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that those who are not fluent 
in Hebrew attend Hebrew 
classes. 
Bar-Ilan University will 
offer a new program this fall 
with the “first year in English 
along with intensive ulpan 
studies (starting the summer 
before) for the whole year and 
then the rest in Hebrew along-
side the local community,” 
Lewenstein says. 
The Weizmann Institute, 
a world-renowned research 
institution, offers several study 
tracks for MSc degree, Ph.D. 
degree, teaching certification 
programs and postdoctoral 
training in many science fields 
through its Feinberg Graduate 
School. The official language 
of instruction is English, and 
all students at the Feinberg 
Graduate School receive fel-
lowships and are exempted 
from tuition fees. 
In addition, the Feinberg 
Graduate School offers 
non-degree undergraduate 
programs, including The 
Kupcinet-Getz International 
Science School, a summer 
program for outstanding 
undergraduate students to 
participate in mathematics and 
science research projects. 
Many Israeli universities 
have formal academic and 
research ties with American 

institutions including 
Michigan State, Eastern 
Michigan and the University of 
Michigan. These may include 
study abroad programs.

COSTS MAY BE 
ADVANTAGEOUS
Most Israeli universities are 
public and supported by the 
Israeli government. As a result, 
costs can be less than for 
comparable American insti-
tutions. Tuition for one-year 
of a bachelor’s program could 
range from $4,000 to $15,000 
and for a year of a master’s 
program from $5,000-$30,000 
with higher costs for certain 
specialized degrees. Tuition for 
a non-Israeli student at Bar-
Ilan University is about $4,300, 
according to Lewenstein. 

Many institutions 
offer scholarships. At Tel 
Aviv University, scholar-
ships are available based on 
merit, financial need and for 
individuals from particular 
backgrounds. 
International students who 
attend an Israeli university as 
part of an exchange program 
pay tuition to their home 
(American) institution. 
Airfare to Israel and housing 
are extra, and housing costs 
can exceed tuition. Most Israeli 
universities offer dormitories 
for international and Israeli 
students, and some have apart-
ments as well. Other students 
prefer to live off-campus.

THE IMPACT OF OCT. 7
According to Israeli university 
officials, some international 
students left after the Hamas 
attack on Oct. 7. Oryan esti-
mates that 4-10% of Tel Aviv 
University’s international stu-
dents left, but most returned, 
especially graduate students. 
Their Study Abroad program 
went on Zoom, she adds.
“Those who came before 
(Oct. 7) stayed. They were 
integrated in the Israeli resil-
ience. A majority stayed,” says 
Oryan, Hebrew University.
While the number of inter-
national applications isn’t the 
same, she says, “There have 

 
 
been more applications from 
Jewish students who want to 
transfer because of conditions 
on American campuses.”
After the Hamas attack, 
Hebrew University postponed 
its application deadline 
to provide more time for 
applicants to prepare and to 
assess the situation. Their 
master’s program had a hybrid 
start. They also offered a 
new bachelor’s program in 
English allowing students to 
choose two of three tracks for 
a double major. Shamir says 
that there has been a drop in 
applications but not to the 
extent expected. 
Rabbi Kahn says that 
prospective students are 
probably more concerned 
about security, “but at the 
same time more concerned 
about the schools in North 
America as well. Reading 
the essays of the prospective 
students, it seems that for 
many, the events of Oct. 7 
onward either created or 
strengthened a deep desire 
to be here in Israel with the 
people.” 

Students 
at Bar-Ilan 
University

BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY

Some 
Benefits of College 
Studies in Israel

• High-quality universities with 
extensive international programs 
• Immersion in Israeli culture
• Connection with Jewish roots
• Support for Israel
• Lower cost tuition than 
some comparable American 
universities

Examples of Israeli Universities 
with Programs for English-
Speaking Students

These universities’ websites, which are available in 
English, provide detailed information about programs 
for English-speaking students:
• Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan
• Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba
• Hebrew University, Jerusalem
• Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv
• Technion Institute, Haifa
• University of Haifa, Haifa
• Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot

