The School of Business Administration >
This page is updated for the academic year 2023-2024.
Information for the academic year 2024-2025 will be updated in the coming days.
Master's Degree
Tracks
Two tracks are available:
Track A – includes research and thesis submission.
Track B – not research-based.
1. Specializations
Financing – The program in financing trains students for professional positions in financial management of commercial companies, management of investment portfolios and securities trading. The program is suitable for applicants interested in a career with positions in management at the headquarters of commercial businesses, banks, insurance companies, government ministries, public authorities and companies involved in the stock market. The program gives tools and foundations for a career in financial management with an emphasis on building a theoretical background and analytical and quantitative tools, necessary for managers in the modern financial world. Emphasis is placed on how the financial manager fits in within the commercial company and the role of the financial manager, in-depth understanding of modern investment theory, international financing and familiarity with global capital markets, the Israeli stock market and capital markets, and in-depth understanding of securities, particularly derivatives.
In addition to the core courses of the program, a focus may be selected by students who wish to deepen their knowledge and gain practical experience, through one of two clusters:
- The investment management cluster focuses on the theoretical and practical side of investment management, measuring portfolio performance, analysis of securities and derivatives. The cluster delves into advanced topics in investment such as behavioral financing, and includes a research seminar on investments and capital markets. The practicum of the track includes practical experience in the capital market.
- The company financing cluster drills down into topics related to financial management of firms and provides breadth of knowledge in advanced topics such as management accounting, corporate governance, risk management and real estate financing. The track includes a practical workshop in advanced company financing in cooperation with leading Israeli companies. Students in this track are required to conduct a research seminar on topics related to theory of the firm.
Marketing – The marketing program trains students for key positions in marketing at both the national and the international level. The marketing specialization imparts current knowledge on key marketing issues, including the following: digital marketing, social media, international marketing, consumer behavior, market research, marketing environment analysis, competitor analysis, product policy, pricing policy, promotion effort policy and distribution policy. Competition in today’s markets requires companies to invest considerable effort in marketing processes, while taking advantage of business opportunities, and suiting them to the dynamic changes taking place in the markets in which they are engaged. The marketing program is vital for any manager who would like to be involved in business activity, due to the practical tools it offers as part of the specialization, giving the big picture on all the relevant business processing in today’s age.
In addition to the core courses of the program, a focus may be selected by students who wish to deepen their knowledge and gain practical experience, through one of two clusters:
- The digital marketing cluster focuses on acquaintance with tools, strategies, tactics and marketing channels of digital marketing needed for obtaining a business advantage, in an age in which major marketing budgets are transitioning from traditional media to digital media.
- The innovative marketing and management cluster focuses on giving vital marketing tools for managers, while understanding processes and strategies needed for managers operating in competitive markets.
Management and organizational culture – The management and organizational culture program trains students at the micro level in managing psychological aspects of organizational employees and at the macro level in managing processes of change and strategies at the widest organizational level. Beyond the core content of employee management and organizational processes, the specialization offers students the knowledge, tools and experience for leading changes in the organizational environment of the 21st century, characterized by globalization, and transition to a flat organizational structure based on teams. The specialization is structured such that it prepares its graduates for these dynamic organizational environments. Graduates of the program will have the necessary background for positions in management, advisory services, organizational and business research and development in the 21st century organizational environment.
In addition to the core courses of the program, a focus may be selected by students who wish to deepen their knowledge and gain practical experience, through one of two clusters:
- The international management and strategy cluster focuses on the management challenges of international companies operating in different cultural and business environments around the world, and teaches students about management in a multicultural environment, from the individual employee and team level, up to the highest strategic levels.
- Project Management Cluster focuses on the tools essential to management in project-based organizations. Students are given tools in complex project management, development and team management.
- To this end, the practicum in the program is a preparation for the certification test for the PMP certificate required in project management with global companies.
Graduates of the program will be given a suitable background for management positions in the organizational environment of the 21st century, with an emphasis on management in international companies and companies based on a project work structure.
Information systems – The aim of the information systems program is to impart to its students the knowledge, tools and experience they need to meet the demands of the 21st century market. In order to do that, the specialization conducts courses in cooperation with industry. Students engage in international management projects and simulations, and cooperation with certification-granting entities have been formalized, including with the Israeli branch of ISACA, so that the program can prepare students for the professional certifications needed in today’s market.
