Student requested maternity leave, but university mandated a one-year internship delay

Yuval (23), an occupational therapy student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, was about to enter her year of practical internship — the fourth and final year of her degree — but because she became pregnant, the university notified her that she would have to freeze the internship year, resulting in her graduation being delayed by a full year.

Yuval, who is due to give birth at the end of December, proposed two alternatives to the university: to start the internship earlier, or to take a three-week break around the birth and make up the missing hours later in the year. However, the university responded that this was not possible, as the internship requires 13 consecutive weeks and cannot be interrupted.

Yuval's mother, Esti, stated:

"She cannot come with a baby. That is clear to us too, but she gave the university several options. She wrote that she is not interested in freezing the year, that it is important to her to remain part of the current cohort, to finish the degree and take the licensing exam together with the rest of the students. She told the university that she would return in a week and a half, so they asked her: 'And where will you leave a week-old baby?'"

The family turned to the Israel Women's Network, which provided legal advice and sent a letter to the university, after which Yuval was summoned to an exceptions committee. However, the response she received stated:

"We understand your desire to complete your studies on time, but this internship requires a continuous period of 13 weeks, which allows for regular therapeutic processes, alongside personal and academic accompaniment. In light of the expected schedule around the birth and considering the professional requirements of the clinical internship, no possibility was found to conduct an internship that meets the required standards in the 2026/27 academic year."

Esti added: "We were sure that she would come out of the committee with a positive answer. I am a midwife myself. I did internships during pregnancies and births and they were always considerate. I cannot understand what is happening here, why is it different in the field of occupational therapy?"

The Hebrew University stated in response:

"First, we wish Yuval an easy birth and congratulations. Her request was examined in an individual and sensitive manner. It is important to understand: the difficulty does not stem from the birth itself, but from the unique nature of the practical internship in the fourth year: it involves 13 consecutive weeks during which students experience a complete therapeutic process. This continuity is essential both for clinical learning and for professional responsibility towards patients. The school will continue to accompany Yuval personally and will help her build a suitable path that will allow her to complete the internship at the next possible date."