Rules for the Evaluation of Academic B.A and M.

A Degrees
awarded by Foreign Institutions of Higher Education (The
Rachlevsky Rules)

http://cms.education.gov.il/EducationCMS/Units/KishreiChutz/HaharachatTeharimAcademyim/MisEng1.htm

A. Introduction
1 The Ministry of Education wishes to bring to the attention of the public the
. following general guidelines for the evaluation of academic degrees
granted by institutions of higher education from overseas, and by
extensions of institutions of higher education from overseas in Israel
2 The Evaluation of degrees by the Division for Evaluation of Foreign
. Academic Degrees at the Ministry of Education is undertaken according to
these guidelines and in accordance with the international conventions and
international guidelines relating to this matter, and in accordance with
Israeli law, including the Council of Higher Education Law of 1958, and
amendment no. 11 to this law, and at the discretion of the Division for
Evaluation of Foreign Academic Degrees, on the authority of the
Government, in its capacity as the public employer.
3 The Evaluation of academic degrees from overseas in comparison to
. similar academic degrees granted in Israel is performed as part of the
procedure for salary grading, according to the guidelines which are
determined from time to time.

It is hereby clarified that the appropriate authorities, or any other body

appointed by the authorities, are permitted to insist upon tests and/or
requirements and/or conditions, beyond those mentioned in this document,
for the purpose of evaluating a foreign academic degree in comparison
with the academic degrees granted in Israel for the purpose of salary
grading, depending on the different to circumstances and professional
considerations applicable.
4 These Guidelines do not impede upon the rights of employers within the
. commission of civil servants, or in any other public service who wish to
utilize this evaluation in order to decide upon additional conditions,
instructions and regulations, within the framework of their own
considerations regarding salary grading.
5 These Guidelines, to the extent that they differ from the Guidelines
. previously published, apply to students who began their studies after the
publication of these Guidelines. Students who began their studies before
this publication will be subject to the Guidelines for Evaluation of Degrees
published on July 5, 1998.

B. General:
1 The main compulsory requirement for evaluating an
. academic degree of graduates of institutions of higher
education from overseas, and by extensions of
institutions of higher education from overseas in
Israel is the recognition/accreditation of the institution
by the appropriate authorities in the country
concerned, in accordance with the guidelines set by
international conventions
2 For the purpose of evaluating academic degrees
. granted by the above-mentioned extensions, these
extensions must hold a license, a temporary license
or a conditional license from the Council of Higher
Education at the time of registration and at
completion of the study program, in accordance with
the Council of Higher Education Law of 1958 and the
amendment to it. It is recommended that, before
registering for a study program, students verify with
the Council of Higher Education whether the
extension has the said license.
3 The list of extensions who received the above-
. mentioned license will be published from time to time
by the Council of Higher Education. Applicants are
advised to contact the Council of Higher Education
and verify that the extension is in possession of the
said license prior to registration.
4 Students whose degrees have been assessed for the
. purpose of salary grading and not found equivalent
according to these guidelines will be able to complete
their studies at the same institution which granted
their degree (without receiving an additional degree),
and submit a new request for degree evaluation,
within one year of receiving the first notice that the
degree was not equivalent.
5 Evaluation of a Bachelor's degree for the purpose of
. salary grading:
A Applicants for the evaluation of a Bachelor's degree
. for the purpose of salary grading will be required to
provide evidence of having either an Israeli
matriculation certificate or a matriculation certificate
granted abroad, as customary in the country in
which high school studies were completed, at the
time of acceptance to the study program.
B The duration and scope of the study program for a
. Bachelor's degree will not be less, or will be only
slightly less than the duration and scope of the
studies for an identical or similar degree at
recognized Israeli institutions of higher education,
and in any event not less than three years of
academic study - six full semesters.
For this purpose, a full semester means
approximately 20 academic credit points, i.e., 20
semester hours (as defined within the Israeli higher
education system). This is so, except for cases in
which a license given by the Council of Higher
Education is based on credit systems used for the
existing study programs taught at the institution
(extension).

The following table presents an approximation of

the duration and scope of studies for Bachelor's
degrees, in various fields of study:

Minim Minimum
um scope
durati
on
6 120 credits, Bachelor's degree (B.A.)
semest 120 in Humanities, Education
ers semester and Social Sciences
hours
8 110 Credit, Bachelor's degree
semest 110 (B.Ed.) in Teaching
ers semester
hours
3 64 credits, Supplement for a senior
semest 64 semester certified teacher towards
ers hours a Bachelor's degree
(B.Ed.) in Teaching
6 120 credits, Bachelor's degree
semest 120 (B.Sc.) in the Natural
ers semester Sciences
hours
8 150-170 Bachelor's degree
semest credits, 170- (B.Sc.) in Engineering
ers 210
semester
hours
8 160 Bachelors degree
semest credits,160 (B.Tech.) in Applied
ers semester Engineering
hours
5 100 credits, Practical Engineers -
semest 100 Supplement towards a
ers semester Bachelors degree
hours (B.Tech.) in Applied
Engineering
7 140 credits, Bachelor degree (LL.B)
semest 140 in Law
ers semester
hours
8 123 credits, Bachelor degree in
semest 300 Nursing
ers semester
hours
4 84 credits,
semest 84 semester
ers hours

