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History (Central and East European) and Jewish Studies with Year Abroad BA

London, Bloomsbury

Study Jewish cultural history and the regions where many Jewish communities have lived in this dynamic degree. Taught at the only independent department of its kind – within one of the largest centres for studying east Europe – this is a unique learning opportunity. You’ll choose from a range of modules according to your interests, have the opportunity to learn a language, and spend a year studying abroad. Graduates from this department go on to work in sectors including education, publishing, academia and more

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
4 academic years
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£9,535
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£29,800
Programme starts
September 2026
Application deadline
14 Jan 2026
UCAS course code
VV23
Apply via UCAS

Entry requirements

A levels IB Diploma Other qualifications
Grades
ABB
Subjects
History required.
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.

Contextual offer information

Grades
BBC more about contextual offers
Subjects
History required.
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
Points
34
Subjects
A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects including History, with no higher level score below 5.

Contextual offer

Points
30 more about contextual offers
Subjects
A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects including History, with no higher level score below 5.

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. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your Access to HE syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

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

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

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

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

UCL’s History (Central and East European) and Jewish Studies with Year Abroad BA is the only degree of its kind in the UK. Based in the country’s only independent university department of Hebrew & Jewish Studies, we are ideally placed to equip you with a cutting-edge understanding of Jewish history, culture, languages, literature, and politics. With half of your teaching taking place in UCL History and the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), you also benefit from leading expertise in these areas. Undertaking a degree with us allows you to explore the rich and varied Jewish experience in combination with the history and politics of Central and Eastern Europe. 

Our degree is designed to give you advanced-level training in Jewish Studies and Central and East European history, as well as an excellent grounding in transferable skills such as critical thinking, academic writing, historical methodologies, and languages. You will have the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of Jewish societies past and present, especially within their Central and East European contexts, and to discover the myriad ways that Jewish Studies intersects with broader overarching concepts and topics such as identity, Diaspora, migration, and more. 

The degree is flexible and allows you to tailor your studies to your own interests. Each year, you take half your modules in Jewish Studies and the other half in Central and East European history and culture. In Year 1, you take introductory courses in academic Jewish Studies and in Central and East European History. In addition, you can make your own selection from various modules on ancient, medieval, and modern Jewish history and culture, and can choose to study a relevant language among Modern Hebrew, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian and Yiddish. In Year 2, you can choose from a wide range of options in Jewish and Central or East European history, culture, languages, literature, and politics. Your third year is spent abroad at a university in Central or Eastern Europe, or alternatively an institution elsewhere with a strong range of Jewish Studies offerings. In your final year, you can choose from a range of advanced courses in Jewish and Central or East European history and culture. You can also choose to complete a dissertation on a relevant topic of your choosing, guided by a specialist in the area.

Throughout your degree, you are taught by renowned experts in the field and benefit from small class sizes with numerous opportunities for interaction and discussion with your tutors and fellow students. You also have the support of a personal tutor who will help you choose your courses and is available to give advice on other aspects of your academic experience. You are given the chance to take part in our extracurricular events, which include celebrations of Jewish festivals such as Hanukkah and Purim, and departmental conferences and seminars on pioneering areas of historical research. We are confident that you will enjoy the friendly and welcoming atmosphere in the department, and that you will quickly feel at home with us. 

What this course will give you

At a global top ten university for the arts and humanities (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 by subject), UCL Hebrew & Jewish Studies is the only department of its kind in the UK and is highly regarded worldwide.

The programme is taught by acknowledged specialists in the field, all of whom are actively engaged in research. This will enable you to keep up-to-date with the latest debates, issues and discoveries.

UCL School of Slavonic & Eastern European Studies (SSEES) is the largest national centre in the UK for the study of central, east and south-east Europe and Russia. The SSEES Library contains over 400,000 books, journals and film resources.

You will have access to a remarkable collection of Hebrew, Yiddish, and Judaica books in the UCL Library, as well as to the special collections of the British Library, the 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 480 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in History (Central and East European) and Jewish Studies with Year Abroad.

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.

Year 1 introduces you to the study of central and east European history and Jewish studies at university level. 

In Years 2 and 4, you can focus on topics of specific interest to you by choosing modules that examine particular periods and themes in east European and Jewish history. You can also study one or more relevant languages such as Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, Polish, or Ukrainian.

Your third year is spent abroad at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and/or in a relevant central or east European country.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Compulsory modules



Optional modules



History of Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture

Introduction to the History and Literature of Ancient Israel






Optional modules

Seminars in History





Optional modules




Optional modules

History of the Jews in Poland



Your learning

History modules are taught through lectures and seminars. Modern language study includes oral work, reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and translation exercises.

Typical contact hours vary between 8-12 hours per week, depending on the year of study and module choice, and include lectures, seminars, practice-based activities and e-learning activities. Students will also undertake self-directed study (25-30 hours per week) by engaging with key topics and required readings in preparation for the discussions in class.

Your year abroad at a partner university in Year 3 will follow a different pattern of study.

Assessment

Most language modules are assessed by examinations (including oral examinations) and coursework. Non-language modules are assessed by exams and coursework including presentations, quizzes and essays.

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 Services team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Virtual Open Event: Hebrew & Jewish Studies 1:1 calls (PM)

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Book a 1:1 call with the UCL Hebrew & Jewish Studies Undergraduate Admissions Tutor. We offer degree programmes that have international scope: learning languages, studying history and culture, researching geographical origins. Our programmes span from reading ancient text to debating modern conflict.

Online - Open day

Hebrew and Jewish Studies information video

Watch this video to find out more about Hebrew and Jewish Studies at UCL, including entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.

Watch on demand event

The foundation of your career

Popular career paths for graduates from both departments include teaching and education (6.7%), consultancy (6.4%), IT and Technology (4.7%),  publishing, journalism or translation (4.4%),  PR, advertising and marketing (4.4%) and charities, NGOs and international development (4%).

Employers of our graduates include Deloitte, Bloomberg, KPMG, PwC, JP Morgan, BBC, Accenture and the Civil Service. Some graduates pursue careers that make special use of their language skills, including translating, interpreting and teaching, while others continue with graduate training, further study or academic research.* 

*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017-2022 cohorts.

Employability

Together with subject-specific knowledge, you will acquire discipline-based skills in historical research, methodology and analysis, in addition to transferable skills such as working as part of a team, analysing and solving problems, organising your time and resources, and structuring and communicating your ideas verbally and in writing.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £9,535
Tuition fees (2025/26) £29,800

Fees are for Undergraduate 2025/26 entry and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases and are subject to the passing of secondary legislation. Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2025/26 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

There are no programme-specific costs for this programme apart from those associated with study abroad.

Please note that study abroad during your programme at UCL is likely to incur additional costs. Studying abroad may cost between £200–£1,000 per month depending on where you choose to study. The cost of studying abroad can be difficult to predict as it will depend on your priorities and choices. There is more information available on the UCL Study Abroad website.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. 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.

UCL Hebrew & Jewish Studies and UCL SSEES both attract students from a diversity of backgrounds, and our degree programmes reflect a range of cultures, ethnicities and religions. 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 for a place on a programme, you will be invited to visit the departments, as well as 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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