Are you fascinated by the Dalai Lama who has been peacefully resisting the Chinese occupation of Tibet for decades? Do you want to learn more about the history and culture of Tibetans? Or are you more interested Mongolia, the only functioning democracy in Central Asia? Perhaps you would like to learn Tibetan or Mongolian in order to better understand these cultures? If these things interest you, come to Bern and study Central Asian studies. This subject, which in Switzerland is only offered in Bern, offers the opportunity to learn about Tibetan and Mongolian cultures with their rich history, as well as current challenges.
What is Central Asian studies?
Central Asia is a large region at the centre of the Asian continent, which comprises Tibet, Mongolia, Xinjiang, Afghanistan and the so-called CIS states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Central Asian studies provides students with knowledge about the social, cultural, political, economic and religious history of this area. It is an area study that requires a multidisciplinary approach. In Bern, Central Asian Studies focuses on the societies of the Tibetan and Mongolian cultural area. Studying Central Asian Studies provides specialist regional knowledge, solid language skills in Tibetan and Mongolian and intercultural competence.
Specialisations at Bern:
Central Asian Studies at Bern combines history, religious studies and social anthropology. The research focus is the history of Tibet and Mongolia up to and including the present, as well as their social and political institutions in the context of neighbouring regions. Central Asian Studies at Bern focuses in particular on exploring the religious and secular traditions that have shaped the societies of this area for centuries. A further focus is on cultural contact and the many cultural, political and religious relations between Tibet and Mongolia. Additionally, Central Asian Studies at Bern explores current political and religious developments and their influence on social structures in the heterogeneous societies of Inner Mongolia, Mongolia, the Tibet Autonomous Region and the Tibetan exile community. Teaching and research also covers the fundamentals of Tibetan and Mongolian religious and secular literature.
Languages:
The Central Asian Studies course lays emphasis on the acquisition of one (at BA) and, at MA level, even two languages from the Central Asian cultural area. Students can choose between Tibetan or Mongolian depending on the focus of their studies. In both cases, the classical written language is taught at Bachelor’s level. Students are taught the modern vernacular at Master’s level. During the Master’s programme, students can also opt to study a second language from the region, such as Chinese or Uzbek.
A large amount of Tibetan and Mongolian original literature has not been translated into a Western language to this day. As such, the two-semester language course in Classical Tibetan and Mongolian is designed to equip students to be able to read and understand Tibetan and Mongolian original texts independently, and explore them as primary sources. Language classes in modern Tibetan and Mongolian enable communication in the relevant language areas through the acquisition of good listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. It is possible to take language courses in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) or complete a semester abroad at the University of Lhasa subject to the constantly evolving political circumstances.
Career options:
Central Asian studies qualifies students for a wide range of careers. As is the case with every humanities and social sciences programme, Central Asian studies provides both specific subject knowledge, and interdisciplinary skills such as the capacity to understand and analyse complex interrelationships. Such skills are in demand in various fields. As graduates of Central Asian studies acquire considerable intercultural competence in addition to relevant language and country knowledge, they are sought-after employees in the field of migration, within NGOs or at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The strengthening of political and economic ties between Switzerland and Mongolia in recent years has opened up careers in the civil service, and with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Central Asian studies can also be combined with business or law. Central Asian studies graduates are also sought after in cultural management, e.g. for foundations, museums or libraries and in media and publishing.
Studying Central Asian studies:
Central Asia is a large region at the centre of the Asian continent, which comprises Tibet, Mongolia, Xinjiang, Afghanistan and the so-called CIS states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Central Asian studies deals with the languages and cultures of this area. The regional focus mostly depends on the research activities of individual institutes and the professors and lecturers teaching there. In Switzerland, Central Asian studies can only be studied in Bern where the focus is on the societies of the Tibetan and Mongolian cultural area.
The study programmes in Central Asian Studies at Bern focus on the languages and cultures of Tibet and Mongolia. “Tibet” includes the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of the People’s Republic of China, as well as the traditional Tibetan areas in north-eastern and eastern Tibet, Amdo and Kham, and the Tibetan exile community in India and Switzerland, among other places. “Mongolia” comprises Inner Mongolia, which today is an autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China, Mongolia (Mongol Uls), as well as the Republic of Buryatia and the Republic of Kalmykia within the Russian Federation.
The content of the programme in Central Asian Studies at Bern is focused on the acquisition of solid language skills, and on different topics with regard to Tibetan and Mongolian cultural, social and religious history. The programme also provides an introduction to cultural and social sciences methodology and theory.
In the Bachelor’s course, Central Asian Studies can only be studied as a minor:
At Master’s level, it can be studied as a major or a minor: