This year there will be two semesters of 11 weeks each. The fourth week, which begins on January 21, 2024, will be an "absorption and completion week" for army reservists who joined late until this date. We are committed to not leaving any student behind—therefore, even for student reservists who return to studies at a later stage, the teaching staff and the university will do their best so that we all finish it together.
Schedule for the academic year
- 31 December 2023: Opening of the academic year
- 21 January 2024: Absorption and completion week
- 17 March 2024: End of the first semester (this is the Sunday on which Tuesday's lessons will be taught)
- 18 March – 3 May 2024: Exam period, including Fridays. A total of 30 exam days, not including holidays (Purim, Eid al-Fitr, Passover)
- 5 May 2024: Opening of the second semester
- 25 July 2024: End of second semester
Adjustments in Studies
All the faculties and departments will change their curriculums in order to adapt it to the current situation by reducing the scope of the material taught in each course and adjusting the assignments and tests to this scope. All academic departments will work to help reservists at the beginning of the academic year as much as possible. Due to the differences between the study programs, each department will adapt an aid package that will fit the needs of their students.
- All courses will be recorded and the recordings will be available to all students in the course within a few days of the class date.
- Lecturers will prepare asynchronous study materials that will make it easier for students who join the studies at a late stage and will help them complete the lessons they missed. In courses where such materials are not suitable, lecturers or teaching assistants will meet with the students returning from reserve duty and help them complete the study material.
- The study programs will provide individual assistance in various ways, such as extra hours, learning centers where students can prepare exercises and receive help from teaching assistants, help from other students in the course, and more - depending on the nature of the studies in the program.
- Reservists will be able to change the courses they are studying even after the end of the change period. They will be able to cancel courses at no cost and will be able to add courses with the faculty’s approval. For your convenience: Find the application here
Exemption from Courses
- BA/BSC students: Students who served at least 50 days are entitled to receive an exemption from a course in the amount of 2 credits even if they started their studies at the beginning of the semester. Students who will be released from reserve duty at least 3 weeks after the beginning of the semester are entitled to receive an exemption from courses in the amount of 4 credits. Students who are released at least 6 weeks after the beginning of the semester are entitled to receive an exemption from courses amounting to 6 credits. The decision on exemptions will be made by the academic units according to the study program and the stage of studies of the student. Please note: this reduction of credits is in addition to recognition of reserve service for credits for social contribution (see below).
- Graduate students: Students who are released from reserve duty at least 3 weeks after the start of the semester are entitled to receive an exemption from courses in the scope of 2 credits. Students who are released at least 6 weeks after the start of the semester are entitled to receive an exemption from courses in the scope of 3 credits. The decision on exemptions will be made in the academic units according to the study program and the phase of the studies of the student.
- Student reservists who served for 50 days or more, or those who were released from the reserve duty at least 3 weeks after the beginning of the semester, may, if they so wish, convert grades in 3 courses to be studied in the 2024 academic year with a "passing" grade if they have successfully met all the course requirements.
Assistance for the Spouses of Reservists
As part of the university’s efforts to assist during this complex and difficult time, the University's management will provide additional aid to the spouses of reservists, which are parents of children up to the age of 13.
Full details are on the Dean’s website
Special Psychological Assistance
The Hebrew University’s psychological services are here for you. In the emergency format.
Please contact the service by email: psyserv@mail.huji.ac.il
We have compiled for you some important websites for the start of the school year: