Oriental Studies – Indian Studies

Full-time, first and second-cycle studies in Polish.

The field of Oriental Studies – Indian Studies has a strong interdisciplinary character, although the leading discipline is the study of culture and religion. The unique didactic programme is implemented exclusively at the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the University of Warsaw, which has more than 90 years of experience in teaching Oriental/African cultures and languages, including the languages of South Asia (mainly Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali and Tamil), which was confirmed by the creation of a unique Faculty of Oriental Studies – Indian Studies . The teaching programme is based on many years of experience and practice in teaching and researching issues relating to historical India and contemporary South Asian countries (including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal). The lecturers are specialists – in most cases the only ones in Poland – in issues related to this geographical and cultural area, and carry out advanced scientific research, supported by numerous publications in Polish and foreign languages. Language courses are taught by native speakers. In addition, in order to improve their qualifications and language skills, students have the opportunity to apply for language or research internships in South Asian countries.

The expected learning outcomes are twofold: they ensure the acquisition of a broad knowledge of various aspects of South Asian culture and the acquisition of the ability to speak one of the languages of the region. The programme provides a broad knowledge of the literature, history, philosophy, religion and art of the South Asian cultural world and ensures the acquisition of advanced skills and linguistic competence through intensive study of the languages of the region.

The comprehensive education provided by Oriental Studies – Indian Studies , which is also concerned with the humanities in the broadest sense, enables students to go on to do interdisciplinary research and to understand the roots of contemporary world problems and attempt to find solutions to them. It provides students with the broad horizons necessary to understand today’s problems and conflicts arising from civilisational differences. The programme also enables the training of new staff in the field of cultural and religious studies and other academic disciplines.

The programme also enables the training of new personnel in the field of cultural and religious studies and other academic disciplines. The completion of the degree course in Oriental Studies – Indian Studies  will enable students to achieve a cognitive synergy and to form a new trend of thought and social awareness, consisting of understanding, openness and tolerance towards others, which is so necessary today, as well as the perception of the value of one’s own culture and ethical attitudes coming from the European and South Asian environment.

The acquired knowledge will enable the graduate of Oriental Studies – Indian Studies  to navigate correctly in the sphere of general issues concerning the theory and practice of Indian culture and other countries of the South Asian area.The graduate will understand the diversity of cultures and civilisations, which will enable him/her to participate in the process of intercultural understanding and cooperation.He/she will acquire a basis for theoretical reflection on South Asian cultures.

He/she will be able to analyse basic phenomena concerning South Asian cultures, and a good linguistic and methodological background in cultural and religious studies, linguistics, philosophy, history, literary studies and art studies will be a tool for the graduate to analyse these phenomena.

The graduate will be prepared to work in cultural dissemination institutions, the media, editorial offices and public administration. Increasing economic contacts with South Asia mean that the labour market needs professionals with knowledge of the languages and cultural and social realities of the countries in this region. Political and diplomatic contacts with the countries of South Asia require the employment of specialists in the language and culture of this region, who are the graduates of Oriental Studies – Indian Studies.