Why study this course?
The MLitt in the Study of Judaism and Christianity is a two-year taught programme run jointly by the School of Divinity at St Andrews and the Department of Comparative Religion at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The programme will allow you to explore both the breadth and depth of the Jewish and Christian religious traditions, encompassing languages, history, theology and philosophy.
You will spend your first year in Israel and your second year in Scotland. Learn more about being an international student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Highlights
- As members of two world-class universities in very different settings, you will immerse yourself in two unique and rich cultural, linguistic and religious environments.
- The programme will introduce the comparative study of Judaism and Christianity and allow you to develop your own expertise through modules that cross a wide range of sub-disciplines.
- Language courses will equip you with the skills to study Jewish and Christian literature in the original languages, both ancient and modern, for example, biblical and modern Hebrew, Koine, Greek, Aramaic, Latin, German.
- The programme is taught by a group of internationally renowned experts in all major areas of the study of Judaism and Christianity from ancient Israel to the 21st century.
- The combination of rigorous intellectual training with extensive cross-cultural experience will prepare you to go on to PhD research or to enter a range of top-level graduate careers.
Language teaching
Students are required to show an intermediate proficiency in at least one ancient or modern language other than English by the end of the programme and are expected to build language study into their programme accordingly in both Jerusalem and St Andrews. Teaching is available in biblical and modern Hebrew, Greek, classical Latin, classical and modern Arabic, German, French and Italian.
Teaching
Delivered through lectures, one-to-one discussions, seminars, and class presentations.
Class sizes
Groups range from 6 to 12 students.
Dissertation
A 15,000-word project with regular support.
Assessment
A mix of seminar presentations, extended essays, and end-of-semester written exams.
Modules
Details of the modules taught at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem will be available in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem module catalogue.
The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details about each module taught in St Andrews, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest St Andrews module catalogue.
Students take three or four optional modules both in Jerusalem and in St Andrews. These optional modules are subject to change in each year and are taken primarily from the Faculty of Humanities offerings in Bible, Comparative Religion, and Jewish Studies (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) and the School of Divinity’s offerings in biblical studies and in systematic and historical theology. The optional modules we list opposite are examples of those offered in recent years.
Students may also take eligible modules from Divinity and other Schools with the approval of the programme director.
Course information may change. Module information and course content, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at the University of St Andrews. We display the most up-to-date information possible, but this could be from a previous academic year. For the latest module information, see the module catalogue.
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- Issues in the Comparative Study of Judaism and Christianity
- Topics in the Relations between Judaism and Christianity
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- Selected Topics in Biblical Law
- Selected Topics in Biblical Prophecy
- Law in the New Testament
- New Testament as a Witness for Broader Second Temple Judaism
- Approaching Classical Jewish Texts from Medieval to Modern Times
- Reading Medieval Jewish Exegesis
- Monarchy in Classical Jewish Thought
- Kabbalah and German Idealism
- German-Jewish Thought and Culture
- The Legacy of German-Jewish Modernism
- Hannah Arendt and Rahel Varnhagen
- Ethics and Jewish Education in the Thought of Emmanuel Levinas
- Dangerous Liaisons: The Vatican and the Jews after WWII
- Ineffability
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- Hebrew Readings
- Hellenistic Greek Readings
- Biblical Themes
- King and Messiah in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and Second Temple Judaism
- Epistle to the Hebrews
- The Book of Revelation
- From Nazareth to Nicaea: The origins of Christian theology
- Theological Anthropology
- The Doctrine of the Trinity
- Christology
- A Selected Patristic Theologian: Gregory Nazianzen
- A Selected Reformation Theologian
- A Selected Medieval Theologian: Thomas Aquinas
- A Selected Modern Theologian: Henri de Lubac
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Student dissertations are supervised by members of the teaching staff who advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. Both St Andrews and Hebrew University staff will be involved in the dissertation module.
Students begin their dissertations at the start of Semester 2, but will have time for particular focus during the three months in summer. The completed dissertation of 15,000 words must be submitted by a date specified in August.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there are exit awards available that allow suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.
What it will lead to
Careers
Students on our Masters programmes are provided with the skills they need to succeed in an international job market, both academic and non-academic.
Regular workshops, both general and subject-specific, in areas such as publishing, conference presentations, and job searches are offered by the School of Divinity and the University.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and hosts a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
Further study
Many Divinity graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere in the UK and abroad.
Why St Andrews?
The School of Divinity at St Andrews regularly hosts international conferences and smaller symposia on themes across the field of biblical and theological studies.
Students are also welcome to participate in the School's weekly research seminars in Biblical Studies, Theology, and Religion and Politics.
Alumni
When you graduate you become a member of the University's worldwide alumni community. Benefit from access to alumni clubs, the Saint Connect networking and mentoring platform, and careers support.
“Studying at St Andrews has inculcated in me critical thinking, rigour and precision in writing. The lecturers are always available and ready to help clarify an issue, answer a question, advise or give a listening ear. St Andrews is a unique family – home to students from a diversity of continents, cultures, races and languages.”
- Cumbo, Cameroon
Ask a student
If you are interested in learning what it's like to be a student at St Andrews you can speak to one of our student ambassadors. They'll let you know about their top tips, best study spots, favourite traditions and more.
Entry requirements
- A 2.1 undergraduate Honours degree in Theology, Religion, Jewish Studies, Biblical Studies, or a closely related discipline. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Application requirements
- CV that includes your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date
- personal statement (optional)
- 2,000-word sample of your own, single-authored academic written work
- two original signed academic references
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
Successful applicants will need to submit some further documentation to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem when accepting their offer. Details will follow once an offer is issued.
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
English language proficiency
If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.
Fees and funding
To be confirmed.
Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.
Scholarships and funding
We are committed to supporting you through your studies, regardless of your financial circumstances. You may be eligible for scholarships, discounts or other support:
Contact us
Start your journey
Legal notices
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the course archive.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.
Page last updated: 13 March 2025