Bar-Ilan University institutional logo

Bar-Ilan University

Ramat Gan, Israel • Founded 1955 • QS 2027 #711-720

Updated May 2026

Overview

English Name: Bar-Ilan University
Local Name: אוניברסיטת בר-אילן
Acronyms: BIU
Founded: 1955
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Religious Affiliation: Judaism
Rankings:
QS World University Rankings 2027 #711-720 Times Higher Education 2026 #601-800 ARWU (Shanghai) 2026 #501-600 CWTS Leiden 2025 #1188 SCImago 2026 #716
Motto: Tradition of Excellence
Bar-Ilan University campus scene
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Founded in 1955, the Bar-Ilan University is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the small city of Ramat Gan (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), Tel Aviv District.

Officially recognized by the The Council for Higher Education of Israel, Bar-Ilan University (BIU) is a large-sized coeducational Israeli higher education institution formally affiliated with the Jewish religion. Bar-Ilan University (BIU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees in several areas of study.

This 68-year-old Israeli higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.

BIU also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, study abroad and exchange programs, as well as administrative services.

Location & Contact

Bar-Ilan University's street address and primary contact methods. Social channels often differentiate by purpose — admissions on one, alumni on another, events on a third.

Address: Max and Anna Webb St.
Postal Code: 5290002
Other Sites: The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine Bar-Ilan University 8 Henrietta Szold St, Safed Israel
Phone: +972 (3) 5318 111
Fax: +972 (3) 535 2423
Social Media:

Academic Details

A quick read on Bar-Ilan University's academic vitals — enrolment counts, faculty makeup, and recognition status. The combination determines class sizes, faculty access, and credential portability.

Academic Year: November to June (November-February; March-June)
Recognition: The Council for Higher Education of Israel
Accrediting Agency: Council for Higher Education (CHE)
Admission Requirements: Secondary school certificate (Teudat Bagrut) or equivalent, and entrance examination
Total Students: 16,787
Female Students: 9,819
Academic Staff Range: 900-999
Full-Time Academic Staff: 907
Campus Setting: Urban

Academic Structures

Bar-Ilan University delivers teaching through the academic units below — useful for orienting yourself before reading individual programmes. Each unit operates with a degree of academic autonomy.

Unit 6 items
  • Faculty of Exact Sciences
  • Faculty of Humanities
  • Faculty of Jewish Studies
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Life Sciences
  • Faculty of Social Sciences

Degrees

Also International MBA Program (iMBA), Executive MBA Program (EMBA) teaching certificates in Comparative Literature, English, French Studies and Music

Bachelor's 22 programs

Bachelor's programmes build foundational expertise, preparing graduates for entry-level professional roles and further postgraduate study.

  • Arabic
  • Archaeology
  • Bible
  • Classical Languages
  • Comparative Literature
  • Computer Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • English
  • French
  • Hebrew
  • History
  • Information Sciences
  • Jewish Studies
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • Medicine
  • Middle Eastern Studies
  • Music
  • Neurosciences
  • Philosophy
  • Translation and Interpretation
Master's 56 programs

Master's programmes develop advanced specialised expertise, suited to senior industry positions and applied research.

  • Anthropology
  • Arabic
  • Archaeology
  • Bible
  • Biochemistry
  • Biological and Life Sciences
  • Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biotechnology
  • Botany
  • Business Administration
  • Chemistry
  • Classical Languages
  • Comparative Literature
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Criminology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Education
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Electronic Engineering
  • Engineering
  • English
  • Environmental Studies
  • Fine Arts
  • French
  • French Studies
  • Gender Studies
  • Geography (Human)
  • Hebrew
  • History
  • Holy Writings
  • Information Sciences
  • Jewish Studies
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Microelectronics
  • Middle Eastern Studies
  • Music
  • Natural Sciences
  • Neurosciences
  • Peace and Disarmament
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Technology
  • Telecommunications Engineering
  • Translation and Interpretation
  • Zoology
Doctoral 67 programs

Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.

