Ben-Gurion University is a partner university of the University of Oldenburg. It is located south-west of Jerusalem in the city of Be'er Sheva, the sixth largest city in Israel. BGU is one of the leading universities in Israel and, among other things, achieved 1st place in the area of satisfaction among all students in Israel.

BGU offers an English Literatures and Linguistics programme for international Bachelor students. Master's students can choose from a wide range of study programmes such as mathematics, management, environmental science, nanotechnology and medicine. The university programmes are spread across three campuses: the main campus, Marcus Family Campus in Beer-Sheva, the research campus in Sde Boker and the Eilat Campus. BGU has its own free sports centre, which is open 7 days a week. The centre has two large swimming pools, courts for basketball, volleyball and tennis. The "Positive" fitness centre is subject to a fee and offers courses in yoga, Pilates, dancing and aerobics. There are also various sports clubs (football, rock climbing, ultimate frisbee, salsa dancing).

In addition to English as the language of instruction, Hebrew and Arabic are the predominant languages on campus.

Israel has a culture that is strongly characterised by its own history and has shaped the country into a predominantly Jewish population. Currently, around 9 million people live in the various provinces. Beer-Sheva is a growing city and the capital of the Negev region. A good overview of current security, travel and country information can be found on the country page of the Federal Foreign Office.

Country page of the Federal Foreign Office

Shabbat is a weekly Jewish ritual that lasts 25 hours. From Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, shops and many restaurants are therefore closed and public transport is also cancelled. During this time, people often meet up with friends and family to eat a big feast together.

International students studying at BGU for one semester have the opportunity to live right next to the BGU campus in Me'onot Dalet. For students studying at BGU for longer than one semester, there is the option of living in the halls of residence directly on the main campus in Beer-Sheva or on the Sede-Boqer campus.

Information on the different types of accommodation

The average monthly costs for accommodation, food, books and leisure time amount to approx. 3,300 NIS (1 euro = 3.83 Israeli shekels, as of January 2020). You can find an overview of the cost of living in the pre-arrival guide (see downloads).