Student Programs & Scholarships
Studying in Israel: Programs and Scholarships, Gap Year to PhD
Israeli study programs, the universities, and the scholarships that fund them — a guide for students and olim.
Israel offers an unusually wide range of programs for Jewish students worldwide — gap years, undergraduate and graduate degrees, and vocational training — many with substantial financial support, Hebrew instruction, and absorption assistance. The funding is genuinely there; the students who access it are simply the ones who start early and apply widely. Here's the full landscape, and how to pay for it.
Gap year programs (ages 18–20)
Gap-year programs let young adults experience Israeli life, study Hebrew, volunteer, and explore Jewish identity before university. They fall into four broad types.
Mechina (pre-academic) are 8–10 month intensive programs combining Hebrew acquisition, academic preparation for Israeli universities, society and culture, and community service — often pairing Jerusalem study with time in peripheral communities. Volunteer-based programs centre on national or community service — working with underprivileged populations, environmental and educational projects, agricultural work on kibbutzim — alongside Hebrew study and touring. Religious / yeshiva programs offer Torah study with secular components, from Modern Orthodox to Haredi, sometimes with an army-preparation track. Leadership & activism programs deliver social change, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and sustainability through seminars, workshops, and hands-on projects.
Among the popular programs: Masa Israel Journey (2–12 months) is an umbrella for 200+ programs with subsidies of $4,000–7,000, for ages 18–30; the Young Judaea Year Course (9 months) blends touring, volunteering, and Hebrew with strong Zionist education; Aardvark Israel (5 or 9 months) pairs an intensive ulpan with internships and independent living; Nativ (9 months) is Conservative-affiliated with a social-justice focus; and Alexander Muss (AMHSI) runs semester or year programs for current high-schoolers with transferable credit.
On cost: full-year programs typically run $8,000–25,000, Masa grants reduce that by $4,000–7,000, and additional aid comes from Jewish federations, synagogues, and program-specific scholarships. Out-of-pocket after aid is usually $5,000–15,000. The single highest-leverage move for any gap-year applicant is the Masa grant — available across 200+ programs and routinely several thousand dollars off the sticker price. Apply early; funding is more plentiful the sooner you do.
Undergraduate degrees
International students have two routes. English-language programs are taught in English (at least initially), need no Hebrew for admission, run 3–4 years, and include Hebrew courses for gradual integration. Direct entry (Hebrew) means the regular Israeli programs, taught in Hebrew with full integration from day one — a preparatory Hebrew year (Mechina) is available if needed.
The major universities with international programs each have a character: Hebrew University (Rothberg) in Jerusalem for humanities, social sciences, and Jewish & Israel studies (top-100 globally); Tel Aviv University for liberal arts, government, and economics with strong high-tech links; Reichman (formerly IDC Herzliya), private, known for business, government, CS, and psychology with high employment rates; Bar-Ilan for Jewish studies alongside secular disciplines; University of Haifa, more affordable, with a coexistence focus; Ben-Gurion in Be'er Sheva for STEM, engineering, and desert research at a lower cost of living; and the Technion in Haifa for world-class, very competitive engineering and science feeding directly into high-tech.
The oleh tuition advantage is large. Olim pay the same heavily-subsidised rate as Israeli citizens — roughly ₪12–18k ($3,000–5,000) a year at a public university — versus $6,000–12,000 for international students, with further discounts for military service. Private (Reichman) runs $15–20k and medical programs $15–25k. Living costs add housing ($400–900/month), food ($500–800), transport ($50–100), and books ($300–600/year). It's one of the clearest financial arguments for making aliyah before you study rather than after.
Graduate programs
Master's programs are often taught entirely in English — MBA, international relations, Middle Eastern studies, conflict resolution, environmental science, computer and data science, public health, Jewish/Israel studies — while Hebrew-language programs cover most professional fields (law, social work, clinical psychology). Reckon on 1–2 years course-based, or 2–3 years for a research thesis.
For PhDs, Israeli universities are research powerhouses in technology, life sciences, medicine, physical sciences, maths, agriculture, and Jewish/Israel studies. Science PhDs are often fully funded — a tuition waiver plus a stipend of ~₪5,000–8,000/month — though humanities and social-science funding is more competitive. Four to six years is typical, with a direct PhD track in some fields.
