Program terms: Fall, Full Academic Year, Spring
Restrictions: Vanderbilt applicants only
Type of Program: Direct University Enrollment
Costs: Budget Sheets
Academic Calendar: Similar to VU
Key Dates:

Term	Application Deadline	Program Dates
Fall 2025	03/03/2025	To be determined
Full Academic Year 2025	03/03/2025	To be determined

At a Glance

The Lowy International School at Tel Aviv University's (TAU) undergraduate study abroad programs, established in 1968, offer a rich variety of college level courses in English for full academic credit while immersing students in Israeli culture. TAU's Lowy International School partners with various faculties at the University to offer students the option of interdisciplinary curricula each semester. In addition to intensive Hebrew language studies, courses are offered in the fields of International Relations, Social Sciences, Arts, Environmental Studies, History, Religion, Business, Jewish and Israel Studies, and more.

TAU Study Abroad
Program Calendar

Who Is the Program For?

The program at Tel Aviv University is open to all Vanderbilt students. Students who apply to TAU should be committed to a truly immersive intercultural experience and be ready to cooperate with partners from various religions and ethnicities. Intensive Hebrew language study is required, but all other courses are conducted in English.

Academics

TAU's unique international learning environment offers a variety of courses in the fields of International Relations, Social Sciences, Arts, Environmental Studies, History, Religion, Business and more. All participants who are not highly proficient in Hebrew (as determined by TAU) must complete an Intensive Hebrew Language Course (Ulpan) prior to beginning coursework. Each course in the regular semester awards three academic credits, for a total of up to 15 undergraduate-level credits, plus additional credits for the pre-term intensive Hebrew course.

Course Catalog
Search Vanderbilt Course Equivalencies

Areas of Study

These are the courses of study made available by the provider or host university. The credit VU students receive is determined by Vanderbilt's University Registrar via the course evaluation process.

Communication, Entrepreneurship, Anthropology, Hebrew, Business, Political Science, History, Philosophy, Environmental Studies, Arabic, Art History, Psychology, Management, Public Policy, Theater/Drama, Classical Studies, Jewish Studies, Sociology, Film, Religious Studies, International Relations, Economics

Vanderbilt will use the scale shown here to articulate all grades from Tel Aviv University, regardless of the subject area or language of instruction.

Tel Aviv University	Vanderbilt Equivalents
A+ (97-100%)	A
A (93-96%)	A
A- (90-92%)	A-
B+ (87-89%)	B+
B (83-86%)	B
B- (80-82%)	B-
C+ (77-79%)	C+
C (73-76%)	C
C- (70-72%)	C-
D+ (67-69%)	D+
D (63-66%)	D
D- (60-62%)	D-
F (0-59%)	F

Academic Calendar

The academic calendar in Israel is set according to the Jewish calendar, which means that every year the semesters begin and end on slightly different dates. Semesters are 13-14 weeks long. A pre-term Hebrew language course (the Ulpan) precedes the semester, lasting approximately 7 weeks in fall and 4 weeks in spring. The Ulpan is mandatory for those who are not highly proficient in modern Hebrew.

Fall (Semester One):
Late July/Early August through late December/early January
Spring semester (Semester 2):
Mid-January through mid-May/early June

Student Life

Situated in the heart of Israel’s coastal region, Tel Aviv University resides on a spacious 220-acre campus. Located in suburban Ramat Aviv, just north of the city, the campus is minutes away from downtown Tel Aviv. The University’s proximity to the artistic and commercial capital of Israel allows students to absorb the very best of Israeli culture and society.

As a Tel Aviv University student, you will have access to all of the University’s general and professional libraries. Students can gain access to the Elite Sports Center and the Goldreich Multipurpose Sports building by purchasing a sports pass for a nominal fee. Tel Aviv also offers other sports and recreational facilities, excellent public beaches, and a wide variety of shopping and entertainment.

Housing

Student dormitories are conveniently located within walking distance of the Tel Aviv University campus. Dormitories are divided into suites of one or two bedrooms shared by two students per bedroom. Each suite is furnished and includes a kitchenette and bathroom, air conditioning and wifi. A self-service laundromat is located directly across from the dorm complex. Additional laundry and cleaning facilities are available in nearby shopping centers.

Location

Tel Aviv is arguably Israel’s capital of industry, innovation and youth culture, where sunny beaches and the national high-tech hub are within walking distance of each other. Since Tel Aviv was established in 1909, it has become Israel’s cultural and financial center, and a crucible of antiquity and innovation. Tel Aviv has the highest percentage of young people of any city in Israel and the city’s infrastructure, culture and atmosphere reflect this.

Passport and Visa

Your passport should be valid for at least six months after you plan to depart Israel. If you don't have a passport yet, or if yours will expire before then, apply for a passport as soon as possible!

Students from most countries (including the US) will need to secure a visa in advance to study in Israel. You should apply for the A/2 Student Visa, and you should expect to make a personal appearance at the Israeli embassy or a consulate.

Application

You will complete two applications simultaneously. One is a simple application with very few requirements which serves to help the Global Education Office determine your eligibility to study abroad. At the same time, you will fill out an application to Tel Aviv University International to determine whether or not you will be accepted into the program.

To begin working on your GEO application, click on the Apply Now button near the top of this page. To work on your Tel Aviv University application, visit TAU's Lowy International School.

For More Information

For more information or to ask questions about your GEO application, you may contact this program's Global Education Office advisor, via our advising page.

Don't forget your fellow students! Student perspectives can be very valuable to your information-gathering and decision-making. There may be alumni of this program listed toward the top of this page; they are happy for you to contact them. You can also check out other students who might have gone to Israel among GEO's Study Abroad Alumni, or talk to one of our Peer Advisors about study abroad in general.

For more information, visit program homepage.

Fact Sheet

Housing: Dormitory
Minimum GPA: 3
Language of Instruction: English, Hebrew
Language prerequisite: No
Additional prerequisites: N/A
Costs: Budget Sheets
Student contacts: Peer alumni

Photo: Jaffa, by Dennis Jarvis, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0