FAQ

The selection process consists of three stages:

Step 1: Expression of Interest
Complete the online expression of interest form. If you meet the basic criteria (UK-based undergraduate, typically in Year 2, with a strong interest in entrepreneurship), you will be invited to apply.

Step 2: Full Application
You will complete a short application form and answer three questions about:

• Evidence of your entrepreneurial mindset or initiative
• Why the Fellowship would support your development
• What you hope to build or pursue in the future

You will also submit your CV.

Step 3: Interview
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a virtual interview with members of the Yozma team and advisors.

Final decisions will be communicated in April.

After registering your interest, and if you meet the eligibility criteria for the Fellowship, you will be invited to complete an online application form.

The form consists of five short sections:

Section 1: Basic information about you
Section 2: Academic background
Section 3: Entrepreneurial Mindset & Vision
Section 4: Travel and logistics information
Section 5: Declarations and consent

Section 3 is the core part of the application. You will answer three questions, each limited to 300 words. This section carries the most weight in our evaluation.

We encourage you to be concise, specific and reflective in your responses.

The 3 questions in section 3 of the application form are:

1. Describe one meaningful problem you’ve encountered in your life which you chose to engage with, and how you went about solving it.
   This could be a personal project, social venture, business initiative, developing a society, research effort, campaign, side-hustle, or something you improved that was not working.
   What was the problem? Why did it matter to you? What did you actually do? What obstacles did you face? What was the outcome, and what did you learn?
   Focus on your actions and decisions and share the why as well as the outcome.
2. Yozma is a community built on contribution, integrity and long-term responsibility. Describe a situation where you had to take responsibility beyond your own gain, support others, or stand by a principle.
   What did you do? What was at stake? What did it cost you, if anything? What did you learn from the experience?
3. Looking at your next 10 years, if you had no capital or resource constraints, what would you try to build, change or become? Why and where can Yozma help? How would the Yozma Fellowship meaningfully accelerate that trajectory? Be specific about what you hope to gain and how you would use it.

Once you submit your application, you will hear from us within up to three weeks. We will inform you whether you have been shortlisted for interview or will not be progressing further in this round.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a structured interview as the final stage of selection.

No. You do not need to have started a company. We are not selecting for a polished CV. We are looking for evidence of initiative.

That might mean launching a small project, building something from scratch, leading a society, organising an event, solving a real problem in your community, running a side hustle, creating content, contributing to an open-source project, or improving something that wasn’t working.

Entrepreneurial intent shows up in many forms. What matters is that you take action when you see an opportunity or a problem, rather than waiting for permission. If you can demonstrate curiosity, ownership, and a track record of doing, even on a small scale, we encourage you to apply.

There are two application deadlines:

• Friday 27 February at 5pm
• Friday 27 March at 5pm (final deadline)

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early submission, as places are limited.

Applications open in February 2026 and selection will be done by early April. The programme begins at the 28th of June 2026 with the immersive trip to Israel, followed by a year of 6 hands-on educational events and opportunities in the UK.

Student safety is central to how the programme is designed and delivered.

The trip is organised with experienced educational travel professionals who operate structured programmes in Israel and monitor local conditions closely. We follow formal risk assessment procedures and adjust plans if required.

Detailed safety information and protocols will be shared with participants and their families well in advance of travel.

No. The Fellowship is open to students of all backgrounds. The Yozma Fellowship is a non-political, non-religious educational programme. It is designed for UK undergraduates with a strong interest in entrepreneurship who want direct, hands-on exposure to founders who have built and scaled global companies, and to the investors who backed them.

Yes. The programme is fully subsidised.

A refundable £300 deposit is required to confirm your place. It will be returned at the end of the Fellowship year, subject to full participation in the Israel trip and the six UK follow-up sessions.

Flights, accommodation, meals, programme activities, and all educational events are covered by the Fellowship.

Under current rules, most visitors to Israel (unless they have an Israeli passport) must apply independently for an ETA-IL entry authorisation before travel.

The ETA-IL costs approximately 25 NIS (around £6) and must be completed personally online. We will provide the official link and updated guidance once you’re selected.

If any supporting documentation is required, we can assist with formal invitation letters and liaise with the relevant authorities where needed.

“Yozma” pronounced YOZ-MA (יוזמה) means “initiative” in Hebrew. It captures the mindset we look for in Fellows, curiosity, bold thinking and a bias for action.