The elite programs of the academic reserve (atuda)

An excellence program that trains engineers for the core of research and development in the IDF and the defense establishment. Two tracks:

• Electrical engineering and physics — a combined bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and physics, at the Technion or Tel Aviv University, with a heavier study load than a regular engineering degree.
• Enhanced software engineering — a bachelor’s degree in software engineering at the Technion or Ben-Gurion University, plus most of the courses of a master’s degree in computer science (without the thesis). Leading candidates may take one additional semester to complete the thesis, with deferral of service.

• A first selection committee chooses from among those registered for the atuda according to military data and the psychometric score; someone who is going to take the psychometric exam in the April sitting can register.
• A second committee — according to the personal screening: suitability for the demanding studies and training and for the service.
• Admission to the university according to the bagrut (matriculation certificate) and the psychometric, and at the end a final selection committee.

During the studies — unique series: heritage and values, the IDF and its challenges, an introduction to the technology bodies; the officers’ course is part of the program. Placement is personal, in the core of research and development. The program is run by a dedicated director at MAFAT (the Defense Ministry’s research and development directorate). Someone who does not meet the required level continues in the regular atuda.

A bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering, with specializations in signal processing, RF, communications and firmware — at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Bar-Ilan University. Full funding of the master’s degree; for those who meet the requirements — a possible scholarship in return for research hours.

After a check of the personal data and the psychometric score, candidates are invited to the rest of the screening — from April to August. Admission depends on admission to the university, on the quota of research and development roles and on an IDF admissions committee. Someone who is not accepted continues in the atuda according to the priorities he or she chose.

Basic training of about four weeks after the first year, a personal development series after the second, the Leaders entrepreneurship program in the third year and a branches series after the fourth; going on to the officers’ course is encouraged. Personal placement in research and development roles; service as an officer — compulsory service and three years of career service (keva).

A direct path to a master’s degree in applied physics at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev: the master’s degree starts in the third year and is completed, thesis included, within the same four years. The master’s degree is fully funded by the university; in the last year and a half — a living stipend for those eligible, for research work.

• Mark Galaxia in the questionnaire on the “Mitgaisim” website (the IDF draft website); whoever meets the threshold requirements (a weighted psychometric score and a bagrut in physics) is invited to screening.
• The screening: a professional and personal interview, psychotechnical and personality tests, a conversation with an assessor and an interview with a psychologist — in parallel with the atuda screenings.
• Admission to a bachelor’s degree in physics at Ben-Gurion; a security clearance during the degree is a condition for staying in the program.

A group that studies together, accompanied by the program director and by a senior faculty member at the university, conferences, education days and tours of technology companies. Officers’ course; placement in research and development roles in the IDF and in units outside the army; service as a technology officer — compulsory service and three years of career service (keva).

A program for outstanding students in mechanical engineering, with two tracks:

• Barakim Mechanics — a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the Technion: within four years students complete the bachelor’s degree, the master’s courses and the thesis, in a field connected to their role in the IDF.
• Barakim Mechanics–Physics — a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering and physics, with courses in mathematics and electrical engineering, at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; built especially for the program.

In both tracks, admission and continuation depend on excellence in studies.

After a check of the data and the psychometric score, candidates are invited to the rest of the screening — from April to August. Admission depends on excellence in high school, admission to the university, the quota of roles and an IDF admissions committee. Someone who is not accepted continues in the atuda according to the priorities he or she chose.

Basic training after the first year; an officers’ course at the end of the second year — passing the course is a condition for continuing in the program. A branches series and an innovation series. Placement is made in the fifth semester, personal, in research and development roles in mechanical engineering; service as an officer — compulsory service and three years of career service (keva).

A bachelor’s degree in aeronautics and space engineering, followed by a master’s degree of choice: aeronautics and space engineering, autonomous systems or systems engineering — at the Technion. Graduates of the program work on developing weapons, on integrating missiles into fighter aircraft, on flight tests and on UAV projects.

After a check of the data and the psychometric score, candidates are invited to the rest of the screening — from April to August. Admission depends on excellence in high school, admission to the university, the quota of roles and an admissions committee. Someone who is not accepted continues in the atuda according to the priorities he or she chose.

Basic training and an education and heritage series after the first year; preparation for officer training and an officers’ course in the second summer — passing the course is a condition for continuing. A branches series in the third year and an enrichment series in industry. Placement in a unit already in the third year, to match the master’s degree to the role; service as an officer — compulsory service and three years of career service (keva).

