The specialization in International Relations is meant for students interested in the intersection between international and national politics. Our students combine core and elective courses from the Department of International Relations and the Department of Political Science. This specialization is rooted in the disciplinary proximity between the departments, allowing advanced Political Science students to enhance their knowledge of theories and methods used in the field of International Relations. This specialization enables students in the research track to acquaint themselves with a broad set of research skills, allowing them to formulate theories and implement ideas relevant to both the political and international arenas. 

This specialization meets our students’ desire to deeply understand the characteristics, dynamics and processes of Israeli politics and democracy. Our curriculum takes advantage of our department’s location in Jerusalem, the center of Israeli governance and politics. Our students study democracy and politics – in Israel and globally – from empirical, theoretical and normative perspectives. Our faculty’s expertise in the area of democracy and politics in Israel makes this a unique program with exceptionally high standards. Graduates of this specialization gain a deep understanding of the essence of democracy, and are able to assess its strengths and weaknesses in the Israeli case. The specialization is available to both non-research and research-track students.

The specialization in Law, Government and Society is the department’s newest specialization and is available to non-research track students. It was created in collaboration with the Hebrew University Faculty of Law. The curriculum integrates training in both departments, providing students with the required knowledge and skills in each, along with a deep understanding of the relationship between them.

The program of study includes both required and elective courses in the Department of Political Science, combined with a significant component of elective courses (one third of the program) in the Faculty of Law. In addition, students participate in seminars and study tours of Israel’s top legal and political institutions. Because this specialization is available to non-research track students it does not require students to write a final thesis.

The specialization in Political Communications, available to both research-track and non-research track students, is an elite program geared toward attracting the best graduate students from both the Political Science and Communications departments. This specialization equips students with key theoretical and methodological tools from the fields of politics and media. Students gain an in-depth understanding and broad perspective of the complex relationship these fields share. Our students go on to become the academic and professional leaders of both fields in Israel.

The specialization in Political Theory is intended for graduate students in the research track who wish to focus their studies on political philosophy, history of political thought, or the study of political ideologies.

Our curriculum brings students into contact with texts that have shaped the very concept of ​​politics, from Plato and Machiavelli to Rawls and Foucault. It provides students with the opportunity to conduct in-depth research of ideas ​​such as equality, justice, liberty, democracy, sovereignty and patriotism. We enable students to explore political ideologies such as liberalism, socialism, conservatism, anarchism and feminism. Finally, the program offers its students the theoretical tools to help analyze and solve problems in public policy and civic life.

General information

The Department of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Israel offers an innovative study program which integrates MA and PhD studies, fully funded by academic scholarships.

Link to information flier (Hebrew)

Link to information flier (Arabic)

About the program

The AGSP/TELEM is a unique, five-year program that integrates master’s and doctoral studies in a format modeled after the Graduate Schools of leading universities worldwide. This highly selective program creates an intensive learning environment, is academically rigorous, and is internationally recognized. This program aims to instill students with the necessary skills for conducting research of the highest caliber, and to position its graduates at the forefront of their fields.

Undergraduate honors students from all academic institutions are invited to apply for the AGSP/TELEM based on their outstanding academic achievements. Applicants must demonstrate a wide range of intellectual capabilities, including flexibility, depth of thought, research ambition, and an ability to contribute to a creative and productive environment.

This academic program begins with a two-year MA component during which students participate in an array of advanced courses aimed at providing them with a systematic, in depth and critical understanding of the top research in the field. At the end of their second year of studies students write a final thesis based on an original piece of research they conduct. With the conclusion of this portion of the program, the students receive their MA in Political Science. The following three years of the program are dedicated to working toward a PhD dissertation. During this portion of the program students enrich their knowledge through additional courses and deepen their involvement in the world of research. Most are expected to present preliminary aspects of their research in academic forums in Israel and internationally.

This program, the first of its kind in Israel, strives to create financial security for its students, providing them with the resources to allow their academic work to be the main focus of their professional lives. To that end, students accepted to the program are awarded scholarships and are offered paid positions as Teaching Assistants and researchers at the university. Students accepted to this elite program are afforded the opportunity to work with leading Political Scientists in Israel and study alongside students of the highest caliber in the country. They will receive preferential treatment for endowments of grants and other institutional funding, including scholarships to participate in scientific conferences overseas. 

For additional information on the structure of the AGSP (in Hebrew, pages 27-31)

Registration

Registration is completed through the university registration system.

Interested applicants should contact the Department Administrator and/or the Graduate Students Administrator.