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Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarnath in Varanasi is a Government-Central ‘deemed to be university’ established under section 3 of the UGC Act 1956. The Institute, being a residential one, is fully funded by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was established as a special wing of Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in 1967, was inaugurated by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama in 1968, and was declared ‘deemed to be University’ in 1988. Unique among universities in India, the Institute was established with a noble mission informed by a rich religious and philosophical tradition embedded in the ancient Nalanda School of Buddhism. The Institute emerged in 1967 from the critical struggle of the Tibetan diaspora, like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes. The lush green 29-acre campus is in Sarnath, a few minutes from Deer Park, where the Buddha gave his first sermon. Conceived as an educational haven for the Tibetan youth in exile and the students from the Himalayan region, CIHTS has today been recognized as one of the best institutes of Buddhism and Indo-Tibetan Studies. The Institute enjoys the most coveted ‘A’ grade status by NAAC, conferred in 2022. Considering the success and importance of the Institute, in 2018, the Govt. of India honoured CIHTS with the Vaishak Prashasti Award. 

True to its vision and mission, CIHTS took the weighty responsibility upon its shoulders to preserve, translate, disseminate and revive Nalanda’s rich tradition of various religious, philosophical and intellectual discourses. Besides striving for excellence and constant academic rigour, the academic life at CIHTS is a vibrant mix of the colours and hues of Tibetan and Indian culture. The campus’s state-of-the-art architecture and cutting-edge facilities allow the students to indulge in high learning and research furnished with all the modern amenities. The learning environment at the campus is vibrant, research-oriented, and fully supported by a robust teaching, learning, and research mechanism.

CIHTS offers a myriad bouquet of options to students at all academic levels, right from secondary school level (Purva Madhyama and Uttar Madhyama) to Undergraduate (Shastri), Postgraduate (Acharya) up to the highest rung in the ladder for PhD (Vidyavaridi). The Institute offers direct admission in Purva Madhayama (9thstandard) in Buddhist Philosophy, Uttar Madhayama (11th standard) in Bhot Jyotish and Uttar Madhayama (11) in Traditional Fine Arts at Pre-University Level; Shastri (B.A.) in Buddhist Philosophy, Shastri in Bhot Jyotish,Shastri in Fine Arts, Shiksha Shastri (2 Year B.Ed.), Shiksha Shastri (4 year B.A.B.Ed.), Bachelor of Sowa-Rigpa Medicine and Surgery (B.S.R.M.S. 5 Year) at UG level; Acharya (PG) in Buddhist Philosophy, Acharya Tibetan Language and Literature, Acharya Tibetan History and Culture, Acharya Bhot Jyotish and Master of Fine Arts at PG Level. The Institute also offers PhD programmes in disciplines like Baudh Dharshan, Bon Shastra, Tibetan History and Culture, Medical Science (Sowa-Rigpa), Fine Arts, and Restoration.