Quick Summary
Public in Beersheba, Israel — Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, est. 1969. Ranked #463 globally by QS World University Rankings 2026, it enrolls 19747 students including 3% from outside Israel. Known for strengths in Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Desert Research, it maintains an acceptance rate of 45%.
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Institutional Profile
Who they are
Global leader in water research and desertification; situated at the heart of Israel's high-tech desert ecosystem.
Subject Strengths
Engineering and TechnologyLife Sciences and MedicineDesert ResearchEnvironmental StudiesCybersecurity
Founded1969
TypePublic
Total Students19747
Intl Students3%
Faculty Ratio17.5
CampusUrban and Research Park
Campus Size1,200 acres
Affiliated HospitalsSoroka Medical Center, Barzilai Medical Center
AccreditationCouncil for Higher Education (CHE) of Israel
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Global Standing
Three independent ranking systems
QS World 2026
#463
Quacquarelli Symonds
Times Higher Ed
#601-800
THE World University
ARWU Shanghai
#401-500
Academic Ranking
03
Academics & Research
What you can study
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, Post-doctoral research
Programs
Biology, Engineering, Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Humanities, Natural Sciences
PhD Programs
Limited executive education and MOOCs
Online Programs
Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, National Cybersecurity Research Center
Research Centers
Very High
Research Output
Council for Higher Education (CHE) of Israel
Accreditation
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Admissions Brief
What it takes to get in
Entry Requirements
Acceptance Rate45%
IELTS6.5
TOEFL85
Min GPA3
GRERequired for specific graduate programs
GMATRequired for MBA programs
SATOptional but recommended for international applicants
ACTNot Available
Key Dates
FALLApplication Deadline · June 30
SPRINGApplication Deadline · November 30
MAR-APRDecisions Released
Required Documents
TranscriptsSOPEnglish ScoresLORsPassport
Insider Tip
Focus on high Psychometric exam scores for local tracks or SAT/ACT for international tracks; emphasize research interest for post-grad.
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Cost Ledger
Amounts in Israeli New Shekel
UG Tuition
₪46,500/yr
per year · ILS
Living Cost
₪41,000/yr
per year · ILS
PG Tuition
₪52,000/yr
per year · ILS
Application Fee
$120
one time · USD
Total Estimated Annual Cost
₪87,500/yr
tuition + living + essentials · ILS
Scholarships AvailableMasa Israel, BGU International Excellence Scholarship, Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program
Avg Scholarship$5,000
Financial AidAvailable for qualifying domestic and international students based on merit and need
Work-StudyAvailable
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Featured & Popular Programs
A sample from Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, Post-doctoral research programs total
| Program | Level | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
| Medicine | MASTER | 1-2 YRS |
| Cybersecurity | PHD | 3-5 YRS |
| Desert Studies | MBA | 12-24 MO |
| Management | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
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Career Outcomes
Where graduates land
$65,000
Average Salary After Graduation
88%
Employment Rate
Internship PlacementStrong connections with Beer Sheva Advanced Technologies Park
Industry Connections
IntelDeutsche TelekomDell EMCOracle
Notable Alumni
Gonen Segev, Silvan Shalom, Shelly Yachimovich
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Campus & Student Life
Life beyond lectures
Housing
On-campus available
Sports Facilities
Olympic swimming pool, sports halls, tennis courts, gymnasiums
Student Clubs
Over 100 student organizations ranging from social justice to technology
Library Resources
Aranne Central Library, Medical Library, Zalman Aranne Library
Exchange Programs
Erasmus+, bilateral agreements with 150+ universities
Summer Programs
Global Health, Data Mining, Entrepreneurship and Innovation