33 Geshemas Graduate as Record Number Take Exams

The 2026 Geshema exam results are in!

During the summer, a record number of Tibetan Buddhist nuns took various levels of the rigorous four-year exams for the Geshema degree. Of the 173 nuns who took exams, 156 passed. This is a 90% pass rate.

All 33 nuns who took their fourth and final year of exams passed. This brings the total number of Geshemas to 153 since the first Geshema graduation ceremony took place 10 years ago in 2016.

Their graduation ceremony was held on October 17th during the 30th annual Jang Gonchoe, a winter debate session attended by over 500 nuns from 11 nunneries in India and Nepal. Youdon Aukatsang, Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project office in India, expressed hope that the “growing number of highly educated nuns will play an important role in preserving and promoting Tibetan Buddhism” for future generations.

The Geshema degree is the highest level of training in the Gelug tradition and is roughly equivalent to a PhD in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. It is the same as the Geshe degree for monks, but the ending “ma” marks it as referring to a woman. Until recently, this degree was reserved for men. It was only formally opened to women in 2012. The opening up of higher degrees for nuns is a breakthrough for Tibetan Buddhist nuns’ education.

In 2026, nuns took the exams as follows:
1st-year exams: 62 nuns, 46 passed
2nd-year exams: 46 nuns, 45 passed
3rd year: 32 nuns took exams, all 32 passed
4th and final year: 33 nuns took exams, all 33 passed

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Blesses Geshema Grads

On October 18, 2026, around 500 Tibetan Buddhist nuns had an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the main Tibetan temple in Dharamsala and had a group photo. During the event, His Holiness bestowed the oral transmission of the Prayer to the Twenty-One Holy Women Siddhas of India and Tibet, which His Holiness composed. His Holiness blessed each of this year’s Geshema graduates.

The gathering included 33 nuns from five monasteries in India and Nepal who completed their Geshema degrees this year, marking the ninth group to graduate from the advanced Buddhist studies program.

A graduation ceremony was held on October 20th during the closing ceremony of the 30th Tibetan Nuns’ Winter Debate Session (Jang Gonchoe) at Lower TCV in Dharamsala. Kyabje Ling Choktrul Rinpoche attended as chief guest, alongside Kasur (former Kalon) Rinchen Khando, our Founding Director and Special Advisor: Jigme Namgyal, Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture; Youdon Aukatsang, Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project in India; and Geshema Ngawang Chokyi, President of the 9th Geshema Exams Committee, from Jangchub Choeling Nunnery.

Here’s a video in Tibetan from the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of the special event on October 18th in Dharamsala. Can’t see the video? Click here.

The very special ceremony was also covered by the news agency Radio Free Asia. You can see their video with interviews of nuns and read their Tibetan report here. And here’s the link to a photo essay on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s website. 

The 2026 Geshema Exams

The 2026 Geshema exams were hosted by Geden Choeling Nunnery, the oldest Tibetan Buddhist nunnery in Dharamsala, India. The exams were held from July 21st to August 17th, with a one-month study period prior to the exams. The costs of the nuns’ travel, food, and the exam process were once again covered by the Tibetan Nuns Project.

Once again, there was a new record of nuns taking various levels of the four-year exams. Here’s a chart to show the growth since the degree was first approved for women in 2012.

As the number of nuns taking this highest degree grows, we need your help to make the Geshema exam process and the post-grad Tantric Studies sustainable. Please give to our Higher Studies for Nuns Fund so that financial constraints do not restrict nuns from pursuing advanced degrees and the specialized training needed to become scholars and teachers of their ancient traditions.

There is power in investing in women’s education. Your gifts empower the nuns to be teachers and leaders at a time when Tibetans and a troubled world need their wisdom and compassion.

Every little bit helps! No matter what the future of Tibet holds, you can help these dedicated and courageous women to preserve their culture and spiritual traditions. Thank you!

About the Geshema Degree

The Geshema degree enables Tibetan Buddhist nuns to become teachers, leaders, and role models. It makes these dedicated women eligible to assume various leadership roles in their monastic and lay communities reserved for degree holders and hence previously not open to women.

The exams take four years to complete, with one set of exams held each year. The nuns gather for a final, one-month study period before the start of the two weeks of written and oral exams. Candidates are examined on the entirety of their 17-year course of study of the Five Great Canonical Texts. They must achieve a score of at least 75 per cent during their studies to be eligible to sit the exams.

TNP’s Founding Director and Special Advisor Rinchen Khando Choegyal has said, “Educating women is powerful… It’s about enabling the nuns to be teachers in their own right and to take on leadership roles at a critical time in our nation’s history.”

Here’s a list of the Geshema graduations since women were first allowed to take this degree in 2012:

• 2016: 20 nuns became Geshemas
• 2017: 6 nuns graduated as Geshemas
• 2018: 10 nuns became Geshemas
• 2019: 7 nuns graduated at the end of November
• 2020: exams cancelled due to the pandemic
• 2021: exams cancelled for a second year due to COVID
• 2022: 10 nuns became Geshemas
• 2023: 7 nuns graduated
• 2024: 13 nuns graduated
• 2025: 47 nuns graduated
• 2026: 33 nuns graduated on October 17th

This brings the total number of Geshemas to 153.

The Geshemas are paving the way for other nuns to follow in their footsteps and the momentum is building. Not long ago, this increased status of nuns was almost unimaginable and we are so grateful for your support to educate and empower these dedicated women!

Thank you to everyone who sent good luck messages to the nuns this year! We gathered your messages from around the world and posted them at Geden Choeling for everyone to read before and during the exams.

Here’s a sample message from Danielle: “To the wonderful Sisters, Sending you my warmest thoughts and prayers for your Dharmasala exams! May you tackle every question with confidence, clarity, and the grace you always show. Trust in all your preparation. You’ve got this!”

The success of the nuns would not be possible without your support and the unwavering support and encouragement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, patron of the Tibetan Nuns Project.