Home

History (Central and East European) and Jewish Studies with Year Abroad BA

London, Bloomsbury

This four-year degree programme combines the study of Jewish cultural history with the study of the land (and associated languages and cultures) where many Jewish communities had their homes. The third year is spent abroad in Jerusalem and/or in a relevant central or east European country.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
4 academic years
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£9,250
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£28,100
Programme starts
September 2024
Application deadline
31 Jan 2024
UCAS course code
VV23

Entry requirements

A levels IB Diploma Other qualifications
Grades
ABB
Subjects
History required.
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 5.

Contextual offer information

Grades
CCC more about contextual offers
Subjects
History required.
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 5.
Points
34
Subjects
A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects including History, with no higher level score below 5.

Contextual offer

Points
30 more about contextual offers
Subjects
A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects including History, with no higher level score below 5.

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction, 12 credits at Merit and 3 credits at Pass, all from Level 3 units. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your Access to HE syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

D3,M1,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. History required.

ABB at Advanced Highers (or AB at Advanced Higher and BBB at Higher). History required at Advanced Higher.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades ABB. History required.

International applications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

Access and widening participation

UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.
Check your Access UCL Scheme eligibility

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.

English language requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Course overview

Year 1 introduces you to the study of central and east European history and Jewish studies at university level. 

In Years 2 and 4 you can focus on topics of specific interest to you by choosing modules that examine particular periods and themes in east European and Jewish history. You can also study one or more relevant languages such as Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, Polish, or Ukrainian.

Your third year is spent abroad at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and/or in a relevant central or east European country.

What this course will give you

UCL Hebrew & Jewish Studies is the only department of its kind in the UK and is highly regarded worldwide.

The programme is taught by acknowledged specialists in the field, all of whom are actively engaged in research. This will enable you to keep up-to-date with the latest debates, issues and discoveries.

UCL School of Slavonic & Eastern European Studies (SSEES) is the largest national centre in the UK for the study of central, east and south-east Europe and Russia. The SSEES Library contains over 400,000 books, journals and film resources.

You will have access to a remarkable collection of Hebrew, Yiddish, and Judaica books in the UCL Library, as well as to the special collections of the British Library, the Wiener Library, and the National Archives.

Teaching and learning

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in History (Central and East European) and Jewish Studies with Year Abroad.

Modules

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Year 1 introduces you to the study of central and east European history and Jewish studies at university level. 

In Years 2 and 4 you can focus on topics of specific interest to you by choosing modules that examine particular periods and themes in east European and Jewish history. You can also study one or more relevant languages such as Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, Polish, or Ukrainian.

Your third year is spent abroad at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and/or in a relevant central or east European country.

Year 1

Compulsory modules



Optional modules







Moses Maimonides in Jewish Thought and History A






History of Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture

The Arab-Israeli Conflict A



Year Abroad Assessment A



Israel and Palestine



Nazi Gold and Looted Art in World War Two and Beyond

Ladino Language 1


Your learning

History modules are taught through lectures and seminars. Modern language study includes oral work, reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and translation exercises.

Between 22% and 27% of a student's time is spent in lectures and seminars, the remainder in independent study.

Assessment

Most modules are assessed by an end-of-year written examination, several essays and/or other types of coursework. Language modules are also assessed by oral examinations.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Visit us

All open days and events

—

Online - Open day

Hebrew & Jewish Studies: 1-2-1 Calls with Admissions Tutor

Book a 1:1 call with the Hebrew & Jewish Studies Undergraduate Admissions Tutor. You will be able to ask any questions you may have about the programmes offered by the department, how these programmes are taught, where the degrees could take you or about studying at UCL.

UCL Bloomsbury Campus, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT - Open day

UCL Undergraduate Open Event: Humanities, Social and Historical Sciences

—

We are excited to be coming together across three UCL faculties, Social & Historical Sciences, Arts & Humanities and Maths and Physical Sciences, to host our November in-person Undergraduate Open Event. Join us to learn more about the exciting undergraduate degrees at UCL within the fields of humanities, social and historical sciences. You can attend programme talks, speak to staff and students, and go on a tour of the Bloomsbury campus to see some of the amazing facilities on offer.

The foundation of your career

Our graduates take up employment in diverse fields including banking and finance, journalism, publishing, the museum sector, and librarianship. Many choose to pursue further study, either continuing within the field or training in law or teaching (primary and secondary).

Employability

Together with subject-specific knowledge, you will acquire discipline-based skills in historical research, methodology, and analysis, in addition to transferable skills such as working as part of a team, analysing and solving problems, organising your time and resources, and structuring and communicating your ideas verbally and in writing.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £9,250
Tuition fees (2024/25) £28,100

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2024/25 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2024/25 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Additional costs

The department strives to keep additional costs low. Books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL library (hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions).

If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

In addition, please note that if you study abroad during your programme at UCL, this is likely to incur additional costs. Studying abroad may cost between £200–£1,000 per month depending on where you choose to study. The cost of studying abroad can be difficult to predict as it will depend on your priorities and choices. There is more information available on the UCL Study Abroad website.

A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Funding your studies

UCL Hebrew and Jewish Studies awards a range of annual prizes and scholarships of varying amounts to current students for academic excellence and/or financial need. Please view the Departmental Scholarships and Prizes page of our website for more information.

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Scholarships

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Next steps

Your application

We seek to select candidates who, in addition to academic achievement, have the motivation and passion for inter-cultural inquiry, and who have a deep commitment to developing their cultural understanding to an advanced level.

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Selection

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.

UCL Hebrew & Jewish Studies and UCL SSEES both attract students from a diversity of backgrounds, and our degree programmes reflect a range of cultures, ethnicities and religions. Consequently, we do not require you to have any prior knowledge of Hebrew, nor are you expected to have a Jewish background.

The selection process is conducted on the basis of your UCAS application and personal statement. If you receive an offer for a place on a programme, you will be invited to visit UCL Hebrew & Jewish Studies and the UCL School of Slavonic & Eastern European Studies, as well as tour the campus.

Download prospectus

Got questions? Get in touch

Hebrew and Jewish Studies
Hebrew and Jewish Studies

jewish.studies@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.