Bursary for the Leo Baeck Institute MA in European Jewish History
The Leo Baeck Institute in conjunction with the School of History, Queen Mary, University of London is offering two bursaries tenable for the academic year 2015/2016 for students taking the Leo Baeck Institute MA in European Jewish History. The bursary of £4,000 will cover a substantial part of the fee for the Home/EU rate (the rate for 2015/2016 is £6,450) as well as the overseas rate (the rate for 2015/2016 is £13,950). Candidates should normally have attained or expect to attain a first class degree or equivalent in history or a related humanities subject.
The Programme
The Leo Baeck Institute MA trains scholars towards undertaking independent research on Jewish history, culture and thought in Europe. It provides a strong grounding in approaches and theories which have influenced the ways in which scholars understand Jewish history. Simultaneously, the MA introduces students to a wide range of sources available for European Jewish studies. Particular attention will be paid to the Jewish response to modernity and problems around the definition and issues of assimilation and identity. The role of antisemitism and the origins of the Holocaust are central, as is Jewish intellectual history, focusing on the ideas of eminent Jewish thinkers about the place of Jews and Judaism in pre-modern and modern society.
The MA consists of the core module, three modules chosen from a series of options and an individually supervised dissertation. Students will also take a non-assessed research methods course. Part-time students take the core module and one option in the first year, and two options and dissertation in the second year.
Optional modules may include:
- Modern Jewish History and Culture - Christians and Jews in Europe: Perceptions and Encounters, 1100-1600 - Jews, Power and Intellectual History - Antisemitism and the Holocaust - Modern European Jewish Literature - Hollywood and the Second World War - Understanding Religion Historically - Overcoming Nazism
The Leo Baeck Institute
The Leo Baeck Institute (LBI) is the leading research institute in the field of the history and culture of German-speaking Jewry in Europe from the 17th century onwards. It was founded in 1955 and named after Leo Baeck, the last public representative of the Jewish Community in Nazi Germany. Among the Institute’s publications are the Leo Baeck Institute Year Book and the Schriftenreihe wissenschaftlicher Abhandlungen. The institute organises a broad range of events such as lecture series and international conferences, and has recently established two research professorships to investigate the role of German-speaking Jews in 19th and 20th century academia.
The School of History at Queen Mary
The School of History at Queen Mary is one of the largest history departments in London and offers a very wide range of degree courses and research opportunities. It provides first-rate teaching fuelled by cutting-edge research within a friendly, welcoming atmosphere with an emphasis on student support.
In the Research Excellence Framework of 2014 - the national assessment of research performance - the School of History at Queen Mary was ranked 11th by research power among all history departments in the UK. By the specific measure of the research environment that it provides for its staff and students, History was ranked equal 4th in the. Over 80 per cent of the School's historians were submitted to the REF and 75 per cent of their publications were judged as 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent'. The School’s success in REF2014 means that it continues to be a centre of excellence in historical research and in dynamic and exciting research-led teaching for its undergraduates and postgraduates.
General Entry Requirements
An upper second class honours undergraduate degree or higher in History (or overseas equivalent). Mature students from other academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Please visit http://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/coursefinder/index.html to download an application form.
Please ensure you submit a statement of purpose as requested on the application form. This should be 500 – 750 words in length. Please address the following:
Why do you want to study the Leo Baeck Institute MA in European Jewish History programme at Queen Mary?
How do you think the MA will assist you in your future ambitions?
Please identify any relevant experience which has prepared you for this programme.
Deadline for receipt of applications for bursaries: 13 April 2015
2015/16 Home/EU Fee: £6,450
2015/16 Overseas Fee: £13,950
Further information links
http://www.history.qmul.ac.uk
http://jewishstudies.history.qmul.ac.uk
http://www.leobaeck.co.uk
Contact
Dr Daniel Wildmann
Deputy Director Leo Baeck Institute London / Senior Lecturer Scool of History, Queen Mary, University of London
email: info@leobaeck.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0)20 7882 5690
Ms Kat Kemp
Postgraduate Taught and Research Programmes Support Manager
email: k.kemp@qmul.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)20 7882 8352