How to Study in Israel for International Students

Israel is one of the countries in the world wherein a significant portion of the population is educated and literate. This just shows how focused and passionate the country is in ensuring that its constituents are able to exercise their right to quality education. International students are welcome to study here and enjoy the country's captivating landmarks, coastal plains, and historic monuments!

When it comes to the choices that are available, Israel currently has 33 universities, from which 25 universities are a part of the public sector and 8 universities are private institutions.

Suppose you’re not just looking for any school but a well-performing school. In that case, the top universities in Israel you should definitely check out are Weizmann Institute of Science, Tel Aviv University, and Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Being able to study in Israel as an international student starts with planning ahead of time, as the process of researching your institution, filling out forms, and completing your paperwork can take a vast amount of time. In this article, you will find out the application process to study in Israel, along with information on tuition, language requirements, and visa applications. So, let’s dig in!

1. Cost of Studying in Israel

When choosing a university, you also need to consider the tuition fees and your budget. Before applying to a university in Israel, it’s best to have a general knowledge of the tuition fees there. The annual tuition fees for international undergraduate students range from 10,200 ILS to 59,300 ILS, while for master’s degree studies, the yearly tuition fees are between 0 ILS and 104,300 ILS.

Cost of Studying in Public Universities in Israel

To give you an idea of how much it costs to study in Israel, here are the tuition fees in these public and private universities:

Institution Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee Master’s International Tuition Fee
Hadassah Academic College 17,300 ILS
Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance 12,000 ILS 17,600 ILS
University of Haifa 39,500 ILS
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design 10,200 ILS - 14,100 ILS
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev 12,800 ILS 17,400 ILS - 34,700 ILS
Weizmann Institute of Science 0 ILS
Ariel University 17,600 ILS
Tel Aviv University 10,900 ILS 14,700 ILS
Sapir Academic College 11,200 ILS 11,200 ILS
Hebrew University of Jerusalem 13,700 ILS 14,800 ILS - 18,500 ILS

Cost of Studying in Private Universities in Israel

Institution Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee Master’s International Tuition Fee
Jerusalem College of Technology 15,000 ILS
Reichman University 58,200 ILS - 59,300 ILS 53,900 ILS - 104,300 ILS

If you’re looking for the most affordable universities in Israel, check out the Cheap Universities in Israel!

Besides tuition fees, you also need to consider other expenses like books, accommodation, and living expenses.

2. Requirements to Study in Israel for International Students

Once you have an idea of how much tuition fees are to study in Israel, it’s time to consider preparing the paperwork to apply to those universities. Academic institutions have varying admission requirements, but the ones you should always prepare in advance are your academic records, such as a transcript of records or diploma from a previous academic level, and travel documents, such as your passport and visa.

Some institutions that offer master’s programs might also ask for a statement of purpose, a curriculum vitae or résumé, and letters of recommendation. There are also degree programs where you need to take an admissions test before you can apply. Besides these, universities might also require you to submit proof of language proficiency.

In Israel, English and Hebrew are the languages of instruction. If you’re looking to study in any of the academic institutions here, you might need to prove language proficiency by taking standardized tests, such as TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo for English. Depending on the institution and the language of instruction for your program, you might also have to prove your language proficiency by submitting YAEL Test for Hebrew.

To give you an idea, here are some universities in Israel and their required minimum scores for each program level.

Ariel University

Master’s degree

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Master’s degree

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Typically, you can find information about language requirements on the admissions requirements page of the university. You can also check out if the university has a dedicated language requirements page for international students.

Application Procedure to Study in Israel

The specific admission process may vary depending on the university. The good news is that most institutions in Israel have online applications available on their websites, like Weizmann Institute of Science and Tel Aviv University. To help you with this, we also compiled the official websites and admission pages of some of the top institutions in Israel.

Weizmann Institute of Science

Tel Aviv University

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Make sure to gather all the information you need for the admission process. As you apply to these institutions, expect that they may ask for additional requirements depending on your nationality, degree, or program. So, it’s best to keep your lines active.

After completing your academic and language requirements, it’s time to apply!

The admission process in Israel differs from one university to another, so it’s best to contact your chosen school beforehand. Please note that the admission process for international students may take some time, so be sure to know the application dates and apply early.

The application process may take weeks or months, depending on your timing, nationality, degree, and other factors. To make the most of your application, make sure to completely follow the admission steps and submit the necessary requirements to ensure that you’ll be accepted to your chosen university in Israel.

The key to being admitted to your chosen school will depend on your punctuality and the quality of your application. So make sure to complete the requirements beforehand and follow the steps in applying. After this, you’ll wait for a week or a month for the results.

4. Visa Application for International Students in Israel

Now that you’re accepted into your chosen institution, it’s time to apply for a student visa in Israel. A student visa is an essential document for studying abroad. It’s an important government document that you need to present before going to Israel as an international student.

In this section, let’s briefly discuss the requirements needed and how you can apply for a student visa in Israel. If you’re going to stay here for your studies, you will need to obtain a A/2 Student Visa.

To start your student visa application in Israel, you will need to present the following:

  1. Completed and signed Visa application form
  2. Valid passport
  3. Multiple passport-sized photos
  4. Original letter of acceptance from the institution
  5. Round-trip tickets
  6. Proof of tuition fee payment
  7. Proof of visa fee payment
  8. Bank statement

Kindly take note that these requirements may vary depending on your nationality. So, please expect that may ask for additional requirements. Moreover, you will be required to pay a student visa application fee. The visa application fee in Israel is 87 ILS.

After preparing your requirements and application fees, it’s time to apply for a student visa! The first steps in getting your student visa are:

  1. Fill out the A/2 visa application form.
  2. Submit the application form together with the required documents either to the Embassy of Israel or the Consulate of Israel.
  3. During your visa appointment, pay the non-refundable application fee.
  4. Wait for the visa decision. The minimum process time is five days.

    5. For more information regarding the specific steps in applying for a student visa, visit or contact the nearest embassy or consulate in your home country. They are the ones responsible for processing your student visa application.

    That’s it! After getting your student visa, you can now officially study in Israel. Make sure to book a flight early, before your classes start, so that you’ll have ample time to explore and familiarize yourself in your new place!