Technion Launches a New Program for International Students
Against the backdrop of a worrying rise in antisemitism on campuses worldwide, the Technion is offering international students a safe, supportive, and academically world-class alternative
The Technion opened a new program for international students developed in response to waves of antisemitism on campuses in the U.S. and Europe. The program is the Technion’s first such initiative and aims to attract talented young people from around the world and integrate them into the Israeli academic community.
“Antisemitism in Canada is soaring – it’s worse than it looks,” said Anna Durov, a 19-year-old student from Canada. “I had already been accepted to a mathematics program at the University of Toronto, but because of reports of antisemitism at the university, I preferred to study at the Technion.”
Students in the program will receive extensive support, including housing, social mentors, team-building activities, and academic assistance, to ensure a smooth transition and full integration into campus life and studies. “It feels almost unreal,” shared Yael Cowly, 18, from Barcelona. “I registered immediately. I’ve heard so much about the Technion, and I know it’s considered the ‘MIT of Israel.’”
The first cohort includes 26 students from eight countries: the United States, Brazil, Russia, Canada, Spain, Germany, Azerbaijan, and Israel. They will take English-taught foundation courses in mathematics, science, and engineering, along with an intensive Hebrew ulpan, enabling them to join regular faculty tracks in their second year.
“Thanks to the program, I can study in English with my group during the first year while improving my Hebrew in the ulpan,” added Anna. “It makes continuing my studies easier and creates a supportive community.”
The students will participate in orientation and preparatory courses in mathematics, chemistry, and physics until the Technion’s academic year begins in October 2025. Later, they will choose from degree programs in eight Technion faculties: Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, and Biology.
“I still don’t know what I’m going to study, and that’s the beauty of the program – it keeps my options open and lets me explore first,” said Gabriel Takeuchi from Brazil, who has already been in Israel for a while and even found love here. “For me, learning Hebrew is a big bonus – it means I’ll be able to talk to my girlfriend’s grandparents at Friday night dinners.”
The Technion sees it as an opportunity to offer Jewish and international students a safe, advanced, and welcoming academic environment. “There’s a wave of antisemitism right now in Barcelona, and I definitely feel safer here – and I want to contribute to the country,” said Yael. “I’m in the Academic Reserve track, and after I finish my degree, I want to enlist.”
“This program opens a new path for outstanding students from all over the world to earn their undergraduate degree at the Technion, a leading institution in engineering and science, and in doing so gives Israel a new generation of graduates connected to Israeli academia and society,” said Emma Afterman, director of the Technion International School. “The program enables students to quickly learn Hebrew and join regular faculty programs from their second year. It’s the first initiative of its kind at the Technion, and we are thrilled to welcome our first cohort.”
Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan said: “This new program is our response to the rising antisemitism on campuses in North America, Australia, and Europe. The Technion, which opened its doors a quarter of a century before the State of Israel was established, was founded, among other reasons, to serve as a refuge for those who felt threatened abroad. In this spirit, already in November 2023, with the outbreak of protests around the world, we opened the Technion to visiting students and researchers from abroad, inviting them to benefit from the supportive environment we provide for their studies and research. The new program offers a framework for undergraduates who wish to study on a welcoming campus free of antisemitism and hate. The young people who come to us from around the world are a testament to the Technion’s scientific and engineering excellence and its international standing as one of the world’s leading technological universities. I am excited to welcome our new students and wish them great enjoyment and success in their studies.”
Photo Credit: Sharon Tzur, Technion Spokesperson’s office
