PhD in South Asian Studies in Philadelphia United States | University of Pennsylvania

The Department of South Asian Studies serves as the central hub in the School of Arts and Sciences for Penn's academic programs and research initiatives focused on South Asia. It provides instruction in multiple contemporary and ancient South Asian languages, alongside interdisciplinary courses covering various aspects of the region. Faculty members bring specialized knowledge spanning the subcontinent's linguistic traditions, literary works, historical developments, cultural practices, religious systems, and artistic expressions. The doctoral program delivers comprehensive training in South Asian languages, literature, cultural studies, and historical analysis, preparing graduates for academic careers in research and teaching. The curriculum balances advanced language proficiency with specialized subject mastery. Students explore diverse methodological approaches to South Asian studies while developing skills to work with varied research sources, from textual documents to ethnographic data and material artifacts. With over a hundred years of scholarly tradition, Penn's department ranks among America's foremost institutions, having educated numerous prominent South Asia specialists. The university provides exceptional resources, including a top-tier South Asian research library housing more than 3,500 Indic manuscripts and 200,000 printed volumes related to the region.