Following our letter from early May, in which we provided details about the new MSc program and the eligibility criteria, we are pleased to inform you on the following matters:

We received the necessary documents to complete your application for the MSc program in Plant Biology with a focus on Food Security.

Following our visit, in which we met with many students at different universities, we decided to adjust our program based on the feedback we received. We wish to improve your chances of being accepted and to successfully complete the MSc degree.

As such, we are attaching a short letter detailing the updated program.

Please notify us if you would like to participate in this updated program by 5/9/2014  to mayaoren@post.tau.ac.il.

We will be happy to provide any additional information, please email: foodsecurity@tau.ac.il.

Sincerely yours,

Hanni Arnon                                 
Director, AICAT

Updated Program Schedule:

October 2014: Beginning of program

October 2014-February 2015: First Semester: Preparatory studies in Arava with a focus on:

• Improving English abilities
• Scientific writing
• Refresher plant biology courses

From our visit, we concluded that this additional semester is necessary to improve the candidates’ English abilities and confidence. This is especially true because the students come from different academic institutes, countries, and with a varied scientific background (forestry, food technology, plant biology, etc). Thus, there is a need to create a shared academic basis for all program participants.

February 2015: Internal entrance exams. These special exams, administered by Tel Aviv University, will test the candidates’ English and biology levels. The English exam will replace the TOEFL/IELTS exam requirement.

Candidates who pass the exams and interviews will be accepted to the MSc program. The program will continue as follows:

• March – June 2015: Second Semester – MSc studies in Arava according to the attached course list.
• July 2015: Food Safety & Security Summer Institute, will take place at Tel Aviv University and will include other international students.
• October 2015-February 2016: MSc degree studies continue in Arava according to the attached course list.
• February 2016: Completion of MSc degree and Graduation

Students who do not pass the exams in February 2015 will continue their studies in a different manner and have the following option:

• Join AICAT’s diploma program and continue their studies in the Arava until June 2015
• July 2015: enroll in Tel Aviv University’s Food Safety & Security Summer Institute and study with the enrolled students.
• End of July 2015: Students will receive a certificate of participation from Tel Aviv University and a Diploma from AICAT.

Interested candidates who have not already submitted their applications are invited to apply by sending the following documents to mayaoren@post.tau.ac.il

• Resume
• Current transcript
• Recommendation from the Head of the Department in which the student received their Bachelor's degree
• Short essay in English (one page) explaining the student’s background, why are they interested in the program, and what they expect to do with the degree once completed.
• TOELF or IELTS scores if available

Expected Schedule:

Application deadline: July 20, 2014

Application processing and Interviews (interviews may take place online on Skype): Until August 20, 2014

Announcement of acceptance to the program: August 30, 2014          

Beginning of Studies: October 2014

Program and Application Fee

Total tuition for Preparatory semester : 500$

Total tuition for the degree in the framework of this program is $15,500.

Students will pay $5,000, and a scholarship will be given for the balance.

Students' share of tuition will be paid throughout the program and before its completion.

Airline tickets will be paid by the student.

Integration of studies and work during the program

Students will be placed in residential farms in the Arava, similar to students studying in the diploma program.

Students will be able to work up to 3 days a week; the rest of the time will be devoted to studies. Students will have the option to work more days per week between semesters.

We estimate that students will be able to earn about $10,000 USD during the course, which will be used to pay their share of tuition and living expenses.

Each student must have a laptop when studies begin.

The curriculum is the final stages of formulation and will include the following courses (subject to change):