MA in Israel Studies

israel_studies HUJI

Duration

1 year

Faculty / School

Faculty of Social Studies
Rothberg International School

Language

English

Location

Jerusalem, Mount Scopus Campus

Application deadline

Please refer to the program’s website.

Program Details

A young state in the Land of the Bible, where ancient meets modern, secular meets religious, diverse cultures convene from across the globe, and conflict and coexistence converge – Israel is a country brimming with juxtapositions, making it a fascinating topic of study. In the MA in Israel Studies program, students learn to examine the historical processes that led to the creation of contemporary Israeli society and politics, the complicated relationships between the various populations that reside here, and the ways in which Israel copes with these challenges on a domestic and international scale.

This program incorporates courses from a wide range of academic disciplines, including history, sociology, anthropology, political science, international relations, economics, and religious studies. Students examine Israeli politics, media and geography through a hands-on approach, and benefit from the option to study Modern Hebrew intensively. For a full course list, please click here.

Program participants acquire critical thinking and writing skills and develop a multicultural perspective. By studying in Jerusalem, the historical center of the State of Israel, they benefit from close proximity to Israeli government offices and nonprofit organizations, sites of historical and religious significance, and a wealth of museums and archives.

Career & Networking

The MA in Israel Studies program prepares students for a great variety of career fields, including education and academia, research and policy, diplomacy and advocacy, and journalism and consulting. Graduates of this program hold senior positions in foreign affairs, government administration, NGOs, journalism and academia.

Teaching Faculty

Students in the MA in Israel Studies program learn from renowned faculty, whose research covers a wide range of disciplines, including political science, sociology, international relations, communications, and Middle Eastern studies. The program’s lecturers are leading experts in their fields, such as:

Prof. Menahem Blondheim, program head and senior faculty member of the Department of Communication and Journalism, who specializes in the role of communication in American and Jewish history, as well as the history of media.

Prof. Gideon Rahat, senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, whose expertise lies in electoral reform in Israel.

Prof. Noam Shoval, Professor at the Department of Geography and the Institute for Urban and Regional Studies, an expert in the spatial geography of ancient cities such as Jerusalem, Nazareth and Acre.

Faculty of Humanities

The Faculty of Social Sciences is Hebrew University’s largest faculty, with a total of 3,600 students studying toward undergraduate and graduate degrees. It is devoted to training future leaders by providing its students with a first-class education which includes practical, hands-on elements.

The Faculty of Social Sciences encompasses a broad spectrum of fields and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. Undergraduate degrees are granted in nine different academic departments: Communication and Journalism, Economics, Geography, International Relations, Political Science, PPE (Philosophy, Political Science and Economics), Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, and Statistics (with a focus on Data Science).

This program is run collaboratively with Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School (RIS). Over 2,000 students from 90 countries worldwide convene in Jerusalem each year to participate in RIS programs, ranging from intensive language courses to short-term courses, internships, study abroad, and full-fledged MA degree programs offered in English. RIS’ innovative programming, diverse community, and rich student life offer an unforgettable, transformative experience for students of all backgrounds and academic pursuits.

For more information on the Faculty, click here.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an internationally accredited university with a minimum GPA of 3.2 (B) or equivalent. Furthermore, they must have a high level of proficiency in English. If the applicant's native language is not English, or if they have not previously studied at an institute of higher education where the language of instruction is English, they must submit one of the following documents:

a minimum score of 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL test
a minimum score of 6 on IELTS

Within 3 weeks of submission of all required documents, applicants will be informed of their admissions status via e-mail.

CV
Statement of purpose
Two academic recommendations
Photocopy of their passport
Completed medical form
Signed disclaimer form (U.S. citizens only)

Furthermore, they are required to submit the following supplementary documents:

Transcripts and diplomas from all prior university studies

For detailed information on admission requirements, based on the country where you completed your undergraduate studies, please click here.

Tuition and Scholarships

Tuition is US$10,400. This includes the cost of the program, health insurance, and the option to study Modern Hebrew intensively during the autumn and spring semesters.

Students are eligible for a variety of scholarships as well as an early admissions discount. More information can be found on our Scholarships & Financial Aid page.

Further Information