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Hebrew and Jewish Studies with Year Abroad BA

2021 entry | 2020 entry

The four-year full-time (eight-year part-time) Hebrew and Jewish Studies with Year Abroad BA aims to develop students' knowledge and understanding of all aspects of Jewish culture, including its languages, literature and history. Year three is spent at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Covid-19 programme updates

Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.

Key Information

Programme starts

September 2020
UCAS code
Q480
Duration
Full-time: 4 years
Application deadline
15 January 2020
Location
London, Bloomsbury

Entry requirements

A Levels

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 5. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs

Contextual offer

Grades
BBB (more about contextual offers)
Subjects
No specific subjects
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 5. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs

IB Diploma

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

Contextual offer

Points
32 (more about contextual offers)
Subjects
A score of 15 points in three higher level subjects, with no score lower than 5.

UK applicants qualifications

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

Equivalent qualification

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Pass in Access to HE Diploma, with a minimum of 28 credits awarded with Merit in the Level 3 units.

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

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

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

International applications

In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPCs) are intensive one-year foundation courses for international students of high academic potential who are aiming to gain access to undergraduate degree programmes at UCL and other top UK universities.

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: www.ucl.ac.uk/upc.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

The English language level for this programme is: Good

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

Degree benefits

  • 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 the SOAS Library and the special collections in the British Library, Wiener Library and the National Archives.

Degree structure

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).

In your first year you will take compulsory modules in Modern Hebrew and Biblical Hebrew or Yiddish, an introductory module in 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 Modern Hebrew and choose from a wide range of options encompassing a vast chronological and geographical span and also an array of disciplinary approaches, such as history, literature, philology and politics.

Your third year will be spent at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where you will be able to take modules drawn from an extensive range of subjects.

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

Covid-19 study abroad updates
For this academic year, if you were due to study abroad, you should have been contacted by your department with more information. Further guidance can be found on FAQs for 20/21 Study Abroad students about coronavirus (COVID-19).    If you are planning to study abroad in 2021/22, UCL and your department will be in contact with you at the start of the upcoming academic year with information on the application process.      If you plan to study abroad in future years, UCL and your department will provide relevant information and guidance nearer to the time.   

Modules

An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.

Core or compulsory module(s)

Introduction to Biblical Hebrew or Elementary Yiddish
Modern Hebrew for Beginners
Sources, Methods, and Skills in Jewish Studies

Optional modules

You will select three of the following 15 credit options (the selection varies each year):

  • Introduction to Biblical and Rabbinic Literature
  • Introduction to Hebrew Literature: Medieval to Modern
  • Introduction to Jewish Languages
  • Introduction to Jewish Philosophy and Mysticism
  • Introduction to Israeli Culture, Society and Politics
  • Introduction to Modern Jewish Literature
  • Introduction to the Study of Judaism
  • Survey of Jewish History 1: The Ancient and Medieval Near East
  • Survey of Jewish History 2: From Medieval to Early Modern Europe
  • Survey of Jewish History 3: The Modern World

Core or compulsory module(s)

Lower Intermediate Modern Hebrew

Optional modules

You will select 90 credits from a wide range of options in the following areas: Hebrew, Yiddish and other Jewish languages; Jewish history and culture; literature and politics. Alternatively, 30 credits can be selected from another subject area by arrangement with the relevant department.

Compulsory modules (full-time)

Year abroad at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Optional modules

Compulsory modules (full-time)

Final-year dissertation (30 credits)

Optional modules

90 credits from a wide range of optional modules in the following areas: Hebrew, Yiddish and other Jewish languages; Jewish history and culture; literature; and politics.


Covid-19 module updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be updates to the modules for your chosen programme of study this year. Some modules may not be available or may need to be moved to a later term or year of study. These updates are relevant for 2020-21 academic year only.  The full list of modules will be available in the module catalogue from late August.  From the first week of September, you will be invited to complete module selection from Portico, our student record system. There may need to be additional updates or changes to modules during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available

Your learning

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

Covid-19 contact hours on campus
In Term One, while campus will be open, all the learning activity for the core content of your modules will take place online – including lectures, tutorials, seminars and assessments. By “core content” we mean everything you need to learn to complete the module successfully. In addition to these online contact hours, we will be offering some face-to-face educational activities for students on campus, and we will provide alternative online activities for those students unable to join us on campus. These activities, which will include contact with academic staff, will be relevant to your programme of study may include seminars, academic and employability skills workshops, small-group or individual tutorials, lab and practice-based teaching. UK Government safety guidelines will limit the amount of ‘in person’ activity we can offer and while it will vary from programme to programme, is likely to be no more than 2-3 hours per week. This will vary across departments, particularly if your programme includes laboratory/practical/studio/workshop sessions. You will be updated with more specific details as they are available and your timetable will indicate which sessions will be on campus and which will be available online.
Communicating further COVID-19 mitigation plans
We are continuing to follow UK Government guidance, as well as the expertise of our researchers, including specialists in health, education, human behaviour and infection prevention, to make sure UCL is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it becomes necessary to make further changes to your programme as a result of new guidance/regulations, UCL and your department will communicate these as soon as this becomes clear. We will keep you up-to-date with our plans throughout term one, so you have the information you need to be able to take decisions that are right for your circumstances. Please ensure that you keep in touch with your department by regularly checking your UCL emails, Moodle courses, the Coronavirus FAQs for Students page and any UCL online groups or social media you follow.

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.

Covid-19 assessment updates
There may be changes to the format of assessments for modules in this programme due to COVID-19. These will be summarised for each module on the module catalogue from 17 August 2020.   If any changes to assessments need to be made during the academic year due to updates in government guidance, these will be communicated to you as soon as possible from your department.    

Detailed course descriptions are available on the department website: Hebrew and Jewish Studies with Year Abroad BA.

Careers

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

Our graduates take up employment in diverse fields including law, teaching (primary and secondary), banking and finance, journalism, publishing, the museum sector, and librarianship. 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.

UCL is commited to helping you get the best start after graduation. Read more about how UCL Careers and UCL Innovation and Enterprise can help you find employment or learn about entrepreneurship.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2020/21 academic year. The UK/EU 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 2020/21 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

UK/EU students
£9,250 (2020/21)
Overseas students
£21,260 (2020/21)

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

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).

Funding

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.

Departmental scholarships

Funding opportunities relevant to the department may appear in this section when they are available. Please check carefully or confirm with the programme contact to ensure they apply to this degree programme.

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.

Application and next steps

Your application

In your application we will be particularly interested in your motivation to study the subject, and of your interest in broad matters of language, literature and culture. We will also be interested to learn of experiences you may have had relating to Jewish Studies, such as modules attended, museums visited, travel and wider reading.

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.

Application deadline: 15 January 2020



Selection

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 tour the campus.

The department attracts students from a diversity of backgrounds and our degree programmes reflect a wide range 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.

For further information on UCL's selection process see: Selection of students.


Page last modified on 12 March 2020


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