1.
GENERAL
In the academic year 2007/08, the increase in the number of students and degree recipients
in Israel continued, albeit at a more moderate rate than in previous years. This trend can be
attributed to the rise in the share of academic colleges that offer first degree and seconddegree programs.
The higher education system in Israel includes seven universities, the Open University, 29
academic colleges (two were added in 2007/08), and 25 colleges of education. Those
institutions offer degrees in about 250 different subjects of study. In 2007/08, 74,663
applicants1 submitted applications for first-year studies toward a first degree. Of those, about
60% were accepted and commenced studying. That year, 222,355 students were enrolled in
institutions of higher education in Israel, and 55,764 students received academic degrees –
39,357 received a first degree, 13,649 received a second degree, and 1,437 received a third
degree.
The number of students and recipients of first and second degrees from universities declined
in 2007/08, whereas the number of students and degree recipients from the Open University
and academic colleges continued to rise at a relatively high rate. The number of students and
degree recipients in the Open University increased substantially at the first and second
degree levels. Notably, second-degree studies are mainly offered at universities, even
following the increase in the number of second-degree students at academic colleges.
Third degree studies are offered only at universities. In 2007/08, the number of third degree
recipients increased substantially, by 10%. However, the number of students enrolled in third
degree studies rose by less than 2% - a moderate increase compared with the previous year.
At colleges of education, there was a decline in the number of first-degree students.
However, the number of students who received first degrees rose slightly, and the number of
second-degree students and second-degree recipients rose substantially.
Differences were found in the number of students and degree recipients in different fields of
study at universities versus colleges. Over three-fourths of the students and degree
recipients in the Humanities, Paramedical Studies, Medicine, and Agriculture studied at
universities. However, over 90% of the students and degree recipients in the field of
Education studied at colleges of education, and the majority of students and degree
recipients (over 75%) in the fields of Law and Management Sciences studied at nonbudgeted academic colleges. In the fields of Social Sciences and Engineering, the rates of
students and degree recipients at colleges and universities were about the same.
1
Not including applicants to the Open University (See Section 7B) and to colleges of education.
( 19 )
2.
APPLICANTS
2.1 General
The statistics on applicants for first and second degrees at institutions of higher education
are intended to describe the extent of demand for higher education, as well as the changes
in demand for the various institutions of higher education and for various subjects taught at
those institutions.
This publication presents, for the first time, data on applicants for first degrees at academic
colleges, in an attempt to provide a more comprehensive description of the extent of demand
for higher education, and to reflect the impact of academic colleges on the map of higher
education in Israel.
The findings presented in this chapter are based on processing of data from files for the
academic year 2007/08, which are relevant to the situation in April 2008 in universities, and
to the situation in January 2008 in academic colleges.1
The data presented concern applicants as well as applications (see Definitions in Section 6).
In order to describe the demand for first-degree studies at institutions of higher education by
new applicants only, the tables in this section do not include data on students who requested
to change their subjects of study. However, the data on applicants also include those who
were accepted but did not commence studies, as well as those who cancelled their
application. With regard to second-degree applicants to universities, no distinction was made
between new applicants and those who wished to change their subjects of study, because
those changes are not common. The data presented in this publication relate to the
population of applicants for a second degree at universities only. Information on applicants
for second degrees at academic colleges has not yet been collected.
2.2 Main Findings
In 2007/08, there were 74,663 applicants for first-year studies toward a first degree at
institutions of higher education. Of those, 36,383 applied to universities, 38,280 applied to
academic colleges, and 5,863 applied both to universities and academic colleges.
In addition, there were 20,281 applicants for studies toward a second degree at universities.2
1
2
The files requested from the academic colleges were for January, in order to enable those institutions to
prepare the data properly for publication. In addition, the data processing methods used at academic
colleges were different from those used at universities (see Definitions and Explanations).
Data on applicants for studies toward a second degree were not collected from academic colleges.
( 20 )
Among the applicants to universities, 57% were accepted and studying (of those, 47.5%
were accepted to their first-preference subject); 17.9% were accepted but not studying; and
25.1% were rejected. Among the applicants to academic colleges, 63.7% were accepted and
studying (of those, 59.1% were accepted to the first-preference subject); 10.6% were
accepted but did not commence studies; and 25.7% were rejected.
At both the universities and academic colleges, the field of study most in demand was Social
Sciences. Engineering and Architecture ranked second at universities, and Business
Administration ranked second at academic colleges. The fields of study least in demand
were Agriculture and Business Administration at universities, and Paramedical Studies at
academic colleges.
Of the applicants to universities, 25.8% applied to more than one institution, compared with
10.9% of the applicants to academic colleges. There were a total of 49,738 applications to
universities, and 43,333 applications to academic colleges. Thus, the average number of
applications per person was 1.4 for applicants to universities, and 1.1 for applicants to
academic colleges.
