MA IN HEBREW STUDIES

This course is administered by the Department of Middle Eastern Studies and is one of a number of MA degrees focusing on specific Middle Eastern languages and cultures. MA courses in Middle Eastern Studies typically comprise compulsory and optional course units, information on which can be found below, and a dissertation of 12,000-15,000 words.

A Postgraduate Diploma is also available, and has the same structure as the MA courses in Middle Eastern Studies, but does not include a dissertation.

Compulsory Units
The core course units aim to equip students for the challenges of MA study, and beyond that for further academic research and for the world of work.

Critical Approaches to Middle Eastern Studies
This course unit explores the key discourses and theories which inform academic writing about the Middle East.

Research Methods
This course unit provides training in the practical skills which students need to undertake and present research.

Research Methods in Middle Eastern Studies.
This course unit offeredprovides students with research skills in their chosen field.

Transformations in Modern Jewish Identities; AND: Rabbinic Constructions of Jewish Identity in Antiquity
This is a two-part core course specific to this MA programme, in addition to generic course units above. It is taught by Dr Behar and Prof. Samely, and makes up one-fourth of the taught programme of the MA. This leaves one or two of the course units below as free choice.  

Optional course units
Optional topics for the MA in Hebrew Studies typically include:

This list also includes units from the MA in Jewish Studies. It is also possible to create a Directed Reading course unit (tailor-made units, devised by arrangement with individual tutors to cover topics not addressed in the listed course units).

Entry requirements
The normal requirement for admission to the MA is an upper second-class honours degree or higher in a relevant subject, or its overseas equivalent. Students opting for a language pathway (such as an MA in Persian, Arabic, Turkish or Hebrew Studies) are required to have either an undergraduate degree in the relevant language, or an equivalent level of knowledge of the language. Applicants may be interviewed, especially if the first degree qualification is not in a clearly related subject. The fact of being a native speaker of a Middle Eastern language is not regarded as a sufficient qualification. Students who apply from overseas with non-UK qualifications should send a copy of their degree results with an officially authorised translation of their results, and an indication of the marking scale relating to their degree. English language scores of IELTS 7.0 with 7.0 in the writing element, or a TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based test), 250 (computer-based test) or 100 (internet-based test), are required for students whose native language is not English. All these entry requirements also apply to the PGDip Middle Eastern Studies, with the exception that an applicant’s first degree need not be in a relevant subject.

For course descriptions, click here. For information about life as a postgraduate at the University of Manchester, see the Graduate Study website. For information about study costs see Fees. For information specific to international students, see the International Postgraduates page.