Thirty-three Tibetan Buddhists received "Tho Ram Pa" degrees, a senior academic title of Tibetan Buddhism, on Sunday at Beijing's High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China.

The scholars were from different sects of Tibetan Buddhism, such as Jonang, Sakya and Gelug.

Having completed three years of study, passed their exams and defended their dissertations, the scholars were awarded their degrees, which are equivalent to a doctorate.

Jamyang Losang Jigme Tubdain Qoigyi Nyima, a living Buddha and the president of the college, presented the monks with their degrees.

When addressing the ceremony, Zhukang Tubdankezhub, vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, urged the scholars to uphold the principle that the Chinese nature of Tibetan Buddhism must be ensured and that Tibetan Buddhism must be adapted to socialist society.

The scholars who received degrees paid religious homage to the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, after the degree awarding ceremony.

The ceremony was the 17th of its kind, while a total of 273 monks have received "Tho Ram Pa" degrees to date.