Israel has a long tradition of academic excellence, boasting world class universities, colleges and research institutions. Israeli higher education institutions provide a diversity of academic programs in English for international students at the Bachelor and Master’s degree level ranging from short-term courses to full degree programs. Israeli Institutions also welcome international students and researchers for PhD and Post-Doctoral research and assign them with leading researchers in the field.

In total, Israel has 61 higher education institutions:
9
universities
31
colleges
21
teacher training colleges

All of these are supervised by the Council for Higher Education, the state body responsible for Israel’s higher education system. All Israeli universities and 41 of the colleges are publically funded, while 12 colleges are privately funded.

Highlighted Fields of Study

Science & Engineering

Israel is a world leader in science and engineering. Israeli scientists have won 4 Nobel Prizes in chemistry, 3 Turing Awards (computer science) and 1 fields Medal (mathematics). Israel ranks 7th globally in the number of citations per scientific publication and is particularly strong in fields such as computer science, engineering, chemistry, and life sciences. Studying in Israel will give you the chance to work with leading researchers and cutting edge facilities in these fields.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Israelis are known as out-of-the-box thinkers, risk takers that never take no for an answer. These qualities are what make Israel the “Start-Up Nation” and are the reason leading companies from around the world chose to open R&D centers in Israel. This sense of innovation is rooted in Israel’s higher education institutions, with many academic programs targeted for students who want to succeed in business and entrepreneurship. Some programs include opportunities to undertake internships in leading companies from around the world, giving you the opportunity to advance your career development.

Art, Design & Music

Drawing on its rich historical and cultural heritage and its dynamic contemporary art scene, Israel is home to leading higher education institutions in the fields of arts, design and music. You can study a range of arts-related fields including fine arts, fashion and jewelry, photography, industrial and urban design, and traditional and contemporary music. Many programs offer innovative and multidisciplinary elements, allowing you to develop your own particular interests and positioning you for a successful career in Israel and abroad.

Agriculture & Sustainability

Since the first Kibbutz farmers struck their hoes in Israeli soil, a great deal of progress has been made in the agriculture sector in Israel. Israel's challenging environment and lack of natural resources has led it to become a kind of agricultural "incubator" of ideas, developing new kinds of plants as well as revolutionary agricultural technologies. Drip irrigation technologies are one famous example of Israel's success in this field. Israel's higher education institutions are engaged in teaching and research of many issues relating to agriculture and sustainability, which are of critical importance to the world's environment.

Israel & Middle Eastern Studies

Israel is located in one of the most interesting regions in the world which draws much attention worldwide. If you are considering pursuing a career pertaining to Israel or the Middle East, then Israel offers an unparalleled opportunity to acquire an in-depth understanding of its and the region's political, social and economic dimensions. Higher education institutions in Israel offer a range of programs in this field, from ancient to contemporary studies of Israel and Middle Eastern states, to Hebrew and Arabic language. Your learning experience will become much more valuable by experiencing first-hand what you have studied.     

Jewish Studies

Israel is the center of the Jewish world, and as such is the natural choice for students who are interested in deepening their understanding of Jewish religion, history, culture, and philosophy. Many historical sites of great importance to Judaism are located in Israel, including the ancient city of Jerusalem and Masada. Studying in Israel gives students the opportunity to work with leading scholars in this field and to immerse themselves in both ancient and contemporary Judaism.
Institutions
Which Institution is Best for You?

In Israel there are different types of higher education institutions. The main difference arises from the type of academic degree the institutions award and how research intensive they are. Currently Universities award Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degrees and are the most research-intensive institutions. Academic colleges award Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, whilst teacher training colleges award Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education. All types of institutions offer short-term and non-degree programs.

Research & Internships
Research

Israel is at the cutting-edge of research across many fields. It ranks amongst the highest in the world in R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP and in citations per academic publication. The Israeli Government has partnerships with many countries and institutions around the world which offer funding opportunities for international collaboration in research, and Israeli faculty welcome international students and researchers for PhD or Post-Doctoral research. If you are interested in undertaking research in Israel, the first step is to find an academic supervisor who works in your field of research and agrees to supervise you. Once you have undertaken this step, you need to undertake the registration process via the host institution. For more information on the application process and on available scholarships please refer to Planning. Also see the Postdoc in Israel initiative, which connects international researchers with resources, opportunities, and supervisors for a rewarding postdoctoral experience in Israel.

Internships

Internship programs are a great opportunity for you to embark on your chosen career path while studying, and there is no better place to do so than in the “Start-Up Nation”, Israel! Israel’s higher education institutions and other organizations offer a range of programs with internship opportunities with exposure to the Israeli hi-tech scene, business, consulting, governmental sector, non-profit sector and more. Undertaking an internship gives you the chance to polish your skills and CV and to make contacts which will help launch your future career. We encourage you to check out the various internship opportunities available in your field of interest with Israeli higher education institutions.