Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBachelor of Science (B.Sc)
No psychometric exam — with a bagrut average of 115 or more
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Admission requirements
Intake for the 2026/27 academic year
You can be admitted through one of these tracks:
Regular track
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, single major | Admission based on the psychometric exam/Netiv La'Akademia exam (sekhem and psychometric exam in addition)(our wording)
- Sekhem: 720
- Psychometric exam, general multi-domain score / Netiv La'Akademia exam: 620
- Mathematics: 90/4 or 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- Policy for review of exceptional cases:For admission based on the psychometric exam/sekhem: Applicants whose psychometric exam score or sekhem is up to 20 points below the required score.
By bagrut, no psychometric exam
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, single major | Admission based on the bagrut certificate only(our wording)
- Bagrut average: 115
- Mathematics: 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
Regular track
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, primary track | Admission based on the psychometric exam/Netiv La'Akademia exam (sekhem and psychometric exam in addition)(our wording)
- Sekhem: 720
- Psychometric exam, general multi-domain score / Netiv La'Akademia exam: 620
- Mathematics: 90/4 or 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- Policy for review of exceptional cases:For admission based on the psychometric exam/sekhem: Applicants whose psychometric exam score or sekhem is up to 20 points below the required score.
- Applicants must also meet the admission requirements of the requested division
By bagrut, no psychometric exam
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, primary track | Admission based on the bagrut certificate only(our wording)
- Bagrut average: 115
- Mathematics: 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- Applicants must also meet the admission requirements of the requested division
Regular track
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, double major with Humanities and Social Sciences | Admission based on the psychometric exam/Netiv La'Akademia exam (sekhem and psychometric exam in addition)(our wording)
- Sekhem: 720
- Psychometric exam, general multi-domain score / Netiv La'Akademia exam: 620
- Mathematics: 90/4 or 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- Policy for review of exceptional cases:For admission based on the psychometric exam/sekhem: Applicants whose psychometric exam score or sekhem is up to 20 points below the required score.
- Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both departments
- Can be combined only with the departments of Psychology, Philosophy, or Linguistics.
By bagrut, no psychometric exam
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, double major with Humanities and Social Sciences | Admission based on the bagrut certificate only(our wording)
- Bagrut average: 115
- Mathematics: 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both departments
- Can be combined only with the departments of Psychology, Philosophy, or Linguistics.
Regular track
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, double major with Natural Sciences – combination with Mathematics | Admission based on the psychometric exam/Netiv La'Akademia exam (sekhem and psychometric exam in addition)(our wording)
- Sekhem: 720
- Psychometric exam, general multi-domain score / Netiv La'Akademia exam: 620
- Mathematics: 80 in 5 units or 90 in 4 units
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- Applicants must also meet the admission requirements of the Mathematics Department
- Policy on the review of exceptional cases: Reviews of exceptional cases will be considered after the spring psychometric exam and subject to availability in the department. Applicants whose psychometric score or sekhem is up to 20 points below the required score and who meet the English and Hebrew requirements will be reviewed by the program’s admissions committee based on all their data. There is no need to send a letter.
By bagrut, no psychometric exam
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, double major with Natural Sciences – combination with Mathematics | Admission based on the bagrut certificate only(our wording)
- Bagrut average: 115
- Mathematics: 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- Applicants must also meet the admission requirements of the Mathematics Department
Regular track
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, double major with Natural Sciences – combination with Life Sciences | Admission based on the psychometric exam/Netiv La'Akademia exam (sekhem and psychometric exam in addition)(our wording)
- Sekhem: 720
- Psychometric exam, general multi-domain score / Netiv La'Akademia exam: 620
- Mathematics: 90/4 or 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- Policy for review of exceptional cases:For admission based on the psychometric exam/sekhem: Applicants whose psychometric exam score or sekhem is up to 20 points below the required score.
- Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both departments.
- Admission at first, second, or third preference only.
By bagrut, no psychometric exam
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, double major with Natural Sciences – combination with Life Sciences | Admission based on the bagrut certificate only(our wording)
- Bagrut average: 115
- Mathematics: 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both departments.
- Admission at first, second, or third preference only.
Regular track
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, double major with Natural Sciences – combination with Physics | Admission based on the psychometric exam/Netiv La'Akademia exam (sekhem and psychometric exam in addition)(our wording)
- Sekhem: 720
- Psychometric exam, general multi-domain score / Netiv La'Akademia exam: 620
- Mathematics: 90/4 or 80/5
- Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both departments; the requirements on this screen apply to Cognition only
- Basic level in English
- Level 5 in Hebrew for those required to meet this requirement
- Policy for review of exceptional cases:For admission based on the psychometric exam/sekhem: Applicants whose psychometric score or sekhem is up to 20 points below the required score and up to 5 points below the required score in mathematics and physics.
By bagrut, no psychometric exam
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, double major with Natural Sciences – combination with Physics | Admission based on the bagrut certificate only(our wording)
- Bagrut average: 115
- Mathematics: 80/5
- Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both departments; the requirements on this screen apply to Cognition only
- Basic level in English
- Level 5 in Hebrew for those required to meet this requirement
- Review of exceptional cases based on the bagrut will take place if the bagrut average is up to 5 points below the required average and/or if grades in the bagrut subjects required for admission based on the bagrut are up to 5 points below the required grades
Regular track
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, double major with Computer and Information Sciences – combination with Computer Science | Admission based on the psychometric exam/Netiv La'Akademia exam (sekhem and psychometric exam in addition)(our wording)
- Sekhem: 720
- Psychometric exam, general multi-domain score / Netiv La'Akademia exam: 620
- Mathematics: 90/4 or 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- A quantitative sekhem of 750 is also required
- Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both departments; the requirements on this screen apply to Cognition only.
