The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
האוניברסיטה העברית בירושלים
Co-founded by Albert Einstein and Chaim Weizmann in 1918, with an English-taught BA for international students.
- Students
- 25,000
- Tuition
- $15,500
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1918
- QS World Ranking
- #218
- 2027 edition
About HUJI
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem was co-founded by Albert Einstein and Chaim Weizmann in July 1918, three decades before the State of Israel. It reports about 25,000 students and some 1,000 faculty, and its affiliated researchers have won ten Nobel Prizes, a Fields Medal and two Turing Awards. It has three campuses in Jerusalem (including Mount Scopus and Givat Ram), an agriculture campus in Rehovot, a veterinary hospital in Beit Dagan and a marine sciences institute in Eilat.
Most undergraduate degrees are taught in Hebrew and admit applicants on their matriculation certificate or foreign diploma together with Israel's Psychometric Entrance Test. For international students, the Rothberg International School runs a three-year, English-taught double-major BA in which students combine two of three tracks: Liberal Arts, Business Administration and English. Graduates can add a one-year international MA and finish both degrees in four years.
Research sites include the Einstein Institute of Mathematics and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences at Givat Ram, the medical and dental faculties beside Hadassah at Ein Kerem, and the agriculture faculty in Rehovot. The university reports around 10,000 registered patents and more than 180 start-ups. It suits students who want a research university steeped in history, in a city where ancient and modern Jerusalem sit side by side.
Why students choose HUJI
A three-year, English-taught double-major BA combining Liberal Arts, Business Administration or English, for $15,500 a year.
A fast track to a one-year English-taught MA, so students can finish a BA and MA in four years.
Ten Nobel Prizes, a Fields Medal and two Turing Awards among the university's affiliated researchers.
International BA students get free membership of the Lerner Sports Center and housing on the Mount Scopus campus.
Admissions
2027-28 entry
Selectivity
The Hebrew University does not publish an overall acceptance rate. Admission to the international BA is decided by committee; Hebrew-track programmes admit on matriculation or diploma results together with the Psychometric Entrance Test.
Typical entry requirements
| International BA (direct admission) | High school diploma or GED, official transcripts, SAT or ACT (or AP scores), two teacher recommendations and a 300-500 word statement of purpose |
|---|---|
| International BA (test-optional) | Same documents without test scores; conditional offer plus an extra first year averaging 80 |
| Business Administration track | Advanced maths (Algebra II, calculus A/B or high school calculus) or preparatory courses; all business students take a preparatory maths course |
| Hebrew-track undergraduate programmes | Israeli matriculation (Bagrut) or foreign diploma plus the Psychometric Entrance Test and Hebrew proficiency |
| English language | TOEFL iBT 80 TOEFL iBT of 80 or above for the international BA; applicants from high schools taught in English are exempt. English-track students from non-English-speaking countries take a remote writing workshop before starting. |
Deadlines
- International BA, 2026-27 intake (reference) Non-binding Passed1 August 2026
The deadline for the 2027-28 intake had not been published on the pages checked.
The international BA deadline for 2026-27 was 1 August 2026; expect a similar summer deadline for 2027-28 entry.
How to apply
Apply online through the Rothberg International School portal, pay the application fee and upload a photo, high school diploma, official transcripts, optional test scores, TOEFL (if required), two confidential teacher recommendations and a 300-500 word statement of purpose. Hebrew-track applicants apply through the university's Hebrew registration system and register separately for the Psychometric Entrance Test.
What admissions looks for
- Academic record shown through transcripts and, on the direct route, SAT, ACT or AP scores.
- English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 80 or an English-medium high school.
- A clear statement of purpose on why you want to study abroad and in Israel.
- For the Business track, readiness in mathematics.
Tips for applying to HUJI
- 1 If you have SAT, ACT or strong AP scores, use the direct route: the test-optional route adds a fourth year.
- 2 Business track applicants need advanced maths (Algebra II or calculus) or should plan preparatory courses.
