The Two-Year Academic Program in Ancient Philology focuses on Ancient Greek and Biblical Hebrew and offers intensive full immersion language training in both languages. Students will gain the ability to read moderately difficult narrative texts without the need of a dictionary/translation, save for rare occasions. Students complete the program with courses in linguistics, philology, philosophy, paleography, history, and literature. Some of these courses are taught in Ancient Greek.
This Ancient Philology program is ideal for people interested in a career teaching Ancient Greek and/or Biblical Hebrew, as well as for scholars interested in Antiquity, classical philosophy, classical philology, religious studies, or the connection between Greek Antiquity and Judeo-Christian heritage.
Graduates of this program, or students registered in the second year, may apply to be streamed into the one year Emphasis in Teaching Ancient & Modern Languages, which focuses on preparing the student for a career in teaching languages in an immersive setting. Students gain firsthand experience teaching as well as participating in methodological courses and workshops. This track grants an additional 8.5 ECTS free of charge.
This two-year program is also offered as a one-year certificate program. Not sure if you want to do one or two years? No problem! If you start the one-year program you can always get your courses accredited and switch to the two-year program for the following year!
The application form is available online. Scholarships are also available for this program.
Please note that third-party accreditation to recognize this program as a MA degree can be requested from the International University of Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain) upon completion of the program.
Open
Sep 1, 2026
2 Years
Jerusalem
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.
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 Two Year, 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 terms and conditions set out in the Hierosolyma scholarship agreement.
Deadline: April 15, 2026
Origen is a 7,500 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 Two Year, 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 terms and conditions set out in the Origen scholarship agreement.
Deadline: April 15, 2026
Plato is an 18,000 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 Two Year, One Year, or Fluency program at Polis or have initiated 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. Priority will be given to students applying for Two-year or complete Fluency programs.
NB: This grant is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Plato scholarship agreement.
Deadline: April 15, 2026
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, 2026.
This program, offered at the Polis Institute in Jerusalem, is accredited by the International University of Catalonia (Barcelona). Please note that the ECTS are awarded by the accrediting institutions and not by Polis.
ECTS = European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System
1 ECTS = 10 academic hours
Ancient Greek
Biblical Hebrew
Latin
Classical Syriac
Coptic
Modern Hebrew
Modern Standard Arabic
Spoken Arabic
Akkadian
Ancient Egyptian
Eblaite
Elamite
Ge'ez
Hurrian