Program Details
Germany is the largest economy in Europe, ranks as the world’s most innovative country and has the third largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites of all states. Still, as a leader in global and European affairs, the country is facing considerable challenges related to immigration, climate change, security and energy. This MA program analyzes how political, economic and cultural factors have shaped contemporary Germany, placing these factors within the European and global contexts and examining them from a historical perspective. Students will also consider these developments from the perspectives of Israel and the Middle East.

The program is part of Hebrew University’s European Forum and is affiliated with three faculties: Social Sciences, Law and Humanities. In addition to mandatory basic and methodological courses, five specialization tracks are offered: Politics and Economy, Law and International Relations, Geography and Urban Studies, History and Sociology, and Literature, Philosophy, Culture, and the Arts. 

Students can choose one of two study options: a non-research track or a research track with a thesis. In the non-research track, students choose three out of the five specializations, while in the research track, they choose two specializations. The program places great emphasis on providing students with opportunities for acquiring practical experience, for example, through travel courses, student exchanges, simulations and internships.   

Knowledge of the German language is not a prerequisite for admission to the program; in order to graduate, however, students must complete level B 1.2 according to CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).

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Career & Networking 

The breadth and depth of the MA program gives students the tools for a promising career in the public, business or academic sectors. Alumni have gone on to fill a variety of positions, including with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Defense, have become parliamentary assistants to members of the European Parliament, lobbyists and employees with EU consulting firms, as well as members of the Israeli Delegation to the European Union. In preparation for entering the job market, students are offered an internship with an organization or agency whose work is related to their field of study, while also receiving academic advising for their internship project.

Students take part in the many conferences and workshops organized by HUJI’s European Forum and host researchers from German universities. Research students also enjoy opportunities to travel to international conferences and workshops.

In addition, the program has an active alumni network, through which employment opportunities and other news is shared.

Teaching Faculty

The program’s top-notch academic faculty comes from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds and together they provide a rigorous multi- and interdisciplinary curriculum.

The program’s academic head is Prof. Gili S. Drori of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Prof. Drori is also the Director of the European Forum of Hebrew University.

Dr. Tobias Ebbrecht-Hartmann of the Department of Communications and Journalism is the program’s advisor and an expert in German culture and art.

Faculty include academics and practitioners with vast knowledge and experience in such fields as Israeli-German relations, German civil law, European nationalism, German foreign policy, and European Jewry. Students also benefit from a variety of courses taught by guest faculty from top universities in Europe and North America.

For additional information on the program’s faculty, please visit the program’s website.

The European Forum at the Hebrew University

The European Forum comprises research centers, graduate study programs and research funds. It is a multi- and interdisciplinary intellectual community bridging among the social sciences, humanities and law, and its administrative management is anchored in the Faculty of Social Sciences. The following centers are part of the Forum: the Helmut Kohl Institute for European Studies, the DAAD Center for German Studies, the Center for Austrian Studies, the Center for the Study of Italian Culture, the Paul Desmarais Center for the Study of French Culture, and the Marjorie Mayrock Center for Russian, Euro-Asian and East-European Research. The common interest of all the centers is European integration in its broader sense, involving historical perspectives and comparative methods.

The European Forum’s teaching and research activities focus on important long-term processes in Europe, and on European integration and its nexus with Israel and the Middle East. Besides the program in Contemporary Germany Studies, it also offers a graduate program in European Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the master’s program in Contemporary Germany: Politics, Society and Culture must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognized university with a minimum 80 (3.0 GPA) average, and must demonstrate English proficiency.

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

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

Tuition & Scholarships

The program’s tuition fee is US$ 10,000.

Various scholarships are available, including full tuition scholarships, distinction scholarships, scholarships for German-language summer courses in Austria, funded student exchange programs, subsidized study excursions to Europe, internships in Israel and Europe, and student integration in research groups and international conferences.

For additional information regarding tuition fees and other costs, please visit the program’s website.

Further Information

Academic Inquiries: Prof. Gili S. Drori, Academic Head:
gili.drori@mail.huji.ac.il

Administrative Inquiries: Ms. Elisheva Moatti, Program Coordinator:
elishevam@savion.huji.ac.il

Program Website

 

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