Gap Year Scholars

Supported by Wohl Legacy

What is it?

The UJIA Gap Year Scholars initiative is a transformative opportunity for young Jewish leaders in the UK. This programme is designed to provide substantial financial assistance for long-term immersive experiences in Israel, allowing young leaders to grow personally and professionally through a meaningful educational experience in Israel. The scholarships cover up to 50% of the programme costs, making these formative experiences more accessible for future leaders of our communities.

Who is it for?

The UJIA Gap Year Scholars are aimed at promising young leaders within the Jewish community who demonstrate a strong potential for future leadership and are actively engaged in their local communities.

If you are planning on participating on post-secondary school ‘gap-year’ programme in Israel and believe that you have the potential to be a future leader of your community – then this programme is for you!

Why apply for a scholarship?

  1. Leadership Development: Engage in a unique environment that nurtures leadership skills and personal growth.
  2. Cultural Immersion: Deepen your connection to Israel and Jewish identity through hands-on experiences.
  3. Financial Support: With up to 50% of programme costs covered, financial barriers are significantly reduced.
  4. Professional Mentorship: Benefit from one-on-one coaching, seminars, and a supportive peer network.
  5. Community Engagement: Be part of a cross-communal cohort that fosters unity and diverse perspectives.

Eligibility

  • Must be a participant in a MASA-approved gap-year programme (minimum of 4 months).
  • Must meet MASA’s eligibility criteria.
  • Must be attending a post-secondary school gap-year programme.
  • British resident.
  • Active member of the UK Jewish community.
  • Must intend to return to the UK after the gap year(s).

Selection Criteria

  • Leadership Skills: Past leadership roles, teamwork, influence, conflict resolution, and public speaking abilities.
  • Activism: Involvement in advocacy, community engagement, and volunteering.
  • Personal Qualities: Empathy, integrity, resilience, initiative, and an inquisitive nature.
  • Vision and Future Plans: Clear goals and ambitions for future Jewish community contributions, innovative ideas for addressing issues, and awareness of global Jewish matters.

See below for detailed selection criteria.

We are looking for applicants who are able to demonstrate that they posses some or all of the following criteria.

  1. Leadership Roles: Holding leadership positions in youth movements, student councils, youth clubs, or other community groups
  2. Teamwork and Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in teams, demonstrated through youth movement leadership, extended group projects, sports, or other community activities.
  3. Influence and Persuasion: Instances where the applicant has successfully influenced others or brought about change.
  4. Conflict Resolution and Cross-Communalism: Skills in mediating disputes and finding solutions to conflicts across different types/kinds of people.
  5. Public Speaking and Communication: Strong skills in expressing ideas clearly and persuasively.
  1. Advocacy and Campaigns: Participation or leadership in campaigns or social movements in or beyond their community.
  2. Community Engagement: Active involvement in Jewish community issues, local governance, or civic organizations e.g., youth parliament, student leadership beyond own school.
  3. Volunteering: Consistent and meaningful volunteer work with a focus on Jewish or social causes.
  4. Recognition by others of leadership and activism e.g., school or community or civic awards or competitions.
  1. Empathy and Compassion: Demonstrated through volunteer work, community service, or projects that show a deep concern for others.
  2. Integrity and Ethical Judgment: Evidenced by actions and decisions that reflect honesty and strong moral principles.
  3. Resilience and Perseverance: Shown through overcoming personal or community challenges.
  4. Initiative and Proactivity: Examples of taking initiative in starting projects or addressing issues without waiting for others to act.
  5. Inquisitiveness and Nuance: ability to approach issues with an appreciation for nuance, actively seeking out diverse opinions and perspectives.
  1. Clear Goals and Ambitions: Articulated plans for future Jewish community and their contribution to it.
  2. Understands Problem and Innovative Ideas: Shown through ideas for projects or initiatives that could address issues or improve communities.
  3. Awareness of Global Jewish Issues: Understanding of issues facing the Jewish people in the UK and Israel.

What the scholarship includes:

Financial Support

Scholars can choose to receive financial support of up to 50% of programme costs for their gap year programme. For example, if your chosen gap year programme costs $20,000, then a UJIA scholarship will cover up to $10,000 of that cost.

