The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine >
This page is updated for the academic year 2023-2024.
Information for the academic year 2024-2025 will be updated in the coming days.
Graduate studies in biomedical and health sciences can be carried out at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, located in Safed.
The graduate program includes research and coursework. The research is conducted in the Faculty of Medicine’s research laboratories or in the research labs of affiliated hospitals in northern Israel.
Master’s degree – research-based track
The Faculty of Medicine has a track that includes research with thesis submission.
Students must complete their degree in two years, including coursework, research, and the thesis.
A research-based master’s degree with thesis requires considerable time and effort.
Admission requirements
Undergraduate grade point average of at least 80 from a recognized academic institution.
Students must find a research advisor willing to supervise them in their research, before applying.
Program details
Students must take a course cluster of 12 weekly academic hours (24 credits), in accordance with the requirements of their specialization. Below is the list of student requirements:
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Required courses totaling 5 weekly academic hours (10 credits).
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In each specialization/major, students must take courses, per their research topic, totaling 6 weekly academic hours (12 credits), and two seminars of 0.5 weekly academic hours (1 credit) each.
The final grade for the master's degree will be determined according to University regulations.
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Cum Laude commendation distinctions are not determined by the Faculty of Medicine but by Bar-Ilan University criteria.
Language proficiency
Master’s degree level English (for details regarding placement tests, course levels, and exemption eligibility criteria – see the introductory chapter).
Thesis guidelines
Detailed instructions for writing the thesis – per Faculty of Medicine guidelines, in accordance with the School of Graduate Studies Rules and Regulations in the introductory chapter.
Final exam for the master’s degree
The exam is based on the thesis and its underlying bibliography. Students must take the exam no later than the day preceding the next academic year.
The research proposal must be submitted by the end of the first academic year.
Jewish studies
As per general requirements for the master's degree (see introductory chapter).
PhD
Doctoral students are required to develop an hypothesis and research method. Students are also expected to exhibit scientific writing, including a dissertation and academic articles with scientific contributions suitable for publication in first rate journals.
Coursework is also required.
The program spans four years.
Admission requirements
Minimum average grade point average of 85 in the master’s degree and a minimum grade of 85 in the master’s thesis.
Students must find a research advisor willing to supervise them in their research, before applying. Most applicants are also required to pass a comprehensive interview with the Faculty of Medicine committee for graduate studies. After the interview, admission is contingent upon approval by the School of Graduate Studies committee of Bar-Ilan University.
The School of Graduate Studies Committee does not guarantee admission to all applicants, even if they meet the minimum requirements.
Research areas
The guiding principle is both basic research and translational research. Any of the following topics may be selected for specialization in the research laboratories of the Faculty of Medicine in Safed.
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High-order genome organization and its impact on growth, development and disease
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Immune system gene expression regulation in sickness and in health
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The molecular basis of brain diseases and emotional disorders
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Developmental processes and regulation of stem cells in the embryo and in adult animals
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Regulation of chromatin structure and genomic stability through E3 ubiquitin ligases
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The study of molecular and cellular processes responsible for cell motility and invasion
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The hepatitis C virus – understanding the pathogenesis of the virus and developing a treatment and vaccine against it
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Structural biology of infectious diseases
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Regulation of macromolecular movement from nucleus to cytoplasm
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Personalized medicine through genomic diagnosis
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Development of computational tools for design of pharmaceutical drugs
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Genetic epidemiology of musculoskeletal diseases
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The gut microbiota in sickness and in health
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Carcinogenic viruses
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Bioinformatics, biostatistics, computational biology
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Bioethics and medical ethics
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Public health; epidemiology
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Endocrinology
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Molecular and cellular mechanisms of degenerative diseases
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Environmental epidemiology
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Pharmaceutical drug discovery, peptides and small molecules
Research may also be conducted in the affiliated research center laboratories in northern Israel – research topics may be found on the Faculty of Medicine website.
Program details
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Courses totaling 8 weekly academic hours (16 credits), of which two are required courses.
Elective courses for PhD students are selected with advisor guidance per student research area of focus, from the list of available graduate courses.
Four seminar papers must be submitted, at 0.5 weekly academic hours (1 credit) each [for a sum of 2 academic hours out of the 8].
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After the research proposal has been formulated, a committee will be formed to guide the student's progress.
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Students must submit a progress report to the committee once a year (per Faculty guidelines).
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Upon completion of the research work, a summary report or final seminar paper is to be submitted. After approval by the committee, the student may begin to write the thesis and submit it to the reviewers.
Details on Jewish Studies and English requirements may be found in the introductory chapter.
For further information related to graduate studies at the Faculty of Medicine,
contact the Faculty by phone at 072-2644947 or via email, or visit the Faculty of Medicine website
Last Updated Date : 03/04/2024
