So, you’ve decided to study a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Israel. Great choice! Now, you need to prepare the university application.
Don’t worry, most of the steps are very similar to what you’d find in other countries. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Find an Israeli university to apply to
Below, we’ve listed a few of the top-ranked universities in Israel:
- Tel Aviv University
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology
- Bar-Ilan University
Find other universities in Israel.
2. Learn where to submit your university application
Israel doesn’t use a centralised university application system, which means international students need to apply using the information available on the official pages of academic institutions.
On these pages, you can also find support and easy ways to contact a university representative.
3. Meet the university entry requirements
Same story here as in any other country: the application requirements will vary from one university or study programme to another. Some of the most common criteria are:
- submitted application form
- proof of paying the application fee (if applicable)
- high school diploma (to apply for a Bachelor’s)
- Bachelor’s diploma (to apply for a Master’s)
- transcript of records
- proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL)
- proof of financial resources (to live and study there)
- medical certificate
- passport-sized photo(s)
- copy of valid passport and/or personal ID
- letter(s) of recommendation
- personal statement
- GRE or GMAT test scores (only at some universities)
Before submitting or sending these documents, check if they need to be translated into English or the local language, which is a common requirement. Also, ensure you don’t forget to include anything, which could increase the time it takes to process your application.
4. Meet the language requirements
You cannot study an English-taught degree without first proving a certain level of English language skills. To ensure international students meet this requirement, most universities ask them to pass one of these widely accepted English tests:
- IELTS Academic
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL iBT
Learn more about IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE Academic.
5. Apply before the application deadlines
Application deadlines are different depending on the university where you want to enrol. Let’s look at a couple of examples:
At Tel Aviv University, you should apply:
- between January 17 and the end of March for undergraduate (Bachelor’s) studies
- between January 17 and the end of May for graduate (Master’s, PhD) studies
Deadlines are extended for certain specialisations (e.g. Medicine, Architecture).
At the University of Haifa, you should apply:
- before March 15 (early deadline), if you want on-campus accommodation
- before May 31 (final deadline), on-campus accommodation is not guaranteed
These deadlines can change yearly, so you should always check the official dates on the university website.
6. Final steps after receiving your acceptance letter
- confirm your enrolment after receiving the acceptance letter/university offer
- apply for a student visa in Israel
- apply for medical insurance
- search for scholarships and grants. You can also apply for our Studyportals Scholarship: International Distinction Awards.