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Hebrew and Jewish Studies BA

London, Bloomsbury
Hebrew and Jewish Studies BA (2024)

The Hebrew and Jewish Studies BA aims to develop students' knowledge and understanding of all aspects of Jewish culture, including its languages, literature, and history.

UK students International students
Study mode
Duration
3 academic years
6 academic years
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£9,250
£4,625
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£28,100
£14,050
Programme starts
September 2025
Application deadline
29 Jan 2025
UCAS course code
Q481
Apply via UCAS

Entry requirements

A levels IB Diploma Other qualifications
Grades
ABB
Subjects
No specific subjects. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.

Contextual offer information

Contextual offers are typically one to two grades lower than the standard offer. Grade and subject requirements for contextual offers for this programme will be published in Summer 2024.

Points
34
Subjects
A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.

Contextual offer

Contextual offers are typically one to two grade boundaries (equivalent to A levels) lower than the standard offer. IB Diploma grade and subject requirements for contextual offers for this programme will be published in Summer 2024.

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction, 12 credits at Merit and 3 credits at Pass, all from Level 3 units.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

D3,M1,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects.

ABB at Advanced Highers (or AB at Advanced Higher and BBB at Higher).

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades ABB.

International applications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

Access and widening participation

UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.
Check your Access UCL Scheme eligibility

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.

English language requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Course overview

In your first year, you will take compulsory modules in Modern Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew or Yiddish, an introductory module on academic Jewish Studies, and a range of optional history, literature, and culture modules, providing an overview of the subject which allows you to identify your own areas of specialist interest for later study.

In your second year, you will take a compulsory module in the language you chose in year 1 and choose from a wide range of optional modules encompassing a vast chronological and geographical span and also an array of disciplinary approaches, such as history, literature, philology, and politics.

In your final year, you will take three optional modules and will write a dissertation on a subject of your choice.

What this course will give you

UCL Hebrew & Jewish Studies is the only department of its kind in the UK, and is highly regarded worldwide.

We teach a wide range of modules in Jewish history, politics and culture.

As part of your degree you can study both ancient and modern languages, including Biblical, Rabbinic and Modern Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, Ugaritic, and Yiddish.

During your time in the department, you will have access to a remarkable collection of Hebrew, Yiddish and Judaica books in the UCL Library, as well as to the SOAS Library and the special collections in the British Library, Wiener Library and the National Archives.

Teaching and learning

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in Hebrew and Jewish Studies.

Modules

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

In your first year, you will take compulsory modules in Modern Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew or Yiddish, an introductory module on academic Jewish Studies, and a range of optional history, literature, and culture modules, providing an overview of the subject which allows you to identify your own areas of specialist interest for later study.

In your second year, you will take a compulsory module in the language you chose in year 1 and choose from a wide range of optional modules encompassing a vast chronological and geographical span and also an array of disciplinary approaches, such as history, literature, philology, gender studies, and politics.

In your final year, you will take three optional modules and will write a dissertation on a subject of your choice.

The structure for part-time study is the same as the full-time study but spread over six years of study. You will take two modules per year and write your dissertation in the second part of the final year.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Compulsory modules



Optional modules






Compulsory modules



Optional modules








Hasidism and Modernity

The Arab-Israeli Conflict

Yiddish Culture


Israel and Palestine

Nazi Gold and Looted Art in World War Two and Beyond


Compulsory modules



Optional modules



Your learning

Our teaching spans a variety of methods; classes are mostly small and intimate, encouraging active student participation. Modern language study includes oral work, reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and translation exercises. All other subjects are taught by lectures and seminars.

Between 22% and 27% of a student's time is spent in lectures and seminars, the remainder in independent study.

Assessment

Most modules are assessed by a combination of essays and an end-of-year written examination, in addition to other types of coursework such as presentations. Modern language modules are also assessed by oral examinations.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

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The foundation of your career

Our graduates take up employment in diverse fields including teaching, charities and NGOs, manufacturing and the built environment.* Many choose to pursue postgraduate study, either continuing within Hebrew and Jewish studies or moving into different fields such as history, digital humanities, linguistics, religious studies, and others.

*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017 - 2021 cohorts. 

Employability

The programme develops a wide range of skills such as critical thinking, oral and written communication, and time management, in addition to linguistic ability, which will be beneficial for a wide range of careers.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £9,250 £4,625
Tuition fees (2024/25) £28,100 £14,050

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2024/25 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2024/25 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Additional costs

The department strives to keep additional costs low. Books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL library (hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions).

If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Funding your studies

UCL Hebrew and Jewish Studies awards a range of annual prizes and scholarships of varying amounts to current students for academic excellence and/or financial need. Please view the study page of our website for more information.

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Scholarships

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Next steps

Your application

We seek to select candidates who, in addition to academic achievement, have the motivation and passion for inter-cultural inquiry, and who have a deep commitment to developing their cultural understanding to an advanced level.

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Selection

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.

The department attracts students from a diversity of backgrounds and our degree programmes reflect a wide of cultures, ethnicities, and religions. Consequently, we do not require you to have any prior knowledge of Hebrew, nor are you expected to have a Jewish background.

The selection process is conducted on the basis of your UCAS application and personal statement. If you receive an offer of a place on the programme, you will be invited to visit UCL Hebrew & Jewish Studies and to tour the campus.

Apply via UCAS
Application guidelines
Download prospectus

Got questions? Get in touch

Hebrew and Jewish Studies
Hebrew and Jewish Studies

jewish.studies@ucl.ac.uk

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