The leading graduate schools: the Weizmann Institute (graduate-only, science and maths, all students fully funded, extremely selective); Hebrew University (comprehensive, with Rothberg for international students); Tel Aviv University (strong in business, law, science, and engineering); and the Technion (premier engineering with deep industry partnerships). Graduate tuition runs ~₪12–25k/year for olim, $8–20k for international students, $20–35k total for MBAs, with science PhDs often fully funded.
Vocational training
For olim wanting fast entry into the workforce, Israel offers extensive vocational and professional training, much of it government-subsidised. Common fields include high-tech (coding bootcamps, cyber, data science, QA, UI/UX, digital marketing), healthcare (practical nursing, medical assistants, therapy assistants), education and childcare, plus hospitality, business/admin, and skilled trades.
Leading programs include Elevation Academy (software dev on an income-share agreement, no upfront tuition), Appleseeds (web development, free or affordable for eligible students), Coding Academy (full-stack with job placement), the Ministry of Aliyah programs (subsidised, Hebrew-integrated, with placement), and ORT Israel (a long-established, affordable network). On cost, government-subsidised programs are free or minimal (₪500–2,000), private bootcamps run $5,000–15,000 (sometimes deferred), and traditional vocational schools ₪5,000–20,000/year. Financial aid for new immigrants is widely available across all routes.
The major scholarships: start with the big three
Masa Israel Journey — a joint Israeli-government and Jewish Agency project, the largest scholarship program of its kind, for Jewish young adults 18–30 (some 16–35) across gap-year, internship, volunteer, and study programs. The standard grant is up to $4,000 (4+ month programs), extended up to $7,000 (9+ months), with need-based grants adding up to $3,000 and merit awards on top — total potential support around $10,000, on rolling admissions.
Birthright Israel Excel extends Birthright into 4–12 month programs combining study, internships, and immersion (ages 21–27; business, high-tech, social impact, and arts tracks). Costs are subsidised 70–90% — participants pay ~$2,000–6,000 — with housing often included.
Onward Israel runs 6–12 week summer internship programs (ages 18–28, all majors), including a paid or credit internship, shared housing, and touring, for ~$1,500–3,500 with need-based aid reducing it further.
These three carry the bulk of gap-year and early-career funding, and they stack with community and federation awards — most well-funded students combine a Masa or Excel grant with a local federation or synagogue scholarship.
Academic, government, and fellowship awards
Beyond the big three, the heavy hitters include the Rothschild (Yad Hanadiv) for outstanding Master's and PhD students (full tuition plus ~₪6–8k/month stipend, under 10% acceptance); Hebrew U / Rothberg merit and need-based awards (25–75% of tuition); the Ministry of Aliyah for olim within three years (partial tuition, ₪5–15k/year); Ministry of Education / PBC awards (₪10–30k/year merit, with PBC fellowships fully funding doctorates); and Fulbright (US–Israel) for US graduate students (full tuition, stipend, insurance, airfare).
Don't overlook community and federation aid, which is often less competitive than national programs — Jewish federations typically give $1,000–5,000/year, Hillel, BBYO, and Young Judaea $1,000–3,000, and synagogues $500–5,000. Specialised fellowships like Wexner (Jewish communal leadership, $20k/year), Dorot (a fully funded year in Israel), and the Schusterman, AIPAC, and Ruderman programs round out the field.
How to actually win the money
The students who fund their studies best treat scholarships like a portfolio: one large anchor grant (Masa, Excel, Fulbright, or a university award), topped up with two or three smaller community and federation awards. Casting a wide net is the whole game.
Start early — research 12–18 months out, since many deadlines fall 6–12 months ahead. Apply widely; successful students average 5–10 applications across national, local, and institutional aid. Leverage your home community, where federations and synagogues are often less competitive. Combine awards wherever stacking is allowed. Document need thoroughly — need-based aid is frequently more available than merit. Emphasise what's distinctive about you, write tailored essays and have them edited, secure strong references (give referees 4–6 weeks and your CV), and prepare properly for interviews. US applicants should also mind the tax angle — 529 plans and education credits may apply.
