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Tel Aviv University (YAU)

65 reviews
4.38 / 5 based on 65 reviews
Useful  |  4
arinkale
Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Israel
Linguistics, Undergraduate, Independent
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Government assistance
Other sources of funding:
Government assistance
Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience
Personal spending habits
housing is pricey but good in not central down town areas, where it's not cheap and quite disgusting, so then it's a big expense but still much cheaper than at home, even though israeli real estate have the highest price for sq ft in the world, mind that so then try to get on a cheap one and bargain, it will save your life, i went down from 750 to 430 per month. and travel is quite common all around and not expensive if u go on backpackers routine, if u r a flahsy tourist it will cost u as much as it is on the greek islands so far. mind the security advises about the safe n unsafe places, personally i travelled all around n went into dangerous places, but take this advice, if u wanna adventure into it do it just for a few hours.
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Nightlife, Food, Telephone:
was more expensive than at home.
Overall:
was the same price as at home.
Travel, Housing:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand text books
Second-hand household items
Computers / Internet
Administrative
Money from home
Personal comments
ok this is a long story, the arnona which are municipality taxes for all those who occupy a house are quite high and monthly, if u r not resident or student for a quite long period of time health insurance is deadly expensive, dentists are out of this world, dammit pricey. alcohol is very expensive as well, so are cigs but less than in the EU. computers are quite cheap but anything else like cameras n so on is 300% more expensive, so then mind some duty free shopping. good clothes are definitely pricey but u can find really inexpensive stuff as well in the markets, supermarket is deadly expensive, try to hook on a street market once a week. books are definitely expensive a lot expensive, so then keep in mind buying online might be a lot cheaper. theatre and opera are deadly pricey mostly. music is also expensive, software is surprisingly cheap, it's a high-tech country. other money-saving tips? get a furnished place to live (most of them are) coz furniture is expensive, but believe me.... not expensive deadly expensive, really disgusting damn expensive. beware int'l calls, better get some cards, in mobile phones go for orange and better in regular account but they will allow it only if u've got credit card (visa). it's very easy to use credit cards almost anywhere, even to buy a bottle of water in a kiosk so then if u r able live on credit for sometime. don't go in huge overdrafts with israeli banks, they allow it and they are very flexible and understanding, but you wont be able to leave the country unless all your debts are cleared up.
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Useful  |  1
arinkale
Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Israel
Linguistics, Undergraduate, Independent
Academic
Course recommendations
i think in the field of linguistics or classics if u r into the traditional stuff go for waxler courses in comparative linguistics or german. in general the courses are very friendly n the teachers a lot open, but mind the knowledge of hebrew even if the course is taught in english, even though almost no readings in hebrew are given at all. interesting stuff for people into theory of optimality and for people into classics definitely take the greek syntax with professor finkelberg but still mind your hebrew, it's quite hard to get along in this courses even though a very very very fluent english and a fair german would be the most helpful thing in the world. and don't forget to go and see the BA/MA counselors once in a while, they r really friendly n helpful. and don't trust when they tell u to take a beginner's course in anything, there's no such thing as beginner's courses... the level is dammit high and they'll screw u to the end, so then before you take a beginner's course take some months to read a lot about the subject and meet up with the lecturer before u decide on anything.
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My academic experiences
Quality of courses
Variety of courses
Access to resources
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
hummmm.... i think it would be better with a wider frame of interaction between faculties, i mean the studies aren't very flexible unless u are smart enough as to study 2 parallel degrees. ask for the interdisciplinary program, it's really the best but u need at least 700 in psychometric.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams at end of course
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
Overall
Useful  |  7
arinkale
Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Israel
Linguistics, Undergraduate, Independent
Overall
I wish I had known...
