RAMAT GAN, Israel (Press Release) — Bar-Ilan University has become Israel’s second-largest research university, according to new data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics 2025 Higher Education Report. The university has surpassed the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and now ranks after Tel Aviv University.
Over the past eight years, Bar-Ilan advanced from fifth to second place nationwide. From 2018 to 2025, the university achieved a 30% increase in total student enrollment, the highest growth rate among Israel’s major research institutions. Nearly half of this surge occurred in graduate and doctoral programs, positioning Bar-Ilan as a growing center of advanced research and innovation. Growth has extended across all academic fields, including engineering, medicine, nanotechnology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, the exact sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
“Through a deep, broad, and consistent strategic process, Bar-Ilan University has achieved an unprecedented milestone of becoming the second-largest university in Israel, influencing the lives of hundreds of thousands of young Israelis from all walks of life,” said Prof. Arie Zaban, President of Bar-Ilan University. “This is an inspiring moment that reflects the younger generation’s trust in our relevance, academic excellence, and ability to prepare them for the challenges of the future.”
As part of this transformation, Bar-Ilan introduced major academic initiatives, including new engineering programs and a six-year medical track, while simultaneously strengthening established areas of excellence such as law, psychology, and the exact sciences. The university has also deepened interdisciplinary collaboration, encouraging connections between technology, science, society, and real-world problem-solving.
Public trust has accelerated in parallel with these developments. In Globes’ 2024 National Brand Index, Bar-Ilan ranked third among Israel’s most-recommended universities, alongside Tel Aviv University and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. In the 2023 VERA survey among prospective students, Bar-Ilan ranked second in student preference, immediately after Tel Aviv University.
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Preceding provided by Bar-Ilan University