LSJS has a proud history of training rabbis and teachers and of offering degrees in Jewish studies, Jewish education, and related subjects. Founded under its original name of Jews’ College in 1855. Its alumni include Emeritus Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks who is both a graduate and a former principal of the College.

Jews’ College re-branded as LSJS in 1999 and has subsequently offered a range of degree and educator development programmes. In addition, since 2002 it has provided high-level adult education programming, and continues to offer outstanding and varied learning opportunities to the wider Jewish community. In recent years LSJS has renewed its emphasis on its original goal of training rabbis and other educators. The ordination of rabbis was resumed in partnership with the Montefiore Foundation in 2012, and from 2011 LSJS became a centre for the training of up to 50 teachers a year, providing the community’s schools with proficient and qualified staff.

When you enrol on a degree programme with LSJS, you will be taught by highly qualified, internationally renowned faculty members who are actively engaged in research and in publishing both for lay and academic audiences. Lecturers in Jewish Studies and Jewish Education Studies include Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum and Dr Helena Miller. Lecturers in Education Studies and Educational Leadership also include , Dr. Daniel Rose and Dr Joseph Mintz

LSJS is situated at the heart of the Jewish community in Hendon, north-west London. You will have access to the Marc Weinberg Community Library (home to many rare and precious manuscripts) which has been renovated to provide a state-of-the-art learning environment. Please see below for further details.

You will experience a warm, nurturing and friendly environment at LSJS in which you will be encouraged to grow and develop, both academically and professionally.

As a student on this degree programme, you will automatically become a full member of the LSJS library, one of the most extensive Judaica libraries in Europe, being home to over 70,000 volumes. You will have access to the library’s reading room, which is open five days a week, in addition to computer terminals and free WiFi. From the computer terminals, you can use up-to-date Judaica software owned by the library, such as the Bar Ilan Responsa Project and the Otzar HaHochma Digital Mega Library.

You will also have access to two comprehensive collections of online databases:

1. Education Research Complete – a collection of over 2,000 full-text publications covering a wide variety of areas related to Education
2. Jewish Studies Source – a collection of over 400 full-text publications covering a wide variety of areas related to Jewish Studies

The course is delivered over two years to allow you develop your knowledge and skills at an appropriate pace. Each year, you will undertake up to 90 credits. To graduate with an MA, you will need to earn a total of 180 credits. The dissertation is worth 60 credits and all taught modules are worth 30 credits each.

In the first year you will be expected to take two compulsory modules, “Jewish Education: Traditional Sources and Contemporary Issues”, and “Teaching and Learning in Jewish Education”, followed by an optional module in your third term. 

In the second year, you will develop your independent research skills. You will choose an optional final module, which includes an introduction to research methodology and requires you to undertake a 5,000 word case study. Finally, you will complete a 15,000 word dissertation.

*Please note that not all optional modules are offered every year, and this may affect your chosen area of specialisation. Optional modules are also subject to minimum registration numbers.

First Year Compulsory Modules

First Year Optional Modules

Second Year Compulsory Module

Second Year Optional Modules

We welcome applications with a wide variety of educational qualifications and experience. All applicants will need to demonstrate familiarity with the ethos of Jewish education..

You will normally have completed a first degree with higher second class honours (2:1) or above, or an equivalent qualification. In some circumstances, applicants who do not have these qualifications, but have extensive experience working in Jewish education and/or a strong background in traditional Jewish text study (for example, rabbinic ordination or extensive period of study in a seminary or yeshiva) may be invited for interview and asked to submit written work as evidence of their potential to embark on postgraduate level studies in Jewish education. Students whose first language is not English will need to show proficiency through submission of written work and at an interview.

Accreditation of Prior Learning 

You may be eligible to apply for Accreditation of Prior Learning for some of the credits required for a degree award. For further details, please contact Dr Helena Miller.

Tuition Fees

The annual MA tuition fees for all new students registering for the 2026 academic year will be £3,900. Your tuition fees may increase on an annual basis.

Other Expenses:

LSJS does not charge any other additional fees. However, you will need to allow for the costs of books and other learning materials, and to ensure that you have reliable internet access.. You will be expected to buy core texts for some modules. In most cases, this will be limited to two books per module, . You may also need to pay a subscription for membership of online databases that are a course requirement. You should allow up to £200 per year for database subscriptions, books and other learning materials.

If you are unable to access the LSJS library on a regular basis, you may wish to take out membership of an academic library closer to your home, and if so you should also bear the potential cost in mind. However, many resources are available online, and we expect that students who do not have access to a local academic library will nevertheless be able to complete all of the requirements of the course.

Bursaries:

A small number of bursaries are available for this course for students in financial need. For more information please contact the Academic Registrar Suzanne Wayland by email.

Click here for the tuition fees method of payment form.

Click here for the LSJS Participation Agreement including fee terms and conditions 

Completion of the MA Jewish Education will enhance your career prospects in the increasingly competitive Jewish Education field. Whether you are a school leader, community leader, teacher, rabbi or school governor, you could be expected to progress to more challenging and senior professional and voluntary roles in the Jewish community. This degree is also excellent preparation for a doctoral programme in a related area of study. 

As well as preparing students for furthering their educational career, the MA Jewish Education helps develop skills which are relevant to a wide variety of careers and transferable to many types of professions. These skills include: 

• Problem solving
• Teamwork
• Oral and written communication
• Independent research 

The MA Jewish Education provides graduates with a strong framework of knowledge and skills that will allow them to progress their careers and/or pursue research in Education Studies, Jewish Education and related fields.