BGU's Joyce and Irving Goldman Medical School will increase the number of students matriculating from 90 to 120 this coming school year which begins on Sunday. BGU is implementing a government decision to increase the number of medical students to offset a slow decline in the number of active doctors.
Prof. Amos Katz, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, noted that three years ago the number of places was increased from 75 to 90, such that in the last five years the number of medical students increased from 75 to 120.
According to University estimates, nearly 20,000 students will be studying at BGU this year across all its campuses in Beer-Sheva, Sede Boqer and Eilat. That number is essentially unchanged from last year, bucking the trend of decreasing enrollment in universities.
However, many programs saw increased interest from potential students and increased enrollment, especially in the Humanities.
Overall:
8,908 freshmen registered for their undergraduate degrees, a 7.8% increase from last year.
3,001 registered for a Masters, an increase of 6.2%
Undergraduate Registration by Faculty:
Faculty of Engineering Sciences: 3605 (up 7.6%)
Faculty of Health Sciences: 3056 (up 35%)
Faculty of Natural Sciences: 2598 (up 3.5%)
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: 2853 (up 0.5%)
Especially Sought After Degrees: Applicants (increase over last year):
Medicine – 1752 (up 39.1%)
Nursing – 530 (up 20.4%)
Structural Engineering – 667 (up 19.3%)
Electrical Engineering – 939 (up 15.3%)
Industrial Engineering and Management – 850 (up 14.8%)
Information Systems Engineering and Cyber Security – 552 (up 13.5%)
Software Engineering – 895 (up 12%)
Computer Science – 1111 (up 10.1%)
Mechanical Engineering – 902 (up 10%)
Life Sciences – 822 (up 2%)
Psychology – 950 (unchanged)
Management – 742 (unchanged)
Economics – 739 (unchanged)
Degree programs with an impressive growth in the number of new students:
Humanities and Social Sciences:
Art: Up 62% (about 50 new students)
Hebrew Literature (with creative writing as part of the undergraduate program): Up 44% (about 60 new students)
Foreign Literatures and Linguistics: Up 33% (about 60 new students)
Hebrew Language: Up 25% (about 40 new students)
Middle East Studies: Up 19% (about 100 new students)
Politics and Government: Up 15% (about 150 new students)
Natural Sciences:
Geological and Environmental Sciences: Up 100% (about 80 new students)
Mathematics: Up 78% (about 60 new students)
Engineering Sciences:
Biomedical Engineering: Up 35% (about 50 new students)
While no new degree programs are being opened this year, there are several new double majors, tracks and courses available:
Hebrew Literature – Courses in creative writing
Structural Engineering and Geology – a double major for exceptional students including a scholarship
Geology and Life Sciences – A double major for exceptional students
A new track in Art History and Visual Culture combined with Creative Studies
A new offering in the Management program: Courses on Sports Management
A new offering in the MSc in Geological and Environmental Sciences: Courses in the geology of oil and natural gas | 
