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This page is updated for the academic year 2023-2024.
Information for the academic year 2024-2025 will be updated in the coming days.
 

Master's Degree 

Introduction      

The following tracks are available in the Faculty of Law: 
Track A – includes research and thesis submission 
Track B –  not research-based 
Track B –  not research-based – a focused track for legal practitioners 
Track B –  not research-based – a focused legal studies program (for non-legal practitioners) 

Graduates of non-research Track B programs may not proceed directly to PhD studies. Track B programs are geared toward applicants seeking to broaden their academic knowledge in particular areas of expertise, but do not intend to engage in research. 

Only students who have completed the LLM degree with honors may apply for master’s degree thesis completion in order to be able to continue on to doctoral studies. 

Graduates of the focused programs in law may not proceed toward doctoral studies at all. 
 

Applying for the master’s degree 

Application for the master’s degree program is through the School of Graduate Studies. 
A decision to admit an applicant to the master’s degree program is valid for the year of admission only. 

Admission criteria 

The Faculty of Law committee for graduate degrees reserves the right to choose the best applicants from among those who meet admission criteria and to recommend those to the School of Graduate Studies. 

The final decision on admission of an applicant to the master’s degree program (all tracks) is under the authority of the School of Graduate Studies. 

  

  1. Track A – includes research and thesis submission 

  

  1. Admission to Track A 

Honor’s students with an undergraduate degree in law may apply for admission to the master’s program provided they meet the following conditions: 

  1. A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 85. 
  1. A grade of 85 in one seminar and 90 in the other. 

The following is to be submitted to the Faculty of Law office in addition to the application packet: 

  1. An undergraduate transcript. 
  1. An official confirmation indicating the ranking of the student in their graduating class. 
  1. A declaration of intent for research (4-5 pages per Faculty of Law guidelines). 
  1. Agreement by an academic faculty member to serve as thesis advisor. 
  1. A copy of a seminar paper submitted in undergraduate studies. 
  1. Two letters of recommendation from academic faculty members who have personal acquaintance with the applicant. 
      

  2. Master’s degree thesis completion track 

Honor’s students who completed a non-thesis master’s degree in law may apply for master’s thesis completion provided they meet the following conditions: 

  1. A minimum master’s degree grade point average of 85. 
  1. A grade of 85 in one seminar and 90 in the other. 
      

Application to the thesis completion track must include the following: 

  1. An undergraduate transcript. 
  1. An official confirmation indicating the ranking of the student in their graduating class. 
  1. A declaration of intent for research (4-5 pages per Faculty of Law guidelines). 
  1. Agreement by an academic faculty member to serve as thesis advisor. 
  1. A copy of a seminar paper submitted in master’s degree studies. 
  1. Two letters of recommendation from academic faculty members who have personal acquaintance with the applicant. 
  • Applicants admitted to the thesis completion track have the status same as master’s degree student in law and are subject to foreign language and Jewish studies requirements as indicated in the School of Graduate Studies Rules and Regulations. 
  • During the year of thesis completion, students must register for reserch courses by the faculty requirementsResearch proposals for the thesis must be submitted no later than the end of the fall semester. 
  • Program duration for thesis completion track – one year. 
     

  1. Track B –  non-research track 

  1. Applicants with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 80 in law from an academic institution recognized by the CHE, or the equivalent to a grade of 80 from a recognized university abroad, may apply.         
  1. The Faculty of Law committee for graduate degrees reserves the right to choose the best applicants from among those who meet admission criteria and to recommend those to the School of Graduate Studies. 

The final decision on admission of an applicant to the master’s degree program (all tracks) is under the authority of the School of Graduate Studies. 
  

  1.   Track B –  non-research track – focused track for legal practitioners 

  1. Applicants with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 80 in law from a recognized academic institution in Israel, or the equivalent to a grade of 80 from a recognized university abroad, may apply. 
  1. The Faculty of Law committee for graduate degrees reserves the right to choose the best applicants from among those who meet admission criteria and to recommend those to the School of Graduate Studies. 

The final decision on admission of an applicant to the master’s degree program (all tracks) is under the authority of the School of Graduate Studies. 
 

  1. Track B –  non-research track – focused legal studies program (for non-legal practitioners) 

  1. Applicants with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 80 in law from a recognized academic institution may apply. 
  1. The Faculty of Law committee for graduate degrees reserves the right to choose the best applicants from among those who meet admission criteria and to recommend those to the School of Graduate Studies. 
  1. The final decision on admission of an applicant to the master’s degree program (all tracks) is under the authority of the School of Graduate Studies. 
  1. To avoid any doubt – let us make it perfectly clear that these studies do not grant the right to practice law. 
  1. Studies in this program do not allow continued studies in a research track. 

