12 | MAY 23 • 2024 
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any American Jews 
visit Israel as tour-
ists, especially if 
they have relatives there. In 
addition, a significant number 
of American Jewish students 
travel to Israel for college 
studies. Modern Orthodox 
and Orthodox Jewish students 
often spend a year or more at 
seminaries in Israel after high 
school graduation, and other 
young American Jews partic-
ipate in a Birthright trip or a 
year abroad academic program 
in Israel. 
Israeli universities have 
welcomed international stu-
dents for decades. Hebrew 
University has students from 
90 countries, and other Israeli 
universities also have large 
international student bodies.
For Israeli universities, these 
students help to diversify their 
student populations, enrich 
their research and help devel-

op positive connections with 
Jews and non-Jews throughout 
the world. 
“We have had special pro-
grams for foreign students 
since our inception 99 years 
ago. We have strong ties with 
the diaspora, and interna-
tional students are a very 
integrated part of the culture,” 
explains Naama Oryan, direc-
tor, International Marketing 
Division, Hebrew University of 
Jerusalem. She adds that about 
10% of their 25,000 students 
are from outside Israel. 
Studying at Hebrew 
University gives “Jewish 
students an opportunity to 
explore Israel at its leading 
university. It brings together 
like-minded people who want 
the best education and expe-
rience. We want to enhance 
people’s futures and careers,” 
Oryan says.
Tel Aviv University (TAU) 

has 1,800 international stu-
dents among a student body of 
30,000, according to Professor 
Milette Shamir, 
TAU vice presi-
dent, International 
Academic 
Collaboration. 
They partici-
pate in a range 
of short-term 
immersive and 
degree programs.
International students bene-
fit from “being in Tel Aviv, the 
heart of the start-up nation, in 
the largest university in Israel, 
which is metropolitan and 
pluralistic. It gives people an 
opportunity to connect with 
their heritage,” Shamir says.
Bar-Ilan University has 
100 international students, 
most from North America, 
in English undergraduate 
programs and more than 
400 in graduate programs. In 

addition, there are about 200 
exchange students at Bar-Ilan, 
explains Moshe Lewenstein, 
deputy president, International 
School. 
International 
students in Israel 
benefit from the 
academic excel-
lence of Israeli 
universities, the 
experience of 
living in Israel 
and, for Jewish 
individuals, the opportunity to 
strengthen ties to Judaism and 
Israel. Special staff at Israeli 
universities provide interna-
tional students with support 
as well as organized social and 
religious activities. 

Programs for international 
students at most institutions 
are offered in English. Hebrew 
language classes are available, 
and many foreign students 
take advantage 
of them. Bar-Ilan 
has more than 100 
gap year students, 
most from North 
America. Rabbi 
Ari Kahn, Bar-
Ilan’s director of 
Foreign Student 
Programs, explains 

Israeli universities offer extensive options for 
English-speaking students.
Study in Israel

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

OUR COMMUNITY

Israeli University 
Programs for 
Foreign Students

Undergraduate: 
• Gap Year (usually for recent 
high school graduates)
• Summer programs, which may 
include volunteer work
• Exchange programs in 
conjunction with American 
colleges and universities
• One-year and BA programs
Graduate:
• Master’s degree programs
• Doctoral and post-doctoral 
programs
• Special research opportunities

Prof. Milette 
Shamir, 
Tel Aviv 
University 

TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY

Prof. Moshe 
Lewenstein, 
Bar-Ilan 
University

BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY

Rabbi 
Ari Kahn, 
Bar-Ilan 
University

BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY

Weizmann 
Institute of 
Science, 
Main Gate

WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE

