Tibetology

Tibetology is dedicated to the study of the cultural, religious, and intellectual history of the Tibetan cultural sphere. Its central focus lies in the scholarly analysis of Tibetan written sources using historical and philological methods.

The foundation of the program is the study of Classical Tibetan, which is systematically taught in a two-semester introductory course. In addition, students receive an introduction to Colloquial Tibetan; further development of spoken language skills is recommended through study stays in the Tibetan cultural region.

Advanced seminars enable students to independently translate and interpret Tibetan texts from various literary genres. Introductory courses also provide fundamental knowledge of key aspects of Tibetan culture, including religious history, literature, palaeography, and art.

At LMU Munich, Tibetology is offered with a focus on Buddhist Studies. Acquiring an additional Buddhist literary language—such as Sanskrit, Pāli, Chinese, Japanese, or Mongolian—is advantageous but not mandatory. Alternatively, courses in Social and Cultural Anthropology can be attended.