About the College of Language and Culture Studies (CLCS)
CLCS is located approximately 16 kilometres south of Trongsa town along the Trongsa–Zhemgang highway, towards Kuenga Rabten Palace, which formerly served as the winter residence of Bhutan’s Second King, His Majesty Jigme Wangchuck.
1961 — Establishment
Originally established as Rigney Lobdra on 16 July 1961 at Wangdi Tse, Thimphu, under the patronage of the Third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.
1961–1963 — Founding Leadership
His Holiness the late Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche (1910–1991) served as the first Principal, guiding the institute during its formative years with an initial intake of fifty students.
1961–1980s — Semtokha Dzong
Two months after its establishment, the Lobdra was relocated to Semtokha Dzong, where it functioned until the early 1980s before moving to its present campus above the Dzong.
1989 — Academic Reform
The institute underwent its first major curriculum revision, was upgraded to Rigzhung College, and admitted female students for the first time.
1997–1999 — National Milestones
Renamed the Institute of Language and Culture Studies in 1997, the College launched Bhutan’s first fully homegrown Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Language and Culture in 1999.
2004 — Royal University of Bhutan
On 28 April 2004, CLCS became the first tertiary institution formally incorporated under the Royal University of Bhutan.
Beginning in the Fall Semester of 2026, CLCS will introduce five new academic programmes, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and the safeguarding of Bhutan’s cultural legacy.