The emphasis in the early stages of the course will be on the acquisition of language, with five hours of elementary Tibetan per week. The teaching will be based primarily on Nicolas Tournadre and Sangda Dorje's Manual of Standard Tibetan (Ithaca, Snow Lion Publications, 2003). During the first two terms, the course will cover the grammar of lessons 1 to 15 of the Manual. Students will take a qualifying exam in Tibetan language and grammar at the end of their second term.

Students will also be expected to read a number of English-language works by way of general background to the region, and to attend weekly lectures on Tibetan history and civilisation in Michaelmas and Hilary terms. They will also be encouraged to attend a series of introductory lectures on Buddhism. Throughout the six terms, attendance at the weekly presentations of work in progress by doctoral students of Tibetan Studies, and lectures given by visiting scholars, will be strongly recommended.

Tibetan and Himalyan Studies is collaborating closely with the Tibetan & Himalayan Studies Centre at Wolfson College (http://www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/clusters/tibetan-himalayan).

In addition to the grants and scholarships listed on the University websites, M.Phil. and D.Phil. students in Tibetan and Himalayan Studies at Oxford may apply for a newly created  studentship generously provided by the Tisé Foundation. The studentship approximately covers the tuition fees and is awarded depending on the availability of funds. For further information, please contact tisefoundation@gmail.com