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

One Year program

Near Eastern Languages - One-Year Program

Overview

The Near Eastern Languages One-Year Program is the first year of the Two-Year program in Near Eastern Languages which consists of intensive and full immersion modern and ancient language courses in Arabic and Hebrew as well as courses in history, philosophy, and literature of the ancient and contemporary Near East. Some of these courses are taught in either Arabic or Hebrew. Students will gain the ability to read moderately difficult narrative texts without the need of a dictionary/translation, save for rare occasions.

This Near Eastern Languages One-Year Program program is ideal for people interested in a career in Semitic philology, journalism, history, languages, or the study of the history of the Near East, Eastern Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. The program is also ideal for students interested in the fields of the Hebrew Bible, Arabic heritage, and manuscript studies.

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 track, which focuses on preparing the student for a career in teaching languages in an immersive setting. Students gain first-hand experience teaching as well as participating in methodological courses and workshops. This track grants an additional 8.5ECTS credits free of charge.

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!

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 track, which focuses on preparing the student for a career in teaching languages in an immersive setting. Students gain first-hand experience teaching as well as participating in methodological courses and workshops. This track grants an additional 8.5 ECTS credits free of charge.

The application form is available online and in printable format. Scholarships are also available for this program.

Please note that the degree of  the Two-Year program in Near Eastern Languages is awarded by a third-party university University of Navarra (Spain) and not by Polis.

Enrollment

Open

Program Dates

Aug 30, 2023 – Jun 26, 2024

Program Length

1 Year

Location

Jerusalem

Courses

Mandatory Language Courses

Students with no prior knowledge of the target language must start with Level 1. Students with prior knowledge must complete a written and oral placement test in order to qualify into higher levels.

Language CoursesECTS
Spoken Arabic16.0
Modern Standard Arabic20.0
Hebrew20.0

Mandatory Theoretical Courses

Theoretical & Practical CoursesECTS
Arabic Philosophy1.5
History of the Near East III/IV2.0
Historical Geography I/II2.0
Lexicon, Code, and Interaction2.0
Issues in Semitic Languages1.5
Introduction to Arabic Literature2.0

Elective Courses

Students registered in the One-Year Program in Ancient Philology may register for as many elective academic hours as they choose as part of the program. Elective registrations not included in the below list are subject to the regular course fee as listed in the administrative office. The list is subject to change and some courses are not offered every year.

Language CoursesECTS
Biblical Hebrew41.0
Classical Syriac5.0
Coptic6.0
Latin28.0
Modern Hebrew40.0
Spoken Arabic28.0
Arabic Readings6.0
Speech in Arabic or Hebrew6.0
Theoretical & Practical CoursesECTS
Historical Geography4.0
History of the Near East
Phonetics and Phonology2.0
Derivational Morphology2.0
Lexicon, Code, and Interaction2.0
Patristic Sources1.0
Rabbinic and Early Christian Literature1.5
Medieval Sources2.0
Semitic Palaeography1.5
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Philology1.5
Applied Philology Seminar 2: Arabic in Media1.5
Jewish Feasts0.5
Selected Near Eastern Language
The Genre of Parables in Gospels and Early Jewish Texts1.5
Jerusalem Codices and Communities in the Middle Ages2.0
Jerusalem Communities1.0
The Human Person - Part I: Historical Overview // Part II: Manifestations of the Human Being4.0
The Notion of God According to Tanakh, Christian Bible and Qur'an I
The Notion of God According to Tanakh, Christian Bible and Qur'an II
Islamic Modernity in Modern and Contemporary Arab Thought1.5

Mandatory Languages

560.0

Mandatory Theoretical courses

97.0

Total Academic hours

657.0
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

Disclaimer

Students who successfully complete this program will receive a certificate from the Polis Institute.

ECTS = European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System

1 ECTS = 10 academic hours