University of Haifa

Overview

The University of Haifa is one of the biggest research universities in northern Israel and among the most pluralistic in the country. It is also the fourth university established in Israel. The public university specializes in Education, Law, Social Sciences, and Humanities, and consistently produces a high output of research. In addition, Haifa is a member of the Global U8 Consortium, composed of prestigious universities from three continents.
Haifa is organized into eight faculties that focus on (1) Law, (2) Social Sciences, (3) Humanities, (4) Management, (5) Health Sciences and Social Welfare, (6) Natural Sciences, (7) Education, and (8) Marine Sciences. Beneath the faculties are over 60 departments, offering 44 undergraduate programs, 59 graduate programs, and 48 doctoral degrees. International students can avail of the school’s 18 English-taught graduate programs.
Research in Haifa is conducted in its 69 centers and institutes, covering a broad range of disciplines, examples of which include Neurosciences, Cancer Research, Public Health, Marine Sciences, Epigenetics, and Bioinformatics. Besides publishing individual research, Haifa also releases consolidated journals centered on law issues, changes in local legislation, holocaust research, archaeological research, and the relationship of law with other knowledge areas.
Haifa’s campus is located on top of Mount Carmel and affords a picturesque view of the city. It has one of the biggest academic libraries in the country, measuring 16,000 square meters and carrying more than 2.5 million volumes. The university is also home to an expansive museum that permanently houses Phoenician collections, within which are galleries, conference rooms, and an auditorium that can accommodate 380 people.
Established in 1963, the University of Haifa was founded by city mayor Abba Hushi as a constituent institution of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It received its accreditation as an independent university in 1972 and has expanded since.
As of 2020, Haifa opens its doors to more than 8,800 undergraduates, 7,000 postgraduates, and 1,300 teaching staff. It has championed multiculturalism in Israel as it admits learners coming from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The university has also entered collaborative partnerships with government units and large enterprises; at the forefront is IBM, which has its own facility on campus. Furthermore, it has produced a flock of politicians, military officials, entrepreneurs, and scholars.
Haifa’s notable alumni include Benny Gantz (Israeli alternate prime minister), Ashraf Barhom (actor), Gabi Ashkenazi (politician), Meir Dagan (military official), Ronen Bergman (journalist), and Idan Ofer (businessman).
Haifa’s ultimate goal is to enhance Israeli society through exemplary instruction and research in a multiculturalist environment. It is also committed to strengthening the economy of the country’s northern region.