Overview The Master's programme offers an in-depth, research-based study of Jewish religion designed to deepen your understanding of theological, philosophical and ethical ideas both within Jewish tradition and in contemporary academic and societal debates. You will develop specialist knowledge and methodological skills that enable independent analysis of sources central to Jewish religious history.
Curriculum highlights You will study the development of Jewish religion and thought from antiquity and the medieval period through major transformation processes since the mid-16th century. A central emphasis is on Rabbinic Judaism of antiquity and the early Middle Ages, with close analysis and historical contextualisation of primary texts from the Talmudic era (Mishnah, Talmud, Midrashim) and the later literatures of the Rishonim and Acharonim in their original languages. Other focal topics include the Jewish Enlightenment and Reform Movement, Eastern European Hasidism, religious philosophy, and theological and ethical developments in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Practical training and specialisations Practical theology is an integral part of the programme: you will study orders of service and the liturgical particularities of festivals, fast days and days of remembrance, gaining direct insight into the diversity of contemporary Jewish life. Students with a Jewish religious background may choose focus tracks oriented toward liberal or conservative (Masorti) rabbinates; completing the MA with one of these specialisations is linked to admission to Abraham Geiger College or Zacharias Frankel College in Potsdam. An internship module lets you apply your studies in practice, for example through placements with Jewish communities or cultural institutions, designing a tutorial for undergraduate students, or participating in an academic project.
Program requirements and structure (key points)
This master’s curriculum is described in full on the programme’s official course-organisation and structure webpage. That page is the authoritative source for everything related to teaching units, semester organisation, credit allocation, assessment methods and the expected learning outcomes for the degree.
If you want a clear picture of what you will study and achieve, consult the programme page for:
Practical notes for international applicants and incoming students:
For accurate, up-to-date module descriptions and precise learning outcomes, please follow the course-organisation and programme-structure link provided by the department — that page contains the full curriculum information.
Please consult the program’s official webpage for the full, authoritative list of academic admission requirements — the original listing contains the link labelled “here.” That page is the definitive source for what you must submit and any specific eligibility rules for this Master’s in Jewish Theology (MA).
International applicants should review that page carefully before applying. It will indicate whether your prior degree is recognized, what supporting documents are needed, language requirements, deadlines, and any additional steps (such as interviews or entrance assessments). If anything is unclear, contact the admissions office listed on the program page.
Winter Semester (International)
Information about the application deadlines can be foundhere.
Graduates are prepared for research and academic careers (including doctoral study) in Jewish studies, theology, religious studies and related humanities fields. The programme’s strong textual and methodological training also suits roles in higher education, research institutions and publishing.
The practical and internship components open career paths in Jewish communities and communal organisations, cultural institutions (museums, archives), education (secondary schools and adult education), non-profit and intercultural work, as well as public-facing roles in media and cultural policy. Students who select the rabbinic-oriented focus areas may also be eligible for vocational rabbinic training through partner colleges.