Budgeting and earning while you study
Annual budgets run roughly $13,000–15,000 for a careful oleh sharing accommodation, $20,000–22,000 for a comfortable oleh, and $27,000–30,000 for an international student. Cut costs by living outside Tel Aviv and Jerusalem (Haifa and Be'er Sheva are far cheaper), sharing apartments or using dorms, shopping the shuk and cooking at home, and always asking for the student rate.
On work: olim have full work rights, and international students may work ~20 hours/week with a permit. Minimum wage runs ~₪30–35/hour, campus jobs ₪35–50, high-tech internships ₪50–100+, and English teaching or tutoring a lucrative ₪100–200. Typical part-time income lands at ₪2,000–4,000/month.
Process and timeline
12–18 months before: research programs and scholarships, connect with alumni, assess your finances, and start Hebrew if needed. 9–12 months before: apply for competitive scholarships (Fulbright, Rothschild), request references, take any required tests, draft essays, and apply to Masa (rolling — earlier is better). 6–9 months before: submit university applications and financial-aid forms, apply for federation and community scholarships, and begin the visa process if you're not making aliyah. 3–6 months before and on arrival: compare and accept offers, arrange housing and flights, complete health requirements, register for courses, and settle into orientation and ulpan.
Keep two document sets ready — one for university and scholarship applications (transcripts, diploma, personal statement, references, test scores, proof of Jewish identity for Jewish-specific awards), and one for the aliyah or student-visa process (proof of Jewish identity, birth certificate, passport, background check, and medical records for aliyah; acceptance letter, proof of funds, and health insurance for a student visa).
Service, identity, and integration
Military service (for olim): new immigrants can request a service deferment for continuous full-time study, with later obligations depending on age at aliyah and degree level. Exemptions apply for those making aliyah after a certain age, the married, parents, religious women, and on medical grounds. The competitive Academic Reserve (Atuda) has the military fund your degree in exchange for extended service afterward, on a salaried officer track.
Jewish identity on campus: universities respect Shabbat and the holidays (Bar-Ilan especially), with campus synagogues, kosher food, active Hillel chapters, and a pluralistic mix of secular and religious students. Hebrew is essential for full integration — lean on ulpan, campus courses, and Israeli roommates. Israeli directness and a less-structured academic culture take adjustment, but connections form fast.
Health insurance: olim get automatic national health insurance via Bituach Leumi, choosing a Kupat Holim with comprehensive cover and low co-pays; international students must arrange insurance for the visa (~$50–150/month). Most campuses have a clinic and counselling, often free.
After graduation
Israel's "Startup Nation" ecosystem — incubators, accelerators, venture capital, and university entrepreneurship centres — means a degree here can lead straight into the innovation economy. Olim work with full rights and the high-tech sector hires graduates actively; international students can apply for a post-study work visa, with tech firms sponsoring skilled workers. Hebrew proficiency materially improves prospects, networking during studies is crucial, and Israeli degrees are recognised worldwide. For many graduates, that pipeline — more than the classroom — is the real draw.
Where to get help
The key databases and bodies are Masa Israel Journey (program database and applications), Nefesh B'Nefesh (aliyah and education guidance), The Jewish Agency (study-abroad and gap-year), Hillel International (campus programs and aid), the AACI (support for North American students), and Fulbright Israel for fellowships, plus the Israel Student Authority for government student services. Every campus has counselling services; ERAN emotional first aid is reachable at 1201, and the ER24 English-speakers' helpline at 1-800-800-972, both 24/7.
If you take nothing else from this guide
Start 12–18 months early and apply for multiple scholarships — the funding is there for those who pursue it. Consider making aliyah before you study; it cuts tuition dramatically and opens long-term opportunity. Study Hebrew — it's the difference between observing Israeli life and living it. And be open to programs across the country, not just the famous-city campuses.
Whether it's a gap year, a degree, doctoral research, or professional training, studying in Israel tends to be less about the qualification than about who you become while earning it. B'hatzlacha.
Scholarship amounts, tuition, eligibility, and contact details are indicative and change year to year — always confirm current figures with the program, university, or scholarship body before applying.
Olim Advice — free advice for every oleh. Trying to map the right program, or stack the scholarships your situation qualifies for? Visit olimadvice.com and we'll help you build a study-and-funding plan.