Dear Prospective Student,

Imagine beginning each day by saying "Boker Tov" to your Israeli roommates.  Imagine studying in courses that use the country you are living in as a learning tool.  Imagine working hard to learn Hebrew, while also picking up a few words of Arabic, Russian, Amharic, French, Spanish, and all the other languages you'll hear on campus.  Imagine walking out the door of your dorm room and into the Carmel National Forest, Israel's largest park.  Imagine watching the sunrise over the hills of the Galilee and the sunset over the Mediterranean Sea.  All of these scenarios can be realities if you spend a summer, semester, or year in the International School at the University of Haifa. 

Being the only liberal arts university in the north of Israel, the University of Haifa attracts students from cities, towns, and villages from the surrounding areas, as well as students from other areas who want the opportunity to experience Haifa.  The university is a world class research institution with internationally recognized faculties in the humanities, the social and natural sciences, law, education, social welfare, and health studies.  It has a diverse student body, with a mixture of Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Druze, a combination of new immigrants with native Israelis, a blend of secular and religious.  Over 16,000 students study at the University of Haifa, and over 400 foreign students study in the programs of the International School each year.  We encourage you to be one of them.

As you explore our website and learn more about the programs and opportunities offered through the International School,  you will quickly understand the emphasis we place on immersion and integration into Israeli society.  You'll have numerous opportunities to meet Israelis and use your Hebrew, as you encounter Israelis in your courses, through internship and volunteer opportunities, and by living with Israeli roommates in the dorms.  Our extensive schedule of social activities will allow you to travel throughout the country and gain an in-depth familiarity with Israel's history as well as understand many of its current problems.  We believe that if you make the choice to come to Israel and to the University of Haifa, then it is our responsibility to create for you an experience that will challenge you academically, expose you to the rich Israeli culture, and instill in you a connection to Israel.

Should you have any questions about the International School, please don't hesitate to be in touch with us.  I look forward to seeing you here in Haifa.

                                       Sincerely,

                                       Hanan Alexander
                                       Professor and Head,
                                       International School