June is the college entrance examination season. Student monks from Tibetan Buddhism College of Tibet, located in Lhasa, are also preparing for their college entrance exams, which refers to enrollment in the 2018 Thorampa advanced title class at the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China. The Thorampa advanced degree for student monks is equivalent to a doctoral degree.

The Tibetan Buddhism College of Tibet

The scope of recruitment is for monks in the Gelug and Sakya sects of Tibetan Buddhism. During these examination days, 20 monks participated in exams on Buddhist studies, politics, and culture from June 1 to 6.

Student monks are undergoing debates during their exams.

One of the most distinctive parts of the examinations is the scripture debate. At the debate field at the Tibetan Buddhism College of Tibet, monks of the Gelug and Sakya sects debated at the same time.

Student monks are debating during the exam.

According to Tashi Nyima, head of the Admission Office for the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China, in 2018 the college plans to enroll 39 students for the advanced title class, including 13 from the Gelug sect, 13 from Sakya sect, and 13 from Jonang sect. The monks will undergo three years of study.

Tupden Gongjue is taking a written exam.

Tupden Gongjue, a monk of Gelug sect from Chonggyai Monastery in Sog County, Nagchu City, is one of the candidates for this year's examination. He became a monk in 2001, and his main duties at the monastery include teaching Tibetan grammar and editing books and images.

In 2016, he obtained the Larampa Geshe title of Gelug sect.

"I feel that I have very little knowledge, so I'm going to take the exam for the Thorampa title this time. I hope I can pass the exam, and I'd like to go to the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China to study and learn Chinese well," Tupden Gongjue said.

For those who pass the exams and are accepted to the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China, they will be required to study not only specialized courses of Tibetan Buddhism, but also systematic courses in Chinese language, computers, essay writing, and Tibetan grammar.

The 14th award ceremony for the Thorampa advanced title was held in May 2018.

The High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China was initiated by the 10th Panchen Lama and Zhao Puchu, the then president of the Buddhist Association of China. On September 1, 1987, the college was established at the Xihuang Temple in Beijing, and it is the only college in China that awards the advanced Thorampa title.

Editor: Tommy Tan.