Eligibility
- 18 years of age or above
- Good academic and disciplinary standing at Penn State
- 3.0 cumulative GPA or better at the time of application
- Sophomore standing or above at the start of the program
Program Description
Take classes at Tel Aviv University while also interning in Tel Aviv. Students who study at TAU for the semester or the full academic year will take courses taught in English from the TAU course schedule. Many of the courses have a unique connection with Israel and/or the Middle East region, and therefore give unparalleled insight into the subject matter. Each course awards three academic credits. TAU offers many courses which are available just for study abroad students which follow a calendar aligned closely with the typical North American university calendar (called “Study Abroad Courses”). Students can also enroll in general university courses taught in English which may run a bit longer than the study abroad courses. Students will get comprehensive information on all academic matters during a mandatory academic orientation on-site. A final updated course schedule is posted prior to the beginning of each semester.?
The TAU Internship Coordinator works with each student individually to create a customized internship opportunity that is tailored to academic and professional interests. In addition, the TAU Internship Coordinator supports students throughout the process, ensuring that both the intern’s and the organization’s expectations are aligned and the experience is mutually beneficial. Whether your passion is Business, Technology, Political Science, NGOs or more, the TAU Internship Coordinator will work to connect you with an internship that will offer a unique and engaging professional experience.
Fall Semester Program Structure
Students who participate in the internship program during Fall Semester will enroll in three academic study abroad courses in addition to a mandatory 3-credit internship course that specializes in career development, organizational behavior and cultural differences in the workplace. Fall Semester students will first get acquainted with their internship positions during the summer Hebrew Ulpan and will continue to participate during the fall semester while interning part time. In total, students are expected to intern approximately 200 hours over the course of the semester.
Spring Semester Program Structure
Students who participate in the internship program during Spring Semester will first enroll in the mandatory Hebrew Ulpan and then continue with three academic study abroad courses during the semester. In addition, students are required to take a mandatory summer internship course that specializes in career development, organizational behavior and cultural differences in the workplace. Spring Semester students will get acquainted with their positions while studying during the spring semester and will officially be full time interns for seven weeks during the summer (while they also take the mandatory internship course). In total, students are expected to intern approximately 200 hours over the course of the semester and summer.
Academic Year Program Structure
Students who participate in the internship program during the Full Academic Year will take three academic study abroad courses in the fall in addition to a mandatory 3-credit internship course that specializes in career development, organizational behavior and cultural differences in the workplace. During the fall students will first get acquainted with their internship positions during the summer Hebrew Ulpan and will continue to intern throughout fall and spring semester part time. During the spring semester, students will take four academic study abroad courses while they intern part time. In total, students are expected to intern approximately 300 hours over the course of the year.
Placement Process and Details
Once students apply to the internship program, the TAU Internship Coordinator will schedule a Skype call with the student to gather comprehensive information on the type of internship that might be best suited for the student based on the skills, interests, and experience. From there, the Coordinator will work to find an internship placement that will be a good match from both the perspective of the student and the organization or company that is providing the internship. In some cases, it may be possible to offer more than one internship possibility to a student; this depends on several factors including the field of interest, company availability, etc. Having knowledge of Hebrew will help increase opportunities; however, Hebrew is not mandatory for an internship placement. In addition, internship placements depend largely on a student’s flexibility and success in completing the requirements to be accepted to an internship (interviewing successfully, providing a suitable cover letter and resume, etc.). While our Internship Coordinator helps to prepare and guide students in this regard, it is ultimately the responsibility of the student to successfully complete these steps. For this reason, acceptance to the internship program does not automatically guarantee an internship placement. Placement depends on a mutual fit approved from both the student and company perspective. All internships are unpaid.
Examples of Past Internship Placement Fields
- Public Relations
- Product Management
- Business Development
- Environment
- FinTech
- Journalism
- Marketing and Branding
- Film and Media
- Social Media
- Education
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Academic Research Internships
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other STEM related internships
The TAU Student Life Team will organize a wide variety of events and activities for study abroad students throughout the semester, including several overnight excursions within Israel. Examples of past activities include Tel Aviv neighborhood tours, student welcome and farewell receptions, karaoke night, international pub trivia, Israeli film nights, “Krav Maga” workshops, and much more.
Please note U.S. citizens who study in Israel will be required to travel to the Consulate General of Israel in New York City to apply for a visa in-person prior to the start of the program and should budget for travel costs accordingly.
The Tel Aviv University Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Business in Israel and the Entrepreneurship & Internship Study Abroad Program tracks are not approved for Penn State students.
Dates
Academic Year: early August - mid May
Fall: early August - late December
Spring: mid January - late July
Refer to the program website for the specific dates, if available.
Location
Expand your horizons as you live and explore the growing city of Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv and its booming population, innovative spirit, edginess, beautiful beaches and 24-hour lifestyle gives the city a cosmopolitan flair that makes it a perfect destination to spend a semester or year while studying at a world class institution. Located in the heart of Israel, Tel Aviv has easy access to the entire country.
TAU’s campus is centrally located in the Ramat Aviv neighborhood, a short twenty minute bus ride or even a short twenty minute bike ride away from the city center. While on campus, you will get to enjoy our beautiful 220 acre green and lively space filled with 30,000 students - many international students but many locals as well. On campus you will find many libraries, cafes, cafeterias, a student pub, great outdoor sporting facilities and also indoor sporting facilities. As a student you will have access to a discounted gym rate which offers three pools (one Olympic sized) a great indoor gym. There are tennis courts on campus, as well as volleyball courts spread out throughout the open areas.
Education Abroad in Countries with a Penn State Restricted Travel Designation
In order to comply with Penn State’s International Travel Policy, students interested in studying abroad in countries that Penn State has designated as “restricted” for travel, a petition for a waiver must be submitted. Once a petition is complete, and if the student is approved for study on the program in question, the student may be asked to meet with the Director of Education Abroad and the petition will be reviewed by the Penn State International Restricted Travel Committee (IRTC). The necessary petition will be included in the online application process for this program. To see if your program is taking place in a restricted travel country, please visit the Penn State Global website.