PhD in Biblical Studies
Bar-Ilan University
Key Information
Campus location
Ramat Gan, Israel
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
Request info
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
Introduction
PhD at the Department of Bible, BIU University
Requirements for the Phd Program
- An MA thesis in biblical studies from an accredited institution.
- A grade for the thesis of at least 85 (in 1-100 scale).
- A CV.
Registration is open throughout the whole year.
Applicants usually meet with the head of the department to determine the relevant instructor suited for their research. The department’s head will offer several possibilities and the student then contacts the relevant faculty members. The format is different than that of the US in that students who achieved their BA and MA degrees in Biblical Studies are trained to write their Phd dissertation.
Students should register for a course on ancient language (if not already taken during their MA studies: Greek, Akkadian, Latin) and modern language other than English (German, French, Italian, etc.).
The majority of a student’s time in the Phd program is invested in preparing a proposal and the thesis itself. Each Phd student should also take one course per year during his/her studies in addition to participating in the departmental seminars.
Oversees students are not required to study Modern Hebrew.
Scholarships
A full list is found here: /admissions/financial-aid-scholarships/phd-scholarships/
Those relevant to biblical studies are:
- Presidential Scholarship: Students whom their average grade is exceptionally high may apply to the presidential scholarship. They should be in touch first with a potential supervisor. That is a very competitive scholarship.
- Sandwich program.
- Fullbright Program – for post-doctoral students.
- The department gives, according to its available resources, a small amount of scholarships to students at all degrees.
Among the topics explored in our department:
- Biblical Hebrew.
- Literary Analysis of the Bible.
- Biblical Law.
- Biblical Historiography and Prophecy.
- Wisdom Literature.
- Feministic approach to the Hebrew Bible.
- Jewish Interpretation of the Bible Through the Ages (Josephus; Qumran; Jewish Medieval interpretation).
- Ancient Translations of the Hebrew Bible.
- The Bible and the Ancient Near East.
We are open to interdisciplinary researches, where we cooperate will various departments in the Faculty of Jewish studies (https://jewish-faculty.biu.ac.il/en) or other faculties at Bar-Ilan.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Name | Who can Apply? | Deadline | Scholarship Amount |
Fulbright Fellowship | US Citizens. | - | $13,000 living stipend. |
MFA Scholarship for Foreign Students | Most Nationalities. | Around March 19 of each year. | Tuition: 50% up to a maximum of $6,000 monthly allowance. |
The French Embassy Israel | French or European citizens interested in the field of science. | Around May of each year. | - |
The Presidential Scholarship - A Scholarship for Outstanding Ph.D. Students | All nationalities. | May of each year. | 48,000 NIS for four years. |
The Sandwich Scholarship | International doctoral scholars. | July 31, 2022. | 80,000 NIS. |
The Zuckerman STEM Leadership | Postdoctoral candidates must be citizens of the United States or Canada or have a documented status that allows them to study and work in the US. | March 31, 2022. | $60,000 per academic year for up to two years. Of this amount, $50,000. |