Approximately 18,000 students are expected to begin the 2026 academic year at the University of Haifa on October 11, 2026. This year will be marked, among other things, by continued support for students who served in the reserves, with grants totaling approximately NIS 4.5 million, alongside The opening of the second year of the Herta and Shmuel (Paul) Amir School of Medicine and the ceremony of awarding an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree to director Amos Gitai.
Approximately 4.5 million shekels in grants for students who served in the reserves
This year, the University of Haifa will award grants to new undergraduate or graduate students who served in the reserves and meet the eligibility requirements. The total amount of grants is expected to be approximately NIS 4.5 million.
The grants are intended to help students integrate into their academic studies and ease the financial burden associated with the reserve period. The university notes that alongside the financial assistance, the emotional and academic support for reserve service members will also continue.
Second year of medical school in Haifa
The 2017 academic year will be the second year of operation of the Herta and Shmuel (Paul) Amir School of Medicine at the University of Haifa. The school was established with the aim of expanding the training of doctors in Israel and strengthening medical services in the north.
The school operates in collaboration with Clalit Health Services and Carmel Medical Center, and the training track for the first cohort of students will continue next year. The studies combine scientific training with an emphasis on social and environmental aspects, alongside a commitment to the community and public health.
Amos Gitai will receive an honorary doctorate
The first day of classes will focus on the ceremony of awarding an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree to director Amos Gitai. The university notes that the ceremony also reflects the place of art, culture, and design in the academic framework, in which the School of Design and the School of Arts, Culture, and Interpretation operate.
President of the University of Haifa, Prof. Gur Elroy, said that the start of the academic year expresses the university's commitment to students and to strengthening society in the north. He said that supporting reserve service members is part of this commitment, along with the decision to award the honorary degree to Amos Gitai.
Elroy noted that Gitai is "one of the most prominent and respected Israeli filmmakers in the world," adding that his contribution to Israeli and international cinema and his ties to Haifa have special significance for the university and the city.