Funding Options for U.S. Students at Tel Aviv University
Financing your education at Tel Aviv University is easier than you think.
U.S. students may be eligible for several funding options for studying in Israel, including for federal loans, VA benefits, and private loan options.
Find more details about each option:
For more information, please contact Tel Aviv University's North America Office:
Email: finaid@telavivuniv.org
Phone: 800.665.9828 ext: 3
U.S. Funding Options at a Glance
Federal loan limits changed on 1 July 2026 under H.R.1. The figures below are the current limits. Students who received a federal Direct Loan for their program before 1 July 2026 may keep borrowing under the previous rules for a limited period — see the Legacy Borrower note under the table.
|
Funding type |
Who qualifies |
Typical amount |
Details |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Federal Direct Subsidized Loan |
U.S. citizens or permanent residents; undergraduates with demonstrated financial need; enrolled at least half-time in a degree program |
$3,500–$5,500 per year, by year of study |
|
|
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan |
U.S. citizens or permanent residents; undergraduate and graduate students; no financial-need requirement |
Graduate students up to $20,500 per year ($100,000 aggregate); |
|
|
Parent PLUS Loan |
Parents of dependent undergraduate students, with no adverse credit history |
$20,000 per year per student; |
|
|
VA / GI Bill Benefits |
Eligible U.S. veterans and dependents enrolled in VA-approved programs |
Varies by entitlement and program |
|
|
Private Education Loans |
U.S. students; approval based on lender credit criteria. Now the main option for graduate costs beyond the Direct Unsubsidized limit |
Varies by lender, |
|
|
TAU Need-Based Aid |
U.S. study-abroad students who demonstrate financial need (not available to full-degree or summer students) |
Varies |
|
|
TAU Merit Scholarships |
International students accepted to a Tel Aviv University program |
Varies (applied toward tuition) |
Lifetime federal Direct Loan cap: $257,500 across all Direct Loans combined, covering both undergraduate and graduate borrowing.
Legacy Borrowers: a student who was enrolled in an eligible program on or before 30 June 2026 and received at least one federal Direct Loan disbursement for that program before 1 July 2026.
Legacy Borrowers may keep borrowing under the previous federal rules for the lesser of three academic years or their remaining expected time to program completion. After that, new H.R.1 limits apply to any further borrowing.
Federal borrowing limits and program rules are set by the U.S. Department of Education and may change. Confirm current figures and your own eligibility at studentaid.gov and on the U.S. Federal Loans page before applying.
