Study Abroad

Study Abroad students participate fully in campus life and have opportunities to explore the local community around Boudhanath and the larger Kathmandu Valley. Studying abroad is a doorway to new cultures, languages, and ways of thought and we invite you to join us here in Boudha at this nexus of Tibetan and Nepalese Buddhist culture.

To qualify as a study abroad student, you must currently be enrolled in a BA (or MA) program in another college or university and plan to study at CBS for one or two semesters during the regular academic year. CBS credits are accepted by many Buddhist Studies programs in a variety of countries, but it is the student's responsibility to ensure that his or her home university will accept credit for the specific classes studied at CBS.

Study abroad students have the option of taking a variety of classes from the BA program, including classes in Buddhist Studies, Spoken and Classical Tibetan, Sanskrit, and Nepali, subject to their own academic qualifications and in accord with the prerequisites for the class.

For example, certain of the Buddhist philosophy courses are taught by Tibetan professors (Khenpos and Lopons) and translated into English. Here the classics of the great philosophical thinkers of Buddhism, such as Nagarjuna, Asanga, Candrakirti, and Santideva, are studied and analyzed, with an eye toward both intellectual and spiritual growth. Other philosophy courses are taught by international professors who approach the material from a contemporary academic perspective, examining the historical developments of the Buddhist traditions and schools of thought and helping students learn critical thinking and interpretive skills.

Modern spoken Tibetan and classical Tibetan are offered from the first year of the program. Sanskrit classes are also available, giving students a broad introduction to two important Buddhist languages, while Nepali is offered to enable students to participate more fully in the life and culture of Nepal.

For a complete listing of available classes, please download the BA Course Description.