Table 1.- Applications and Applicants to Colleges and Universities, by Field of Study
Total
Type of Institution
Universities
Colleges
Applications – total
93,071
49,738
43,333
Applicants – total
74,663
36,383
38,280
1.2
1.4
1.1
Average number of applications per applicant
Percentages
Applicants – total
100.0
48.7
51.3
Field of Study
Humanities
100.0
58.2
41.8
Social Sciences
100.0
53.1
46.9
Business Administration
100.0
16.5
83.5
Law
100.0
25.8
74.2
Medicine
100.0
100.0
Paramedical Studies
100.0
71.3
28.7
Mathematics and Natural Sciences
100.0
66.3
33.7
Agriculture
100.0
100.0
Engineering and Architecture
100.0
44.4
55.6
In 2007/08, 84.5% of all applicants to colleges and universities were Jewish (82.5% of whom
were Israeli born), and 12% were Arab. At universities, 79.9% of the applicants were Jewish,
and 16.0% were Arab. At academic colleges, 88.8% of the applicants were Jewish, and 7.7%
were Arab.
( 21 )
Two-thirds of the Arab applicants applied to universities, and one-third applied to colleges.
Among the applicants to institutions of higher education who were from localities in socioeconomic clusters 1-2 (the lowest clusters), 61.9% applied to universities, and 38.1% applied
to academic colleges. Similarly, among the applicants from localities in socio-economic
clusters 9-10 (the highest clusters), the majority applied to universities (56.1% applied to
universities, and 43.6% applied to academic colleges). In contrast, among the applicants who
were from localities in socio-economic clusters 3-8, 51.9% applied to academic colleges, and
48.1% applied to universities.
Table 2.- Applicants for First-degree Studies, by Demographic Characteristics
Total
Applicants – total
Median age
74,663
23.6
Type of institution
Universities
Academic colleges
36,383
38,280
23.1
24.1
Percentages
100.0
100.0
45.2
49.7
54.8
50.3
Sex – total
Men
Women
100.0
47.5
52.5
Population group and origin – total
Jews and Others
Thereof: Jews
Israeli-born
Born abroad
Arabs
100.0
88.0
84.5
82.5
17.5
12.0
100.0
83.4
79.8
65.9
13.9
16.6
100.0
92.3
88.7
73.2
15.5
7.7
Socio-economic cluster
of locality of residence – total
1-2
3-8
9-10
100.0
4.6
93.6
1.8
100.0
5.8
92.2
2.0
100.0
3.4
95.1
1.5
100.0
48.9
51.1
100.0
100.0
46.3
50.9
53.7
49.1
Population group and origin
Jews and Others
Thereof: Jews
Israeli-born
Born abroad
Arabs
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
46.4
46.3
46.3
46.3
67.4
53.6
53.7
53.7
53.7
32.6
Socio-economic cluster
of locality of residence
1-2
3-8
9-10
100.0
100.0
100.0
61.9
48.1
56.1
38.1
51.9
43.9
Total – percentages
Sex
Men
Women
( 22 )
2.3 Applicants to Universities (Tables 1.1-1.18)
2.3.1 Applicants for first-degree studies
In 2007/08, 36,383 new applicants submitted 49,738 applications for first-year studies toward
a first degree at various universities. Compared to 2006/07, these data show an increase of
2.8% in the number of applicants, although there was a 2.1% decline in the number of
applications. This can be attributed to a decline of 11% in the number of applicants to more
than one institution: whereas 29.8% of the applicants applied to more than one institution in
2006/07, 25.8% of all applicants applied to more than one institution in 2007/08. The
percentage of women who applied to more than one institution was higher than the
percentage of men.
In general, applicants to more than one institution increase their chances of acceptance:
55.5% of those who applied to only one institution were accepted and studying, compared
with 63.8% of those who applied to four or more institutions. The average number of
applications per applicant in 2007/08 was 1.37 (See Table 3 below).
Tel Aviv University received the largest number of applications, and the Technion received
the smallest number.
The proportion of applicants who were accepted and studying was highest at Bar-Ilan
University (60.1%), and lowest at Tel Aviv University (32.2%). At Ben-Gurion University of
the Negev, the proportion of applicants who were accepted and not studying was lowest
(only 7.0%). At the Hebrew University, the proportion of applicants who were accepted and
not studying was 35.2%. The highest proportion of rejected applicants was at Ben-Gurion
University of the Negev, and the lowest proportion was at Bar-Ilan University (55.6% and
13.5%, respectively).
At Bar-Ilan University, the proportion of women who were accepted and studying was higher
than that of men (62% of the women, versus 57% of the men). By contrast, at Haifa
University the proportion of women who were accepted and studying was lower than that of
men (45.9% of the women, versus 50.6% of the men).
Social Sciences was the field most in demand – 28.7% of all applicants chose that field as
their first preference. At Bar-Ilan University, over 50% of all applications were for Social
Sciences, compared with only about 18% at Tel Aviv University.
In 2007/08, 7.2% of the applicants chose Humanities as their first-preference field. At Haifa
University, about 18% of all applications were for Humanities, compared with about 4% of all
applications at Tel Aviv University. At the Hebrew University, about one-third of the
applications were for the fields of Medicine and Paramedical Studies.
