The program is intended for students with relevant BSc degrees from recognized universities across the world. The program will be held over four semesters, with most of the studies taking place in the Arava. The summer semester will be an intensive session given in Tel Aviv. For most of the year, the students will live on farms in the Arava region where they will be able to gain hands-on experience 2-3 days a week as part of their internship arrangement for tuition assistance.

The program will work in close cooperation with the Agricultural Research and Development Center (at the Yair R&D Station). Some of the lecturers will be researchers from the Center and students will conduct their practicum research with the assistance of R&D researchers.

The program will be academically supervised by Tel Aviv University and is of an equivalent level to the Hebrew-speaking program. Many of the programs' lecturers are tenured faculty members of Tel Aviv University.
 

Our Partners

Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is Israel’s largest university, attracting over 30,000 talented students and renowned faculty members from around the globe. The university has a strong interdisciplinary focus and collaborates closely with leading institutions worldwide.

Manna Center Program for Food Safety & Security
The International MSc Program in Plant Science is housed in the Faculty of Life Sciences and is operated by the Manna Program for Food Safety and Security at Tel Aviv University. The Manna Center Program seeks to bring together researchers from diverse academic disciplines to promote innovative research, to forge ties with professionals and academics around the world, and to prepare the next generation of scientists and policymakers to guide global food security issues.

The Yair R&D Center
The program works in close cooperation with the Agricultural Research and Development Center in the Arava. The Center is a leading scientific research and development center established in 1986, with the aim of advancing sustainable methods of cultivation in the arid region, raising the quality of the produce, finding new crops and opening new markets. This unique research institute combines practical research in the fields of sustainable agriculture, water management and aquaculture – providing critical knowledge to the regional farming community as well as to other countries around the world.

The program is open to excellent students who have completed an undergraduate degree in biology, agriculture or a related field. Prerequisites include undergraduate courses in plant biology, genetics and cell biology, and a minimum GPA of 80 on a scale of 100, 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, or equivalent (based on US standards). Exceptions may be made in the case of an exceptionally strong application with a lower GPA.

Candidates will have a personal interview with representatives of the program from Tel Aviv University and AICAT.
 

Application Process

1. Open a profile in the TAU International Student Portal and upload required documents. Student Portal link:
https://portal.telavivuniv.org/login.php?accesscheck=/index.php
If there is any issue with uploading documents, please contact: foodsecurity@tau.ac.il
The following documents should be uploaded to the Student Portal by July 1, 2017.

• Resume
• University transcripts
• University diploma
• Academic letter of recommendation
• Short (one page) essay in English explaining the student’s background, why are they interested in the program, and what they expect to do with the degree once completed
• English proficiency exam results (TOEFL or IELTS) if university degree was not taught in English
• Passport photo
• Passport scan

2. Demonstrated Command of English: Since the program is taught in English, all applicants must prove their English-language proficiency validated through a TOEFL or IELTS exam. Please note that scores are usually sent out one month after the exam, therefore students must take the exam ahead of time.

3. Interviews: In June, representatives of Tel Aviv University and AICAT will interview qualified students who have submitted the required documents listed.

Preparatory Semester
Biochemistry and Genetics
Introduction to Plant Biology

Spring Semester
Principles of Experimental Statistics
Scientific Writing
Student Seminar
Structure and Function of Plant Roots
Photosynthesis - Theory and Practice
Practicum

Summer Semester
Introduction to Food Security
Plant Response to Abiotic Stress
Food Security & Public Health
Bioethics and Biotechnology

Fall Semester
Developmental Plant Biology
Seminar - Selected Topics in Plant Sciences
Student Seminar
Marine Biology
Practicum

* The program is without thesis and is subject to changes of the TAU