Diplomatic Studies

The program is designed to provide knowledge, analysis tools and advanced thinking processes in modern diplomacy and conflict resolution. Students also receive exposure and training in related fields such as political history, decision making theory, international political economy, and political communication. Classes are held mostly in the afternoon and evening to enable students to work full-time. Many of the outstanding students graduating from the program obtain jobs in the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Israeli Security Agency and in various research institutes.

Main goals of the program:

1. Contribute to knowledge in the various fields related to diplomacy through the research activity of the program's teachers and researchers.
2. Train students by providing theoretical knowledge and material and analytical tools for practical activities in the international arena such as the public service, supranational organizations (e.g. international organizations, governmental and non-governmental), and multinational organizations in the private sector.

Faculty and Academic Advisers: In addition to the senior academic staff of the faculty, senior advisors to the program include: Dr. Avi Becker, former CEO and Secretary General of the World Jewish Congress, board member of the Yad Vashem and the Diaspora Museum. Dr. Eran Lerman, deputy head of the National Security Council and former head of the Israel and Middle East office of the American Jewish Committee. Dr. Alon Liel, executive director of the Foreign Ministry and Israel's (former) ambassador to South Africa.

The program offers two tracks to the master's degree:

1. MA with thesis – The track allows students upon completion of the program to apply as PhD candidates. This track is primarily designed for students who are interested in a research career in either academic or non-academic settings.
2. MA without a thesis – The track is primarily designed for students who wish to be integrated into government, international organizations, and private sector entities in which an expertise in diplomacy, negotiation, and knowledge of the international system are needed. In addition to core courses in diplomacy, courses in the field of international law, Israel's foreign policy, international and supranational organizations, and international political economy are offered.

Admission:

To apply for the track with and without a thesis: Students must have completed their undergraduate studies with a final grade of 85 or higher.

To obtain the degree (in both tracks), a minimum average of 86 points in the core courses   is required. Furthermore, a minimum grade of 85 points in all courses is also a minimum requirement for completion of the degree.

Complimentary studies:

In the framework of the complimentary studies program, students are required to take courses determined by the head of the undergraduate program:

• Israel's Foreign Policy
• Introduction to International Relations and Strategy  
• Strategy in the Modern Era  '
•  Comparative Politics

The student must obtain a minimum score of 80 in each of the required courses. Students who must complete more than two of the complimentary courses cannot begin the courses toward the MA program.

Length of the Program:

The duration of studies for the master's degree is two years. This does not apply to students in the Accumulated Studies Program (this program is especially designed for graduate students who cannot meet the time standards of completing their studies within two years).
The track without a thesis will only be extended in exceptional cases for the duration of an additional school year and must have the approval of the teaching committee of the faculty.
The track with a thesis can be extended for the duration of an additional school year with the approval of the head of the program, and in exceptional cases it will be extended for another year with the approval of the teaching committee of the faculty. For each additional year beyond the standard study time, delayed fees are collected in addition to the regular fees, as part of the tuition fees.

Accumulated Studies Program:

Students who cannot devote most of their time to study and finish their studies within the two years' timeframe will be able to choose the Accumulated Studies Program for the master's degree on a part-time basis. In this track, students can study up to three years or until they complete 75% of the total number of hours for the "special candidate's" degree and two additional years as an "ordinary" status student. A total of up to five years is available to complete all the requirements for the master's degree. Students who wish to transfer from being a "special" status to an "ordinary" status candidate must submit their request to the faculty's secretariat.
 

With the transition to the track as an "ordinary status" student, all the student's courses taken as part of the Accumulated Studies Program will be recognized for credit points and toward their tuition. In the Accumulated Studies Program, tuition is determined by the number of course hours taken and not by the general tuition rules for the master's degree, such as a minimum of 50% of the annual tuition and additional "delayed fees".

Please Note: In some cases, students of the Accumulated Studies Program are not eligible for scholarships and other benefits (university and external factors). These can only be granted to ordinary-status students. There is no possibility of starting as an ordinary status student and later transferring to be a "special" status.

For more information, please contact Ms. Pnina Moshe

Phone: 03-6406185 

Email:  pninam@tauex.tau.ac.il