Judaistik (Master of Arts)
(Jewish Studies)

Overview
Conditions of admission
Applications


Overview

Course content and focus areas 

Jewish Studies covers the entire cultural development of the Jewish world from the beginnings to the present day: its manifold historical appearances, its continuities and changes (including its interrelations with other cultures) in different ages and geographical locations in more than 1,000 years of development. Because of the Jewish world’s many linguistic, geographical, historical, religious and social relations, the programme comprises various disciplines – such as history, literature, philosophy and legal history – as is expressed in the Hebrew title “Jewish Studies” (Hebrew University Jerusalem). This explains why the subject is an interdisciplinary subject.
The appropriate scope of the subject ranges from the languages of the Jews – literatures in the various languages, religious history and philosophy as well as history, archaeology, art history, music and film, ethnology and sociology.
To ensure that all the above mentioned dimensions can be studied in the programme, the content focuses on a few key areas to begin with. As the Jewish world has been heavily influenced up to now by the Rabbinic Judaism of Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, and given that modern Judaism is increasingly connecting with its traditions and values and is seeking to re-adopt these, knowledge of this area is of crucial importance. To enable students to acquire key skills and thereby the preconditions for specialisation, the programme seeks to introduce students to other aspects of the Jewish world. The modern and the contemporary Jewish world form a key point of reference.
In Frankfurt, special focus is placed on different aspects of Rabbinic hermeneutics, different areas of Jewish mysticism, diverse aspects of how Jews understand themselves, their traditions and history, particularly in the conflict areas of historiography and hagiography, factions and literacy, between self-assertion and intercultural “dialogue”. Frankfurt has also been looking to integrate and accentuate gender aspects, which have long been neglected in Jewish Studies generally – not only in German Jewish Studies, into its Jewish Studies programme. The professorship for Jewish religious philosophy (Martin Buber Professorship), which is unique in Germany, the Fritz-Bauer Institute (study and documentation centre for the history and effects of the holocaust) as well as lectures on Jewish-related topics in other subjects, especially in history, offer students many possibilities to appreciate additional interdisciplinary areas.

Detailed information

Information from the department
Study regulations 

Degree

Master of Arts in Jewish Studies 

Duration

The standard length of study for the Master of Arts is 4 semesters.

Languages of instruction

German  

Start of the programme

The study programme starts at the beginning of the winter semesters. 

Student advisory service Dr. Annelies Kuyt

Seminar für Judaistik
Senckenberganlage 31, Raum 460 (Juridicum)
60325 Frankfurt

Phone: 069/798-22794
kuyt@em.uni-frankfurt.de


to the top


 

Conditions of admission

Admission requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree or comparable degree in a similar subject 
  • Hebrew language skills
  • Good English language skills (level B2)
  • Good knowledge in French or Latin (level B2)
  • Exposé
  • Applicants who do not have a German university entrance qualification, nor do they have a degree from a German higher education institution, are obliged to submit proof of adequate German language skills.
Provisional admission

Provisional admission is possible on the basis of a current transcript of records; at least 80% of the required for the bachelor's degree CP (normally 144 credit points) must have been obtained; the Bachelor’s thesis must be finished or almost finished. Provisional admission is valid until the end of the first semester of the master’s program. The bachelor’s degree must thus be handed in by March 31 (winter intake) or September 30 (summer intake) the latest.

Mode of admission

Admission is not restricted. Students will be directly admitted if the admission requirements are met in full.


to the top


 

Applications


Documents to be submitted
  • if you are not already enrolled at Goethe-University Frankfurt:
    university entrance qualification (e.g. A-Levels)
  • Bachelor’s degree certificate
  • if the Bachelor's degree has not yet been completed:
    - a transcript of records or equivalent document listing the content of the study programme and average grade
    - proof of current enrollment in the bachelor programme
  • Proof of Hebrew language skills
  • Proof of English language skills and French or Latin language skills
  • exposé
  • if the first degree was obtained at an international higher education institution:
    certificate of German language skills. See here for more information about the required German language skills.
  • APS certificate for applicants from India, Vietnam and PR of China (original)
Application period

01 April - 31 August

Address for applications

Please contact the department


to the top