By: Fern Sidman

In a landmark shift for Israeli higher education, Bar-Ilan University has officially surpassed the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to become Israel’s second-largest research university, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics’ 2025 Higher Education Report. The data marks a historic realignment among the country’s elite academic institutions, with Tel Aviv University retaining the top position and Bar-Ilan emerging as the most dynamic and fastest-growing academic force in the nation.

While overall student enrollment across Israel’s major universities has remained relatively stable, the distribution of those students tells a strikingly different story. Bar-Ilan’s surge—achieving a 30% increase in enrollment since 2018—has transformed the institution into a modern academic powerhouse defined by innovation, inclusivity, and national impact. The findings signal not only the university’s growing reputation but also a deeper cultural shift in how Israeli students choose to pursue higher learning in the 21st century.

Just eight years ago, Bar-Ilan ranked fifth among Israel’s research universities. Today, it stands second only to Tel Aviv University. The pace of its growth has been remarkable—particularly given the highly competitive and tightly regulated nature of Israel’s higher-education system.

From 2018 to 2025, the university increased its total student body by nearly one-third, the highest growth rate among all major Israeli universities. Almost half of that expansion has come from graduate and doctoral students, reflecting Bar-Ilan’s evolution into a hub of advanced research and technological innovation.

“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,” said Professor Arie Zaban, President of Bar-Ilan University. “Through a deep, broad, and consistent strategic process, Bar-Ilan University has achieved an unprecedented milestone—becoming the second-largest university in Israel, influencing the lives of hundreds of thousands of young Israelis from all walks of life.”

Bar-Ilan’s ascent is the result of a comprehensive strategic plan initiated eight years ago to modernize its academic structure, expand accessibility, and reinforce its position at the intersection of science, technology, and society.

New programs in engineering, nanotechnology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and medical sciences have been introduced, while long-established areas of excellence—such as law, psychology, and the exact sciences—have been significantly strengthened.

Of particular note is Bar-Ilan’s six-year medical program, a cornerstone of its mission to address Israel’s national shortage of physicians and medical researchers. The program, integrated with cutting-edge biomedical research and clinical partnerships, positions the university as a key player in the future of Israeli healthcare.

The Faculty of Engineering, launched in recent years, has also become a magnet for innovation. Working in collaboration with leading technology companies, the faculty emphasizes practical applications of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and environmental sustainability—fields critical to Israel’s global competitiveness.

Once viewed as serving a more homogeneous student population, Bar-Ilan has undergone a quiet but profound demographic transformation. The 2025 CBS report reveals a student body that now reflects the full diversity of Israeli society—Jews, Arabs, secular, religious, immigrants, and native-born citizens learning side by side.

This shift is no accident. Bar-Ilan’s leadership has pursued an intentional policy of broadening access to higher education, particularly for students from underrepresented communities and peripheral regions.

“Bar-Ilan’s growth is not just numerical—it’s moral and social,” one senior faculty member explained. “It demonstrates that academic excellence and inclusivity are not contradictory values, but complementary ones. We are educating not just scholars, but citizens who will build a more cohesive and innovative Israel.”

The university has also invested heavily in campus infrastructure and student life, creating collaborative spaces that encourage cross-disciplinary research and social interaction. From upgraded laboratories to new student residences and community engagement programs, Bar-Ilan has built an environment that is simultaneously rigorous and welcoming.

At the heart of Bar-Ilan’s renaissance lies a comprehensive digital transformation—a model now studied by other universities across Israel. The institution’s redesigned online ecosystem includes an interactive catalog of 448 academic programs, advanced customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and data-driven decision-making tools that optimize recruitment, advising, and student services.

By embracing AI-based communication platforms, including real-time chat systems and direct WhatsApp support, Bar-Ilan has dramatically improved accessibility and responsiveness. These innovations have also enhanced transparency, allowing administrators to analyze student trends, anticipate academic needs, and refine operations with remarkable precision.

The results are tangible: the university now draws approximately one million unique monthly online visitors, an unprecedented level of digital engagement for an Israeli academic institution.

This commitment to modernization extends beyond technology. The university has restructured its internal governance to prioritize accountability and evidence-based management. Faculty development programs and administrative reforms have further professionalized the institution, allowing it to act swiftly in an era where agility is often the difference between success and stagnation.

Bar-Ilan’s rapid rise in public esteem has been confirmed by independent rankings. In Globes’ 2024 National Brand Index, Bar-Ilan placed third among Israel’s most-recommended universities, following Tel Aviv University and the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology. Similarly, in the 2023 VERA survey of prospective students, Bar-Ilan ranked second in student preference, immediately after Tel Aviv University.

These accolades reflect the university’s growing brand of trust—a reputation grounded in academic rigor, social engagement, and a forward-looking vision that resonates with students and parents alike.

The data also highlights a critical trend: many students are choosing Bar-Ilan not only for academic reasons but because of its integrated value system—one that promotes innovation while maintaining a sense of ethical and cultural responsibility.

Bar-Ilan’s growing research portfolio has positioned it as a key engine of Israeli innovation. Collaborative projects span from nanotechnology and AI-driven healthcare to environmental sustainability and renewable energy. The university’s multidisciplinary approach—bridging science, technology, and the humanities—encourages solutions to real-world problems that blend analytical rigor with social insight.

In recent years, Bar-Ilan has deepened its partnerships with both Israeli industry and international research institutions. Its technology transfer company has seen record growth, and the university’s startup incubators are increasingly recognized for their contributions to Israel’s global reputation as the “Startup Nation.”

Professor Zaban has been particularly vocal about the role of academia in driving national innovation: “In the coming years, Bar-Ilan will continue to expand its impact in research, innovation, industry collaboration, and responsibility toward Israeli society as a whole. Our mission is not only to educate but to lead—to translate knowledge into progress.”

Bar-Ilan’s rise to second place among Israel’s research universities represents far more than a statistical milestone. It signals a generational transformation in how knowledge, community, and innovation converge within Israeli academia.

From its origins as a modest, faith-based institution in Ramat Gan to its current status as a national center of scientific and social innovation, Bar-Ilan University has redefined what an Israeli university can be: technologically advanced yet morally grounded, globally connected yet deeply rooted in national identity.

In a country renowned for its brainpower and resilience, Bar-Ilan’s story is emblematic of Israel itself—a society unafraid to reinvent, to bridge divides, and to strive relentlessly toward excellence.

As Israel’s universities navigate an era of global competition, digital transformation, and social complexity, Bar-Ilan’s achievement offers both a template and an inspiration: proof that bold vision, strategic leadership, and faith in the next generation can elevate not only an institution but an entire nation.