Frequently Asked Questions
What certificates do I need to prove my proficiency in English (or German)?
If you have a TOEFL or IELTS certificate (or, for German: Goethe Institut / DSH / TestDaF Certificate), please submit it. If you do not have such a certificate, we will see your proficiency in English (or German) from your application. Moreover, we might conduct an interview via Zoom. If you have received a (BA/MA) degree in a course that was offered in English or German you do not need another certificate of your language ability. (Please note that if you choose to write your application and dissertation in German you still need to have a certain proficiency in English, because we usually use English in the courses and activities especially designed for our program.)
How do I prove my proficiency in the "Buddhist source language"?
Which language(s) you will need depends on your planned dissertation project. If you have any document certifying your knowledge, please upload it. If you have not, please write somewhere in your application which language(s) you know, where you learned them and how long, and how good your language skills are.
My former degrees are in disciplines that are not related to Buddhist studies (for example architecture). Can I still apply for a scholarship or to join the Buddhist Studies program in general?
In order to start a PhD in our program, you must have academic experience in a field related to Buddhist studies. Unless you have a university degree in Buddhist studies, study of religion, (Asian) cultural studies / history / philosophy (including Buddhism) or something similar, you cannot join the program. A general cultural background, or personal or monastic experience alone are not sufficient.
Do you offer funding of the doctoral studies, such as a scholarship or a job?
Currently, our program does not have its own scholarship funding scheme. However, the Scholarship Programs for Doctoral Researchers website offers a wide variety of funding opportunities for dissertation projects at LMU. You can also discuss other potential funding options with your prospective supervisor as part of the application process. The program does not usually offer employment positions; such arrangements are only possible in certain exceptional cases.
The people whom I indicated as referees have not received a request for a reference from you or the application portal. What shall I do?
The referees will not receive an automatic email. In many cases we will not need references. If we need a reference, we will contact your referees directly.