Isabella Cannon Global Education Center

About the Location

Located on the Mediterranean coast in northern Israel and spread around Haifa Bay and the slopes of Mt. Carmel, Haifa is home to more than 265,000 people.  It is Israel's foremost port city for international commerce and the center of Israeli high tech industries.  Haifa is known as a city of coexistence where Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze, and Bahá'ís live in harmony.  The Bahá'í World Centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The city offers many options for cultural and social outings as well as the natural beauty of its beaches and Carmel National Park.

NOTE: A Travel Warning is in effect for Israel.  Elon has assessed the safety of the program and will allow students to participate.  See conditions below under Applications.

Academics

University of Haifa is a world-class research university and enrolls more than 16,000 students.  The International School welcomes more than 700 students from around the world who come to study Arabic, Hebrew, and a variety of other disciplines.  Students take language courses in Arabic or Hebrew and select additional courses in a variety of other disciplines  taught in English.  Students can enroll in courses in the Department of English.  Students who are proficient in Hebrew can enroll in all courses taught in various other departments at the university, provided they meet the prerequisites of each course.

Grades count toward an Elon GPA.

Study abroad courses may not be taken on an audit or pass/fail basis, regardless of the host institution's policy.

Students planning to study abroad on this program must fill out the Course Request Packet and meet with the Assistant Registrar to know how the courses will count toward their degree.

To see course listings for this semester program, click here.

General Program Date

Fall program – early October to early January
Spring semester – mid-February to early June

Students can choose to arrive early and participate in optional study tours and intensive Arabic or Hebrew courses at an additional cost.

Cost

Costs for study abroad vary program to program and will not be exactly the same as on-campus costs of attendance at Elon.

For cost information for this program, please see the budget sheets:

• Fall Budget Sheet
• Spring Budget Sheet

Scholarships/Travel Grants

Need-based scholarships are available for Elon semester programs through the GEC.  For additional information on scholarships or other funding for study abroad, see the Funding for Study Abroad page.

If you qualify for a travel grant through any of the fellows or scholars programs, see the appropriate program director for more information on how to apply the grant to your study abroad program.  Visit the Deadlines and Events Calendar for travel grant deadlines.

MASA Israel Journey http://www.masaisrael.org/Masa/English/

Helyn B. Reich Scholarship http://www.uhaifa.org/page.asp?id=87&a=a8&b=b35

University Scholarship Fund of the American Jewish League for Israel http://www.americanjewishleague.org/scholarships.html

If you qualify for a travel grant through any of the fellows or scholars programs, see the appropriate program director for more information on how to apply the grant to your study abroad program.  Visit the Deadlines and Events Calendar for travel grant deadlines.

Housing

About 1,200 students live in the dorms at the University of Haifa, including students of all social, economic, religious, and ethnic backgrounds.  In most cases you will be placed in an apartment with no more than one other international student and the rest of your roommates will be Israeli.  Students usually live in the Federman Dorms, modest apartments with three double rooms and a shared bathroom, kitchen, and living space.  Students can also choose to live in the Talia Dorms for a supplemental cost. These are spacious apartments with six single rooms, each room with its own bathroom, and a shared kitchen and living space.  All apartments in the dorms are single-sex.  In your room you will be provided a bed, desk, closet, and shelves, as well as sheets, a blanket, and a pillow.  The kitchen comes equipped with a refrigerator and two stove-top burners.  While dishes, utensils, and other appliances are not provided, most Israeli roommates are happy to share their kitchen supplies with their roommates.  Computer labs, a grocery store, and self-service laundry rooms are located in the dormitories complex.  In addition, there is a "moadon" or "club" with a large-screen television which often hosts parties, workshops, lectures, and other activities.

Applications

Students must complete online the Elon University study abroad application by the published deadline.  See the Deadline and Events Calendar for the most up-to-date deadline information.  Applications are generally accepted one semester in advance.

Initial approval is granted by Elon, and final acceptance is granted by The University of Haifa.

All applicants for this program are required to review the US Department of State Travel Warning for Israel and sign a Travel Warning Acknowledgment.

Orientations

A successful semester abroad is dependent upon adequate preparation.  Students will participate in a series of mandatory orientations during the semester prior to studying abroad.  These orientations will address issues of academic, cultural, logistical, financial, and personal preparation, as well as health and safety.  Failure to participate in the required orientations will result in dismissal from the program.  Any financial losses incurred by this dismissal, including program fees and international airfare, are the student's full responsibility.

Click here for the semester programs pre-departure orientation schedule.

Additional Links and Information

Like the Global Eduacation Center Facebook page.  You can connect with other prospective students and chat with alumni about the program!

Study Abroad Student Ambassadors (SASAs) are GEC student representatives who have participated in one or more study abroad programs, and have been trained to speak about their experiences. You can be in touch with current SASAs via email, or contact past study abroad participants who have attended your program. They are looking forward to hearing from you!

Embassy, Consulate, and Visa Resources

Israeli Embassy in DC http://www.israelemb.org/

US Embassy in Tel Aviv http://israel.usembassy.gov/

US Consulate in Haifa http://israel.usembassy.gov/haifa.html