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
Insurance Summary of coverages
Health Insurance Registration Form
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://step.state.gov/. 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.
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.
