Program Details

Since its beginning as one of the world’s first civilizations to its contemporary status as the most populous country on earth, China has had a profound influence on global politics, culture and the economy. Through a strongly interdisciplinary curriculum, Hebrew University's MA in China Studies program offers students the opportunity to become experts in this country.

Combining fields of study and research methodologies in the humanities and social sciences, the program embarks on an academic expedition of China, beginning with Chinese history, archaeology, philosophy, intellectualism, political dogma, economy, anthropology, law, and China’s interactions with Asian and European cultures in the pre-modern era. The program continues with an in-depth discussion of the country’s traditional, modern and contemporary culture, society and politics.

The comprehensive curriculum is taught by prominent faculty members of the Department of Asian Studies, the oldest in Israel, and is complemented by opportunities for scholarly exchange in the form of international workshops, conferences and guest lectures by world-renowned scholars.

For additional information about the Graduate Program in China Studies, please visit the program’s website.

Career & Networking 

As China’s economic and political influence has grown, governments, organizations and academic institutions around the globe are increasingly seeking to hire candidates who speak Chinese and possess a broad knowledge of contemporary China. Thanks to the interdisciplinary scope of the MA in Chinese Studies program, graduates have been able to pursue careers in all of the aforementioned sectors.

Hebrew University’s Department of Asian Studies offers numerous networking opportunities by cultivating relationships with other departments around the world and sponsoring student participation in a wide array of extracurricular activities, such as conferences, workshops and film screenings. 

Teaching Faculty

Faculty members of the Department of Asian Studies are renowned experts with extensive teaching and research experience, including:

• Prof. Michal Biran, an expert in the history of Inner Asia and a member of the Israeli Academy of Science and Humanities. Prof. Biran led the ERC-funded project “Mobility, Empire and Cross-Cultural Contacts in Mongol Eurasia,” and is the editor of The Cambridge History of the Mongol Empire (2 vols, forthcoming 2022).
• Dr. Tamar Groswald Ozery, a lawyer and an expert in contemporary China’s law and economy and the relationship between law, politics and economic development in contemporary China.
• Prof. Orna Naftali, an anthropologist specializing in modern and contemporary China. Dr. Naftali’s areas of expertise include children, youth and education; women, gender and the family; science and subjectivity; national identity, militarism and the nation-state; and rights and legal consciousness of children and youth in China.
• Prof. Yuri Pines, an expert in early Chinese political thought, traditional Chinese political culture, early Chinese historiography and the history of pre-imperial (pre-221 BCE) China.
• Prof. Gideon Shelach, an archaeologist who specializes in Northeast China. Prof. Shelach is currently heading the Fuxin Regional Archaeological Project in Liaoning province, as well as the ERC project “The Wall,” which focuses on walls in 10th-12th Mongolia and North China.

Faculty of Humanities

The Faculty of Humanities at Hebrew University is committed to shedding light on civilizations past and present as revealed through history, language, literature, religion, philosophy, music, art and material culture. The numerous prizes and grants received by the academic staff – including Israel Prizes and ERC grants – attest to the high quality of research and teaching for which the faculty is known. 

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must hold an upper-advanced level of English (a minimum TOEFL score of 80 or a minimum IELTS score of 6).

Applicants who did not major in Chinese studies at the BA level will be subject to additional requirements, namely the completion of the Chinese level of HSK4 or higher, an introductory-level course in Classical Chinese, and complementary courses in Chinese history.

Candidates who are interested in the research track should contact a potential supervisor for their MA thesis prior to their application. For a full list of faculty members, please click here.

For additional information regarding admissions, please visit the program’s website.

Tuition & Scholarships

Tuition is approximately US $10,500.

Applicants who are Chinese citizens may be eligible for scholarship support through the China Scholarship Council. The department itself may also offer scholarships. For more information, please contact the MA advisor, Prof. Michal Biran, at biranm@mail.huji.ac.il.

Further Information

Academic Inquiries: Prof. Yuri Pines, Department Head: Yuri.Pines@mail.huji.ac.il

Administrative Inquiries: Mrs. Kinneret Levy: kinneretl@savion.huji.ac.il

Program Website

 

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