In addition to the core courses of the program, a focus may be selected by students who wish to deepen their knowledge and gain practical experience, through three clusters:
- The business analytics cluster trains students in data science. Classes integrate the use of dedicated software tools, and train students to serve as data scientists in an organization, with an orientation toward a variety of business analysis domains, including financing and marketing.
- The infrastructure and cyber management cluster trains students for aspects of management, organization and security of the organization’s infrastructure and information technologies. Beyond knowledge and tools, courses also include training and preparation for two formal certification exams in the field:
CSX certification and CRISC certification
In addition to the clusters described above, students may also join the innovation and entrepreneurship cluster, which offers broad knowledge and experience in special topics relevant to entrepreneurs and anyone interested in technological innovation.
It is also possible to join a cluster in the domain of governance, composed of a basic director’s course included in the program syllabus, and two advanced courses.
The Project Management Cluster focuses on the tools essential to management in project-based organizations. Students are given tools in complex project management, development and team management. To this end, the practicum in the program is a preparation for the certification test for the PMP certificate required in project management with global companies.
Graduates of the program will be given a suitable background for management positions in the organizational environment of the 21st century, with an emphasis on management in international companies and companies based on a project work structure.
2. Application criteria and the admission process
- Applicants to the MBA program must have a bachelor's degree from a recognized academic institution with a minimum grade point average of 76. (For students with a double major, the average is calculated by averaging the final average from each department.) Applicants from different undergraduate disciplines, have different minimum average requirements.
- Space is limited, so that only students with the most favorable record will be admitted (see section 3 below).
- Applications should include the first and second choices of specialization. Admission requirements (such as grade point average and GMAT score) differ for different specializations. Admission to the specialization selected as second choice is based on availability.
- Students who have not yet fulfilled all their bachelor’s degree requirements may not begin their graduate studies at the business school in that year. Students applying in their last year of undergraduate study must submit an authorization of degree completion to the School of Graduate Studies by the end of December of that year.
- Admission committee decisions are based on grades submitted with the application only. The admissions committee will not wait for all grades to be in for applicants who have not yet completed their undergraduate degree. Furthermore, the committee will not take into consideration grade point average changes (improvements) after the application window.
- New students are initially admitted to the non-research Track B. This procedure is administrative only. Students who wish to conduct research (in Track A) must submit a request for track change at the end of the first year together with their research proposal. The business school encourages outstanding students to transition to Track A, but cannot guarantee an advisor for each student who would like to engage in thesis work. In this track, the emphasis moves from classroom-based lectures to independent work, thus the number of course credits is 32 AC instead of 42 AC of Track B. Additionally, study grants offered periodically by the business school favor Track A and PhD students.
3. Criteria affecting admission decisions
Each of the following criteria affects chances for admission:
- A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 76. Minimum average grade required changes based on the different disciplines studied.
- Minimum quantitative GMAT score of 40 required. Exam must be taken by May 31, 2023. The exam is administered by an external body. Detail and registration for the exam via phone to England +44-161-855-7219 or via the website.
- Students whose average is 85 or higher and obtained a score of 126 or higher on the quantitative portion of the psychometric exam and would like an exemption from the GMAT may join the program for bachelor's degree honor students.
Books and preparatory material for the GMAT may be obtained by contacting the US-Israel Education Foundation at: 03-5172131.
Important!!
Your GMAT score must be sent by email after taking the exam
indicating your first choice of specialization specified in your application.
An unofficial score obtained on the day of the exam may be submitted.
- Overall grade point average of master’s degree or partial grade (if exists).
The following are conditions for GMAT exemption:
- Applicants with a master’s degree from institutions whose degrees are recognized by the CHE (Council for Higher Education) with a minimum final grade of 80 in at least one of the following disciplines: engineering, economics, natural sciences, exact sciences, as well as applicants who hold a PhD, MD, DMD or DSc.
- Applicants with a master’s degree from institutions whose degrees are recognized by the CHE with a minimum final grade of 85 in disciplines not listed in the preceding clause.
- Applicants with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 90 and a quantitative major may submit a request for exemption from the GMAT.
The request will be considered by the admission committee of the business school. Please note – an average of 90 does not grant an automatic exemption. The exemption is based on the student’s full academic record.
Admission is by area of specialization. Students must select their desired area of specialization when they apply.