hummmm.... well to be honest i wish i knew it was impossible to live without a/c, that israelies are so open minded for sex (believe me... way above europe), that international calls from home were so deadly expensive, that there's definitely a cultural shock with the society, that's really a huge huge huge point here..... and that it is such a racist country... i mean.... i'm jewish myself but not being jewish here isn't that nice.... everything is divided between rights and privileges for jewish and non-jewish, like for example as a matter of fact scholarships, or tuition aid, free bus cards, financial aid, insurance health rights, working visas n so on is something granted most likely to jewish people. so then if u r not and still u wanna come, bring enough money with u, coz u'll need it, many things will cost u way above than any local or jewish foreigner.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Academic reasons
4
Culture
3
Costs
3
Activities
3
Campus life
3
Party / people
3
Weather / location
2
Personal recommendation
i strongly recommend the tel aviv university, it's an exciting univeristy and the students are fairly mature which helps in the contact with staff and the way how studies are conducted, the facilities on campus are fantastic, beautiful campus, don't miss the gym or the swimming pool. they have many interesting courses and many unknown but overwhelming scholars, each faculty has certain strong research points. in general it's a university i would recommend to anyone, the education is fairly good if u are independent student who can get along by himself without pressure, but dont expect the university to give u everything, if u work hard in there you'll get way above what u think. go n see the languages center, you'll be surprised, into swahilli or czech? u can do it there
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
4
Traveled
4
Improved language skills
4
Met people from other countries
3
Became more independent
4
Partied a lot
4
Experienced a change in life
4
Advanced my studies & career
3
Final comments
well i think i said enough, but if i can say something else, come here... it's a wonderful experience... u can't miss it. but be prepared for a cultural shock, israel looks so european and it's such a modern country with a cosmopolitan thing that you'd be surprised, but it's a weird place, you will feel the middle east not by the atmosphere of the cities, but by the character of the people, believe me... you'll really feel it.
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Useful  |  1
arinkale
Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Israel
Linguistics, Undergraduate, Independent
Languages
Language of instruction: Hebrew
Local language was: Different than language of instruction
Was learning Hebrew a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my Hebrew
Was learning the local language a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my the local language
How much did you improve your Hebrew?
My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)
How much did you improve your the local language?
My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)
Language difficulties
Social
Educational
Administrative / Institutional
Overall
Personal comments
don't be scared, hebrew seems a difficult language, but israeli modern writing is quite simple if u are used to left-2-right writing languages. the slang is easily learnt and everybody uses in all situations, from the court to the taxi driver. you need quite some time to get along n understand it quite well, but try your best because most israelis are if not perfectly, fairly bilingual and u can spend months without being forced to speak any hebrew at all. another thing, the hebrew grammar a foreign speaker learns isn't really in use because as coming from biblical hebrew is considered obsolete, so then do fine in your exams and learn the grammar but dont be so pushy about it or people will wonder about you, it's considered quite fine speaking such correct hebrew. if u r long enough in the country and have the time n speak hebrew good enough u can't miss a course in arabic, it's really helpful, with the hebrew it eases up a lot and it's a great linguistic experience interacting with both languages
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Useful  |  1
arinkale
Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Israel
Linguistics, Undergraduate, Independent
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Independently - My choice
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
it's quite pricey but the facilities and standards are way above any country in the region, still maybe it's because i'm an independent person
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Personal assessment
Cost
Facilities
Location
Cleanliness
Space
Personal comments
the apartment was definitely gorgeous, i loved it and i strongly recomment that if u study for a long term period in israel go to find a flat with or without roomates, it's a whole israeli experience, you have all choice of prices and locations and facilities.
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Useful  |  1
arinkale
Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Israel
Linguistics, Undergraduate, Independent
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Travel, Nightlife: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Activities
Nightlife
Travel
Overall
Personal comments
the best spots? hummm... i think mike's place at the beach in hayarkon an amazing blues club, the pub in hayarkon 55, resembles european style pubs, very authentic and great music n atmosphere, owned by a swedish amazingly nice woman. the cafe bar giora in front of dizengoff center, excellent food and nice atmosphere with a gorgeous pub underground. and the fidel cafe in the 3rd floor of the castro fashion store, has a wonderful design, absolutely pooshy and fashionable with very very reasonable prices, it's fantastic. and best disco? i think lilinblum 25, it had 4 different scenes, the best music, great drinks, all sort of alternative styles but if u mind the gay thing better don't go
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