June 2021
New! Religious and Middle Eastern Politics: Online Master’s Program
Aristotle believed that man is naturally a political animal because he is a social being with the power of speech and moral reasoning. We also have the ability to learn, to gain knowledge, and to persuade others to our way of thinking – whether reasonable or not, whether based on fact or faith. Find out how you can explore your inner political animal with our new MA in Religious and Middle Eastern Politics. Read Article.
Still Undecided About Your Future? BIU Will Inspire You!
Many reasons exist for you to choose Bar-Ilan University as the next step on your journey. We are consistently ranked in the top 2% of all universities throughout the world, according to the Shanghai World Ranking. Our academic excellence is the result of our prize-winning professors and lecturers, who are recognized internationally for their academic achievements and lead significant advancements in research in their fields. Read About Our Upcoming Events.
May 2021
Looking Back While Forging Ahead
Message from Prof. Moshe Lewenstein, BIU Deputy President
Bar-Ilan University’s student body has changed substantially over the past three years. In addition to the traditional Israeli students, we now have international students from around 60 countries who participate in student life on campus in a variety of ways, including studying and conducting research together. Living on campus has also created new student interactions, which have enabled connections that have enhanced the lives of all students. Read Article.
Creating Impact Through Globalization
When Bar-Ilan University’s new administration was elected in October 2017, globalization and internationalism became two of the driving forces behind the university’s five “Visionary Pillars” – Academic Excellence, Impact-Driven Research, Innovative Teaching, Global University, and Vibrant Judaism. Read Article.
Increasing Our Competitive Edge
New developments and initiatives have been taking place at Bar-Ilan University’s International School over the past few months. Having achieved so many of their goals since the school’s formation in May 2018, executive director, Ofer Dahan, and Academic head, Prof. Rachel Dekel, with the support of BIU’s deputy president, Prof. Moshe Lewenstein, are shifting focus slightly to build on the strong foundation. Read Article.
Ancient Greece and Rome: A Trip Back in Time
Bar-Ilan University’s Department of Classical Studies in the Faculty of Humanities is dedicated to the teaching and critical study of all aspects of ancient Greece and Rome. Study in the department imparts tools for linguistic, historical, archaeological, literary, and culturally-sensitive approaches to the ancient world. Read Article.
Individual Zoom Meetings, Open Day, and Summer Archaeological Excavation
Each month, Bar-Ilan University hosts a variety of webinars, info sessions, and open days. We have a calendar on our website that will keep you informed about these events and provides a registration link for each session. Feel free to check the calendar at regular intervals to find an event that is relevant to you. Read Article.
April Events: Physics, Brain Sciences, and Undergraduate Degrees
Last month’s virtual information sessions were varied and interesting for all participants. These are just some of the events that took place. Read Article.
Celebrating Indian Holi Festival on Campus
Bar-Ilan University’s International School celebrated Indian Holi with students from both BIU’s main campus in Ramat Gan and it’s Faculty of Medicine in Safed. Ms. Rakhee Mayuri, the first secretary of the Embassy of India in Israel, was an honored guest at the event. She was joined by Prof. Moshe Lewenstein, BIU’s deputy president, staff from the International School, Indian and other international students, and Israeli students. Read Article.
Hebrew Bible Connects Israel and South Korea
Dr. ShinAe Kim, Adjunct Professor at the Methodist Theological University in Seoul, South Korea, hosted a special three-part Bible Studies lecture series in collaboration with Bar-Ilan University’s Bible Department and the International School last month. Read Article.
April 2021
Excitement as Students Return to Campus
Message from Ofer Dahan, Executive Director, BIU International School
March was a busy month for Bar-Ilan University faculty and staff as we prepared for the next phase of learning on campus that will take place this month.
On Monday, April 5, after the Passover holidays, we will welcome students once again for face-to-face, in-person learning in classrooms and laboratories combined with virtual lectures for those who can’t return to the university. Read Article.
