ACADEMIC PROGRAMS  //  Check out our academic programs for the 2023-2024 academic year

Graduate Program

Ancient Philology - Third-Party Accredited MA

Overview

The Two-Year 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 and in printable format. Scholarships are also available for this program.

Please note that the degree is awarded by a third-party university ( International University of Catalonia - Barcelona) and not by Polis.

Enrollment

Open

Start Date

Aug 30, 2023

Program Length

2 Years

Location

Jerusalem

Courses

Mandatory Courses

First Year: 2023-2024
Second Year: 2024-2025
Language CoursesECTS
Ancient Greek24.0
Biblical Hebrew20.0

Students with no prior knowledge of the target language must start with Level I. Students with prior knowledge must complete a written and oral placement test in order to qualify into higher levels

Theoretical & Practical CoursesECTS
Greek Philology1.5
Historical Geography I2.0
Historical Geography II2.0
History of the Near East III/IV2.0
History of Writing Systems1.5
Issues in Semitic Languages1.5
Lexicon, Code, and Interaction2.0
Rabbinic and Early Christian Literature1.5
Syntax of Natural Languages2.0
Language CoursesECTS
Ancient Greek6.0
Biblical Hebrew14.0

Students with no prior knowledge of the target language must start with Level I. Students with prior knowledge must complete a written and oral placement test in order to qualify into higher levels.

Theoretical & Practical CoursesECTS
Phonetics and Phonology2.0
Derivational Morphology2.0
Historical Geography III2.0
Historical Geography IV2.0
History of the Near East I/II2.0
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Philology1.5
Medieval Sources2.0
Patristic Sources1.0
Greek Palaeography1.5
Introduction to Jewish Sources1.5
Critical Apparatus1.5
Translation Theory1.5
Speech in Ancient Language6.0
Research Track
Non-Research Track
Theoretical & Practical CoursesECTS
Master's Thesis20.0
Theoretical & Practical CoursesECTS
Seminar Paper10.0
Extra Mandatory Courses10.0

Theoretical ECTS + Thesis

64.0

Language ECTS

62.0

Total Required ECTS

126.0

Elective Courses

Elective courses listed here can be chosen over the two years without additional fees. Students may also request to register for elective courses from other programs for additional fees. Elective courses are subject to change.

Language CoursesECTS
Ancient Greek18.0
Biblical Hebrew9.0
Classical Syriac5.0
Coptic6.0
Latin28.0
Modern Hebrew40.0
Theoretical & Practical CoursesECTS
Introduction to Hebrew Literature1.5
Ancient Greek Readings: Attic Greek Prose3.0
Ancient Greek Readings: Koine Greek Prose3.0
Ancient Greek Readings: Greek Philosopher3.0
Ancient Greek Readings: Fathers of the Church3.0
Greek Lunch (Symposium)12.0
Semitic Palaeography1.5
Seven Seals (Taught in A. Greek)4.0
Qumran Hebrew Readings (taught in Hebrew)2.0
Mishnaic Hebrew Readings (taught in Hebrew)2.0
Jewish Feasts0.5
Selected Near Eastern Language4.0
Applied Philology Seminar 1: Practicum1.0
Applied Philology Seminar 2: Practicum1.5
Applied Philology Seminar 3-6: Practicum40.0
History of the Near East4.0
The Genre of Parables in Gospels and Early Jewish Texts1.5
The Human Person - Part I: Historical Overview // Part II: Manifestations of the Human Being4.0
The Notion of God According to the Tanakh, Christian Bible and Qur'an2.0
Readings in Classical Philosophy I: Aristotle’s Categories and Metaphysics1.5
Readings in Classical Philosophy II: Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics, On the Soul1.5

Emphasis in Teaching Ancient & Modern Languages

Graduates and students registered in the second year of the program 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 CoursesECTS
Issues in Teaching Ancient Languages1.5
Workshops3.0
Assistant Teaching4.0
Entry Requirements
How to Apply
Scholarships
Fees
Syllabus

Entry Requirements

  • A Bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognized university is required.
  • Students are expected to be fluent in English.

Admissions

Please prepare the following documents in order to apply. Application can be submitted online or by mail.

  • A filled application form
  • A letter of motivation
  • Two academic letters of recommendation
    Letters of recommendation must be sent directly by each reference (both through email or post).
  • A copy of your B.A. diploma or equivalent with description of courses and grades
    Transcripts must be sent directly from each university
  • An official copy of your B.A. transcript and other relevant transcripts
  • CV or résumé
  • A copy of the main page of your passport, with Israeli stamps if applicable
  • Two passport photographs
    Passport photos should be sent by post. Candidates who submit their applications after May 1 may submit clear digital passport photos.
  • Application Fee of 600 NIS

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.

Scholarships

Callimachus

Full tuition | One Academic Year | 15 hrs/wk of volunteer work

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

13 000 NIS | One Academic Year | 10 hrs/wk of volunteer work

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

6 000 NIS | One Academic Year | 7 hrs/wk of volunteer work

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

19 500 NIS | One Academic Year | 12 hrs/wk of volunteer work

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

Fees

Application Fee

ILS 600

For processing the application

Registration Fee

ILS 5000

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.

Self-Financed Student Discount

ILS 8000

Discount is available for students who are financing their studies from their own resources or loans or their close family.

Early Registration Discount

ILS 2000

Discount is available for students who register and pay in full by June 1, 2023.

Tuition Fee

ILS 28 000 to 38 000 / year

Disclaimer

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