The Hebrew University in Jerusalem - MSU Office of Study Abroad

The Hebrew University in Jerusalem

Summer - June 21 - July 31, 2008
Fall (late July to late December),
Spring (late January to late May)
Academic Year (late July to late May)

Sponsored by the Colleges of Arts & Letters, Communication Arts and Sciences, the Eli Broad College of Business, and James Madison College

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s first university and a symbol of the cultural rebirth of the Jewish nation in its ancestral homeland. In 2005, Israel's Council for Higher Education ranked the Hebrew University as the nation's #1 university on a scale of "academic excellence."

Today, over 24,000 students, from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, study on the University’s four campuses, including some 1,200 visitors, with over 300 students from United States, at Rothberg International School. Rothberg students are housed in dormitories and are offered a variety of activities and services. Many students take courses that enable them to integrate their studies with exploration of Jerusalem and Jewish history.

Jerusalem , the capital of Israel, is well known for its abundant historical and holy sites and fascinating tourist attractions. A city sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Jerusalem is a melding of past and present, of ancient roots and modern innovations. In addition, this thriving metropolis is rich in art galleries and museums, theaters and concert halls, restaurants and cafes, pubs and dance clubs. Exciting festivals, exhibitions, international conferences, sports competitions and many other special events are held throughout the year.

To find out more about Hebrew University and Rothberg International School visit their Web site at http://overseas.huji.ac.il.

Rothberg offers academically accredited courses in English at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Students may enroll for a full year or for one semester. Studies include a summer or winter intensive Hebrew language course, (i.e. an Ulpan), which is designed to increase the student’s Hebrew proficiency at all levels. Each semester students will enroll in a flexible program consisting of Hebrew language instruction and a variety of courses taught in English in the following areas: archaeology, business, communications, history, international relations, literature, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, science and sociology. Students with sufficient knowledge of Hebrew and who plan to attend for the full year or for the Spring semester are encouraged to register for departmental Hebrew University classes together with Israeli students, and thus may choose from a broad selection of courses in the faculties of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Science. Stimulating workshops, seminars and tours around Jerusalem and the rest of Israel complement the academic program.

Accredited research and experiential internships, worth 3 credits, are available each semester to qualified students. Students must devote a minimum of eight hours per week to the internship, in addition to taking an academic workshop, "In the Community I / II: Israel Case Studies" (see courses). Internship locations in recent years have included Hadassah University Hospital, the Albright Institute of Archaeology, Alut – Association for Autistic Children, Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, high-tech companies, the media, community centers, government ministries, university research institutes, and many other places.

The Department of Summer Courses and Special Academic Programs offers language courses in Biblical Hebrew and Literary and Spoken Arabic; Middle Eastern Studies; Study of the World of the Bible; Israel Studies; and Archaeological Field Schools.

This is a co-sponsored program. Credit may be awarded for certain courses as regular MSU credit rather than transfer credit. These courses will be listed on your official MSU transcript and will include the title of the course abroad, the number of credits and the grade earned. For further details about this policy, visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/people/students.html.

Contact the study abroad program coordinator listed below to learn more about available courses. To find out what courses other students have taken on the program and what MSU courses they might replace, visit http://transfer.msu.edu/Institution.asp and http://www.reg.msu.edu/ROINFO/CSSAP/CSSAPmain.asp. Courses listed may not be offered every semester, and additional courses may be available during the semester you plan to participate.

After submitting an application to MSU, students are required to complete a detailed HU application that includes a resume, essay, two letters of recommendation, transcript, Hebrew placement exam and a medical report. In general, completion of at least 28 credits and a GPA of 3.0 ("B" average) is required for admission. The local Admissions Committee will consider students with slightly lower GPAs provided the two most recent semester grades are 3.0 or above. Summer participants must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.00 at the time of application, and have completed freshman year at the time of participation. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

All semester students are required to take Hebrew language (Ulpan) in Israel before the semester begins. Only students who demonstrate proficiency in the Hebrew language based upon the results of a written exam administered by the Office of Academic Affairs are exempt.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

The student housing complexes on Mount Scopus, overlooking the incredible panorama of Jerusalem, are walking distance from the University. They offer an independent setting appropriate for overseas students. Living in University housing is an important part of the overall experience of studying abroad. Rothberg students have the opportunity to meet new friends from different cultures and continents – North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Europe – as well as a chance to share experiences with Israeli students.

Students accepted to Rothberg are allocated housing provided that they make their reservations on time. Space may be limited in the spring semester. Students are usually housed in apartments with single or double bedrooms. The bedrooms contain beds, desks, chairs and closets. Kitchen and bathroom facilities are shared.

There is no meal plan, but the kitchens are equipped with stove burners and refrigerators for preparing light meals and snacks. Moderately priced kosher cafeterias and snack bars, as well as small supermarkets, can be found in or near each student housing complex. Laundry facilities are also available.

A staff of specially selected Israeli students (called madrichim), who reside in the dormitories, assist Rothberg students in adjusting to campus life at the Hebrew University and help them obtain the full benefit of their stay in Israel.

Cindy Felbeck Chalou
Office of Study Abroad
109 International Center
Phone: (517) 432-4345
E-mail: chalouc@msu.edu

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date. If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of twelve weeks are usually required for processing. During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required. Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices. They can also be downloaded from the Web.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose. The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

pre-departure orientation
MSU accident and sickness insurance

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

Airfare (est. $1,900)
meals (est. $300)
books and supplies (est. $100)
HU tuition ($1,850)
accommodations (est. $600)
passport application fee ($100)
visa application fees (if applicable)
pre-departure doctor visits
pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
personal spending money (est. $1,000)

Students may request a cost sheet which estimates these additional expenses not included in the program fee by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee. Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

*Check http://www.ctlr.msu.edu/studrec/ for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU.

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid.

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing. This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships. Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need. Requirements are listed in the scholarship application. The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are February 1st for spring break programs, March 1st for summer, academic year and fall semester programs, and October 15th for winter break and spring semester programs.

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

Rothberg offers a limited number of Merit based scholarships to highly qualified candidates. This scholarship award is in the amount of $5,000 for one year of study, and $2,500 for one semester of study. To be considered, candidates must have completed at least three semesters of university study, have a minimum GPA of 3.8 or equivalent and must be admitted to the Rothberg International School.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/scholarships/index.html

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by October 15th for spring semester participation and by March 1st for summer, fall or academic year participation. We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to these deadlines.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year. Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required. Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program. Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records.

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter. You can also read the handbook online at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/abcs/index.html.