Unique New Degree Offered at Bar-Ilan University
Jewish Studies encompasses a diverse range of disciplines, which combines aspects of Jewish history from ancient to modern times; Jewish literature and linguistics in Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, and the other Judaic languages; Judaism, the religion; Jewish thought, theology, philosophy, and mysticism; Bible and biblical interpretation, rabbinic literature and culture, Sephardic and Mizrachi Jews, Holocaust Studies, Israel Studies; Jewish politics; the Jewish arts; archaeology; sociology; and more.
However, when it comes to choosing what to study as an undergraduate student from this vast range of choices, most programs are limited to specific departments and one or two majors, and very few cross over between the different departments – until now. Read Article.
Israel: From Innovation Nation to VacciNATION
Bar-Ilan University’s International School hosted its second annual Attachés’ Conference in March. The event focused on Israel’s experience with, and response to, COVID-19, an unwavering vaccination strategy and its implementation, and a look at what lies ahead. Read Article.
Upcoming Events
Each month, Bar-Ilan University hosts a variety of webinars, info sessions, and open days. This month, we have an exciting lecture series with Bar-Ilan University’s Bible Department, and interesting information sessions on our undergraduate degrees and the MSc in Physics. Read Article.
Erasmus+ Multinational Projects and Partnerships
The European Union’s program for Education, Training, Youth, and Sport, known as Erasmus+ (or Erasmus Plus), offers opportunities for international cooperation across these four sectors to foster cooperation and bridge the worlds of education and work to tackle the skills gaps we are facing.
This month, we will focus on the various Erasmus+ projects and partnerships that enable Bar-Ilan University to collaborate with international universities and organizations. They include various Capacity-Building Projects, a Strategic Partnership, and a Jean Monnet Center for Excellence. Read Article.
March 2021
ErasmusPlus: An Opportunity of a Lifetime
Message from Daniel Schuval, Director of Academic Partnerships and Projects, Erasmus+ Institutional Coordinator
Bar-Ilan University’s International School has been an active partner in Erasmus+ since 2014. This program is the European Union’s premier initiative to support education and training through various projects between the universities in partner countries. These include the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) or Student Mobility (exchange) program, Capacity-Building Projects (CBP), Strategic Partnerships, and more. Read Article
Taking Exchange Programs into the Future
The Erasmus program is a European Union (EU) exchange program established in 1987. Ever since the first year, when 3,200 students from 11 European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and United Kingdom) participated, the program has been evolving constantly. Read More
Coming Soon: Physics Open Day and Other Events
Bar-Ilan University has exciting online events this month. One of these focuses on our MSc in Physics. Our representatives in India have arranged a special event to promote the English MSc in Physics program especially to Indian students, although potential students from other countries are welcome to participate. Find out more about this and other events in this article. Read More
February Events: Escape Zoom & Summer Program
As usual, February was a busy month with some exciting events taking place. We can’t tell you about everything, so we’ll just talk about two of the larger and more entertaining ones. Read More
In the Spirit of Innovation
True to its vision of influence and spirit of innovation, Bar-Ilan University’s contribution doesn’t stop with scientific discovery – it extends to entrepreneurship as well.
Many of the university’s initiatives come from Bar-Ilan’s Entrepreneurship Center, which is designed to connect academia and industry, creating an atmosphere of entrepreneurship and innovation. Read More
Bar-Ilan University’s Attachés’ Conference 2021
Bar-Ilan University’s International School will host an online panel discussion with medical experts from Bar-Ilan and Meuhedet Health Fund at its second annual Attachés Conference. The theme: Israel’s experience with and response to COVID-19, an unwavering vaccination strategy and its implementation, and a look at what lies ahead. Read More
Study in Israel: Bar-Ilan University – CHE Magazine: February 2021
Earlier this year, the Council for Higher Education in Israel published a magazine called “Israeli Academia: Study in Israel”.
Bar-Ilan University was featured in the publication. Three articles were published. The first talks about new developments in the Bible Department and the overlap between the MA in Biblical Studies and the MA in Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology. The second article mentions Alzheimer’s research at BIU’s Azrieli School of Medicine and the third covers innovation at BIU. You can read the article here.
