About the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS) is an academy for the study of Hindu culture, society, philosophies, and languages, in all periods and in all parts of the world.

The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies is dedicated to preserving India’s cultural heritage and promoting a better understanding of it through a comprehensive programme of education, publishing, and research.

The OCHS is a Recognised Independent Centre of Oxford University, maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and excellence.

OCHS past

The OCHS was founded in 1997 as the world’s first academy of its kind for the study of Hindu culture. Since its inception the Centre has attracted world-class scholars and students, launched pioneering educational projects, and opened up the field of Hindu Studies for an international audience.

OCHS present

The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies is at the forefront of an international renaissance in Hindu Studies, continually expanding its ability to serve all communities and generations.

Today the OCHS provides comprehensive academic programmes including lectures, seminars, and conferences. The OCHS publishes the Journal of Hindu Studies with Oxford University Press and a Hindu Studies book series with Routledge. We develop and deliver executive training, certified extramural courses, online study, and web resources.

OCHS future

In order to provide the best resources and facilities for gifted scholars, the OCHS is committed to developing lectureships and scholarships, preservation projects, innovative research, and significant relationships with leading public and private institutions.

What we do

• Hold lectures, seminars, and conferences
• Publish all our lectures online in MP3 format, accessed by 95,000 listeners worldwide
• Publish the Journal of Hindu Studies in association with Oxford University Press
• Run a highly successful Continuing Education Department offering Hindu Studies courses in London, Birmingham, and Oxford
• Work on projects such as the Dow Jones Dharma Index based on Hindu and Buddhist values for ethical investment
• Offer a number of student grants, named after their donors
• Publish a book series in partnership with Routledge
• Give students access to extra tutorials through the Shivdasani Visiting Fellowship, which brings visiting scholars from India to Oxford
• Host regular dinners and lunches, creating a collegial atmosphere
• Attract students from all over the world, including Japan, Belgium, India, France, Germany, USA, England, Croatia, Ireland, Trinidad, Zambia, Israel, and South Africa
• Enable and conduct research projects including the British Hinduism Oral History Project and the Digital Shikshapatri Project

What we want to do