Life sciences
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
Two tracks are available:
Track A – includes research and thesis submission.
Track B – not research-based.
Track A – research-based track
The Faculty of Life Sciences has a track that includes research and thesis submission.
Programs of study
- Life sciences
- Biotechnology
- Biophysics
- Gerontology: the study of aging
Life science specializations (for Track A)
Master’s degree specializations available are:
- Botany
- Biochemistry
- Zoology
- Microbiology
- Ecology
- Human biology
- Computational biology
- Cell biology
- Physiological systems in animals
- Genetics
- Neurobiology
- Marine biology
- Immunology
- Environmental biology
Within these specializations, areas of research are selected on an individual basis in the following directions:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology (various topics)
- Environmental biology
- Cell biology (including cancer cells)
- Clinical biology
- Molecular biology
- Genetics and genetic engineering
- General microbiology and virology
- Medical microbiology and chemotherapy
- Neurobiology
- Animal physiology
- Botanical physiology (including plant disease)
- Biophysics
- Botany
- Zoology
- Ecology
- Marine biology
- Developmental biology
- Human and animal fertility
- Computational biology
- Pharmacology
- Photobiology
- Molecular parasitology
- Biology of aging
- Nanotechnology
Student specialization is to be defined only after research proposal submission, in coordination with the advisor and by approval of the School of Graduate Studies.
Admission requirements
- A Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc.) in life sciences or biology or biotechnology with a minimum grade point average of 80. Applicants must pass a personal interview or exam, as determined by the Faculty of Life Sciences.
- For applicants whose B.Sc. is not in biology, biotechnology or a major or extended life sciences degree, but is in a related discipline, a year of individually customized background course completion is required. These background courses do not contribute credits toward the master’s degree.
Credit and seminar requirements
- 12 AC (annual-based credits) (24 SC – semester-based credits), of which 11 AC (22 SC) are in life science courses and two are seminars – 1 AC (2 SC). Seminar participation is mandatory. Courses in other departments relevant to the research area may be taken up to 2 AC (4 SC).
- Students in biotechnology, computational biology, nanotechnology and biophysics have a structured program of study.
- Research proposals are to be submitted by the end of the first year.
- A change in the research topic or advisor may incur additional specialized courses as determined by the Faculty of Life Sciences, beyond standard program requirements.
- The final master’s degree grade is determined as per university policy by a weighted average of the thesis grade (75%) and coursework (25%).
- Criteria for levels of distinction are determined not by the Faculty of Life Sciences but by Bar-Ilan University.
Language proficiency
English at the master’s degree level (details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter).
Exemption from master degree English is given to students with a bachelor’s degree from Israel, or an equivalent degree from an institution recognized by Israel’s Council for Higher Education, or from a bachelor’s degree from an English-speaking country where instruction is conducted in English.
Direct master’s degree track – “Psagot”
This track is intended for honors students who have passed a personal interview and completed their first three undergraduate semesters in the Faculty of Life Sciences. Participants may complete their bachelor’s and master’s degree together within four years, while obtaining exemptions and scholarships for the bachelor’s degree. For details visit the “Psagot” program on the Faculty of Life Sciences website.
Research proposal and degree award in the direct master’s degree track
Students in the direct track must submit their research proposal with completion of the bachelor's degree in the third year of study.
- Thesis submission and defense are at the end of the fourth year.
- Upon successful completion of the third year, students are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc.).
- At the end of the fourth year, with completion of all master’s degree coursework and successful thesis defense, students are awarded a Master of Science degree (M.Sc.).
Thesis guidelines
Footnote and reference format for the thesis are per Faculty of Life Sciences guidelines; all other thesis guidelines are as indicated in 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.
Jewish studies
As per general requirements for the master's degree (see introductory chapter).
Research proposals are to be submitted to the Faculty of Life Sciences committee
by the end of the first year of study.
Track B – non-research track
Master's degree in science program without thesis
Admission requirements
Applicants with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in life sciences or other relevant disciplines with a minimum grade point average of 80 may apply. Admission is based on personal profile and admission committee.
Please note – There may be background courses required for completion in parallel with the program; these courses do not contribute credits toward master’s degree.
Program duration
The program spans one to two years, depending on how the days of study are spread and on electives course chosen.
Credit and seminar requirements
20 AC (40 SC) as specified below:
- Required courses – 2 AC (4 SC): Seminar paper – scientific survey with guidance by faculty member researchers.
– Seminar – scientific presentation of a current research paper before course participants in accepted research format. - Elective courses 18 AC (36 SC): Students acquire in-depth current knowledge in their areas of interest through elective courses. For example: cell and gene therapy, the world of RNA, bioinformatics, genetic engineering in plants, topics in biology and evolution in animals, research methods using molecular tools, the effect of addictive drugs on brain function, cancer immunology, clinical pathology, clinical genetics and validation, and many more courses available at the third-year undergraduate and the graduate level.
Jewish studies
As per general requirements for the master's degree (see introductory chapter).
For information on the master’s program contact Dr. Rotem Efrony, graduate degree advisor
by email or visit the The Faculty of Life Sciences website
PhD
Admission requirements
Students with a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in life sciences or another relevant discipline with a minimum grade point average and thesis grade of 85 may be considered for admission. Admission is based on the applicant’s personal record and admission committee decision, only after a research advisor has been found.
Areas of specialization
In the Life Sciences Faculty, we have around 50 research groups performing top research in various fields.
If you are looking for a research group to join for Master, PhD or Postdoc please go into the different research groups to explore what we are doing here and find yourself a new home:
·Immunology and Cancer Research ·Structural and Computational Biology ·Cellular and Developmental Biology ·Microbiology and Virology ·Neurobiology ·Optometry and Vision Sciences ·Ecology and Plant Sciences
For further details contact the Faculty of Life Sciences office
by phone on 03-5317674, or via email
or visit the Faculty of Life Sciences – PhD program website
Last Updated Date : 03/04/2024
