Pilot Undergraduate Exchange Program

Bioengineering Department, University of Pennsylvania and Bioengineering Department, Tel Aviv University

There is a pilot exchange program between Penn Engineering's Bioengineering Department and the Bioengineering Department at Tel Aviv University (TAU) in Israel. The BE courses at TAU will be approved for credit. Penn's BE students will plan and select their courses under advisement of Dr. Gershon Buchsbaum and the student's Faculty Advisor. The period of study can be either Fall or Spring term, ideally in the student's junior year. Spring semester sophomores and fall semester seniors may also be eligible.

Q: Can I go for a summer session?
A: TAU does not offer any summer courses. However, an arrangement may be made to do some research, for independent study credit.

Q: Language of instruction: How much Hebrew will I need in order to take courses? Will any of the BE or other engineering courses be taught in English? How about liberal arts courses?
A: In undergraduate classes of Engineering, the frontal lectures are in Hebrew while most (some time all) the books are in English. Some of the graduate courses may be taught in English. Summer research activities in engineering don't require any Hebrew. Courses in liberal arts taken at the TAU Overseas Study Center are taught in English.

Q: Will I have an opportunity to stake an intensive Hebrew course before starting the semester?
A: Yes. TAU offers a very intensive and effective Hebrew short course (Ulpan.) The Ulpan is available to all exchange students as part of the exchange program, and it is offered during the month immediately preceding the beginning of each of the semesters. For more information, see: www.tau.ac.il/overseas/frameset.html

Q: What sorts of financial assistance might be available?
A: There are several scholarships offered at Penn for study in Israel. For those students receiving financial aid, all of your aid is applicable toward a study abroad program.

Q: Will I be able to satisfy my BE course requirements at TAU? What types of course credits will I be able to get? Who will help me plan, select, and approve my courses at TAU?
A: If selected to go, you will be able to individually plan your course of study with the following persons:

• Dr. Gershon Buchsbaum, Penn BE Dept's Faculty Liaison for the Penn/TAU exchange, and your assigned Faculty Advisor
• Mr. Joseph Sun, SEAS Academic Affairs Director, for all non-BE course selection and planning, and for general questions
• An advisor from TAU

Q: Can I do independent study/research while at TAU?
A: Independent study credit is possible, through special arrangement with Dr. Buchsbaum.

Q: Should I be concerned about the political unrest in Israel?
A: If students or their families feel uncomfortable about going to Israel right now, then may be this is not the time to go. For as long as the US State Department continues to actively post a Travel Advisory for US citizens to Israel, Penn will take a position of issuing a serious warning against students from traveling and studying abroad in Israel. Students and their parents will be required to sign supplemental consent forms as part of the exchange agreement for each student.