Admission to the different specializations is based on the undergraduate grade point average + the quantitative GMAT score (or quantitative psychometric score, if relevant, as indicated above). The admission cutoff is determined at the end of the registration window based on applicant records.
4. Admission requirements
Detailed requirements will be announced in the Faculty of Social Sciences bulletin toward the start of the academic year.
5. Program framework – two-year program
A. The two-year program is a structured program. Classes are held over a period of two years (four semesters), on Sundays between 4 PM and 10 PM, and on Fridays between 8 AM and 2 PM. It appears at this time that the first year of study at the business school will be held in Integrated format; that is, a combination of classroom-based study on campus and distance learning.
For each course, half of the sessions will be held on campus, and the second half in a variety of distance learning formats, such as Zoom lectures, recorded instruction, online material, etc.
In this way, students convene in the classroom one day in the week. The day on which classroom instruction will take place will alternate by week – one week on Friday, and the next week on Sunday or Tuesday.
Students with English requirements may require an additional day on campus.
Program duration
Students must complete their degree (whether research-based Track A or non-research Track B) in two years.
In cases that are justified and with the recommendation of the Chair of the Departmental Committee and the advisor, the School of Graduate Studies may grant an extension for a third year of study; this is possible only for students on a research-based track.
A small number of courses may be taught in English.
6. Completion of missing courses
Students may be required to make up courses per their undergraduate background. Students required to complete courses must do so in the summer session prior to their first semester. If necessary, an extension will be granted through the end of the fall semester of the first year of study. These courses must be completed with a minimum average grade of 76.
Students who have taken all or some of these courses at a recognized academic institution within the last seven years, of a similar scope and the same standard as those required by the business school, may submit a request to the business school to exempt them from courses they’ve already taken. Such request must be submitted immediately upon receiving notification of admission. After completing all background courses, students must submit a request to the School of Graduate Studies to remove the condition.
Courses to be completed are:
Mathematics – 3 SC (semester-based credits)
Statistics for Business Administration (exemption exam will be given) – 3 SC
Introduction to Microeconomics – 2 SC
Introduction to Macroeconomics – 2 SC
Total – 10 SC
**Content and scope of background courses are subject to change.
7. Curriculum
The MBA program offers four specializations – financing, marketing, management and organizational culture and information systems.
It is not possible to specialize in two areas.
The business school allows students in the two-year program and in the honors program to enrich their knowledge in areas of entrepreneurship and in the Cluster of Directors, in parallel to their primary specialization, if they so wish. This option includes several additional courses and may require an additional day of study. These courses are beyond the required credits and incur additional tuition accordingly.
A criterion of admission to each of the specializations is a minimum grade of 80 in the fundamentals course of the particular specialization (see below). Joining the entrepreneurship cluster is also dependent on a minimum grade of 80 in the introductory course on entrepreneurship.
Students who began but did not complete their master’s degree at a recognized academic institution or in another department at Bar-Ilan, and have taken within the last four years a course which is identical or parallel in scope and content to one of the required MBA courses and obtained a high grade in it, may request an exemption from the course. Students who have taken a similar course in scope and content to a course offered in the School of Business Administration are not permitted to take that course, and will be required to take a different one instead (course conversion).
Requests for exemptions or course conversion must be submitted to the business school office using the form intended for that purpose. Course exemptions are under the authorization of the School of Graduate Studies.
The link to the schedule of courses may be found at the Department of Business Administration website.
Students in the research track must participate in the departmental seminar. Credits are not given for seminar participation.
Please note that the course schedules presented above are not final and are subject to change in keeping with Bar-Ilan University guidelines.
Jewish studies
As per general requirements for the master's degree (see introductory chapter).
Language proficiency
English at the master’s degree level (details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter).
Students who do not obtain an English exemption on the placement test must pass their English course in their first year of study.
An exemption from the English as a Foreign Language requirement based on a minimum grade of 25 on the verbal portion of the GMAT is available in the non-thesis track only. Please note – this score is not a parameter for admission to the master’s degree in business administration.
A research proposal must be submitted
by the end of the first semester of the second school year
The MBA program for undergraduate honors students
This program is intended for bachelor's degree honors students from any institution recognized by the CHE, who would also like to complete an MBA within four years from the start of their undergraduate studies . If their official undergraduate studies span more than three years, then the duration for completion of their MBA will be extended accordingly.
