The Council for Higher Education | Branches of Foreign Institutions

In February 1998, Amendment 11 to the Council for Higher Education Law came into force. This amendment requires that all institutions which want to operate in Israel as a branch of a foreign institution of higher education be licensed by the Council. An institution seeking to operate study programs in Israel, including any kind of instruction whatsoever and also including enrichment, support and any situation where a teacher and student(s) meet together must be licensed by the Council for Higher Education. Activities without a license constitute a legal offense.

Transitional provisions for Amendment 11 to the Council for Higher Education Law made special arrangements for activities which took place prior to the amendment taking effect.

It is advisable that every program be examined as to its status in relation to the provisions of the law and the provisions for the transitional period of the Amendment.

Status of Foreign Branches and the Degrees Granted to their Graduates

Institutions which are branches of foreign institutions of higher education are not Israeli institutions, and thus are not accredited as institutions of higher education under the terms of the Council for Higher Education Law. The branches of foreign academic institutions operate in Israel as licensees and are not entitled as such to be accredited as an institution of higher education.

The degrees awarded to those studying in branches at the end of their studies, are academic degrees of the mother universities abroad, and are not accredited Israeli academic degrees. Issuance of a license to branches is not to be seen as recognition by the Council for Higher Education of the branch as an accredited institution of higher education or as authorization to grant accredited degrees in the sense of the Council for Higher Education Law.

The Council for Higher Education does not make an assessment of the academic level or quality of the foreign branches. The license is conferred for the purpose of conducting activities to those who meet the licensing conditions – which are essentially administrative, and which are set by law, and not according to academic tests.

The Assessment of the Value of the Degree for Purposes of Salary Rank in public service positions is conducted by the Department for Evaluation of Foreign Academic Degrees and Diplomas at the Ministry of Education. The evaluation of a degree is done individually for each applicant and does not apply collectively either to the institution or the program. In the context of the evaluation of the degree the Department examines, inter alia, whether the program for which a degree is awarded upon concluding the course of study, is licensed, as well as additional conditions for assessing the degree, according to the general guidelines.

Recognition of studies in a branch for the purpose of continuing education in an Israeli institution of higher education is within the authority of the Israeli institution of higher education. To receive information on the subject of acceptance by recognized institutions, please refer to the colleges and universities themselves.