- 3 International BA students do not pay the application fee when they later apply to a Rothberg one-year MA.
- 4 Ask your recommenders early: two confidential teacher letters are required.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
A limited number of need- and merit-based scholarships are available for the international BA through the applicant's local office. Rothberg also lists separate scholarship and US federal loan information for American students, and Olim Hadashim (new immigrants) can receive Student Authority support.
- $15,500 per year
- International BA tuition
- Adds a first year in the First-Year Study Abroad Program
- Test-optional route
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
International BA: Liberal Arts track
An English-taught track that can be paired with Business Administration or English as a double major.
International BA: Business Administration track
60 credits of statistics, finance, economics, accounting and management, in English, with a preparatory maths course.
International BA: English track
Develops advanced reading, writing and critical analysis alongside a second major.
BA plus one-year international MA
Graduates can move straight into English-taught MAs such as the StartUp 360 MBA or the MA in Smart Cities and Urban Informatics.
Research
- Affiliated researchers have won ten Nobel Prizes, a Fields Medal and two Turing Awards.
- Around 10,000 registered patents covering 3,000 inventions and more than 180 start-ups.
- The Einstein Institute of Mathematics and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences are on the Givat Ram campus.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Dental Medicine
- Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine
- Jerusalem School of Business Administration
- Seymour Fox School of Education
- Baerwald School of Social Work
- Rothberg International School
Student life
International BA students live in housing on the Mount Scopus campus alongside Israeli and international students, supported around the clock by madrichim, multilingual Israeli student counsellors. The Office of Student Life runs trips and events throughout the year, from Old City tours to a Dead Sea trip and seasonal festivals. BA students get free membership of the Lerner Sports Center next to campus, with an indoor pool and courts. Students can also do a non-credit internship in Jerusalem alongside their degree and use the university's career services.
- Madrichim, Israeli student counsellors offering 24/7 support to international students.
- Trips including an Old City tour and a Dead Sea excursion.
- Free membership of the Lerner Sports Center.
- Optional semester- or year-long internships in Jerusalem.
Housing. Housing on the Mount Scopus campus is available to international BA students (fees are separate from tuition).
Location
The main campus is on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, with further campuses at Givat Ram and Ein Kerem. Jerusalem mixes a historic Old City, religious sites of three faiths, street markets and a growing tech scene. Applicants should follow their government's current travel advice for Israel.
Nearest airport: Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)
Notable alumni
- AY Ada YonathNobel Prize in Chemistry (2009) for ribosome structure; bachelor's degree in chemistry (1962)
- DK Daniel KahnemanNobel Prize in Economic Sciences (2002); BSc in psychology and mathematics (1954)
- AC Aaron CiechanoverNobel Prize in Chemistry (2004); studied medicine at the Hebrew University
- EB Ehud BarakFormer Prime Minister of Israel; degree in physics and mathematics
- EO Ehud OlmertFormer Prime Minister of Israel; degrees in psychology, philosophy and law
- EL Elon LindenstraussFields Medal winner (2010); BSc in mathematics and physics (1991)
- YA Yehuda AmichaiPoet; studied Torah and Hebrew literature at the Hebrew University
Frequently asked questions
Can I study for a bachelor's degree in English at the Hebrew University?
Yes. The Rothberg International School offers a three-year, English-taught double-major BA combining two of Liberal Arts, Business Administration and English.
Does the Hebrew University require the SAT?
For direct admission to the international BA, yes: SAT or ACT (or AP scores). A test-optional route exists, but it adds an extra first year and requires an average of 80 in that year.
How much does the Hebrew University's international BA cost?
Tuition is $15,500 a year for 2026-27, not including housing and health insurance. A limited number of need- and merit-based scholarships are available.
What English score do I need?
TOEFL iBT 80 or above, unless you graduated from a high school where English is the language of instruction.
When is the application deadline?
For the 2026-27 intake the international BA deadline was 1 August 2026. Check the Rothberg International School page for the 2027-28 date.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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