RYI's faculty is made up of both monastic professors (Khenpos and Lopons) and highly qualified international instructors trained in modern academic disciplines. As a crucial element of the training in Buddhist philosophy, courses taught by monastic professors follow the format and curriculum of a traditional Buddhist monastic education, while other classes apply contemporary pedagogical approaches. RYI is the only institution in South Asia able to offer this rich mix of traditional and modern learning as an integral part of its formal degree programs.

For those with a genuine interest in the content of particular undergraduate courses and yet who do not wish to undergo the rigors of intensive academic study and examinations, most BA classes may be studied on a non-degree, non-examination basis.