Healthcare

The International School at the University of Haifa requires that all students be covered by an Israeli health insurance company for the duration of their studies. We work with the Harel Insurance Company and the health insurance covers all injuries or illnesses that occur while you are in Israel. The insurance provides coverage from the moment you leave your home country until the moment you return to your home country. 

The health insurance provided by Harel does NOT cover any pre-existing conditions.  Therefore, if you have any pre-existing conditions, we require that you also be covered by insurance from your home country that will be valid for treatment in Israel.

Health insurance is included in the tuition fee for all full-time students studying in the International School.

Harel-University Medical Services

Health Insurance Registration Form

Security

The University of Haifa is first and foremost committed to student safety and security. The University has security guards at the entrances to the campus as well as at the entrance to each building. In addition, there is a security guard at the entrance to the dorms 24-hours-a-day. In case of an emergency, the University of Haifa has a crisis management and evacuation plan in place.

We require that all students have an Israeli cell phone number while enrolled in our programs and students must bring with them an unlocked phone in order to obtain an Israeli SIM card upon arrival. This enables the University of Haifa to send text messages to all students automatically,  updating them about safety and security issues as well as announcements regarding classroom changes, class cancellations, activities etc.  Students are required to have their cell phones charged and with them at all times to enable International School staff to reach them by phone call or text message in the event of an emergency.

During the orientation session, that students are given upon arrival to campus,  are instructions on how to keep themselves safe while in Israel. We advise all students to register with the embassy of their home country. American students can register through the website: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp.  All other students can find their Embassy's contact information online or come to the International School Office for assistance. 

We ask that all students inform us when they choose to travel out of Haifa. All of these measures allow us to know where they are and to be able to give them security updates when necessary. Because there are places in Israel that may be less safe, and because international students are not always familiar with these areas, we encourage our students to participate in the trips that we offer. All of our trips and tours are organized and run in consultation with the relevant security authorities, including the University's Security Division and the Israeli Police and Defense Forces. Should students decide to travel on their own, we encourage them to consult with International School staff so that we can assist them in planning their trip. It is forbidden to travel to the West Bank and or Gaza Strip while a student in the International School.

If there is an emergency in Haifa, we immediately contact all of our students to be sure that they are safe. We ask them to contact their families directly, but we will also send out an e-mail to addresses of family and friends that the student provides us with. We encourage family and friends at home who are worried about their student to be aware that what you see on television and what may actually be happening in Israel is not always the same. Despite the political situation in the region, Israelis continue to live their lives, including going out to public places and riding buses, and our international students agree that they feel safe in Haifa.

In case of emergencies during the day, please call the International School Office at 04-8288730. For emergencies after office hours, you should contact the Madrichim (Social Activity Coordinators) at: 052-866-6431.Please use that number on the day you arrive, should you need assistance as well. To call Magen David Adom (paramedics), dial 101. For the police dial 100.

Follow these guidelines and behave sensibly so that you can have the best time while you are with us.

Commonly Asked Security Questions 

Are there written safety policies/procedures in place to protect students?  How are these policies/procedures communicated to the students?

When students arrive to campus, they receive an orientation packet that includes information regarding safety and security.  This information is reviewed with the students during orientation.  In addition, should there be a change in security procedures all students are notified.  This notification comes via meetings with the students, message boards, telephone contact, and e-mail.  All students are required to carry a cellular phone with them while in Israel so that we can contact them if necessary and they can contact us in the case of an emergency.  All students also receive a University of Haifa student ID card at the beginning of the semester.  On the back of this card are listed the phone numbers of International School staff as well as campus security, police, medical services, and other emergency information.

Is there a written crisis management plan in place?  How is this plan communicated to students?

The University of Haifa has a crisis management plan.  In the International School, we make sure to translate this plan into English and share it with our students when necessary.  Please see the attached information regarding emergency procedures during a crisis.

How are students alerted to safety information issued by US Center for Disease Control and US State Department?

Similar to how we contact students with any new security information, we will also contact them with safety information provided by the US Center for Disease Control and the US State Department through meetings with students, message boards, telephone contact, and e-mail.

What protocols are in place for communicating with university officials and parents of students participating in the program in the event of a crisis?

In the event of a crisis, we first verify that each of our students is safe.  We ask the students to come to our office and call their families immediately.  We will notify university officials in the event of a crisis.  We also send an e-mail out to the families of students who have agreed for us to have contact with them. 

Do you have general liability, worker’s compensation, employer’s liability, and automobile liability coverages in place? 

The University of Haifa has all of these in place.

While we know that your reason for choosing the University of Haifa is the desire for a challenging academic experience, we also want to give you the opportunity to explore and understand Israel as much as possible. For this reason, we provide you with numerous social activities throughout your time at the University of Haifa.

The International School employs full-time Madrichim (or "Social Activities Coordinators") who build and implement an exciting social activities program. The Madrichim live on campus, and it is their responsibility to assist you in immersing yourself in campus life as much as possible. All social activities planned by the International School are included in the tuition fee, so we encourage you to take advantage of them. These range from movie nights, Haifa city tours, a night downtown, bowling outings, holiday celebrations, and more. Activities planned by outside providers, but advertised for you through us may have a charge. Whichever activities you choose to get involved in, you are guaranteed to have an amazing social, cultural and educational experience here at the International School in the University of Haifa!

You can take advantage of the opportunity to immerse yourselves in Israeli society in different and significant ways. Firstly there are several volunteer opportunities both on and off-campus that will expose you to day-to-day Israeli society. Secondly, we offer a student buddy program that matches international students with local Israeli students. On holidays and the Sabbath, you may request to join a local family for a festive meal, which has been proven to be rewarding for both the student and the families involved.

To see the Social Activities Calendar for the Full-Time Study Abroad Spring Semester 2019, click here. 

Meet the Madrichim

The Madrichim (Social Acitivity Coordinators) are all Israeli University of Haifa students.  Most of them live on campus near our students and they are on call 24 hours a day. Every semester they prepare an extensive array of social and cultural programs for our students as well as coordinating the volunteer program. The Madrichim are here for our students with any needs or questions they may have, or just to shoot the breeze.

Mr. Maor Zlotzever-  Maor is 33, a doctoral student at the University. His research deals with his passion for biology, food production, industry and sustainable ecological economics. In his spare time he volunteers in a financial education organization that helps disadvantaged populations. He volunteers as a paramedic in a rescue unit, and among his hobbies are playing guitar and nature walks.

Ms. Aviva Badgili-  Aviva is 26 years old. She is a Law student at the University of Haifa. Her hobbies include sailing, hiking and getting to know new cultures. She hopes you would make the best out of your time in Haifa. 

Mr. Ali Swetat- Ali is 23 years old. He is studying for a B.Sc in Psychology and Counselling at the University of Haifa. His great passion is helping to bring peace, love, and inclusion within himself, around him and in the world. He is a world traveler and cultural mediator. 

Congratulations and welcome to the University of Haifa and the International School! There is a lot of information that we have to share with you before your arrival. Please take the time to read through these important documents to understand what will be happening in your first days upon your arrival. 

Study Abroad & Language Programs Orientation Packages

July Intenisve Hebrew Ulpan 2019

July Intensive Beginners Spoken Arabic 2019

August Intensive Hebrew Ulpan 2019

Graduate Programs Orientation Packages

2019 - 2020 Graduate Programs