Bar-Ilan becomes Israel’s second largest research university, surpassing HUJI

Over the past seven years, Bar-Ilan has seen a 30% increase in total student enrollment, marking the highest growth rate among the country’s major research universities.

Bar-Ilan University has climbed to second place among Israel’s research universities, surpassing the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and now trailing only Tel Aviv University, according to a new Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) 2025 Higher Education Report.

The shift marks a major redistribution within Israel’s academic landscape. Over the past seven years, Bar-Ilan has seen a 30% increase in total student enrollment, marking the highest growth rate among the country’s 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. The university has seen growth across key areas, including engineering, medicine, nanotechnology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the 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 this success.

“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,” said Prof. Arie Zaban, president of Bar-Ilan University.

The strategic shift has included the introduction of new academic offerings, such as new engineering tracks and a six-year medical program. Furthermore, the university has fostered interdisciplinary collaboration to connect scientific research directly with practical needs in areas like health care and technology.