  • Administrative Law
  • Ancient Languages
  • Anthropology
  • Applied Linguistics
  • Arabic
  • Archaeology
  • Biochemistry
  • Bioengineering
  • Biological and Life Sciences
  • Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biotechnology
  • Botany
  • Business Administration
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Law
  • Classical Languages
  • Commercial Law
  • Comparative Literature
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Constitutional Law
  • Contemporary History
  • Criminal Law
  • Criminology
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Engineering
  • English
  • Environmental Studies
  • Ethics
  • Fiscal Law
  • French
  • French Studies
  • Geography (Human)
  • Grammar
  • Greek (Classical)
  • History
  • Information Sciences
  • International Law
  • Jewish Studies
  • Latin
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • Logic
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine
  • Medieval Studies
  • Metaphysics
  • Microbiology
  • Microelectronics
  • Modern History
  • Music
  • Neurosciences
  • Philosophical Schools
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Sciences
  • Private Law
  • Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Telecommunications Engineering
  • Translation and Interpretation
  • Zoology
Diploma & Certificate 30 programs

Diploma and certificate routes deliver focused, applied training for fast entry into skilled occupations.

  • Anthropology
  • Art Therapy
  • Biological and Life Sciences
  • Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biotechnology
  • Business Administration
  • Chemistry
  • Communication Studies
  • Computer Science
  • Criminology
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Geography (Human)
  • Government
  • Hotel Management
  • Journalism
  • Library Science
  • Management
  • Mathematics
  • Music
  • Optometry
  • Physics
  • Political Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Tourism
  • Translation and Interpretation

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under The Council for Higher Education of Israel.

Land of Israel Studies (Centre) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Middle Eastern Studies
American Literature (Course/Programme) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • American Studies
Public Communications (Course/Programme) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Communication Studies

Common Career Paths

  • Journalist
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Content Strategist

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Engineering (Faculty) 3 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Computer Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Engineering

Common Career Paths

  • Engineer
  • Project Manager
  • Technical Consultant

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Exact Sciences (Faculty) 5 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Mathematics and Computer Science
  • Optometry
  • Physics

Common Career Paths

  • Research Scientist
  • Lab Technician
  • Analyst

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Humanities (Faculty) 10 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Arabic
  • Classical Languages
  • Comparative Literature
  • English
  • French Studies
  • Information Sciences
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Translation and Interpretation
  • Writing

Common Career Paths

  • Researcher
  • Editor
  • Cultural Analyst

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Jewish Studies (Faculty) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Bible
  • Hebrew
  • History
  • Jewish Studies
  • Judaic Religious Studies
  • Middle Eastern Studies
Law (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Law

Common Career Paths

  • Lawyer
  • Legal Consultant
  • Compliance Officer

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Life Sciences (Faculty) 7 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biological and Life Sciences
  • Biology
  • Biomedicine
  • Botany
  • Cell Biology
  • Optometry
  • Physiology

Common Career Paths

  • Research Scientist
  • Lab Technician
  • Analyst

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Social Sciences (Faculty) 12 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Anthropology
  • Business Administration
  • Criminology
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Geography
  • Government
  • Journalism
  • Political Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Sociology

Common Career Paths

  • Researcher
  • Policy Analyst
  • Social Worker

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Advanced Technology (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Technology
Advanced Torah Studies (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Holy Writings
Advancement of Religious Education (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Religious Art

Common Career Paths

  • Teacher
  • Educational Administrator
  • Curriculum Specialist

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Alzheimer's Disease (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Medicine
Assyriology (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Ancient Civilizations
Cancer, AIDS and Immunology (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Oncology
Cell Scan for the Early Detection of Cancer (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Oncology
Commercial Law (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Commercial Law

Common Career Paths

  • Lawyer
  • Legal Consultant
  • Compliance Officer

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Comparative Law (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Comparative Law

Common Career Paths

  • Lawyer
  • Legal Consultant
  • Compliance Officer

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Computerized Data in Jewish Studies (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Jewish Studies

Common Career Paths

  • Software Engineer
  • Data Scientist
  • Systems Analyst

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Defence and Peace Economics (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Peace and Disarmament

Common Career Paths

  • Economist
  • Policy Analyst
  • Financial Consultant

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Dyslexia and Reading Disorders (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Education of the Handicapped
Economic Structures of Jewish Communities (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Jewish Studies
Economics (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Economics

Common Career Paths

  • Economist
  • Policy Analyst
  • Financial Consultant

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Economy of Israel (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Economics
European Community (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • European Studies
Family (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Family Studies
History of Jewish Bible (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Bible
History of Oriental Jewry (Research Division) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Jewish Studies
  • Oriental Studies
History of the Land of Israel and its Settlements (Research Division) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • History
  • Jewish Studies
Holocaust Literature (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Jewish Studies
International Policy and Communications (Research Division) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • International Relations and Diplomacy
  • International Studies

