Study in Israel. 9 best institutions in Israel

Israel is an oasis of economic stability and relative prosperity. Founded in 1948, in less than 100 years of its existence, the Israeli state has become one of the most developed post-industrial and expensive countries in the world.

The multinational state of Israel is known all over the world for its medicine, scientific research and a strong army. All this is the result not only of the tremendous hard work of Israeli citizens, but also of an advanced educational system.

• The children can be brought to the nursery as early as three months;

• The study in an Israeli school lasts 12 years;

• The beginning of the Jewish school year may fall at the end of August — it all depends on the date of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year);

• There are no official school holidays in Israel, rest days are adjusted to the national holidays of the country, and sometimes of individual nationalities;

• There is democracy and equality in Israeli schools, only religious educational institutions are distinguished by discipline and strict rules, including in clothing;

• In elementary school, children do not write with pens, but only with pencils — this allows them not to get hung up on mistakes and easily correct them if necessary;

• School classes are numbered alphabetically, not numerically;

• Israeli educational institutions use a 100-point rating system;

• There are many support programs for repatriates that allow them to adapt and settle in the country faster, including in the field of education;

• There is absolutely no free higher education in Israel;

• The main emphasis in studying is on the development of creative thinking and the development of innovative technologies;

• The system of education in Israel does not correspond to the Bologna process, which is followed in Sweden, France and other European countries, but to the Anglo-Saxon model of education;

• The level of education in Israel is considered very high, and diplomas from European universities are recognized all over the world.

The secondary education in Israel is divided into three stages:

• Primary: 1-6 grade (from 6 to 11 years);
• Intermediate, or medium: grades 7-9 (from 12 to 15 years);
• Senior: grades 9-12 (from 16 to 18 years).

In the elementary grades, the children are not given homework, the program is quite easy. The main task of this period is to teach younger schoolchildren to communicate, to instill in them a love of learning and to reveal their creative abilities.

In middle school, the program begins to become more complicated, natural science subjects appear, requirements for students' grades grow, they are asked a lot of written papers.

In high school, the students are actively preparing for admission to Israeli universities. They study many subjects at a professional level, choose a study profile: humanitarian, technical or scientific. At the end of school education, they pass the final exams and receive a certificate of maturity (bagrut).

Arnold I. Szepesi

Global Direct Sales Manager in EHL Hospitality Business School

What's the best time to apply to schools, and what should applicants prepare for?

It's best to start early, showing interest and getting in touch with the admissions office. Plan a visit, talk to current students and teachers, and make sure you feel comfortable with the surroundings.

Not all Israeli students enter high school after middle school. Some students, who realize that they do not need higher education, go to professional secondary schools. There they get the necessary skills in one of the following areas:

• Military affairs;
• Religious education;
• Agricultural, technical specialties.

You can enter one of these schools at the age of fifteen; the studying itself lasts from three to five years.

As it was mentioned above, there is no free higher education in Israel. Israelis believe that studying at university should be a conscious choice, not a tribute to parents or fashion. Therefore, all students pay for their education. To do this, they earn extra money as waiters, hotel attendants or auxiliary workers in other fields, and also often prefer distance learning in Israel — it is cheaper.

Universities have a three-stage educational system:

• Bachelor's degree (from 3 to 5 years);
• Master's degree (from 2 to 3 years);
• Doctoral studies (from 2 to 5 years).

In Israeli universities, the studying takes place mainly in Hebrew or Arabic. There are also English-language educational programs.

To enrol in an Israeli university, foreign students need to fulfil several conditions:

• Take a one-year preparatory course in Israel, where applicants improve their Hebrew and knowledge in other subjects, as well as adapt to the country;
• Provide certificates confirming knowledge of English and Hebrew (or Arabic) languages;
• Provide a school certificate or an extract from the university with grades;
• Present an account statement confirming that the student has the means to study and live in Israel;
• Undergo psychometric testing;
• Collect the necessary documents, translate them into Hebrew and notarize them.

Each university can submit additional requirements for admission, so always check the information on the website of the chosen university.

How much does it cost to study in Israel? Prices for bachelor's degree programs for foreign students start at $7,800 (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) and can reach up to $18,000 for master's degree programs (IDC in Herzliya).

When planning to study at an Israeli university, it is worth taking into account not only the tuition fees, but also the cost of living. Israel is a very expensive country, where one rental costs an average of $ 1,000 per month.