Is this program right for you?

This program is right for students who wish to experience the Israeli education system first hand by taking classes taught in English with other study abroad students at the University of Haifa. Students who wish to live in a the north of Israel along the coast will be at home in Haifa.  Two of the most distinguishing features of this dynamic city are its physical beauty and its cosmopolitan population of 265,000 Jews, Christians, Moslems, Druze, and Bahá'ís living in harmony.

Academics

The semester and year program is designed for students from all academic backgrounds and includes topics from a variety of disciplines, all within the special context of Israel and the Middle East. Students are welcome to enroll in any of the courses offered by the International school, as well as in courses offered in other departments of the University, assuming the student is proficient in Hebrew and fulfills the prerequisites.

A complete list of courses on offer in International School at the University of Haifa can be found here. 

The International School at the University of Haifa also has some specially tracked Honors programs in Psychology and in Peace and Conflict Resolution.  AU students have previously participated in these programs.  While referred to as "Honors" programs at Haifa, participation doesn't require enrollment in AU's Honors Program.  Rather, these programs are simply specially tracked programs with a full courseload that focuses on the issues of Psychology or Peace and Conflict Resolution.  More information about these programs can be found at the following links: Psychology / Peace and Conflict Resolution. 

Students are able, but not required, to participate in an intensive Hebrew Ulpan program that occurs prior to the semester.

Visit the University of Haifa's website for more complete details on all aspects of the program here. 

Student Life

Haifa is Israel's third largest city. First and foremost a port city for international commerce, it has in recent decades become a major center for Israel's high-tech industry. Built on Mount Carmel and along the Mediterranean Sea, Haifa is a collection of diverse, picturesque, and easily accessible neighborhoods from the port area in the lower city, to the commercial Hadar area in the middle tier, and the beautiful residential areas on the upper ridge.

Two of the most distinguishing features of Haifa are the physical beauty of the city and the co-existence of its ethnically diverse communities who live and work together. Home to the Carmel National Forest and miles of developed and natural beaches on the Mediterranean Sea, Haifa provides a wonderful environment for almost any kind of recreational activity. Haifa is the world center of the Bahai Faith. Its shrine, administrative center, and world renowned gardens are prominent features of the city landscape. The Christian and Moslem communities of Haifa, and the neighboring Druze villages of Usifiya and Daliat-el-Carmel, are important components of the city's social and cultural development. Jewish communities from Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, North and South America, Ethiopia, and India have combined to create a modern Mediterranean city that is truly special.

Housing & Meals

All students who are enrolled in a full-time program of study at the International School are eligible to live in the student dormitories on campus. There are two dormitories on campus:

• Federman Dormitories: Apartments of three double rooms with a shared kitchen, living space, and bathroom.
• Talia Dormitories: Apartments of six single rooms, each with its own bathroom, and a shared kitchen and living space.

Apartments in the dormitories are single-sex. The dormitories are located next to each other at the eastern end of the campus and provide many facilities for students' use including: computer labs with internet access, laundry rooms, a grocery store, and student lounges. Roommates in the dormitories are assigned randomly. The University does its best to ensure that there are never more than two international students together in an apartment, guaranteeing that our students will have at least a few Israeli roommates.  More information on housing can be found here.

Visa Information

AU students are responsible for researching what they need to do to legally study in Israel. Please visit the Israeli Embassy website and read the information provided to you by the University of Haifa in order to figure out what you need to do to legally be a student in Israel.