Hebrew and Aramaic Languages and Cultures

Specialisation of: Classics and Ancient Civilisations
Degree: Master of Arts in Classics and Ancient Civilisations
Mode of Study: Full-time
Duration: 1 year
Start date: September, February
Language of instruction: English
Location: Leiden
Croho/isat code: 60821
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Hebrew and Aramaic Languages and Cultures is taught by Leiden University’s Department of Hebrew and Aramaic, which houses the only Chair of both Hebrew and Aramaic world-wide. In this programme, you have the chance to study Classical Hebrew and the various Aramaic languages through their 3000-year history. While you have the opportunity to take courses in Modern Hebrew language and literature and contemporary Israeli society, you can also explore various Aramaic languages and literatures, including Syriac, Targumic Aramaic and Imperial Aramaic.

Programme

The broad range of expertise available means that you can have a study programme individually tailored to your specific interests. Hebrew and Aramaic Languages and Culture studies the languages in their respective linguistic, literary or cultural setting. You also have the option of taking courses at other institutions, such as our sister department at the University of Amsterdam. You can make individual arrangements with your supervisor is you wish to make use of this option.

The Department offers you a wide range of expertise on historical-comparative approaches to Hebrew and Aramaic and on other, less well-known but closely related languages: Ugaritic, Phoenician and Punic, for instance, that are not easily found outside Leiden, are popular subjects here. Your primary focus will be on either Aramaic or Hebrew.

Aramaic

If you choose Aramaic, you will explore different Aramaic languages and literatures, including Syriac, Targumic Aramaic and Imperial Aramaic. You will have the option of studying these languages, both individually and against the background of their 3000-year history. Subjects regularly offered include:

  • The historical grammar of Aramaic
  • The Dead Sea Scrolls
  • Semitic epigraphy

Hebrew

If you are interested in Hebrew languages and cultures, you will study Hebrew in its broadest sense, including other closely related languages, such as Ugaritic or Phoenician.

You will study the linguistics of Hebrew both in its present-day environment and against the background of its 3000-year history. Subjects regularly offered include:

  • Biblical Hebrew texts
  • The historical grammar of Hebrew and the development of the Tiberian tradition, which also lies at the heart of Modern Hebrew
  • The Dead Sea Scrolls
  • Semitic epigraphy

For further details of the course overview, course contents and the structure of the programme, see the e-Prospectus.

Sector plan

What does the Sector Plan mean for this programme?

The University of Amsterdam, the VU in Amsterdam, Leiden University and Utrecht University have agreed to combine their strengths.

As students follow part of the master’s programme (at least 10 ects) at one of the partner institutions, this collaboration gives you a much broader range of options. You can compose a programme from the language, literature and cultural modules offered by any of the four universities involved in the partnership.

You can find further details of this Sector Plan in the e-Prospectus