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Study Buddhist Studies at Otago

Buddhism is the dominant religion in many Asian countries and has played an important role in the history and culture of Asia.

The minor in Buddhist Studies provides an introduction to Buddhism through its Indian origins (RELS 102) and then allows you to focus on the development of Buddhism in other regions of Asia.

You may also choose to combine your study of Buddhism with the study of one or more of the languages of the Buddhist scriptures (Sanskrit, Chinese, or Japanese).

Buddhist Studies is available not only as a minor, but also as an option for the Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework)).

Contact us

Religion Programme
School of Social Sciences
Email religion@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/religion


Minor-only subject

Please note: this subject can only be taken as a minor.

A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.

Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.

You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.


Further study opportunities

Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.

Programme details

Compare programmes for this subject.


More information

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This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.

Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.

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