)

EC "Modern South Asian Language"

This EC aims at developing students' basic skills in phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexis of one modern South Asian language, mastery of its script and transcription. It also serves to develop the students' abilities in conversation and comprehension. More generally, it provides an overview of the importance of modern South Asian languages in culture and society of modern South Asia.

The duration of this EC is 2 semesters. The course can be taken in the winter term only; it has to be finished within two consecutive semesters.

Download Curriculum (PDF, German)

Doctoral programme

The doctoral programme in Humanities, Philosophy and Education at the University of
Vienna serves to further develop doctoral candidates' abilities for independent scientific work
as well as to educate and encourage early stage researchers. The doctoral programme entails
independent research according tointernational standards in the respective field of expertise.

Duration: 3 years

Fields of study at our department:

Doctoral programme in Philosophy, field of research: Languages and Cultures of South Asia and Tibet / South Asian Studies (A 792 389 387)
Doctoral programme in Philosophy, field of research: Languages and Cultures of South Asia and Tibet / Tibetan and Buddhist Studies (A 792 389 392)

→ Curriculum for the doctoral programme in Humanities, Philosophy and Education

↗︎ Website of the Center of Doctoral Studies

↗︎ PhD process

↗︎ PhD / Doctorate programmes

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