Program Details

This course is available in both online and in-person formats during the first semster of studies.

Hebrew University’s MA in International Development (Glocal) is geared toward individuals committed to reducing inequality and working toward a more just, socially cohesive, economically and environmentally sustainable world. While exploring international development from a global perspective, the program emphasizes the development of local, tailored interventions, providing students with a strong theoretical foundation, practical tools, and hands-on experience to help strengthen disadvantaged communities. During the 18-month graduate program, students learn to translate academic research into a practical understanding of community development, through cutting-edge theories and first-hand engagement with the complex challenges faced by disadvantaged communities worldwide.

The program’s unique approach builds on a strong, 14-month academic curriculum followed by a practical 4-month field internship spent in organizations serving local communities around the world. The diverse course offerings cover public health, geography, environmental management, entrepreneurship, social innovation, and migration and gender, among other subjects. Moreover, participants learn about the local complexity and cultural diversity of Jerusalem, drawing global lessons from local solutions and practices.

Each cohort consists of 25-30 students from around the world. Through interactive teaching methods, students learn from highly acclaimed academics about development practices and experiences in different countries. Each year, a select number of students who excel academically opt for the Glocal Research Track and write a master’s thesis in the field of international community development, thereby contributing to the advancement of knowledge and research in this field.

For more information about the program, click here.

Career & Networking 

Graduates of the Glocal program help further international development in fields such as poverty, global inequality and gender, among others. Glocal alumni are employed in a variety of development and grassroots organizations in Israel and around the world, working to empower communities in a variety of fields. These organizations include Care International, MSF (Doctors without Borders), the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IsraAid, Save a Child's Heart, the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, World Education, NALA Foundation, the Pears Program for Global Innovation, ActionAid, Village Health Works Burundi, FHI360 Uganda, and others.      

Alumni have also launched their own projects, such as “Become,” an NGO working to support communities in Kenya, Haiti and South Sudan, “Amar Majuli,” which empowers women from lower castes in Northern India, and “Kaima Tanzania,” a farm which trains youth at risk in agriculture practices. Other alumni have pursued a doctorate to launch their academic career.

Glocal alumni form a vibrant, active network, in which graduates support each other and offer guidance and mentoring to one another. The Glocal program supports this network through various workshops, events, and its seed funding program.

Teaching Faculty

The Glocal program is headed by Dr. Reut Barak Weekes, an expert in development economics and political relations in the developing world. The program’s teaching staff consists of a multidisciplinary team of top researchers, academics and practitioners whose fields of expertise cover different aspects of international development, including:

Mr. Yossi Offer, strategic planning and local development specialist, and the executive director of a consulting company working with local authorities, NGOs, and government and international development agencies in Israel as well as in developing countries.

Dr. Maureen Malowany, Hebrew University researcher whose interests include the history of global public health, epidemiology, malaria (particularly sub-Saharan Africa), infectious diseases, and tropical medicine science.

The Faculty of Social Sciences

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

The Faculty of Social Sciences encompasses a broad spectrum of fields such as Communications 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).  

The teaching staff at the faculty is composed of world-class researchers and practitioners, many of whom have received prestigious awards, among them Israel Prizes, Emet Prizes, and Rothschild Prizes.

For more information about the Faculty of Social Sciences, visit their website.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the Glocal program must hold a BA degree from an internationally recognized university with an average of 80 or above (or equivalent). Additional requirements include:

• English proficiency
• Experience in social activism or community work

Moreover, applicants must commit to participating in an intensive program of study, including a 4-month internship.

For further details on eligibility and application guidelines, see here.

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

Tuition and Scholarships

The tuition fee for the entire program is 11,000 USD.

While internship costs are not covered by the program, Glocal tries to subsidize 40% of the costs related to the internship. A 4-month internship in a developing country usually costs approximately US$4,000-$7,000 including flights, accommodations, and living expenses.  

A limited number of scholarships are available for students from developing countries. Once accepted to the program, potential candidates will receive information about financial assistance and available scholarships from the admissions team. For further details, click here.

International students are also eligible to apply for scholarships provided by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For more information, please visit this website. 

Further Information

Academic Inquiries: Dr. Reut Barak Weekes

 Academic Head: reut.barak1@mail.huji.ac.il

Administrative Inquiries: Ms. Inbal Levin,

Program Coordinator: glocal@savion.huji.ac.il Program Website

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