  

Program duration 

Master’s degree program duration: 
Research-based Track A – two years (an extension for an additional year may be granted by the School of Graduate Studies). 
Non-research Track B – a maximum of two years; focused tracks – a single calendar year. 
Students who do not complete their master’s degree in the allotted period will have their studies terminated. 
  

Program requirements for all tracks 
 
Program requirements for Track A 

  1. Coursework requirements 

Coursework requirements 14 AC (annual-based credits) (28 SC – semester-based credits), of which: 

  • Required seminar ‘Legal Research’ – 2 AC (4 SC) 
  • Thesis-writing workshop – 1.5 AC (3 SC) 
  • 2 research seminars totaling 4 AC (8 SC) 
  • Elective courses for a total of 6 AC (12 SC) 
  • 1 elective course in the English language for 0.5 AC (1 SC) 

Coursework should be completed by the end of the second year of study with a minimum average grade of 80. 

  1. Thesis topic 

The thesis topic and advisor are selected at the time of application to the research-based master’s degree program, conditional upon approval of the Faculty of Law committee for advanced research degrees. 

  1. Thesis guidelines 

See School of Graduate Studies Rules and Regulations in the introductory chapter. 

  1. Final exam for the master’s degree 

  The exam is based on the thesis and its underlying bibliography. 

  1. Research proposal 

Research proposals are to be submitted by the end of the August in the first year of study. 

In special cases an extension may be granted, but no later than the end of the fall semester of the second year. 

  

Program requirements for Track B 

  1. Standard program for legal practitioners 

16 AC (32 SC), of which two are seminars [totaling 4 AC (8 SC)], elective courses totaling 12 AC (24 SC) 

  1. Focused track for legal practitioners  

Studies in this track are structured, with a total of 16 AC (32 SC). Students must participate in all courses specific to the track (including in Jewish jurisprudence) and must select two seminars from those offered in the track. 

  1. Focused program for non-legal practitioners 

Studies in this track are structured, with a total of 28 AC (56 SC). 

Students must participate in all courses specific to the program and must select two seminars from those offered in the track. 

Students in all tracks and programs in Track B whose average grade from all master’s degree courses is below 75 will not be eligible for the master’s degree. 
 

Requirements common to both tracks (Track A and Track B) 

Students in Track A and Track B (standard program) must take at least one seminar in their first year, and meet Jewish studies and English requirements for the master’s degree. 

Jewish studies 

As per general requirements for the master's degree (see introductory chapter). 

Language proficiency 
  • English at the master’s degree level (details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter). 
  • Students in the focused track for legal practitioners and in the focused program for non-legal practitioners in the non-research Track B need not meet English requirements. 

  

Master’s degree students in all tracks 

are subject to all general policies of the Faculty of Law accordingly, 

as they appear in the Faculty of Law’s annual bulletin 

and in the School of Graduate Studies Rules and Regulations accepted at Bar-Ilan University. 

                                        

Further information on the research-based master’s degree 

may be obtained by phone at 03-5318816 or via email, 
or visit the Faculty of Law website 
 

Further information on the focused master’s degree tracks 

may be obtained by phone at 03-5318835 or via email,  
or visit the Faculty of Law website 

  

PhD 

Applicants who wish to begin their studies in the fall semester must submit their applications by June 30. 

Applicants who wish to begin their studies in the spring semester must submit their applications by December 31. 

Areas of specialization 
  1. Jewish jurisprudence (mishpat ivri) 
  1. Constitutional law 
  1. Criminal law 
  1. Commercial and corporate law 
  1. Civil law 
  1. Family law 
  1. Evidence law 
  1. Tax law 
  1. Labor law 
  1. Administrative law 
  1. International law 
  1. International economics law 
  1. Conflict resolution 
  1. Law and economics 
  1. Empirical-legal research 
  1. Intellectual property 
  1. Law and history 
  1. Law and psychology 
  1. Legal procedure and the legal system 
  1. Feminist analysis of law 
  1. Law and society 
  1. Environmental law 
  1. Regulation 

  

Further information may be obtained by phone at 03-5318816 or via email 

 

 

Last Updated Date : 03/04/2024