The Centre of Buddhist Studies (CBS) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has announced that it is now accepting applications for admission to its international Master of Buddhist Studies (MBS) program for the 2026–27 academic year beginning September 2026.
“The Master of Buddhist Studies degree is a graduate program that offers philosophical, cultural, and historical perspectives to the fundamental questions and insights of Buddhism,” CBS explained. “It is intended for anyone interested to study the rich history of Buddhist communities, their philosophy, scriptures, values, and rituals and to systematically explore Buddhism for its applications in the fields of personal and spiritual development.”
The MBS program is notable for being the first of its kind in Hong Kong and the region, with a record of 23 years of academic excellence. The international program is conducted in English and offered via the HKU Faculty of Arts, which is ranked number one in Hong Kong. The program features more than 20 courses on diverse areas and topics from historical, doctrinal, and interdisciplinary perspectives.
Areas of study in the MBS program include: Buddhist Traditions (Early Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Indian Buddhist Philosophy, Chinese Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism); Buddhist Texts, Thought and Culture (Buddhist meditation texts, Yogacara, Buddhist art, ethics, anthropology); Applied Buddhism (Buddhist counseling, psychology, liturgy and rituals); and Buddhist Languages (Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan).
A two-hour information session has been scheduled for 1 November 2025, conducted via Zoom. Prospective students may register here to join. The deadline for the first round if student applications is 12 December 2025. The second round of applications closes on 27 February 2026.
Click here for full admissions details
Click here for scholarship information
“This program is an opportunity for you to learn about the Buddha’s teachings in a systemic and comprehensive way,” CBS noted. “And a chance for you to empower yourself with wisdom and compassion to face the future ahead.”
The Centre of Buddhist Studies (CBS) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) was established in 2000 and officially inaugurated in 2002, becoming the first academic center dedicated to Buddhist studies at a Hong Kong university. It launched its flagship Master of Buddhist Studies program and admitted its first PhD students in 2002, later expanding to offer undergraduate electives, a minor in Buddhist Studies, and the region’s first Master of Buddhist Counseling. CBS has established itself as a leading institute for Buddhist studies, with a diverse alumni community, and academic programs that combine scholarship with practical applications in fields such as counseling, psychology, palliative care, and social ethics. Under successive directors, CBS has balanced the preservation of Buddhist tradition with innovative interdisciplinary engagement, introducing advanced language courses and a dedicated Buddhist Counselling Centre.
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Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong
Master of Buddhist Studies (Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong)
MBS Scholarships (Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong)
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