Israel, heralded as the ‘startup nation’, is one of the best locations for innovative studies. It’s also a great place to study more conventional programs, including Archaeology, Philosophy, Psychology, Mathematics, and Economics.

Israel’s world-class universities are very affordable as well, with tuition fees starting at $4,000 for undergraduate studies and $5,000 for graduate studies.

The government can also make these fees cheaper with scholarships such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) scholarships for foreign students. In this article, we will be looking at the Israel government scholarships for international students.

Israel Government Scholarship Awards

The Israel Government scholarship (long-term) will shoulder the partial tuition amount for a 1-year MA, Ph.D., or Post-doc program. Studies in the fields of medicine and veterinary studies, however, are not covered by this award.

The maximum amount applicable for scholars is 50% – only up to $6,000 for fees amounting to $12,000 or higher.

The Israel Government scholarship also includes monthly allowances for 8 months (October to June) and basic health insurance.

As for summer language course programs (Ulpan), the MFA scholarship will shoulder the full tuition amount at the University of Haifa. Scholars will also be given a 3-week allowance, dormitory stay, and basic health insurance.

It is important to note that Polish and Czech scholars will not be provided health insurance following the countries’ bilateral agreements with Israel.

Eligibility Criteria

The Israel Government scholarship is open to citizens of these countries:

  • Asia – China, Korea, Turkey, Taiwan
  • Americas – Canada (Quebec Province), Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay
  • Europe – Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain

Special scholarships are also offered to citizens of Denmark, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Finland, France, Norway, Netherlands, Switzerland, Russia, India, and Japan.

Applicants from the above-mentioned countries should be under the age of 35. They should be, at the very least, hold a bachelor’s degree.

Proficiency in English is needed for students who wish to pursue English-taught programs. Alternatively, proof of Hebrew proficiency (either through a psychometric exam or Ulpan test) is needed from students who wish to study a Hebrew-taught program.

Additionally, the MFA scholarship will only fund students who are accepted at institutions accredited by the Israeli Council for Higher Education. These include the Ariel University, Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Open University of Israel, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Tel Aviv University, University of Haifa, and the Weimann Institute of Science.

The MFA will also accept scholars who are enrolled in the Bezalel School for the Art and the Jerusalem Academy of Music & Dance.

Check Also: Available Programs for International Students

How to Apply to Israel Government Scholarships

Before applying for the Israel Government scholarship, you must already be admitted to any of the universities stated above. Do note that application procedures vary according to the institution.

In the case of Hebrew University, applicants must register through the Rothberg International School of Overseas Students.

As for Tel Aviv University, the scholar may register easily as long there is a supervisor who is willing to host the student.

Once your registration is in order, you may proceed with your scholarship application. The steps for doing so are as follows:

Contact the Israeli embassy in your home country.

This will help you note the submission deadlines – as well as the process of choosing awardees from your home country.

Prepare the necessary documents.

Your submission packet for the Israel Government scholarship should include a completed application form. This should state your personal details (mailing address, contact numbers, e-mail addresses), educational attainment, present occupation, and language skills (English or Hebrew).

Academic records (diplomas, transcripts, and test scores), a curriculum vitae, and 2 letters of recommendation are needed as well.

The packet should also include a letter detailing the field you wish to study and the university you wish to attend. Letters you may have exchanged with Israeli universities – or letters from a potential supervisor (for Ph.D. or post-doc students) should be included as well.

Apart from these academic documents, you will also need to submit a certificate of health and ID pictures. The latter should be attached to every application form.

Submit the requirements.

Make 3 copies of the above-mentioned documents and submit them to the Israeli embassy in your home country. Even if you are a resident of another country, you should submit your application to the consulate where you are a citizen. Dual citizens, however, have the option to apply through any of these 2 embassies.

The complete set of requirements should be sent before mid-March.

Wait for the results.

Awardees will be informed by July of the same year. If you are accepted, you may proceed to apply for a student visa (A2) from the embassy where you filed your application.

Conclusion

The Israel Government scholarship is a good option for citizens of certain countries. While it only covers a partial tuition amount, it does provide educational opportunities that are unique and special to the country.

 

We hope that this article on Israel Government scholarships for international students was helpful. If you’re interested in studying abroad, make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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