Admission criteria
Honors students in the last year of the undergraduate degree may be admitted to the program. Bachelor's degree graduates who fulfill admission criteria to the program may also apply.
Admission is based on the undergraduate grade point average and the quantitative score of the psychometric exam.
A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 85 (in law and interdisciplinary studies – 84) is required, and a minimum of 126 in the quantitative score of the psychometric exam .
Applicants with an average of at least 85 in the undergraduate degree and a matriculation score in mathematics of 4 units iof 93 or higher or 5 units with a grade of 85 or higher will also be able to apply for the program.
Program structure
Students admitted are to complete missing background courses as a condition for official admission to the MBA program in the summer session preceding the start of their study. A minimum weighted average of 76 on these background courses is needed in order to begin master’s degree studies. Students completing background courses in parallel to their first semester of the MBA must fulfill these requirements by the end of the first semester.
Four courses to be completed:
Mathematics - 3 SC
Statistics for Business Administration (exemption exam will be given) – 3 SC
Introduction to Microeconomics – 2 SC
Introduction to Macroeconomics – 2 SC
Total – 10 SC
**Make-up course content and scope are subject to change.
After completing those courses, students will begin to study in one of the four program specializations: financing, marketing, management and organizational culture and information systems. Details on the different specializations appears on the first page of this bulletin. Availability of specialization is contingent upon a minimum number of participants. If a specialization does not open, students have the option of selecting an alternate one.
The master’s degree program begins in the fall semester of the first year (after completion of missing courses) and ends in the fall semester of the following year (four semesters in total, including summer).
Classes are held on Tuesday / Sunday (depending on semester) between 4 PM and 10 PM, and on Fridays between 8 PM and 2 PM.
Entrepreneurship / governance cluster – see above.
Application process
Students interested in completing background courses during the last year of their undergraduate studies must apply for the honors program directly with the business school office.
Students who have completed (or are near completion of) their bachelor’s degree and would like to enter the honors program are to apply through the Bar-Ilan website like all other applicants.
For further details
contact the department by phone at 03-5318899or via email
during telephone office hours only
Mon and Wed. 9:00 AM-10:30 AM
Sun, Tues. and Thurs. 12:00 Noon-1:30 PM
The link to the schedule of courses can be found at the Department of Business Administration website.
Please note that the course schedules presented above are not final and are subject to change in keeping with Bar-Ilan University guidelines.
Jewish studies
As per general requirements for the master's degree (see introductory chapter).
Language proficiency
English at the master’s degree level (details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter).
Students who do not obtain an English exemption on the placement test must pass their English course in their first year of study.
An exemption from the English as a Foreign Language requirement based on a minimum grade of 25 on the verbal portion of the GMAT is available in the non-thesis track only. Please note – this score is not a parameter for admission to the master’s degree in business administration.
For further details
contact the student administrative office at 03-5318899
email
Mon and Wed. 9:00 AM-10:30 AM
Sun, Tues. and Thurs. 12:00 Noon-1:30 PM
In the Economics building (504) 1st floor Room 119
For details on the honors program contact Ms. Anat Roth
at the phone number above or via email: anat.roth@biu.ac.ilInformation on programs, syllabi, important announcements, etc. appear on the School of Business Administration website
PhD
Areas of specialization
Management, organizational culture and strategy
- Human resources management and labor relations
- Information management and organizational learning
- Creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship
- Organizational leadership
- Motivation at work
- Decision-making
- Organizational change and crisis management
- Strategy and business policy
Marketing
- Advertising and promotional strategies
- Marketing services
- Product and services pricing
- Forecasting, design and new product development
- Competitive marketing strategies
- Optimal time-to-market strategies
- Pharmaceutical marketing – strategies for managing subscription drug life cycle
Financing
- Investing in securities
- Securities pricing
- Stock market efficiency
- Corporate governance
- Company control and management
Information systems
- Strategic analysis and computing alternatives
- Commercial strategies and e-business
- Computerization risk management
- Information discovery by data mining
- Learning processes in information systems
- Success factor analysis in software programs
- Advanced approaches to modeling and development
- Advanced computer architectures
PhD applicants may submit their application forms – available on the School of Business Administration website – in two different time windows: at the beginning of May and in mid-November.
Material must be submitted up to two weeks before these dates.
For further details
contact the department by phone at 03-5318899
via email, or visit the Department of Business Administration website
Last Updated Date : 03/04/2024
