Bachelor of Arts Honours in Pali

The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Pali at Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka is a Pali programme with a total of 84 credits. Students study Pali writing and communicative tradition, the content of Pali literature, and the study of Pali sources, including philosophical concepts, historical development, and religious usage of the Pali language. The curriculum also includes analytical work such as Pali exegesis and critical methods.

Teaching is structured through a semester sequence, with compulsory core required courses across the programme. Students study topics such as analytical Pali grammar, principles of Pali literary criticism, Theravada Abhidhamma, and the study of Prakrit and inscriptions. In the later stage of the programme, compulsory dissertation components include a dissertation proposal and literature review, followed by a dissertation.

Modules

• Pali Writing and Communicative Tradition
• Content of Pali Literature
• Study of Pali Sources 1 - Philosophical Concepts
• History of Pali Literature
• Pali Language and Language History
• Religious Usage of Pali Language
• Pali Exegesis and Critical Methods
• Study of Inter- Religious Sources
• Study of Pali Sources II - Methods of Buddhist Meditation
• Analytical Pali Grammar
• Study of Pali Sources III - Performance of Disciplinary Rules (Vinaya - Karma) and Practical Aspects
• Principles of Pali Literary Criticism