The following documents should be attached to a

request for evaluation of a Bachelor's degree:
1 A matriculation certificate from Israel or one
. given abroad.
2 A certificate from the parent institution abroad,
. attesting to the receipt of an academic degree.
3 A detailed study transcript from the parent
. institution abroad, including the following
details:
* Date of registration, start date and completion
date of the study program.
* List of courses/modules studied, with
course/module titles.
* Number of frontal, class contact or other
hours studied in each course/module, and
other details that are in use at the parent
institution.
* Number of academic credits granted for each
course/module.
* Detailed list of all previous courses/modules
and studies recognized by the parent
institution, and for which transfer credits were
granted.
* Location where studies took place (exact
address).
4 Certificates or official documents attesting to
. previous studies, for which transfer credits were
granted.
Within the framework for the examination of the
scope of studies, the following rules will be used
for evaluating previous studies:
1 Academic courses/modules studied at an
. institution of higher education recognized by the
Law of the Council of Higher Education or an
institution recognized as stated in section B(1)
which grants credits and in which the student
enrolled there received at least a pass grade
will be considered for academic credits towards
completion of a Bachelor's degree.
However, previous studies will not be
recognized if it has become apparent that they
were within a field that is not related to the
subject of the degree studies.
2 Applicants with 10 years professional
. experience, who completed professional
courses/modules that are not academic and
who have certificates and official documents
attesting to this, can receive credits equal to no
more than one full semester towards the award
of a Bachelor's degree.
However, previous studies will not be
recognized if it has become apparent that they
were within a field that is not related to the
subject of the degree studies.
3 Three years of study at an authorized teacher
. training college leading to the award of a senior
teacher's certificate. Holders of such certificates
can complete their studies for a Bachelor's
degree in Teaching (B.Ed.) by undertaking
studies of at least 3 full academic semesters,
64 academic credits, which are 64 academic
hours.
4 Three years of study at a Nursing School,
. leading to the award of an authorized nursing
certificate. Holders of such certificates can
complete their studies for a Bachelor's degree
in nursing by undertaking studies of at least 4
full academic semesters, 84 academic credit
points, which are 84 semester hours.
5 Two years of study at an official institution for
. practical engineers leading to the award of a
Practical Engineering certificate at the
 conclusion of studies. Holders of the
aforementioned degree can complete their
studies for a Bachelor's degree (B.Tech.), by
undertaking studies of at least 5 semesters: a
supplementary semester plus 4 semesters, 100
credit points, which are 100 semester hours.
6 Evaluation of a Master's degree for the purpose
. of salary grading:
A A compulsory requirement for the evaluation
. of a Master's degree for the purpose of salary
grading is that the applicant possess a
Bachelor's degree recognized according to
the Council of Higher Education Law, or
according to these Guidelines at the time of
admission to a study program, except for
systems of higher education in which
undergraduate studies continue for at least 5
years and which grant a first academic
degree upon completion.
For this purpose, the graduate should present
to the Division for Evaluation of Foreign
Academic Degrees a certificate of eligibility
for a Bachelor's degree from a recognized
Israeli institution of higher education, or a
certificate of evaluation of an academic
degree from overseas.
B The duration and scope of studies for a
. Master's degree will not be less, or will be
only slightly less, than the duration and scope
of studies for an identical or similar degree at
a recognized Israeli institution of higher
education.

The following table presents an

approximation of the duration and scope of
studies for Master's degrees, in various fields
of study:
Minimum Scope
Master's degree (M.A.) in Social
45-48 credits, 44-48 semester hours Sciences:
45-55 credits, 45-55 semester hours With a thesis/dissertation:

36-40 credits, 40-44 semester hours
40-44 credits, 48-52 semester hours
Without a thesis/dissertation:
Master's degree (M.A.) in Humanities:
With a thesis/dissertation:
Without a thesis/dissertation:

36-40 credits, 44-52 semester hours
44-52 credits, 48-52 semester hours
42 credits, 42 semester hours
48-56 credits, 48-56 semester hours
33 credits, 33 semester hours
36 credits, 56 semester hours + final
project
32 credits, 32 semester hours
Master's degree (M.A.) in Education:
With a thesis/dissertation:
Without a thesis/dissertation:
Masters degree in Business
Administration (M.B.A.):
With a thesis/dissertation:
Without a thesis/dissertation:
Masters degree (M.Sc.) in Natural
Sciences without a thesis/dissertation:
Masters degree (M.Sc.) in Engineering
without a thesis/dissertation:
Masters degree (LL.M) in Law:

The following documents should be attached to a request for evaluation of a

Master's degree:
A certificate from the parent institution abroad, attesting to the receipt of an
academic degree.
A detailed study transcript from the parent institution abroad, including the
following details:
* Date of registration, start date and completion
date of the study program.
* List of courses/modules studied, with
course/modules titles.
* Number of frontal, class contact or other hours
required for each course/module, and other
details that are in use at the parent institution.
* Number of academic credits granted for each
course/module.
* Detailed list of all previous courses/modules and
studies recognized by the parent institution, and
for which transfer credits were granted.
* Location where studies took place (exact
address).
It is hereby clarified that section 5D of these Guidelines, relating to recognition
of previous studies, will not be applicable in the context of a Master's degree.