February 2021
Dynamic, Pioneering, and Forward-Thinking
Message from Prof. Rachel Dekel, Academic Head, BIU International School
Bar-Ilan University is always changing, developing, and growing. At the International School, we are constantly finding ways to increase the options for international students and immigrants to provide them with exciting opportunities to study in Israel, including new graduate degrees that are taught in English. Read Article
New English Master’s in Jewish Philosophy
Bar-Ilan University’s International School and the Department of Jewish Philosophy in the Faculty of Jewish Studies have launched a new Master of Arts in Jewish Philosophy, which will be taught entirely in English. The first program will start in October this year. Read Article
First-of-its-Kind Academic Collaboration with UAE
Bar-Ilan University has signed an agreement for collaboration with the UAE’s Gulf Medical University to promote medical research and improve public health in Israel and throughout the Middle East. Read Article.
Sharing Knowledge Opens Up Possibilities
A well-timed trip to Israel in February 2020 has resulted in yet another successful collaboration for Bar-Ilan University (BIU), this time with Regent University (RU), a private Christian institution in Virginia Beach, Virginia, US. Read Article
Escape Zoom: Take Your Brain on a Journey
Bar-Ilan University’s International School and the Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center are hosting the first-ever Escape Zoom at BIU. Read Article
February Events @ Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University has some exciting online events happening this month. There will be a variety of open days hosted by the International School and the various country representatives, including our first-ever Escape Zoom, which was covered earlier in this newsletter. Read Article
December and January Events @ Bar-Ilan University
Over the past two months, BIU’s International School held several online information sessions in a variety of different fields. Some of these events were aimed at potential students from specific countries, while others were open to all. Read Article
December 2020
Celebrating our Graduates
Message from Prof. Moshe Lewenstein, Deputy President, Bar-Ilan University
Reaching the level of doctorate is quite a feat in anyone’s book. After years of studying and research, to finally have achieved such a goal is remarkable and something of which to be incredibly proud. Read Article
Last Chance to Register for Online Hebrew Course
Bar-Ilan University’s new “Online Hebrew Course for Beginners” got off to a successful start last week. The program, which is the first of its kind for the university, is being offered by the International School and the Department of Hebrew and Semitic Languages. Read Article
A Journey of Discovery – Class of 2020
A doctoral graduation ceremony marks the culmination of a long and challenging period of study, original thinking, and research, and therefore, it is an especially important and exciting event for the graduates. Read Article
Sharing Expertise on a Global Scale
Collaboration between universities has never been easier, and now more than ever, it has become customary to form global partnerships and foster relationships with other universities.
Due to advances in technology and unhindered communication channels, universities are making the most of the opportunities to connect faculty and students in ways that were not as popular before the Coronavirus pandemic halted international travel. Read Article
Doctoral and Postdoctoral Scholarships for 2021-2022
Various scholarship opportunities are available for potential Bar-Ilan University students. This month, we focus on two scholarships – the Sandwich Scholarship Program for current doctoral students and the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program for postdoctoral students. Read Article
December Events @ Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University has some exciting online events and webinars happening in December. There will be a variety of open days hosted by the International School and the various country representatives, and a series of webinars hosted by UnBox Ventures, BIU’s incubator for researchers and entrepreneurs. Read Article
November Events @ Bar-Ilan University
November was a busy month socially for our International Students. With weekly coffee-time get-togethers online and in-person, Diwali celebrations, Thanksgiving dinners, and more, the students are making the most of their campus social lives. COVID-19 regulations are followed at all events. Read Article
November 2020
A Sign of the Times
Message from Dafi Forer-Kremer, Director of Marketing and Recruitment, International School
Deciding on where to study is a dilemma that many young people have faced throughout the ages due to the huge number of choices. Some visited all the open days on campuses on their lists, if they were able, while others would take the chance based on reputation or word of mouth – and many emails back and forth between them and the chosen university and faculty.
Read Article
New at BIU: Online Hebrew Course for Beginners
Bar-Ilan University’s International School and the Department of Hebrew and Semitic Languages are launching “Hebrew Ulpan Online” – a Hebrew language course for beginners via Zoom – starting on November 25, 2020 and running until June 2021.
