Buddhist Studies

Entry requirements

The MA by coursework: The normal admission requirement is a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in one of at least 24 subjects but admission on the basis of alternative qualifications and experience is possible.

If your first language is not English you need to meet our English language requirements as follows: IELTS score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); we also accept a number of other English language tests. Due to COVID-19, we currently accept Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS Indicator Test, and TOEFL iBT Special home Edition.

Don’t meet the English language requirements? The University of Otago Language Centre "English for Otago" programme offers a pathway for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students to meet the English language requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Months of entry

February, July

Course content

The MA by coursework

The coursework option normally requires either one year or three semesters of full-time study and entails completion of papers and a dissertation. The dissertation is a major piece of supervised research of up to 20,000 words on a topic of current interest.

The primary aim of the MA by coursework programme is to provide candidates with a grounding in their chosen discipline within a wider disciplinary frame to build the skills needed to identify a significant topic, design and implement a significant piece of research, and present the findings in a form acceptable to an expert readership.

Structure of the Programme

Coursework option

RELS 590 Research Dissertation

Four of:

• HUMS 501 Writing and Revision for Graduate Research
• HUMS 502 Research Methods in the Humanities
• HUMS 503 Key Debates in the Humanities
• RELS 521 Readings in Buddhist Texts
• RELS 522 Buddhist Visual Culture in Southeast Asia
• RELS 523 Key Debates in Buddhist Studies
• RELS 531 Pali for Postgraduates

With approval from the Head of Department, one 500-level paper from a relevant subject may be substituted for one of HUMS 501-503, RELS 521, 522, 523, 531.

A candidate may not present a research dissertation, or studio option, which has previously been accepted for another degree.

Information for international students

Otago offers students an unrivalled campus experience and a vibrant, social student culture. The majority of Otago’s 21,000 students live, work and play in Dunedin - New Zealand’s only true university city. Otago is home to over 3,000 students, from over 100 countries.

Fees and funding

New Zealand is a relatively affordable country to live in. Dunedin, being a student-focused city, has living and entertainment options for all budgets.

Students are eligible for the Otago International Excellence Scholarship.