My rollercoaster semester in Haifa and Israel! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Each professor gave great outside resources and very interesting reading assignments.

On-site administration of your program

Staff was always very helpful and available to answer questions, and quick to reply to emails. Kalanit and Tammy helped make my study abroad experience go as smoothly as possible.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was happy to have chosen to live off campus. I would have been quite upset to have signed up to live in the dorms, only to learn that they are pretty far removed from the City centers of Haifa, and that on Shabbat we are stuck at the top of the hill with no transportation. I think students should be informed before hand about the location of the campus in comparison with the rest of the city, and the transportation situation on Shabbat. The list of possible off campus housing that I was provided with was NOT helpful. I found something myself online. Please update the list of possible housing with more practical options (I lived downtown on 45 HaHelutz, which is turning into a nice, newly renovated, student-oriented building. I was only on campus 2 or 3 times per week, so the long bus ride didn't matter so much, and I got a lot of reading done. The rest of the time I was smack dab in the middle of Haifa and really got to experience the city. Great for transportation to other places as well.)

Didn't eat on campus too much. Good coffee. Law faculty cafe needs more options!! Those sandwiches are pretty boring.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Only was able to feel integrated because I lived off campus! Wish that there had been more student events off campus, not just on campus. Like visiting the theater or other cultural opportunities other than academic tours and the student day concerts.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Got insurance info easily, and insurance card replaced quickly when it was lost. Other than that I (thankfully) did not have to use the health system.

I never felt unsafe in Haifa. Even living in Hadar, which everyone said was so dangerous and unpleasant, I didn't feel unsafe there. I would just tell students to walk confidently and not talk to too many strangers at night.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

most of my money went to shopping and traveling! Also there are considerable sunk costs when moving into a new place, such as kitchen equipment, bedding, etc.

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• Apartment

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• Americans

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Ease of travel around Israel via bus and train (and the cool places to travel to!).
• Views from Haifa University and the great national park around the campus.
• Meeting students from all over the world.

• Course selection
• Housing options

The Avid Adventurer