Overseas Extensions of Foreign Institutions of Higher Education
In addition to Israeli institutions of higher education which receive a permit and accreditation from the Council for Higher Education ‎ (CHE), foreign institutions of higher education operate extensions for study abroad programs in Israel. Until 1998, these extensions could operate without the approval of CHE. The law was amended in 1998 and a system of permits instituted. The degrees for studies at these extensions are awarded by the foreign, parent institutions, and are not recognized by the Council for Higher Education.

Amendment 11 to the CHE Law:
Amendment 11 to the CHE Law took effect in February 1998. Pursuant to this amendment, a foreign institution of higher education is required to receive a permit from the CHE pursuant to the requirements of that law. The permits issued by CHE are granted for a limited period for a specific degree at a specific campus.

To date, approximately 48 extensions of foreign institutions of higher education have operated in Israel. Several of these extensions held classes on several campuses in a variety of fields of study.

Institutions that are extensions of foreign institutions of higher education are not Israeli institutions recognized by CHE , and the degrees granted upon completion of studies at these institutions are degrees from the foreign, parent institutions, and not degrees from accredited Israeli institutions.

The issuance of an operating permit to an extension should not be considered accreditation by the CHE of the extension as an institution of higher education or as authorization to grant recognized degrees, as those terms are defined in the CHE Law. The decision regarding recognition of studies at extensions for continued study at an Israeli institution of higher education is at the sole discretion of the Israeli institution of higher education.

Amendment 12 to the CHE law:
Amendment 12 to the CHE law, published on April 11, 2005, established that a degree earned in Israel at an extension of an institution of higher education operating in Israel is identical, “for all intents and purposes to the same degree granted by the parent institution in its home country,” but this does not apply to the following matters: Acceptance (hiring) for employment, employee rating or ranking, salary and terms of employment.

The practical implications of this amendment for employees in the public sector were outlined in Civil Service Commission Announcement 66/13, which stated that a degree granted by an extension would no longer be recognized for employment, employment rating and ranking, salary and terms of employment (the full Hebrew text of the announcement and instructions for the transition may be found on the website of Civil Service Commission www.civil-service.gov.il).

How can one ascertain which extensions operated with a license?

The table at the following link lists all of the extensions that operated in Israel with a license and include the following data: Name of the extension, location of the campus, name of the degree granted, level of the degree, abbreviation for the degree and the years during which the extension was licensed to operate. Use the search box to find the desired extension, the programs it was permitted to operate, and the period during which the permit was valid.

For the table of foreign extensions operating in Israel, click here.