Middle Eastern Studies

Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBachelor of Arts (B.A)

No psychometric exam — with a bagrut average of 85 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

Middle Eastern Studies major | Admission based on the psychometric exam/Netiv La'Akademia exam [sekhem or psychometric exam](our wording)

Sekhem: 470
Psychometric exam, general multi-domain score / Netiv La'Akademia exam: 470
English level: Basic level
Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
Main department with a minor in Natural Sciences / a minor in the Computer Science Department. Applicants must also meet the admission cutoff for the Natural Sciences / Computer Science minor, depending on the chosen track.

By bagrut, no psychometric exam

Middle Eastern Studies major | Admission based on the bagrut certificate only(our wording)

Bagrut average: 85
English level: Basic level
Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5
Main department with a minor in Natural Sciences / a minor in the Computer Science Department. Applicants must also meet the admission cutoff for the Natural Sciences / Computer Science minor, depending on the chosen track.

Regular track

Middle Eastern Studies double major | Admission based on the psychometric exam/Netiv La'Akademia exam [sekhem or psychometric exam](our wording)

Sekhem: 470
Psychometric exam, general multi-domain score / Netiv La'Akademia exam: 470
English level: Basic level
Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5

By bagrut, no psychometric exam

Middle Eastern Studies double major | Admission based on the bagrut certificate only(our wording)

Bagrut average: 85
English level: Basic level
Hebrew level for applicants required to demonstrate Hebrew proficiency: Level 5

For adults and those who have studied before1

Applicants aged 40+ are exempt from the psychometric exam

Applicants aged 40+ are exempt from the psychometric exam but must have eligibility for a bagrut certificate and level placement at Basic level in English
Level 5 in Hebrew for those required to meet this requirement

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 in the Department of Middle East Studies - 01.02.2026
Applicants with a prior academic background who meet the admission cutoffs will be admitted without needing to submit a transcript.
Policy for reviewing exceptional cases: Applicants who meet the English and Hebrew requirements but do not meet the required admission conditions will be referred to the department for consideration as detailed below: applicants whose psychometric exam score or sekhem is up to 20 points below the required score.
Review of exceptional cases is subject to available places in the department and may take place at different times during the registration period.

The Hebrew terms

psychometric examפסיכומטריNetiv La'Akademia examנתיב לאקדמיהsekhemסכםgeneral (multi-domain) psychometric scoreרב-תחומיBasic levelבסיסיdepartmentחוגbagrut certificateתעודת בגרותbagrutבגרותbagrut averageממוצע בגרותdouble majorדו-חוגי

Check your chances — the institution's calculator

Source:The institution's sitebgu.ac.ilchecked 2 Oct 2026intake 2026/27

What you study

The Department of Middle East Studies is a leading academic department in its field, providing its students with comprehensive training and extensive knowledge for becoming familiar with and understanding the Middle East. We offer fascinating and enriching studies of the region and invite you to discover the richness and complexity of the different societies that have developed in our region from the rise of Islam to the present day.

Source:The institution's sitebgu.ac.ilchecked 2 Oct 2026

After the degree

What graduates work as

Teaching in elementary schoolmost commonTeaching a range of subjects at the elementary-school level.

Which industries they work in

Education21%
Computer programming, computer consulting, and other related services14%

Average employment rate: 71% of graduates are employed 3–4 years after completing their studies(average across universities)

Graduates’ salaries similar to average: ₪15,200 average monthly salary 5–6 years after completing their studies(average across universities)

Most graduates go on to a master's degree(average across universities)

Source:Avodata, Ministry of Laboravodata.labor.gov.il“universities” tabchecked 2 Oct 20262023 data

Admitted students and graduates

average across universities

Program length: 3 years
On-time graduation rate: 70% of students
Average bagrut score of admitted students: 102 points
Average psychometric score: 610 points

Source:Avodata, Ministry of Laboravodata.labor.gov.il“universities” tabchecked 2 Oct 20262023 data

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