Bar Ilan University

Interested in the media, advertising, public relations, writing, marketing, spokesmanship in industry or government? Love the English language – and thirsty to learn from internationally recognized faculty from the world’s leading universities? Strong communication skills, especially in English, are crucial in today’s global economy. The School of Communication at Bar-Ilan University is one of the few academic institutions that offers research and training in International Communication and Public Diplomacy. Students immerse themselves in small workshops on New Media, Advertising, Public Relations, and Broadcast Media – all instructed by internationally renowned researchers and lecturers. The Department of English Literature and Linguistics at Bar-Ilan University offers students a solid foundation in the history and development of English and American literature, with classes spanning the work of great canonical authors such as Shakespeare, Milton, Austen, and Dickens as well as contemporary authors. Courses and assignments also aim to develop high-level skills of analysis, critical thinking, argumentation, and self-expression. The joint double-major BA in Bar-Ilan University’s School of Communication and Department of English Literature and Linguistics gives students an edge in their future careers as they study how communication techniques and technologies shape society and culture, while developing and refining excellent skills of English writing and analysis. Through this rich, combined program, students gain a greater understanding of multiculturalism – a key requirement in our world’s increasingly globalized economy.

If you find yourself attracted to the fields of media, advertising, public relations, marketing, and spokesmanship in industry and/or government – the Bar-Ilan University BA in Communication and Political Science is for you. Bar-Ilan University’s School of Communication and Department of Political Studies give students an edge in their future careers as they study how communication techniques and technologies shape society, government and politics, and culture. The double major provides a broad survey of the many fields and elements in the world of media and political communication. The integration of the two gives students the proper tools to analyze government and media and succeed in careers in both paths. Noteworthy is that the School of Communication at Bar-Ilan University is one of the few academic institutions in the world to offer research and training in International Communication and Public Diplomacy – and the Department of Political Studies is proud to house the world-renowned BESA (Begin-Sadat) Center for Strategic Studies, famous for its influence in foreign affairs and national security.

Led by internationally-recognized faculty, our BA program in English Literature offers students a chance to study the most beautiful works ever written in the English language, while developing skills that are essential for today’s global environment. Bar-Ilan University prides itself on its top-quality English Literature BA program. Led by a warm and dedicated faculty, students develop their analytical and self-expression skills in a supportive, culturally-diverse environment. The BA in English Literature provides students with a solid foundation in the history and development of English and American literature, spanning the work of great canonical authors such as Shakespeare, Milton, Austen, and Dickens as well as contemporary authors, while also aiming to develop high-level skills of analysis, critical thinking, argumentation, and self-expression. The added benefit of studying at BIU is the unique opportunity to consider how Jewish literature and thought have intertwined with the history and development of literature in English. Seminars in translation and creative writing are also offered, as is an exploration into the fields of literature and gender, literature and the visual arts, or literature and religion, to name a few. Upon completion of the degree, students can look forward to a wide range of careers in teaching, content writing, and other fields requiring advanced skills of analysis and expression.

BIU’s Faculty of Law is well-known for its groundbreaking legal and interdisciplinary research and excellent teaching while deeply connecting to Israeli society and promoting a concept of law that concerns communities, relationships, and the advancement of social justice. Dialogue and cooperation, positive and creative thinking, complex training, and communication are encouraged. Areas of innovation and special expertise include religion and law, sustainability and environmental justice, family law, law and technology, regulation, conflict resolution and negotiation. The faculty has an extensive clinical set-up and research centers that promote social justice, which are involved in deep processes of change, growth, and development in Israeli society while making a deep connection between theory and practice. The faculty also has extensive international links and exchange agreements with some of the leading schools in the United States, Europe, Canada, and China. The pass rate of BIU students in the Israeli Bar exam is around 98%. In the new LLB program for English speakers, the students will study 3 disciplinary courses in English in addition to Ulpan studies during their first year.

BIU’s Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences offers students biological knowledge and a scientific education based on modern research. The faculty includes more than 40 internationally recognized scientists who have a wide variety of research interests and who teach courses related to their specializations. Each Faculty member heads an active and dynamic research group, which includes research associates, technicians, and graduate students. BSc studies in the Faculty of Life Sciences are offered in the following fields: Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Computational Biology (Bioinformatics), and Biophysics. In this undergraduate program, students will embark on a journey of discovery and will also be able to take the first step towards their medical ambitions. They will unlock the mysteries of nature and explore the wonders of biology while preparing for a successful career in the medical and research fields.

At Bar-Ilan University, students learn from the world’s leading researchers in Linguistics, studying both theoretical aspects of linguistics analysis and experimental and corpus-based research methods. Linguistics at BIU provides training both in deep formal theoretical models and in applied and interdisciplinary studies related to fields such as brain science, bilingualism and language impairments. Students gain a solid background in phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, as well as in more applied areas such as psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics. Studies take place in English, yet the BIU Linguistics degree provides students with the tools for analyzing any human language – English, Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, and many others. Upon completion of the degree, students can explore careers not only in academia but also in teaching (including English as a second language), publishing, speech pathology, and information technology, to name but a few.

See Linguistics (BA) and Literature (BA) to learn more about what each degree offers on its own. The double major is offered to students who would like to specialize in both fields. This is an excellent opportunity for those students seeking a combined knowledge of both fields in their career or continued academic endeavors.

Bar Ilan University's multidisciplinary program, which is taught entirely in English, offers four main concentrations in which students have a choice of introductory and advanced-level courses. These are Bible, Jewish History, Jewish Philosophy, and Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology. The program also includes a wide variety of electives from other departments in the Faculty of Jewish Studies, such as Talmud, Hebrew and Semitic Languages, Hebrew Literature, Yiddish and Ladino, Jewish Art, and Middle Eastern Studies. The department allows students to create individualized curricula, which best reflect their interests within the field of Jewish Studies. Students may register for a dual-major in this department, combining their program with English Literature or Communications (also in English) or with any other undergraduate program given in Hebrew (for those with the appropriate level of Hebrew).

Interested in exploring the incredible wealth of Jewish heritage but also attracted to the riches of global English literature and culture? Looking to make yourself knowledgeably at home in both Jewish tradition and cosmopolitan contemporary identity? Bar-Ilan University’s undergraduate degree in Jewish Studies and English Literature offers a valuable chance to access the best of both worlds.

Bar-Ilan University’s Department of Psychology is proud to launch a new International B.A. program designed for students from around the world. The first year of the program is taught in English, providing a strong academic foundation in psychology alongside intensive Hebrew language instruction at an Ulpan. In the second and third years, students integrate into the Hebrew-speaking program with Israeli peers, gaining full immersion in Israeli academic and cultural life. Throughout the program, students explore the scientific foundations of human behavior, emotion, and cognition. Core courses include Introduction to Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Brain and Behavior, Research Methods, and Statistics for Psychology. These courses build a comprehensive understanding of psychological theory, research, and application—preparing students for advanced study or careers in psychology and related fields.