Bar-Ilan’s Rapid Rise: Now Israel’s Second Largest Research University
A 30% growth in eight years propelled Bar-Ilan from 5th place to 2nd among Israel’s major research universities
New data published in the 2025 Higher Education Report of the Central Bureau of Statistics reveals an unprecedented shift: Bar-Ilan University has surged to second place among all universities in Israel, just after Tel Aviv University and ahead of the Hebrew University. This milestone marks a turning point in Israel’s higher education landscape, reflecting a renewed perception of Bar-Ilan, its identity and its impact on Israeli society.
BIU's Consistent Growth Across All Degrees and Disciplines
Between 2018 and 2025, Bar-Ilan University achieved a 30% increase in overall enrollment across all degree levels. This growth was recorded not only in the exact sciences, engineering, and medicine, but also in the humanities and social sciences, compared to a combined average growth of just 3.5% in the other research universities in Israel.
Behind this remarkable rise stands an extensive strategic plan that drove a profound transformation: rebranding, a digital revolution, infrastructure development, creation of innovative academic programs, and renewed leadership in research and teaching.
New Academic Programs and Advancement of Research Excellence
The university expanded and developed leading fields of study and research, including new programs in engineering, a six-year M.D. program, advanced cyber and nanotechnology centers, and programs in artificial intelligence, while continuing to foster excellence in law, psychology, and the exact sciences.
Embedding Organizational Innovation and Empowering Human Capital
Bar-Ilan focused on operational excellence and internal innovation by adopting data-driven decision-making, modernizing teaching and research for the digital era, and nurturing a cross-disciplinary culture of collaboration.
The university’s leadership invested significantly in human capital — both academic and administrative — establishing flexible, agile work processes that rapidly respond to changes in the higher-education environment and the world at large.
Leading the Digital Revolution in Academia
Bar-Ilan built a new model of a connected university, supporting students in real time throughout their academic journey: a modern website with an interactive catalog of 448 study programs, advanced CRM and BI systems, and a service center that provides support also via WhatsApp and intelligent chatbots. This strong digital presence reaches one million unique monthly visitors.
Driving Impact with Purpose
Under the concept “Impacting tomorrow, today”, Bar-Ilan has developed an inspiring identity. The ripple symbol representing the expanding impact of Bar-Ilan — expresses growth, openness, and innovation. The updated brand bridges academia, society, and values, positioning the university as a place that speaks the language of the younger generation: a language that is smart, emotional, and deeply connected to a search for purpose, impact, and value.
Strong Public Recognition
Bar-Ilan’s dynamic Open Days on campus have become widely known, tripling the number of participants and prospective students visiting the university before registration. In addition, the “Open Door” Zoom meetings with faculty, alongside Bar-Da’at — Israel’s first academic podcast that brings research to the general public — strengthened the university’s influence far beyond academia, reaching every sector of Israeli society.
This change is also seen in the diverse campus student body, reflecting the full mosaic of Israeli society.
Public perception has transformed as well: In Globes’ 2024 Brand Index, Bar-Ilan ranked third nationwide among universities recommended by the public, alongside Tel Aviv University and the Technion. In the 2023 VERA survey among prospective students, Bar-Ilan ranked second only to Tel Aviv University.
A Vision Realized
Prof. Arie Zaban, President of Bar-Ilan University, sees these numbers as a dream turned reality:
“Through a deep, broad, and consistent strategic effort, Bar-Ilan University has achieved an unprecedented accomplishment as the second-largest university in Israel. We are influencing the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people from every corner of Israeli society. This is a deeply meaningful moment for all of us — a testament to the young generation’s trust in our relevance and academic excellence, and in our genuine ability to prepare them for future challenges. In the coming years, Bar-Ilan will continue to expand its influence in research, innovation, industry collaboration, and its responsibility to society in Israel and worldwide.”