Reserve Soldiers Demand Exemption from Tuition Fees for Waived Courses

Students at Bar-Ilan University were stunned to discover that they were required to pay for courses from which they had received an exemption due to their reserve service. The university explained that this is an "academic, not financial, exemption" and that tuition is collected in accordance with the framework established by the Council for Higher Education.

Since October 7 and throughout the Iron Swords war, many students serving in the reserves and in the permanent army have had to deal with lost study days, financial difficulties, and other personal and psychological consequences. Now, according to several students, they are also being required to pay for courses they did not attend at all.

As part of the "Academic Vest" (Efod Academic) program, designed to assist students serving in the reserves, the permanent army, and the security forces, they were granted the option to receive an exemption from one of the Jewish studies courses they are required to take as part of their degree requirements at the university. However, according to the students, it later became clear to them that the exemption did not include an exemption from payment for the course.

One student received a payment demand for 1,140 shekels, on the grounds that it was an "academic, not financial, exemption." This means that even though he did not participate in the course and received an exemption from completing it, he is still required to pay for the credit points granted to him.

Moran (a pseudonym), a student at the university, said:

"At first, I was issued a tuition voucher that included all the courses I registered for, excluding the Jewish studies course from which I received an exemption. I paid the full tuition and there was no debt appearing in the system for me. I was stunned when, a few days later, I received a notice stating that I must pay an additional 1,140 shekels."

According to her, she was told that the exemption she received was academic only and therefore she must pay for the course. "They are demanding that I pay for a course that I am not even taking. It is distorted and delusional. There is a feeling that all they care about is our money, they are making a mockery of us," she said.

Bar-Ilan University responded:

"Since the beginning of the war, Bar-Ilan University has been one of the leading institutions in Israel in supporting reserve soldiers, through a wide range of academic adjustments, scholarships, financial aid, and personal support, for which the university was awarded the Minister of Defense's Shield of Honor. The academic recognition granted is part of a set of measures intended to facilitate the completion of the degree and to honor their contribution to the state."

They further added: "Tuition is collected in accordance with the framework determined by the Council for Higher Education. It is important to emphasize that the academic recognition does not detract from the student's rights, and if they choose to take another course in the amount of the credit points recognized for them, they will be able to do so without additional payment."