Discover advanced education opportunities at the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), NIIBS. Our postgraduate programs provide professionals with the essential skills needed to excel in their fields.
Higher education institutes including universities are expected to be involved in two types of knowledge related activities, namely, production of knowledge and its dissemination. Undergraduate studies, which constitute the more voluminous part of a university, are basically aimed at the dissemination aspect of knowledge which is a necessary condition of development of skills. Nevertheless, the knowledge production aspect without which dissemination is impossible, is more fundamental to a university. It is the postgraduate studies that produce new knowledge. This is equally applicable to the Faculty of Postgraduate Studies (FGS) of Nāgānanda International Institute for Buddhist Studies (NIIBS).
At FGS we are aiming at producing a community of scholars with specialized knowledge in different aspects of Buddhist studies with particular focus on Pali and Theravada tradition extending, nevertheless, to Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions as well. In order to achieve this goal, we conduct both taught courses, mainly Postgraduate diploma and Masters in Buddhist studies, and research programs leading to Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Falling in line with the overall wholistic outlook of the Institute, the FGS is non-sectarian and encourages students from all Buddhist traditions to pursue studies in areas of Buddhist studies of their own choice. In addition to our own faculty, we draw resources from the other universities and institutes of higher studies of the country, and depending on the need, we invite Buddhist scholars from other countries.
I would like to encourage all lovers of Buddhist wisdom, both local and beyond, to come and see, ‘ehi passika,’ as the ancient Buddhist saying goes.
Prof. Asanga Thilakaratne
Dean – Faculty of Graduate Studies