Undergraduate Study Abroad Programs for Second, Third, & Fourth Year

Studying at top-ranked Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School (RIS) will inspire you. Experience Israel’s remarkable culture through field trips and social activities, as well as through optional subject-specific tracks and courses on Hebrew language, Israel, and the Middle East. Jerusalem will be a second classroom for you, full of colorful sights, sounds, smells, and tastes.

You can choose from a wide range of topics while studying in Jerusalem, a center of historical, political, and religious significance. Our city is also central in the development of advanced technology and innovative entrepreneurship. You can even advance your career through an internship with one of Israel’s leading organizations. Whether you study for a semester or year, your life will be richer with Jerusalem as your second home.

Your program will begin with an intensive Hebrew-language course (ulpan) and continue through the semester with Hebrew or Arabic language study and elective courses in the following diverse areas:

• Jewish Civilization, Religion and History
• Middle East and Islamic Studies
• Political Science and International Relations
• Israel Studies: History, Politics, Society and Culture
• Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
• Conflict and Security Studies
• Business and Law
• Education
• Global Studies
• Arabic Language
  
  

Undergraduate Course Catalogue 2019-2020

Program Structure & Credits

You will take a minimum of 15 credits per semester, plus the 5-credit pre-semester Hebrew ulpan.

• Pre-Semester Program
  • Intensive Hebrew-language ulpan, September or Winter (5 credits)

• Autumn or Spring Semester
  • Language instruction in Hebrew or Arabic (6 credits)*
  • Elective courses (9 credits)
  • Internships and independent studies are also available
    
    

* Students who wish to be exempt from Hebrew language study during the semester are required to meet one of the following criteria:

•  Advanced language proficiency in Hebrew (level heh or above)
• Written permission from their home university to opt out of language study
• Enrollment in 6 credits of Modern Standard Arabic during the semester
  
  

Additional Options

Spring in Jerusalem Honors Program

Outstanding students in their third and fourth years of study who are looking for a unique intellectual challenge are invited to apply for our Spring in Jerusalem Honors Program. (Merit scholarships are available for students from the USA).

Special Arts Programs

If you are a dancer, artist or musician looking to continue your studies on a semester or year abroad, we have the partnership program for you. Rothberg International School has teamed up with leading institutions in Jerusalem: The Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design and the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance to offer you the combination you are seeking.
Options include:

• DanceJerusalem
• ArtJerusalem
• Jerusalem Sounds
  
  

High-tech Internship Programs

• Technology & Innovation Internship Program
  
  

University Departmental Courses

As a study abroad student, you can also choose from a growing list of courses offered in English from Hebrew University’s Science, Humanities, and Social Sciences faculties. View Hebrew University courses offered in English.

Full Academic Support

You’ll have a program advisor who will help you take full advantage of the resources available at Hebrew University. You may contact your advisor throughout the year about course selection and to plan semester programs. We strongly recommend that you also meet with the academic advisor at your home university to discuss your choice of courses before you come to Israel.

Undergraduate Program Advisors

• Dr. Alick Isaacs
• Mr. Shachar Yanai
• Dr. Susan Nashman-Fraiman
• Ms. Linor Rosenberg

If you are a full-time student, you can opt to do a professional internship each semester with a partner organization for eight hours each week. Internships are organized and monitored by a special coordinator at RIS.

Examples of Recent Internship Partners

• Hadassah University Hospital
• Albright Institute of Archaeological Research
• Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive
• Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
• Business venture companies
• Nursery and elementary schools
• Community centers
• University research institutes
  
  

Student Internship Experience

“Being able to see, first-hand, a part of society so often disconnected from the general discourse of most westernized secular countries was undoubtedly a highlight of my time with MEMRI.”
Khyle Eastin, Pomona College
The Middle East Media Research Institute

“Through my internship, I learned about the field of venture capital and the Israel startup environment.”
Danielle Orenshein, Yeshiva University
OurCrowd

“I appreciated having the opportunity to leave the Hebrew University campus and get a feel for what it’s like to work at a tech start-up in Jerusalem. It was a great cultural and work experience overall!”
Rebecca Silver, University of Pennsylvania
OrCam

“Not only was I able to help with the key tasks that go into financing Yad Vashem’s daily work, I had the opportunity to add my own creativity to my work.”
Heather Gillies, Tulane University
Yad Vashem

You may also submit a proposal to carry out an independent study project (for 3 credits). You’ll complete the project under the supervision of a faculty member or expert in the field, who will serve as your mentor and evaluate your project. Submit your proposal by the first week of classes.

If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity to complement your studies, we invite you to visit our Office of Student Life (OSL), where they can help you arrange an option tailored to your needs and availability.

You’ll be invited to participate in a wide array of trips, tours, and activities offered by the Office of Student Life, including a tour of the Old City, a trip to the Dead Sea, and festivals that are held throughout the year. Build your own unique impressions and memories of Jerusalem and Israel. Housing on the Mount Scopus Campus is available for you as a study abroad student. Living with other international and Israeli students provides you with the opportunity to form new friendships and get involved in campus life. A team of multilingual Israeli students, called madrichim, are also there to help you adjust to your new surroundings and give you tips on things to do. Learn more about student life at HebrewU.

While studying at HebrewU, you’ll experience Jerusalem’s incredible mosaic of cultures, foods, religions, and peoples. Stroll through a lively street market, or spend an evening with friends at a trendy nightclub. Intern with an Israeli start-up, or volunteer with one of the many nonprofit organizations here. Immerse yourself in the lively arts and culture scene, or pursue another interest that will connect you to the city through an independent study project.

Entrepreneurs, creatives, scholars, scientists, and activists all flock to Jerusalem, making it an exciting place to study abroad. You’ll make new friends and new memories as you discover first-hand Jerusalem’s rich history, as well as its vibrant and innovative culture. Learn more about Jerusalem and start planning your adventure.

Apply by: May 31 (full year or autumn semester); November 30 (spring semester)
Program length: Semester or year

View our Academic Calendar for registration dates and more.

View our Course Registration Deadlines.

For financial information, see Tuition & Fees for undergraduates

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships, based on demonstrated need or merit, are available. In addition, a Spring in Jerusalem Honors Program scholarship is available to North American students. To apply, follow the procedure required by your local office.

Credits & GPA

In order to apply, you must have already completed at least two full semesters at university. Your cumulative GPA should be a minimum of 3.0 (B) or equivalent.

English Language Requirement

If you are from a non-English-speaking country and have not previously studied at an institution of higher education where the language of instruction is English, you are required to take an English proficiency test. A minimum TOEFL score of 89 on the internet-based test is required. The school code for TOEFL is 0206. Equivalent Cambridge or IELTS scores are also acceptable.