What is it like to be an international student at BGU?
BGU students tend to live on or near our campus, lending to a uniquely vibrant student atmosphere on campus in the surrounding neighborhoods in Be'er-Sheva. BGU is known for its warm, welcoming student community and its active social calendar.
International students not only take courses with local Israeli students but are also encouraged to participate in campus-wide events, join clubs and take part in volunteer opportunities.
You can see more about BGU's fantastic student life on our social media pages - follow us on Instagram @BGU_international to see more about day-to-day life on campus.
This is what our students say about us:
Semester and Year Programs
Oxford Internship Program
Harry Turner, Oxford Univeristy, England
"I’ve really been enjoying my experience here at BGU as a summer intern! The International staff has been super supportive and have really shaped my time here as they are always available and have created many social programs to create a community. At BGU, you’re immersed into Israeli society. I play soccer with Israelis, live with Israeli students in the dorms, and experience their friendliness on the streets."
Data Mining & Cybersecurity-International Summer Program
Shashank Priyadarshi, Amrita Univeristy, India
"The experience in Israel was very good, here I met a lot of people from BGU, Oxford, MIT, and other several places who are working on really cool stuff like data mining, cybersecurity, and biotech. Throughout the program the university and coordinators were very helpful, they were just one call away for any of the doubts or issues. BGU International also organized several social events so we can interact with other students from different programs to exchange our thoughts and cultures. The highlight for me was the way people live here, it's completely different as compared to India.The continuous learning and research helped me a lot to learn about various existing technologies as well as upcoming research that led to a better world. After completing the course I am more motivated towards starting my career towards data mining and cybersecurity."
Lara, Vienna, Austria"I chose Ben-Gurion University because I heard there is a great community with an amazing social life… it’s true! "
Jubeen Shah, Mukesh Patel School of Technology Management and Engineering, India
"The experience at BGU cannot be described in words. It's a phenomenal feeling that one has to go there in order to explore and feel."
Heather Weiner, Queens College, USA
"Not only did this program offer a terrific academic experience, but there was an incredible effort from the staff to immerse you into the culture."
Ronnette Britton, University of the West Indies Mona, Jamaica
"The counselors and other support staff were always available and very helpful."
Global Health - International Summer Program
Apratim Sinha, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, India
"An incredibly well-designed program, touching upon the challenges of healthcare in a globalized world. Top-notch faculty members, insightful field visits with fun-filled excursions make it a program second to none. Highly recommended for undergraduates looking for perspective on globalization. Thanks, BGU :)".