Bar-Ilan University has climbed to second place in the list of Israel’s research universities, surpassing the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and it now trails only Tel Aviv University, according to a new Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) 2025 Higher Education Report.
The shift marks a major shift in Israel’s academic landscape as over the past seven years, Bar-Ilan has seen a 30% increase in total student enrollment, marking the highest growth rate among the major research universities.
The data highlighted a strengthening of the university’s research capabilities, with nearly half of the recent enrollment surge occurring in graduate and doctoral programs. It has seen growth across key areas, including engineering, medicine, nanotechnology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and exact sciences.
Is strategy the secret tool behind Bar-Ilan’s success?
The university pointed to a long-term strategic plan aimed at broadening accessibility and investing heavily in cutting-edge research infrastructure as the catalysts for the growth.
“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,” university president Prof. Arie Zaban said.
The strategic shift has included the introduction of new academic offerings, such as new engineering tracks and a six-year medical program. The university has also fostered interdisciplinary collaboration to connect scientific research directly with practical needs in areas such as healthcare and technology.