About Us

On the Sanskrit language...: "The Sanscrit language, whatever be its antiquity, is of a wonderful structure; more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either, yet bearing to both of them a stronger affinity, both in the roots of verbs and in the forms of grammar, than could possibly have been produced by accident; so strong indeed, that no philologer could examine them all three, without believing them to have sprung from some common source, which, perhaps, no longer exists"

- Sir William Jones, Third Anniversary Discourse, Asiatic Society (Calcutta), 2 February 1786.

Welcome to the Department of Indian Sub-Continental Studies

The Department of Indian Sub-Continental Studies offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programs of study in language and non-language areas, introducing students to traditional and modern cultures, religions (especially Hinduism and Buddhism), history, literature, politics and social structures of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan) as well as Tibet. The Department receives substantial financial support from the University Buddhist Education Foundation which funds a lectureship in South Asian and Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies, a Visiting Professorship in Buddhist Studies, second year Pali, a Pali prize, besides funding for library resources.

Language-based units of study at undergraduate level are offered in Sanskrit, Pali and Hindi/Urdu. Non-language-based units of study devoted to traditional and modern Indian culture and society, religious and philosophical traditions, Buddhism and Hinduism are taught in English as part of the Asian Studies program and also as cross-listed with the Department of Studies in Religion.

The study of the Sanskrit language, the most important classical language of India, is central to the Indian Studies program, allowing students to explore topics in Indian philosophy, religion, history and culture. Also significant is the combined study of Hindi and Urdu, the most widely spoken and official languages of India and Pakistan respectively. Sanskrit may be taken as a major and into fourth year Honours. Students may also enroll in introductory and second-year units in the Pali language, an important language for Buddhist literature.

The Sanskrit course is aimed at developing reading competency of classical Indian texts, while the Urdu/Hindi courses aim to develop skills in speaking, listening to and writing Hindi and Urdu. Class sizes for Indian Studies language-based units are generally small, allowing students to benefit from close interaction with the academic staff. No other university in NSW teaches classical Indian languages. Senior-level Sanskrit is satellite linked with the Australian National University in Canberra.

Sanskrit may also be undertaken through the Diploma of Language Studies by students enrolled in a degree other than the BA at the University of Sydney, or any degree at another University, or those who have completed a prior degree.

The department also has an active postgraduate program, supervising postgraduate research degrees in a number of subject areas including both language and various fields of research in Hinduism, Buddhism and Indian and Tibetan culture. Staff also participate in the teaching of postgraduate coursework degrees, most notably the Master of Asian Studies program, the Master of Peace and Conflict Studies program, as well as co-coordinating the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Master of Buddhist Studies program. Students undertaking the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master of Buddhist Studies may also count Sanskrit and Pali units at postgraduate level towards their degree.

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