A BA for Students Who Want Options

For Dani Moritz of Johannesburg, South Africa, the route into the Management and Liberal Arts BA began with a six-month study-abroad program at TAU, which she joined after completing a gap year in Israel.

“I didn’t even know TAU offered programs in English. I thought I’d just do study abroad for six months while I was waiting. But I started at Tel Aviv University, and I loved it.”

She soon learned that TAU had opened a new English-taught degree combining management with the humanities and social sciences. "I thought, ‘There’s no way. I’ve got to stay here,’” she says. “I applied about two months in.”

When Management Became the Strongest Interest

Dani entered the degree without expecting management to become her main academic interest, but courses in economics and finance quickly changed her view.

“I’ve loved the management courses, which I didn’t expect. I really enjoy economics and finance. They came quite naturally to me, but I also found both the mathematics and business sides interesting.”

The program also allowed her to choose two Liberal Arts tracks. Dani selected Psychology and Middle Eastern Studies, adding perspectives that complemented the business curriculum.

Psychology proved particularly relevant to the questions she encountered in management. “It works hand in hand with business,” she says. “The psychology of people, who you work with and your customers, is very important.” Her choice of Middle Eastern Studies was partly influenced by credits she had already completed during her study-abroad semester, although the subject developed into an academic interest in its own right.

Exploring Psychology More Deeply in Melbourne

Dani used her third-year exchange semester to concentrate further on psychology at Monash University in Melbourne. The destination already felt familiar because she had met several Australians during her gap year and had previously visited the city: “I already knew people there, so that made settling in much easier.”

Academically, Monash gave her experience of psychology courses designed for students completing a full degree in the subject. “It was completely different from Tel Aviv. The psychology units were more intensive because they were part of a full psychology degree.”

The exchange also exposed her to a less structured approach to attendance, which helped her recognize what she valued about her studies at TAU. “In Australia, attendance isn’t really compulsory, so it can be easier to fall behind,” she says. “At Tel Aviv, it is compulsory, and I found that it actually worked better for me.”

Having met the academic requirements for the semester, Dani remained on schedule while her credits completed the transfer process.

A Schedule with Room for Tel Aviv

For Dani, finding the right academic fit also meant being able to build a satisfying life around her studies. She shares an apartment in Tel Aviv, a little farther from campus but close to the beach.

“Just being in the city at our age has been amazing. We’re within walking distance of the beach, and we walk almost everywhere. It’s like a holiday every day.”

Her weekly schedule has allowed her to enjoy that side of Tel Aviv while keeping up with her coursework.

“I made my schedule quite balanced,” she shares. “I’m able to go to all my classes and stay on top of everything, but still have time for friends, the social scene and the beach. That balance is something I don’t think I would have had somewhere else.”

Dani Moritz (right) with her classmates

The international mix within the program has further expanded her social circle: “It’s amazing how many people come to Tel Aviv. You meet people from South America, Europe and all over the world.”

Some of those international connections eventually helped determine where she would spend the next stage of her studies.

Why the MBA Became the Next Step

As the BA progressed, Dani learned about an opportunity to continue directly into MBA studies. “The MBA wasn’t part of my original plan,” she says. “I didn’t even know about it at first. It was introduced to us one day in class.”

Under the direct BA to MBA pathway, students who meet the academic requirements can begin Sofaer Global MBA coursework during the final semester of the BA, creating a smooth transition into graduate studies.

“Entering the working world after university can be daunting, and once the opportunity was explained to us, it definitely became an option,” Dani says.

She expects the MBA to deepen the management knowledge she developed during her undergraduate degree while helping her decide how she wants to use it.

“I’m happy I’m doing. I hope it will give me more clarity about what I actually want to do. Maybe even entrepreneurship. We’ll see.”

Applications are open for the 2026/27 academic year. Explore the BA in Management and Liberal Arts and the Sofaer Global MBA at Tel Aviv University.