This program offers undergraduate and graduate students, teachers and academics from any field the possibility of mastering Biblical and Modern Hebrew. In the second year, students will be able to choose a specialization between Biblical Hebrew and Modern Hebrew and cover all the levels of the language of choice from a total beginner's level to acquire reading, writing, and speaking proficiency, with the option to take additional theoretical and practical courses closely linked to the target language’s cultural milieu.
The application form is available online and in printable format. Scholarships are also available for this program.
Open
Aug 30, 2023 – Jun 26, 2024
2 Years
Jerusalem
| Language Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Biblical Hebrew | 20.0 |
| Modern Hebrew | 30.0 |
| Oral Proficiency in Biblical Hebrew I (Lunches) | 3.0 |
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Rabbinic and Early Christian Literature | 1.5 |
| Introduction to Jewish Sources | 1.5 |
| Issues in Semitic Languages | 1.5 |
| Biblical Hebrew Track | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Biblical Hebrew | 20.0 |
| Modern Hebrew | 10.0 |
| Oral Proficiency in Biblical Hebrew II (Lunches) | 3.0 |
| Biblical Hebrew Readings | 3.0 |
| Qumran Hebrew Readings (taught in Hebrew) | 2.0 |
| Mishnaic Hebrew Readings (taught in Hebrew) | 2.0 |
| Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Phonology | 1.0 |
| Introduction to Hebrew Literature | 1.5 |
| Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Philology | 1.5 |
| Speech in Biblical Hebrew | 6.0 |
| Modern Hebrew Track | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Modern Hebrew | 30.0 |
| Biblical Hebrew | 8.0 |
| Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Phonology | 1.0 |
| Mishnaic Hebrew Readings (taught in Hebrew) | 2.0 |
| Jewish Feasts | 0.5 |
| Introduction to Hebrew Literature | 1.5 |
| Speech in Modern Hebrew | 6.0 |
Students may register for extra courses from the Elective list below over the two years without additional fees. Elective registrations outside of this amount will be subject to the regular course fee as listed in the Administrative Office. Elective courses are subject to change.
| Language Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Oral Proficiency in Modern Hebrew | 3.0 |
| Ancient Greek | 6.0 |
| Classical Syriac | 5.0 |
| Coptic | |
| Spoken Arabic | 8.0 |
| Modern Standard Arabic | 100.0 |
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Lexicon, Code, and Interaction | 2.0 |
| Syntax of Natural Languages | 2.0 |
| Phonetics and Phonology | 2.0 |
| Derivational Morphology | 2.0 |
| The Human Person - Part I: Historical Overview // Part II: Manifestations of the Human Being | 4.0 |
| The Notion of God According to the Tanakh, Christian Bible and Qur'an | 2.0 |
| Semitic Palaeography | 1.5 |
| Applied Philology Seminar 3-6: Practicum | 40.0 |
| Seminar Paper | 10.0 |
| Historical Geography | 8.0 |
| History of the Near East | 5.0 |
| Selected Near Eastern Language | 4.0 |
| Issues in Semitic Languages | 1.5 |
| The Genre of Parables in Gospels and Early Jewish Texts | 1.5 |
MA graduates and students registered in the second year of the MA or have the equivalent language level according to the Polis method may apply to the Emphasis in Teaching Ancient & Modern Languages, a track that focuses on the particularities of teaching languages in an immersive setting. Students following this track will gain first-hand experience in teaching and the ability to participate in methodological courses and workshops. Registration for the Emphasis track grants an additional 8.5 ECTS free of charge.
| Theoretical & Practical Courses | ECTS |
|---|---|
| Issues in Teaching Ancient Languages | 1.5 |
| Workshops | 3.0 |
| Assistant Teaching | 4.0 |
Please prepare the following documents in order to apply. Application can be submitted online or by mail.
All documents must be submitted as PDF. Files should include the candidate’s family name followed by the item name (ex: Rodriguez passport copy). Documents can be sent individually.
Applications are examined by the Academic Board, which decides on the admission in the weeks following the submission of the full application.
Callimachus is a full tuition scholarship discount for one academic year. The recipient of this scholarship will be required to fulfill 15 hours of volunteer work per week during the academic year.
The recipient will maintain the Polis Academic Library collection and catalogue, as well as supervise fellow student
volunteers in the various tasks necessary for the successful operation of the library.
Prerequisites: Applicants should be registered students at Polis. Candidates should also have previous library experience and at least a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in one of the fields of Humanities.
NB: This grant is subject to the General Requisites of the Grant Fund, which can be found on the application form and upon request from the Administrative Office. These policies are in effect for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Deadline: March 15, 2023
Hierosolyma is a 13,000 NIS scholarship in the form of a tuition discount for one academic year. Students who receive this grant will be required to fulfill 10 hours of volunteer work per week during the academic year.
Prerequisites: All applicants should be students of the MA, One Year, or Fluency program at Polis or have begun the application process for the program. All applicants will be required to submit a writing sample once the application form and other documents have been submitted.
NB: This grant is subject to the General Requisites of the Grant Fund, which can be found on the application form and upon request from the Administrative Office. These policies are in effect for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Deadline: March 15, 2023
Origen is a 6,000 NIS scholarship in the form of a tuition discount for one academic year. Students who receive this grant will be required to fulfill 7 hours of volunteer work per week during the academic year.
Prerequisites: All applicants should be students of the MA, One Year, or Fluency program at Polis or have begun the application process for the program. All applicants will be required to submit a writing sample once the application form and other documents have been submitted.
NB: This grant is subject to the General Requisites of the Grant Fund, which can be found on the application form and upon request from the Administrative Office. These policies are in effect for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Deadline: March 15, 2023
Plato is a 19,500 NIS scholarship in the form of a tuition discount for one academic year. Students who receive this grant will be required to fulfill 12 hours of volunteer work per week during the academic year.
Prerequisites: All applicants should be students of the MA, One Year, or Fluency program at Polis or have begun the application process for the program. All applicants will be required to submit a writing sample once the application form and other documents have been submitted.
NB: This grant is subject to the General Requisites of the Grant Fund, which can be found on the application form and upon request from the Administrative Office. These policies are in effect for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Deadline: March 15, 2023
For processing the application
For language courses: To book a seat in the course, the student needs to pay the full tuition or the registration fee.
For academic programs: Students who have been accepted to a program will be asked to confirm their attendance by paying the registration fee which is part of the total tuition fee for the academic year when they begin their studies.
Discount is available for students who are financing their studies from their own resources or loans or their close family.
Discount is available for students who register and pay in full by June 1, 2023.
This program entitles the student to receive a Certificate of Fluency in Hebrew from the Polis Institute.
Ancient Greek
Biblical Hebrew
Classical Syriac
Coptic
Latin
Modern Hebrew
Modern Standard Arabic
Spanish
Spoken Arabic