Common Career Paths

  • Journalist
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Content Strategist

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Israel-Diaspora Relations (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • International Relations and Diplomacy
Israeli Economy and Society (Research Division) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Economics
  • Jewish Studies
Jerusalem Studies (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Jewish Studies
Jewish Education in the Diaspora (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Jewish Studies

Common Career Paths

  • Teacher
  • Educational Administrator
  • Curriculum Specialist

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Jewish Thought (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Jewish Studies
Latin American Development (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Latin American Studies
Lexicography (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Terminology
Life Sciences Applied Research (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biological and Life Sciences

Common Career Paths

  • Research Scientist
  • Lab Technician
  • Analyst

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Literature of the People of Israel (Research Division) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Jewish Studies
  • Literature
Mathematical Sciences (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Mathematics

Common Career Paths

  • Research Scientist
  • Lab Technician
  • Analyst

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Medical Diagnostics (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Medicine

Common Career Paths

  • Physician
  • Clinical Researcher
  • Healthcare Specialist

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Midrasha for Women (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Jewish Studies
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Nuclear Physics
Post-Talmudic Halakhic (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Judaic Religious Studies
Religious Anthropology (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Anthropology
Religious Zionism (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Judaic Religious Studies
Shoah (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Jewish Studies
Sociology of Ethnic Groups (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Sociology

Common Career Paths

  • Sociologist
  • Researcher
  • Community Specialist

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Strategic Studies (Research Division) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Military Science
  • Peace and Disarmament
Study and Dissemination of Oral Law (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Law

Common Career Paths

  • Lawyer
  • Legal Consultant
  • Compliance Officer

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Study of Developmental Disorders in Infants and Young Children (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Developmental Psychology
Study of Mountainous Areas in Judea and the Etzion Bloc (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Mountain Studies
Study of Women in Judaism (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Women's Studies
Teaching of Sciences (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Science Education

Common Career Paths

  • Research Scientist
  • Lab Technician
  • Analyst

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Yiddish Culture (Research Division) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Jewish Studies

Programs Offered

The programme finder below covers every degree Bar-Ilan University currently offers. Programme codes here often map to international classification systems used for credential recognition abroad.

84 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Israel

How to apply to Bar-Ilan University

A short guide to applying to Bar-Ilan University — five steps covering the path from programme selection to confirmation of receipt.

  1. 1
    Find a programme that fits your goals

    Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. Bar-Ilan University offers 84 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.

  2. 2
    Confirm you meet the requirements

    Each programme at Bar-Ilan University has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.

  3. 3
    Assemble your application package

    Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.

  4. 4
    Submit your application

    Apply directly via Bar-Ilan University's online portal at www1.biu.ac.il. Complete the application form, upload supporting documents, and pay any application fee. Confirmation emails typically arrive within a few business days.

  5. 5
    Contact admissions and follow up

    After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. Reach the institution by phone at +972 (3) 5318 111. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bar-Ilan University

Short Q&A on the institutional facts that matter most when shortlisting Bar-Ilan University as a study destination.

When did Bar-Ilan University open?

Bar-Ilan University traces its founding to 1955 (approximately 71 years ago).

What city is Bar-Ilan University in?

Bar-Ilan University operates from Ramat Gan, Israel.

What is Bar-Ilan University's control type?

It is a public higher-education institution.

How big is Bar-Ilan University's student body?

Bar-Ilan University serves approximately 16,787 students.

Where does Bar-Ilan University stand in university rankings?

Bar-Ilan University is ranked QS 2027 #711-720.

What programmes are available at Bar-Ilan University?

Bar-Ilan University offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.

Does Bar-Ilan University have a religious affiliation?

Yes, Bar-Ilan University is affiliated with Judaism.

How is Bar-Ilan University organised academically?

Bar-Ilan University is organised into 6 academic units across its disciplines.

Is Bar-Ilan University officially recognised?

Bar-Ilan University is accredited by Council for Higher Education (CHE).

How do I find Bar-Ilan University online?

You can find Bar-Ilan University online at www1.biu.ac.il.

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