Read Article
A Matter of Skill and Preparation
Ruthy Salomon has been busier than ever since the Coronavirus pandemic first hit our shores. In the beginning, she was worried about how the situation would impact her business as many of her training sessions took place face-to-face. However, within a month, her online business had skyrocketed.
November Events @ BIU’s International School
Bar-Ilan University’s International School is participating in some exciting online sessions focused on specific countries – China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan on November 8; Brazil, also on November 8; and Kazakhstan on November 21.
Read Article
October Online Events at Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University’s International School has been hosting a variety of interesting and successful virtual open days and information sessions for potential students from around the world. October was a busy month and the numerous sessions kept everyone busy and connected, some of which were recorded for students who weren’t able to attend.
Read Article
Catching Up With Our International Representatives
Bar-Ilan University International School’s experts help us spread the word about Bar-Ilan and recruit potential students. In this article, we learn about Divya Shevale from Zista Education in India and find out what she has been doing to bring the world closer to Bar-Ilan University.
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Meet our Students, Alumni, and Faculty
Bar-Ilan University’s Communications team publishes articles on current students, alumni, and faculty members on a regular basis. This month, we’re featuring two current students, two alumni, and a professor.
Read Article
October 2020
Stepping into a New World
Message from Merav Gilad, Director: International Student Services and Affairs
Starting a new academic year is an exciting time for everyone, whether students, lecturers, or staff members – and even parents. As students, this is the chance to grab hold of your dreams and mold them into a reality that will enable you to reach your goals. It is also one of the most valuable and entertaining experiences of your lifetime.
Read Article
Specialized Graduate Studies Open Days
October is an exciting and busy time for Bar-Ilan University’s International School as we welcome many new international students. However, many of the graduate and postgraduate programs have start-dates that fall in 2021, which means we are still taking applications for various programs.
Read Article
Diversity is a competitive advantage
President Reuven Rivlin had a vision – to unite all Israelis in all sectors of the country. In 2015, the year following his inauguration, he created “Israeli Hope”, a venture that seeks to strengthen the “togetherness” of Israeli society through giving respect to, and a place for, every group that comprises it, in order to ensure the strength and prosperity of the State of Israel.
Read Article
Meet our Students, Alumni and Faculty
Bar-Ilan University’s Communications team publishes articles on current students, alumni, and faculty members on a regular basis. This month, we’re featuring one student and three professors.
Read Article
Catching Up With Our International Representatives
The Bar-Ilan University International School’s experts help us spread the word about Bar-Ilan and recruit potential students. In this article, we learn about Anabella Jaroslavsky and find out what she has been doing to bring the world closer to Bar-Ilan University.
Read Article
September 2020
Paving the Way to a Successful Future
Message from Ofer Dahan, Executive Director
The start of a new year is always exciting and fun. New beginnings, new plans, new experiences… all come together as a clean slate, a fresh opportunity to take charge and make a change.
Last Call for Prospective 2020 Students
This is your chance to ask all your questions in our final Zoom session for this year. Find out everything you need to know about our degrees and everything else related to your studies at Bar-Ilan University. You’ll also be able to meet some of the International School staff and a few students.
Home Away From Home
Being Jewish in Israel is not difficult. As the Jewish state, there are many options for students of all streams of Judaism throughout the country. Many students seek a university that meets their academic ambitions while simultaneously accommodating their Jewish lifestyle.
Religious Life on Campus
The founders of Bar-Ilan University established the institution as an academic establishment that attributes the uniqueness of the Jewish people to the sacred Jewish principles and values by which they live.
International Postdoctoral Fellowships Announced
Applications for the Azrieli Foundation’s International Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research at Bar-Ilan University in 2021 are now open! The scholarships are available for Postdoctoral researchers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Humanities and Social Sciences.
Catching Up With Our International Representatives
The Bar-Ilan University International School’s aim is to connect with high school and university faculty members, administrators, and students all over the world. In order to do this efficiently, we have brought in various experts to help us spread the word about Bar-Ilan and recruit potential students.
Meet our Students, Alumni, and Faculty
Bar-Ilan University’s Communications team publishes articles on current students, alumni, and faculty members on a regular basis. This month, we’re featuring one student, two graduates, and two professors.
