Visiting Students Program

It is vital to remember that the official procedure of obtaining a student visa might take several weeks (not including weekends and holidays). Therefore, in order to avoid potential delays, the application procedures described herein must be completed at least two months before the expected arrival of the prospective visiting student.

Finding a host

The first step is to find a WIS principal investigator as a host for the duration of the desirable visit. Prospective visiting students must reach out independently to Heads of Research Groups at the WIS and make the necessary arrangements directly with them. The WSoS is not involved in this part of the process.

Filing an application

Visiting students do not apply directly to the WSoS. The hosting scientific departments do so on their behalf.

Guaranteed financial support

The hosting scientist at the WIS must provide the WSoS with a special form stating that the prospective visiting student will be adequately supported financially (at least at a level of a Master’s fellowship at the WSoS), and specify the relevant funding sources (e.g. their own research grants, the home institution's resources or a grant by a third party).

Israeli students studying in Israel cannot receive a scholarship or payment under the program.

Letter from the home university

Every visiting student must provide an official letter or certification from their home university stating its approval of the visit, and declaring that the visitor will continue to be a full-time student there during the planned visit. If the hosting scientist is one of the visitor’s co-advisors, the confirmation letter should state this explicitly.

Intellectual property form

• All visiting students must sign the Weizmann Institute’s Intellectual Property Form (IP form).
• This requierment does not apply to visiting students aho arrive for less than three weeks.
• Please note, that in addition, all visiting students who are PhD students at their home universities must ask the authorized party at their university to add their signature to the IP form too. This requirement does not apply to undergraduate or MSc students.
• Requests to waive one or both of the abovementioned requirements must be made, by the host scientist to the WIS VP for Technology Transfer through the WSoS.

Letter of confirmation

Upon completion of the application process (including the WSoS issues a letter of confirmation of the approved status.

WSoS Contact information

For further information about the application process, student visa etc., prospective visiting students may contact the relevant WSoS Faculty Coordinator:

• Physical Sciences: FGS-Physics@weizmann.ac.il
• Chemical Sciences: FGS-Chemistry@weizmann.ac.il
• Life Sciences:  FGS-Lifesciences@weizmann.ac.il
• Math & CS: FGS-Math&CS@weizmann.ac.il

Timeline

When planning the visit, one should take into account that the official process of obtaining a student visa might take several weeks (not including weekends and holidays). Therefore, the application process must be completed at least two months before the expected arrival of the visitor.

Obligation

All international visiting students must arrange for a student visa to Israel prior to their arrival at the border.

Exemptions

International visiting students whose planned stay in Israel is less than 90 days, AND citizens of their country are exempted from an entry visa to Israel (see below), may enter the country and visit the WIS without a student visa

Types of visa

Citizens of certain countries require an entry visa (tourist visa) to Israel, in addition to a student visa; while citizens of other countries require a student visa only. Prospective visiting students should consult the website of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to find out if they are exempted or not from an entry visa.

Assistance

The WSoS assists prospective visiting students through the process of obtaining a student visa. The WSoS does not handle requests to issue student visas for visitors who declare a visit of less than 90 days, but wish to stay on for a longer period of time.

Restrictions

International visiting students may not engage in any kind of employment in Israel

Fees

Visa applications are subject to fees set by Ministry of the Interior.

International visiting students may reside in the Weizmann School of Science’s student housing facilities. The minimum stay is four weeks and the maximum allowed stay is one year.

Availability

The availability of student housing on campus is scarce. Therefore, it is highly advisable to book a room as much ahead of time as possible.

Booking

Booking is done through the WIS Housing Directorate by the hosting department.

Rent fees

Student housing is not free. It must be paid for by the visitor, unless the hosting scientist is willing to cover for the cost or subsidize it.

Obligation

All international visiting students must hold a valid policy of medical insurance. There are no exceptions to the rule. Visiting students may purchase insurance in their home countries or do so in Israel.

Standards

Upon arrival visiting students are required to verify that their medical insurance policy meets the WSoS standards. It is important to keep in mind that insurance companies do not usually include pregnancy, pregnancy-related complications, childbirth and hospitalization as a result of childbirth, or childbirth-related complications.

Visiting students must be funded at least at the level of a Master’s fellowship at the WSoS. The funding may be provided by one source or more (see above). The hosting scientist is not obligated but may provide the visitor with additional financial support by reimbursing expenses such as flights, medical insurance, or housing. If one of the funding sources is the hosting scientist research grants, then the visitor is paid either monthly or in one payment (depending on the length of stay at the WIS).

Israeli students studying in Israel cannot receive a scholarship or payment under the program.

The Government of Israel offers scholarships to international students and postdoctoral fellows as defined in the Cultural Agreements between Israel and certain countries.

Support is offered for a period of up to eight months.

The deadline for applications is November 30.

For further information concerning eligibility and application procedures, see the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs relevant webpage

You may also write to: scholarship@mfa.gov.il.