Contact information
- Dr Seth Anziska
- Admissions Tutor
- s.anziska@ucl.ac.uk
- +44 (0) 20 7679 7171
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.
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.
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
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.
In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.
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.
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.
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.
An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew or Elementary Yiddish
Modern Hebrew for Beginners
Sources, Methods, and Skills in Jewish Studies
You will select three of the following 15 credit options (the selection varies each year):
Lower Intermediate Modern Hebrew
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.
Year abroad at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Final-year dissertation (30 credits)
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.
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.
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.
Detailed course descriptions are available on the department website: Hebrew and Jewish Studies with Year Abroad BA.
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.
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.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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
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