This Institute was founded by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his birthday July 6th, 1973 and was originally funded entirely by His office. It was founded with the aim to provide a special place of study for those Tibetan students who already have undertaken some modern education and at the same time wish to study Buddhist philosophy in depth, as well as Tibetan culture, language, literature, poetry, history and other modern subjects. After successfully passing all examinations of varying length and for different courses, students receive certificates equivalent to B.A., M.A., M.Ph, and Ph.D. In the beginning there were only 29 students, including some international students. Now there are over 150 students in total. This kind of institution is not only rare, but the only one of its kind in exile. The institute is crucial to ensuring that the people of Tibet can move into modernity without losing their rich cultural heritage. Graduates of the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics have made notable contributions to the Tibetan community-in-exile and to society at large. They have become highly regarded Geshes, heads of monasteries, teachers in monastic learning centers and schools, officials in the Tibetan exile government, writers, editors of newspapers and magazines, translators, and teachers of Buddhism in various eastern and western countries. While studying at the Institute, students have also received bachelors or masters degrees from Indian universities through correspondence courses. The Institute has also established a branch institute, The College of Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarah which was also inaugurated by His Holiness on August 13th, 1998. Advance Tibetan language, literature, poetry, history, and Buddhism are taught and degrees are awarded at the B.A. and M.A. levels. The College has also become a center for Tibetan Public Administration training, Tibetan language teacher training, and in service training. It now has close to 300 students and 50 staff members. In 2001, the Department of Education of the Central Tibetan Administration officially recognized it as the College of Higher Tibetan Studies. The Institute of Buddhist Dialectics and the College of Higher Tibetan Studies have made significant contributions in reserving and making the rich Tibetan religious and cultural heritage available to many interested people from all over the world. As such any assistance provided to this institute in furthering their socially beneficial activities and educational programs would be much appreciated.