The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
MA in Contemporary Germany: Politics, Society and Culture
Jerusalem, Israel
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Oct 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 5,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
* Per year
Key Summary
About: The MA in Contemporary Germany (Politics, Society and Culture) is a two-year English-taught programme across Social Sciences, Law and Humanities with five specializations: politics, law, geography, history and literature. German isn't required to apply but graduation requires B1.2 CEFR; you can earn 8 credits for German and take summer courses. The programme offers full tuition stipends, distinction scholarships, funded exchanges and internships.
Career Outcomes: Graduates enter public policy, diplomacy, government and international organisations; alumni work at the Knesset Research and Information Center, the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Defence, EU consulting and the Israeli Delegation to the EU.
Dare to discover - HUJI Digital Open Day
Join our Digital Open Day for international degree programs, and discover how we combine excellence with a rich student life.
The teaching program is affiliated to the three Faculties: Social Sciences, Law, and Humanities. The teaching language is English. In addition to basic and methodological courses as well as simulations, obligatory to all participants, the program offers five specialization tracks over a period of two years:
- Politics and Economy
- Law and International Relations
- Geography and Urban Studies
- History and Sociology
- Literature, Philosophy, Culture, and the Arts
Knowledge of the German language is not a pre-requisite for admission into the program. However, it is compulsory for all students in order to graduate to complete level B 1.2 according to CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).
Students, who in the course of the M.A. program have to take German classes in order to demonstrate knowledge of the German language at an advanced level, can get credit for up to 8 credit points for German language courses offered by the Language Center of the Hebrew University. In addition, the Center for German Studies offers its students German language summer courses.
The program offers
- Full tuition-fee stipends
- Distinction scholarships
- Scholarships for summer German-language courses in Austria
- Funded student-exchange programs
- Subsidized study excursions to Europe
- Internships
- Integration of students into research groups and international conferences
Our students acquire extensive and unique tools and knowledge that give them an advantage in their integration into the public sector, the business sector, and the research and teaching system in academic institutions in Israel and abroad. Our alumni are employed in the Knesset Research and Information Center, they were accepted to the Cadet Course of the Israeli Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Economy, work for the Ministry of Defence, are parliamentary assistants of members of the European Parliament joined European Union consulting firms in Brussels as lobbyists and employees, and work for the Israeli Delegation to the European Union.
M.A. Regulations
The M.A. program offers the following two study tracks:
M.A. non-research track (38 credit points)
Students are required to choose three out of the five specialization tracks. It is highly recommended that at least one specialization track be connected to the specialization field of the BA studies. The program of studies will be set up in consultation with the M.A. program adviser at the Center, taking into account:
- the student's field(s) of specialization during their undergraduate studies
- the elected specialization tracks
Basic courses (8 credit points)
The courses have to be chosen from the list of basic courses of the teaching program, from tracks not chosen as specialization tracks.
Compulsory courses (14 credit points)
- Colloquium for European Forum Students (2 credit points) – course 54677 + 54777
- Methodological course in 1st year (2 credit points) – course 54699
- 2 Simulation courses (2 credit points)
- Advanced or specialized German language course or seminar (8 credit points)*
*Students who study less than 8 credit points of advanced or specialized German language will study the remaining credit points in courses offered by the program.
Elective compulsory courses (10 credit points)*
- Courses from the list of elective-compulsory courses in two specialization tracks (6 credit points)*
- Seminary paper in one of the seminar courses (4 credit points) in the first year.
*students who intend to switch to the research track are advised to study course 54882 Designing Your Research in the first year
Elective courses (6 credit points)
- Courses from the list of elective-compulsory or elective courses (2 credit points)
- Seminary paper in one of the seminar courses (4 credit points)
Transfer to the research track
It is possible to transfer to the research-track if at least half of the courses required have been marked with an average grade of 85, including a seminary paper with a grade of 85 in an elective compulsory course. The deadline for the transfer is the end of course registration for the spring term in the second year.
M.A. research track (36 credit points)
This track is a requirement for future Ph.D. studies.
Students are required to choose two out of the five specialization tracks. It is highly recommended that at least one specialization track be connected to the specialization field of the BA studies. The program of studies will be set up in consultation with the M.A. program adviser at the Center, taking into account:
- the student's field(s) of specialization during their undergraduate studies
- the elected specialization tracks
Basic courses (8 credit points)
Courses to be chosen from the list of basic courses of the teaching program, from tracks not chosen as specialization tracks.
Compulsory courses (16 credit points):
- Colloquium for European Forum Students (2 credit points) – course 54677 + 54777
- Methodological course in 1st year (2credit points) – course 54699
- Methodological course in 2nd year (2 credit points)
- 2 Simulation courses (2 credit points)
- German language courses (8 credit points)*
*Students who study less than 8 credit points of German language courses are required to study the remaining credit points in courses offered by the program (including elective courses offered in the non-research track)
Elective compulsory courses (12 credit points):
- Courses from the list of elective-compulsory courses in two specialization tracks (8 credit points)*
- Seminary paper in one of the seminar courses (4 credit points) in the first year
*it is recommended to study course 54882 Designing Your Research in the first year
The M.A. Thesis (35% of the final grade) is written under the supervision of a faculty member of the Faculties of Social Sciences, Law, or Humanities. The thesis is graded by the student’s supervisor and an additional reviewer.