- Applicants who meet the English and Hebrew requirements and whose quantitative sekhem and/or psychometric exam score is up to 5 points below the required score, and/or who are up to 5 points short in one of the required components, will be reviewed by the department’s admissions committee based on all their credentials. A review of exceptional cases is subject to available places in the department and may take place at different times during the application period.
By bagrut, no psychometric exam
Cognitive and Brain Sciences, double major with Computer and Information Sciences – combination with Computer Science | Admission based on the bagrut certificate only(our wording)
- Bagrut average: 115
- Mathematics: 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both departments; the requirements on this screen apply to Cognition only.
Regular track
Cognitive Science and Brain, single major
- Additional admission track - psychometric exam 680 + mathematics requirements
- Mathematics: 90/4 or 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
Regular track
Cognitive Science and Brain, primary
- Additional admission track - psychometric exam 680 + mathematics requirements
- Mathematics: 90/4 or 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- Applicants must also meet the admission requirements of the requested division
Regular track
Cognitive Science and Brain, double major with Humanities and Social Sciences
- Additional admission track - psychometric exam 680 + mathematics requirements
- Mathematics: 90/4 or 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- Can be combined only with the departments of Psychology, Philosophy, or Linguistics.
- Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both departments
Regular track
Cognitive Science and Brain, double major with Natural Sciences - combination with Life Sciences
- Additional admission track – quantitative sekhem 585 + psychometric exam 680 + mathematics requirements
- Mathematics: 90/4 or 80/5
- English level: Basic level
- Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
- Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both departments.
- Admission at first, second, or third preference only.
Regular track
Cognitive Science and Brain, double major with Natural Sciences - combination with Physics
- Additional admission option: regular sekhem 720 + quantitative sekhem 630
- Mathematics: 90/4 or 80/5
- Basic level in English
- Level 5 in Hebrew for those required to meet this requirement
- Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both departments; the requirements on this screen apply to Cognition only
These are minimum requirements: meeting them does not by itself guarantee admission.
The requirements are in the institution's words. Names and labels marked "our wording" are our own, written from the same page.
For every track
- Review of exceptional cases is subject to available places in the department and may take place at different times during the registration period.
- Review of exceptional cases has begun
The Hebrew terms
single majorחד-חוגיpsychometric examפסיכומטריNetiv La'Akademia examנתיב לאקדמיהsekhemסכםgeneral (multi-domain) psychometric scoreרב-תחומיBasic levelבסיסיapplicantמועמדreview of exceptional casesועדת חריגיםbagrut certificateתעודת בגרותbagrutבגרות
Check your chances — the institution's calculator
- Source:The institution's sitebgu.ac.ilchecked 2 Oct 2026intake 2026/27
What you study
We examine what makes us who we are—the brain. We ask, among other things, how the brain works, how information is transmitted and processed in it, what underlies our ability to think, feel, and create ideas, what happens when brain function is disrupted, whether its activity can be imitated, and more.
Cognitive science seeks to explain mental abilities such as perception, learning, memory, language, thinking, decision-making, creativity, emotions, group relationships, and consciousness. The studies explore the processes people go through as they receive, process, and act on information. The curriculum is multidisciplinary and includes foundational studies in statistics, research methods, and mathematics, as well as courses in various fields: computer science and information systems, psychology, philosophy, linguistics, cognitive science, and brain science.
- Source:The institution's sitebgu.ac.ilchecked 2 Oct 2026
- Source:Avodata, Ministry of Laboravodata.labor.gov.ilchecked 2 Oct 20262023 data
After the degree
Which industries they work in
- Education44%
Graduates’ salaries above average: ₪21,400 average monthly salary 5–6 years after completing their studies(average across universities)
- Source:Avodata, Ministry of Laboravodata.labor.gov.il“universities” tabchecked 2 Oct 20262023 data
Admitted students and graduates
for this program at this institution
- Program length: 3 years
- Average bagrut score of admitted students 105 points
- Average psychometric score 670 points
- Source:Avodata, Ministry of Laboravodata.labor.gov.ilchecked 2 Oct 2026
Money
How the institution is funded
Budgeted institutions
Tuition2026/27
Annual tuition for a full-time bachelor's degree program in the 2026/27 academic year: ₪12,203.
Periphery 44 grant
only for programs at the Eilat campus
Who: Discharged soldiers and those who have completed national service.
per the Ministry of Defense page as checked on 4 Oct 2026
- Source:Council for Higher Educationche.org.il /…/מוסדות מתוקצביםchecked 4 Oct 2026
- Source:Council for Higher Educationche.org.il /…/שכר-הלימודchecked 4 Oct 2026
- Source:Ministry of Defensehachvana.mod.gov.il /…/List-of-Educational-Institu…checked 4 Oct 2026
- Source:Ministry of Defensehachvana.mod.gov.il /…/Perypheria44checked 4 Oct 2026