The elite program in artificial intelligence and data science: a bachelor’s degree in data and information engineering in three years instead of four, and a master’s degree with a thesis in a year and a half instead of two — at the Faculty of Data and Decision Sciences at the Technion. In the master’s degree — exemption from tuition and a living stipend.

• Mark Alonim as one of the first four priorities in the atuda questionnaire.
• Someone whose psychometric score is below the threshold but above the alternative threshold may go through the Technion’s classification exam — the scores are in “Program facts”.
• A tests day dedicated to the program, a professional interview and a personality interview (online), admission to the Technion and a final selection committee.

Basic training at the end of the first year, a research project at the Technion at the end of the second and a summer internship in a technology unit at the end of the third. The program is run by a dedicated director in Aman (military intelligence), who continues to accompany the graduates in their service as well. Placement is personal, from a list of roles approved each year and taking the thesis topic into account.

A bachelor’s degree and a research master’s degree (with a thesis) at the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering at the Technion, on an accelerated track — a year shorter than usual, so the study load is high. In the master’s degree — a study scholarship in addition to the grants; accommodation in the Technion dormitories together with the cohort (for a fee).

Whoever is found suitable according to the data and the psychometric score is invited — from March to August — to a personal and professional interview before a committee of faculty staff and IDF representatives. Admission also depends on admission to materials engineering studies at the Technion. Someone who is not accepted continues in the atuda according to the priorities he or she chose.

Basic training after the first year; security clearance and preparation for officer training in the second year, followed by an officers’ course on the specialists’ track — passing the course is a condition for continuing. A branches series in the materials-related units, interviews and personal placement in research and development roles; the rank of lieutenant after completing the branch training.

A new track: a bachelor’s degree and a research master’s degree in industrial engineering and management, specializing in product management, at the Technion — three years for the bachelor’s degree and a year and a half for the master’s. It trains product managers for the technology units. In the master’s degree — a tuition scholarship and a living stipend.

1. A psychometric exam above the threshold.
2. Choosing Avivim in the atuda questionnaire on the “Mitgaisim” website (the IDF draft website).
3. Registration at the Technion.
4. A personality interview and a psychologist interview for those found suitable.
5. A Technion admissions committee and a final selection committee.

The program is for young men and women alike; registering for it does not harm other screenings.

Basic training at the end of the first year, a personal research project in the second summer, an internship in IDF units in the third summer and an officers’ course immediately on returning to service. Placement is personal — as product managers in a technology unit.

The first elite program of its kind in the IDF: a bachelor’s degree in computer science and computational biology and studies toward a research master’s degree, at the School of Engineering and Computer Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The bachelor’s degree includes a year-long research project; students can go deeper into physics, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

During twelfth grade — several screening stages: personality and cognitive tests, and a personal interview at the end.

A small group with personal accompaniment by a dedicated director at MAFAT (the Defense Ministry’s research and development directorate); outstanding students may join research projects in laboratories as early as the first summer. Personal placement in core roles in the technology units of the defense establishment.

The atuda track for general medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem: a bachelor’s degree in medical sciences, a doctor of medicine degree (M.D.) and an internship year — and then enlistment as physicians, officers and commanders. In addition to the basic studies — military medicine: operational trauma, diving medicine, aviation medicine, NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical).

Full funding of tuition and study expenses, dormitories, meals, travel and tutoring.

Those with the highest weighted overall score are accepted. Required: officer-candidate data and passing a personal screening at the Keinan Sheffi institute; registration for the atuda on “Mitgaisim” (the IDF draft website) as early as possible, already from eleventh grade; registration at the Hebrew University for the Tzameret track after approval from Meitav (the IDF’s induction unit); screening by the Medical Corps and an interview with military physicians. Passing the threshold in each component does not guarantee admission.

Basic training according to the medical profile, the officers’ course and the military emergency medicine course during the studies. After that — compulsory service and three years of career service (keva) as physicians: battalion and brigade medical officer, physician in elite units, base physician, research.

The atuda track for dentistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem: three pre-clinical years, most of them together with the medical students, and three clinical years in the faculty’s clinics — up to the degree “Doctor of Dental Medicine”. Full funding of tuition and a contribution to rent.

Those with the highest weighted overall score are accepted. Required: officer-candidate data and passing a personal screening at the Keinan Sheffi institute, a full bagrut (matriculation) certificate, a spatial perception test, a personality questionnaire and an interview at the faculty.

Compulsory service and three years of career service (keva) as dentists: a first role in field units of the ground forces, air force and navy, with full command of a dental clinic; later — large clinics or staff roles.