Number of Brits studying in Israel jumps five-fold under new £110m scheme

The number of British students studying in Israel has jumped five-fold compared to previous years under a new government scheme.

Under the Turing Scheme, which replaced the UK’s participation in the EU’s Erasmus+ Scheme, 94 students have chosen to study in Israel, compared to an average of eighteen who chose Israel over the past 5 years under Erasmus.

The government has billed the new scheme as creating a “global Britain”, with 40,000 British students eligible to work and study abroad.

The British Ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan, said he was not surprised at the significant increase in Brits studying in Israel.

“Over the past two years I have had the privilege to get to know the Israeli academic landscape, and discovered a vibrant, innovative sector,” he said.

“I strongly believe in the power of global academic relations to benefit students from both sides, and hope to see an even larger increase coming to Israel to benefit from its world class education in coming years.”

Among those making the move is Maddy Butcher, a British MA archaeology student at Tel Aviv University. “I have always loved Israel, and the opportunity to come here and explore the land of Israel was something that was very appealing to me,” she said.