August 2020
Looking Forward to a New Year and New Challenges
Message from Prof. Rachel Dekel, Academic Head, BIU’s International School
The past five months have revealed how individuals and educational institutions have risen to the challenges of COVID-19 and the related crisis – and in so doing, have changed the face of education for the foreseeable future.
Doctoral and Postdoc Students Arrive from India
On July 28, 2020, 100 Doctoral and Postdoctoral students from India landed in Israel on a special Israir flight initiated by Bar-Ilan University and its International School in cooperation with the airline.
International MBA Program Update
The Graduate School of Business Administration at Bar-Ilan University has taken a bold decision to streamline the International Master of Business Administration (IMBA) program and align tuition fees for the next academic year with its core graduate MBA programs.
Become a Fulbright Israel Postdoc Fellow at Bar-Ilan in 2021
Fulbright Israel has extended the application deadline for Postdoctoral Fellowships (all disciplines) in Israel to September 15, 2020. Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellows will receive a grant for $47,500 per academic year for up to two years ($95,000).
International Students Allowed to Enter Israel
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri announced in a statement on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, that permission would be granted to international students, who plan to begin (or continue) their studies in Israel this coming October, to enter Israel, despite the general ban on entry of foreigners.
International Students Talk About Their Experiences
Bar-Ilan University publishes an ongoing series of articles on students who are studying at BIU. They’re asked questions about why they chose their specific degrees, what they enjoy most at the university, their favorite corner on campus, what they will take with them from their studies, and what their future plans include.
July 2020
Expanding Our Global Community
Message from Prof. Moshe Lewenstein, Deputy President, Bar-Ilan University
We, at Bar-Ilan University’s International School, have come a long way in advancing our goals over the past year, even though we’ve faced challenges we could never have expected. Our international students, many who have recently graduated with undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees, ended the year very differently from the way they’d planned…
Getting Ahead Of The Game
Summer Online Courses
The International School at Bar-Ilan University is well-known for its popular, interesting, and highly-regarded on-campus summer courses, all of which are conducted in English. As a result of COVID-19, we are introducing four new summer courses online, which will replace the on-campus program for the moment…
Growing Selection of Degrees in English
Bar-Ilan’s International School expands its offering: Finding ways to expand the number of degrees offered in English to international students is a focus of the Bar-Ilan International School. We strive to give potential students the widest variety of choices possible.
A Bar-Ilan Collaboration to Develop Online Hebrew Proficiency Test
The Importance of Strong Hebrew Skills When Studying in Hebrew: Studying in a language that’s not your mother-tongue can be daunting. Not only can you miss what is being taught in class, but it is also possible to misunderstand terms and phrases that are essential for your assignments and exams.
June 2020
Bar-Ilan International School’s “Roof-Wetting” Ceremony
Message from Ofer Dahan, Director, Bar-Ilan University International School
Bar-Ilan University’s International School is finally under one roof after two years of planning. The move, which began before the outbreak of COVID-19, is now complete, and we officially opened our new offices – and as a result, all student services – on Tuesday 19 May.
Student Initiative Sparks Interfaith University Course
At the beginning of 2018, Bar-Ilan University undergraduate students, Sariba Feinstein, a Jewish immigrant (olah) from the US, and Fatima Amer, an Arab Muslim Israeli, combined forces to start a branch of the Interfaith Encounter Association (IEA) at Bar-Ilan University under the leadership of their professor, Dr. Ben Mollov.
Bar-Ilan University’s Pioneering Interfaith Academic Program
The Jewish-Arab Inter-Religious Dialogue course promotes a change in perception of other cultures and religions, transforming views and opinions while creating tolerance and building relationships.
First-Ever Conflict Resolution Summer Program Online
Conflicts over collective Identity, including issues of religion, narratives, and culture, abound in our world today. Conflict involving deep identity clashes and disagreements regarding deep societal values are usually considered intractable and difficult to settle or mediate.
