Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) is known for its cutting-edge research & innovation, welcoming campus environment, and outstanding student life. The university strives for excellence in scientific innovation, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and pushing boundaries to impact communities around the globe. At BGU, cultural exchange and cultural immersion are our priorities. In your academic or research program, you will study alongside local peers. We encourage our Israeli and international students alike to take the time to learn from one another beyond what is taught in the classroom.

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is one of Israel’s leading research universities and among the world leaders in many fields.

It has around 20,000 students and 4,000 faculty members in the Faculties of Engineering Sciences; Health Sciences; Natural Sciences; the Pinchas Sapir Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; the Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management; the Joyce and Irving Goldman School of Medicine; the Kreitman School of Advanced Graduate Studies; The School of Brain sciences and Cognition; The School of Sustainability and Climate Change​ and Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies. More than 100,000 alumni play essential roles in all areas of research and development, industry, health care, the economy, society, culture, and education in Israel.

The University has three main campuses: The Marcus Family Campus in Beer-Sheva; the research campus at Sde Boker and the Eilat Campus, and is home to national and multi-disciplinary research institutes: the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev; the National Institute of Solar Energy; the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology; the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research; the Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel & Zionism, and Heksherim - The Research Institute for Jewish and Israeli Literature and Culture.

Advanced Research and Applications at the Forefront of Science and Technology

More than 800 senior and 1,100 junior faculty members work with their graduate students in advanced laboratories, in the framework of more than 60 inter-disciplinary research centers.

In addition to pure research, Ben-Gurion University is also focused on applied research.

Through its technology transfer company, BGN Technologies, which is also responsible for the University’s patent portfolio, the University initiates, leads, and implements projects with institutions, companies, and foundations worldwide, and attracts strategic partners and investors in the fields of science, technology, and industry, including homeland security; bioinformatics; robotics, energy and fuels; ergonomics; cyber security; nanotechnology; water resources; ecology and environment, human genetics; epidemiology; stem cells; diabetes; cancer; advanced drugs; biotechnology and agricultural technology; information technology and communications; environmental water treatment; and alternative energy sources.

Green Campus

A leader in environmental research in Israel, Ben-Gurion University is also committed to care for the environment as part of the “Green Campus” initiative.

The University ranked 46th in the world rankings of universities with sustainable policies, and operates programs to promote awareness of environmental protection, a reduction in the use of resources, energy efficiency, promotion of research and wide-ranging educational and community activities.

Advanced Technologies Park - Hi-Tech and Biotechnology Park

Ben-Gurion University is a partner in the initiative and establishment of the Advanced Technologies Park located next to the Marcus Family Campus. The project is a unique public-private partnership combining the outstanding achievements of the University and the city of Beer-Sheva with leading companies in Israel and worldwide and marks a milestone in the Israeli scientific world. This hi-tech and biotechnology park is populated by pioneering scientific and technological companies from around the world.

The IDF’s Hi-Tech Center and Communications R&D facility will also be built adjacent to the Park.

Energy Initiative

Ben-Gurion University promotes research in the field of green energy, alternative, and renewable energy, including renewable fuels, solar energy, and more. It is also developing curricula for a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of energy.

Academic and Human Excellence

Ben-Gurion University is a major attraction for students and researchers due to its pluralistic and interdisciplinary approach. The impressive achievements of its researchers, students, and alumni, both academically and in the labor market, are the result of its excellent research, teaching, and study infrastructure. The open and friendly atmosphere, combined with a young and original way of thinking, encourages the students and researchers to advance science, culture, and society and to break through barriers in research.

Development of the Negev and Community Involvement

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev plays a central role in the development of industry, agriculture, and education in the Negev. More than 6000 students are involved in a wide variety of community and social projects in the region: there are 80 “Open Apartments” in Beer-Sheva, where students live in neighborhoods in which they are active, as part of the Department of Community Action. This is in addition to studies and the rich campus life, for which the University is well-known.

Unprecedented Drive and Growth

The student population at Ben-Gurion University has more than doubled in the last decade. Global academic ratings place the University high among universities worldwide and in certain fields, even among the world leaders. Ben-Gurion University ranked first in student satisfaction among all the academic institutions in Israel.

Here at BGU International, we are happy to provide all the necessary assistance and know-how to help you obtain the relevant visa. Please understand that it is your sole responsibility to make sure the visa is valid throughout your stay at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

The law in Israel requires that your visa reflects the purpose of your stay in Israel. Upon entering Israel, your passport needs to be valid for at least another six months past your issued visa expiration date.
Please note: foreigners who enter Israel with a tourist visa will not be allowed to change the type of their visa, and will be forced to leave Israel, return to their home country, and re-enter with the proper visa.

As a first-time applicant for a visa:

In order to enter and stay in Israel, you must obtain an appropriate and up-to-date visa that is in correlation with the purpose of your stay. Please schedule a meeting at the closest Israel representation and bring the following documents in order to stamp your passport with the relevant visa (the Israeli representation in your country may request more/other documents as well):

• Please contact the visa coordinator at BGU in order to get assistance with your visa application.
• Obtain health insurance (also possible through the Office of International Academic Affairs). This is a mandatory request.
• Obtain an acceptance and invitation letter from BGU.
• Download an application form for a visa from their website.
• Your valid passport
• Bring a passport photo
• Proof of your sustainability

After having obtained the visa:​

• Send a scanned copy of your health insurance policy, acceptance letter, invitation letter, and visa to BGU's Visa Coordinator at the Office of International Academic Affairs.
• When you arrive at BGU, please bring a copy of your entrance permit, received at passport control, ​to the visa coordinator. Please note that all foreign citizens must carry a valid copy of their visa and passport at all times.

Visa Extension:

• In order to extend your visa in Israel, you must submit all the relevant documents to the visa coordinator at BGU. For more information about the required documents, please find the relevant visa categories for you from the list elaborated below.
• Please take into account that the visa application process takes time. Be sure to apply for your visa extension one month before it expires.