With more than 2,000 years of history, Israel is at the crossroads of some of the world’s major cultures and religions, and a great place to get an international education.
Higher education plays a pivotal role in the economic and social development of Israel. In 2009-2010 some 280,000 students attended the country's institutions of higher learning. Of these, 38 percent attend universities and 41 percent are enrolled in colleges, while 21 percent participate in distance-learning courses.
Israel's institutions of higher education have full academic and administrative freedom and are open to all students who meet their academic standards.
Find the best information about what it’s like to study in Israel, including degree course offers, career opportunities, student life, living costs, and more.
Institutions of higher education operate under the authority of the Council for Higher Education, organised by the minister of education, and includes academics, community representatives and a student representative. The Council grants accreditation, authorises the awarding of academic degrees, and advises the government on the development and financing of higher education and scientific research.
Public funds provide 70 percent of the budget for higher education, 20 percent derives from tuition, and the rest from various private sources. In recent years higher education study programmes in Israel have become more career-oriented, with larger numbers of students enrolled in the wide range of professional studies.
In most cases, applications are submitted online. After the application deadline, all applications will be reviewed, and will be contacted with an admissions decision. In some cases, an interview will be required, which can be held either in person or via telephone or Skype.
Application documents include:
Universities may have additional requirements. Make sure to ask for detailed information before applying to your chosen university in Israel.
Immigrants and students lacking the necessary qualifications may attend a special preparatory program, which enables them to apply for admission. A standardized test is used as a higher education admission exam. The test covers three areas: quantitative and verbal reasoning and English language proficiency. It is administered by the Israeli National Institute for Testing and Evaluation (NITE).
Israeli universities are among 100 of the top world universities in science and engineering-related subjects, according to the QS World University Rankings. Taught subjects include mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, engineering or life sciences.
Summer Programs are offered in general academic areas as well as language offerings in Yiddish, Hebrew and Arabic. Intensive Language Programmes are offered in Hebrew, Yiddish and Arabic. A wide range of Graduate Programs is also available in Israeli universities.
Opportunities are available for international students to spend a semester or year in an exchange programme experiencing another culture, volunteering, doing an internship, studying, or developing their Jewish identity. Jewish Studies programs are designed to deepen your connection to the Jewish traditions and identity.
Higher studies in Israel offer a broad selection of courses taught in English, along with courses in French, Spanish, Russian, and Hebrew delivered by experienced faculty.
Develop your academic English language skills in order to meet the English language requirements at Israel universities offering degree studies for international students. Choose an English language school anywhere in the world and pick your preferred English exam preparation course from diverse language course options.
Universities accept these official English exams:
Whether you are interested in hi-tech innovation, community building, art, scientific research, renewable energy, music, language, or archaeology, Israel has an array of cutting-edge companies, socially conscious organisations, top-notch educational institutions, and warm communities that will welcome you during your program. Students are encouraged to build lifelong connections with Israeli citizens.
The history of the Jewish people, and its roots in the Land of Israel, spans some 35 centuries. Israel is located in the Middle East, along the eastern coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. It lies at the junction of three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa.
Long and narrow in shape, the country is about 290 miles (470 km.) in length and 85 miles (135 km.) in width at its widest point. Although small in size, Israel encompasses the varied terrain features ranging from forested highlands and fertile green valleys to mountainous deserts, and from the coastal plain to the semitropical Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. Approximately half of the country’s land area is semi-arid.
Israel's climate is characterized by sunshine, with a rainy season from November to April. Regional climatic conditions vary considerably: hot, humid summers and mild, wet winters on the coastal plain; dry, warm summers and moderately cold winters, with rain and occasional light snow, in the hill regions; hot, dry summers and pleasant winters in the Jordan Valley; and semi-arid conditions, with warm to hot days and cool nights, in the south.
Israel is a country of immigrants. Since its inception in 1948, Israel's population has grown almost ten-fold. Its 7.8 million inhabitants come from varied ethnic backgrounds, lifestyles, religions, cultures and traditions. Today Jews comprise some 75.4% of the country’s population, while the country's non-Jewish citizens, mostly Arabs, number about 24.6%.
The State of Israel was established in 1948 and Jewish independence, lost almost 2,000 years earlier, was renewed.
Jerusalem, Israel's capital (population 788,100), has stood at the centre of the Jewish people’s national and spiritual life since King David made it the capital of his kingdom some 3000 years ago. Today it is a flourishing, vibrant metropolis, the seat of the government and Israel’s largest city. Tel Aviv-Yafo was founded in 1909 as the first Jewish city in modern times.
Israel is a parliamentary democracy with legislative, executive and judicial branches.
Israel's industry concentrates on manufacturing products with a high benefit that are primarily based on technological innovation. These include medical electronics, agro-technology, telecommunications, computer hardware and software, solar energy, food processing and fine chemicals. Trade is conducted with countries on six continents. Some 48% of imports and 32% of exports are with Europe, boosted by Israel's free trade agreement with the EU. A similar agreement was signed with the United States.
Hebrew, the language of the Bible, long restricted to liturgy and literature, was revived a century ago, accompanying the renewal of Jewish life in the Land.
Numerous education initiatives in the world were formed to promote international cooperation and academic exchange between universities as well as attract students and staff worldwide. This focus on international student education provides high quality programmes in various fields of study and prepares students for future careers anywhere in the world.
Studying, for instance, in Australia, Asia, Europe or America represents a wide range of opportunities to see the world and interact with other students from different countries. Different study options allow students to hold a job during their study years in order to pay for their education, if they wish to do so. Online programmes help you get an international education without having to leave home.
The number of English-taught short courses in Asia, Australia, Europe and The United States are continuously rising in popularity in the last few years. Many countries offer English-taught study programmes, including: Australia, China, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States and more. Other English short courses may be found in the rest of the European countries as well.
Short courses offer a great variety of subjects for a short and fixed period. This period can vary between a week to six weeks, depending on country, institution and course. This is an excellent opportunity to gain academic, cultural and social experience if you are not able to access long-term study opportunities. A wide variety of countries and institutions offer summer and short courses in all kinds of subject areas. It is a great opportunity to get some background information for your own research, to learn a language or to gain knowledge on a related topic.
Sometimes summer and short courses provide students with short-term housing. Therefore, it is useful to find out if housing is included in the fee of the summer or short course you wish to apply for.
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