Please note that Scholars will continue to be eligible for UJIA and MASA needs-based financial support for applicable programmes. Please contact your programme provider for further information. 

Participation Requirements:

UJIA’s educational team has created a diverse programme to enhance the Gap Year experience further.  To ensure the impact is both meaningful and profound, UJIA Gap Year Scholars are required to participate in regular workshops, seminars, networking events, and a Shabbaton during their time in Israel. 

UJIA is delighted to offer excellent opportunities for our Gap Year Scholars to work with high-calibre leaders.  With the right tools and meaningful opportunities throughout their time in Israel, UJIA Gap Year Scholars will be well-equipped to return to the UK as empowered leaders, prepared to engage in the Israel conversation.

Seminars and Shabbaton

There will be one pre-programme and one post-programme seminar. UJIA Gap Year Scholars spend one residential Shabbaton together as a group during their Gap Year programme. Our aim is for the UJIA Gap Year scholars to be challenged as young leaders as they continue to develop their own leadership styles along with their narratives of Israel.  

Workshops & Networking

This element of the programme focuses on shared learning, collaboration, and connection. Through interactive workshops and discussions, UJIA Gap Year Scholars will explore themes of leadership and Israeli narratives and gain a greater understanding of Israeli society.   Engaging with a variety of community leaders, their peers, as well as Jewish communal professionals, this programme opens options to gain diverse perspectives, strengthen leadership skills, and build helpful networks, which we hope the UJIA Gap Year Scholars will continue to utilise.

Cohort Experience

A core element of the programme will be active engagement as a cross-communal cohort of scholars. You will have the opportunity to meet and learn with other scholars, learn skills to help you engage across ideological and community boundaries, and build a network of peers across the community.

Build Your Israel Bookshelf

Scholars will have the unique opportunity to curate their own personal Israel Bookshelf. From a carefully curated long-list of 40 essential books on Israel, scholars can select up to 5 titles that resonate with them. Reading is a powerful tool for personal growth and knowledge, offering diverse perspectives that will enhance scholars’ leadership journey and deepen their connection to Israel. These books will serve as valuable resources and companions throughout their gap year and beyond.

Gap Year Scholar Cohorts and Application Timeline

The UJIA Gap Year Scholar programme has one cohort per academic year with two intakes per year. This means that participants starting their programmes in September 2026 and January 2027 will be part of the same cohort.

Opening Seminars: The opening seminar will take place twice: once for the September intake (in September 2026) and once for the January intake (in December 2026).

Residential Shabbaton: Everyone on the cohort will join the Shabbaton in February/March 2027, maximising the opportunity for UJIA Gap Year Scholars to come together across both intakes.

Closing Seminar: Everyone in the cohort will join the closing seminar back in the UK in May/June 2027.

Workshops and Networking: UJIA Gap Year Scholars will join group workshops and networking events focused on leadership, Israel, and personal growth, offering opportunities to learn collaboratively and connect with community leaders.

Entry One: September 2026 Programmes

Programmes starting from September 2026:

  • 19th January 2026 – Applications Open (Stage One)
  • 31st May 2026 – Applications Close (23:45)
  • June/July 2026 – Online Interviews for applicants passing Stage One
  • Mid-August 2026 – Notification and award of becoming a UJIA Gap Year Scholar.

Please note not all applicants in Stage One will be invited to interview.

Entry Two: January 2027 Programmes

Programmes starting from January 2027:

  • 19th January – Applications Open (Stage One)
  • 30th September 2026 – Applications Close (00:00)
  • October 2025 – Online interviews for applicants passing Stage One.
  • November 2026 – Notification and award of becoming a UJIA Gap Year Scholar.

Please note not all applicants in Stage One will be invited to interview.

Please note that the UJIA Gap Year Scholars ‘financial support’ is pro-rated according to the length of your time in Israel. If you participate in a 10 month programme that started in September, but you join from January the scholarship funding will only cover programme costs from the start of your time in Israel. 

 

Click Here to Apply Now!

By applying to be a UJIA Gap Year Scholars, young Jewish leaders not only gain financial support but will also become part of a dynamic programme that aims to foster the next generation of Jewish leaders, deeply connected to their heritage and prepared to make significant contributions to their communities.