College of Liberal Arts - South Asia Institute

Urdu Studies at the University of Texas at Austin

For over 25 years, Urdu has thrived at The University of Texas at Austin as a language of learning, creativity, and connection. What began as a commitment to teaching the language has grown into a nationally respected program known for innovation: introducing students to rich poetic traditions like qawwali and marsiya, and connecting them with writers, poets, musicians, and broadcasters who keep Urdu vibrant and alive.

At UT Austin, students encounter Urdu not only in the classroom, but as a living cultural tradition. Instruction spans five levels, welcoming beginners learning the script and supporting advanced scholars engaging deeply with literary texts. Across generations, this program has opened doors—to culture and to community.

For decades, federal funding helped sustain this work. Today, that support is increasingly uncertain, and the future of Urdu at UT depends on whether Urdu‑speaking communities themselves will step forward to protect what has been built together. Many language programs across campus are already strengthened by community‑funded endowments. Urdu must stand on the same footing to remain strong and secure.

This campaign seeks to raise $5,000 toward establishing an Urdu Studies Endowment—a critical step in safeguarding the program’s future. An endowment signals lasting commitment and makes it far less likely that Urdu will be compromised or reduced.

Your contribution supports teaching, curriculum development, immersive cultural programming, and student research and travel in Urdu‑speaking regions and diasporas. More than that, it affirms that Urdu belongs at UT Austin—not just as an academic subject, but as a shared heritage worth sustaining for generations to come.