A Culture of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Israel has produced more than 6,000 start-ups and generates more venture capital per capita than any country in the world. The country has a population of merely 9.19 million, and yet is home to more than 250 growth-stage companies that yield revenues in the millions, employing hundreds of people, with more established companies generating far higher revenues and employing thousands of people.
Read Article
WhatsApp Shavuot Challenge and Cheesecake Bake
A few days ahead of Shavuot, staff members from Bar-Ilan’s International School were hard at work baking Cheesecakes and other dairy desserts for international students. This was the second part of the International School’s challenge to staff and students. The first part started the week before with a challenge to students to help decorate the new offices, which were officially opened on Tuesday 19 May.
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During Corona, Overseas Students Prefer Israel
With colleges worldwide worried about falling admissions due to Covid-19, Israeli universities have seen a heartening uptick in international interest.
May 2020
Choosing What Your Future Will Hold
Now is a crucial time for anyone making a major life choice about where to study next year. Deciding what university to attend and in what country, as well as trying to discover where they’ll have the most enriching experience, are decisions that will need to be made within the next few months. Read Article
Bar-Ilan’s Virtual Open Day a Success
Bar-Ilan’s International School hosted its first Virtual Open Day via Zoom on Sunday 3 May. The International School is responsible for all degrees taught in English – undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate. The Open Day presentations were held in two time slots – 10:00 and 19:00 (Israel Time) – to accommodate all countries in all time zones. Read Article
Academic Excellence in a Vibrant Social Community
Making major life choices is never easy and choosing a university can be daunting. We know there are many universities in Israel and globally from which to choose, so we’d like to share with you why we think you should choose Bar-Ilan University (BIU). Read Article
Virtual Tour: History and Archaeology of the Land of Israel
Take a fascinating virtual tour and learn with Bar-Ilan University’s Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology Department starting Sunday 17 May. Tune in at 6pm Israel time every day (except Shabbat) for the next two weeks. Click here to see the full schedule. If, after you’ve enjoyed this series, you would like to take your studies to the next level, our MA in Land of Israel Studies is now being offered entirely in English. Find out more.
New! MA in Bible Studies in English
Bar-Ilan University’s International School is pleased to announce that the Master of Arts in Bible Studies will now be offered entirely in English from the next academic year starting in October 2020. Read Article
Identity-Based Conflict Resolution Summer Program Online
As a result of the Coronavirus, Bar-Ilan University’s International School will be running its Identity-Based Conflict Resolution summer program online so that you don’t miss out. Find out more.
Bar-Ilan’s International Students Receive Holiday Boxes from Osem
Before Passover and Easter, Bar-Ilan University approached Osem Israel, one of the largest food manufacturers and distributors in the country, to help the university support its international students who were alone on campus during the holidays due to the Coronavirus situation. Read Article
Survivor, Shimshon Fuhrer, Talks to BIU Students
On the eve of Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), many of BIU’s students benefited from the unique opportunity of hearing from Shimshon Fuhrer, a Holocaust survivor, who shared his and his family’s story of the war. Read Article
Indian Students Send Special Independence Day Wishes
Bar-Ilan University’s International School Students from India produced a special video wishing Israel a happy 72nd Independence Day. The students, who are self-isolating in their residences on Bar-Ilan’s campus in Ramat Gan, got together virtually to surprise the university with special wishes for Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day), which Israel celebrated earlier this week. Read Article
April 2020
Bar-Ilan University in the Time of Corona
Bar-Ilan University (BIU) has taken the bull by the horns and found various ways to support students, faculty, and staff during this unprecedented time of the Coronavirus. Read Article
Celebrating the Holidays while in Isolation
Life as we know it is no longer the same. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has made sure of that. We are all hunkering down and staying away from everyone we know apart from those living with us. Read Article
Happy Holidays!
Some of Bar-Ilan University’s International School students and staff got together on Zoom to send holiday greetings to everyone celebrating this month. Watch the video.
Variety is the Spice of Summer Life
As with every university worldwide, it is hard to determine what will happen with Bar-Ilan University’s summer programs. We are hoping and praying that the Coronavirus will be under control by mid-July when our programs begin, and we are moving forward with that in mind. Read Article