( 23 )
The lowest percentage of applicants to universities (about 2%) was in the field of Education
and Teacher Training (excluding the field of Agriculture, which is taught only at the Hebrew
University).
Women comprised 86.8% of the applicants for Education and Teacher Training, whereas the
proportion of women in Engineering and Architecture was only 31.3%. In the field of
Languages, Literature, and Regional Studies, and in the fields of Art and Paramedical
Studies, the proportion of women exceeded 70%. In the field of Medicine, the proportion of
women out of all applicants was 49.8%.
Table 3.- Applicants for First-degree Studies at Universities, by Results of Application
and Field of Study
Year
Applications and applicants
1989/90
1999/2000
2006/07
Absolute Numbers
Applications – total
36,707
46,465
50,813
Applicants – total
25,046
33,296
35,390
Percentages
Thereof:
Women
53.0
56.6
55.1
Applied to more than
32.3
28.5
29.8
one institution
Accepted and studying, by number of institutions applied to
1
50.2
57.2
61.3
2
65.1
67.8
65.0
3
73.7
75.0
68.0
4+
72.1
75.3
72.4
No. of applications per applicant
1.47
1.4
1.44
Results of application (2)
Accepted and studying
55.9
60.8
62.8
Thereof: accepted to first preference
48.9
52.2
Accepted and not studying
17.0
18.2
15.0
Thereof: accepted to first preference
..
8.2
6.8
Rejected
22.9
21.0
22.2
Applicants, by field of
Absolute numbers
first preference – total
25,046
33,296
35,390
Humanities
Social Sciences
Business and Management
Law
Medicine
Paramedical Studies
Mathematics, Statistics, and
Computer Sciences
Physical Sciences
Biological Sciences
Agriculture
Engineering and Architecture
2007/08
49,738
36,383
Annual percentage of
change (1)
1999/2000
2007/08
1989/90
1999/2000
2.4
2.9
0.9
1.1
54.8
25.8
55.5
61
62.2
63.8
1.37
57.0
47.5
17.9
7.6
25.1
36,383
2.9
1.1
6,132
5,759
1,448
1,925
1,269
1,805
6,895
9,959
1,309
1,842
1,296
2,854
5,522
10,058
1,843
1,984
1,635
3,861
5,564
10,441
1,641
1,834
2,110
3,568
1.2
5.6
-1.0
-0.4
0.2
4.7
-2.6
0.6
2.9
-0.1
6.3
2.8
1,279
699
820
299
2,975
3,506
752
1,326
290
4,434
2,108
974
1,792
288
5,301
2,320
968
1,568
298
6,060
10.6
0.7
4.9
-0.3
4.1
-5.0
3.2
2.1
0.3
4.0
( 24 )
Table 3.- (Cont’d)
Year
Applications and applicants
1989/90
Number of applications per student,
by field of first preference
Humanities
Social Sciences
Business and Management Sciences
Law
Medicine
Paramedical Studies
Mathematics, Statistics, and
Computer Sciences
Physical Sciences
Biological Sciences
Agriculture
Engineering and Architecture
1999/2000
2006/07
2007/08
1.4
1.7
3.9
3.8
3.8
2.7
1.4
1.6
2.3
2.1
2.9
2.4
1.3
1.6
2.4
2.6
3.8
2.3
1.2
1.7
2.2
2.7
5.5
2.3
1.5
1.1
1.4
1.6
1.7
1.9
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.7
1.5
1.3
1.4
1.3
1.6
1.7
1.4
1.5
1.3
1.9
Annual percentage of
change (1)
1999/2000
2007/08
1989/90
1999/2000
(1) Geometric average
(2) In 1989/90, 4.2% of the applicants whose application results were “other” were not included.
The median age of all applicants to universities in 2007/08 was 23: for those who were
accepted and studying, the median age was 23.2, and for those who were rejected the
median age was 22.6. The median age of the men was 23.8, and the median age of the
women was 22.5.
In 2007/08, 79.8% of all applicants to universities were Jews, and 16.7% were Arabs. Of the
applicants who were accepted and studying, 83.3% were Jews, and 13.4% were Arabs; of
those who were rejected, 69.8% were Jews, and 25.3% were Arabs.
The youngest applicants were those who applied to Paramedical Studies as their field of first
preference (median age 22.3), and the oldest applicants were those who applied to
Agriculture as their field of first preference (median age 24).
In Paramedical Studies, the proportion of Arabs was highest (31.5%, compared with 63.3%
for Jews), and in Agriculture, the proportion of Arabs was lowest (6.1%, compared with
91.9% for Jews).
Of the Jews who applied to Agriculture, 91.2% were Israeli-born, and only 8.8% were born
abroad. In contrast, of the Jews who applied to Paramedical Studies, 70.1% were Israeliborn, and 29.9% were born abroad.
The proportion of Arab applicants was highest at Haifa University (34.4%, compared with
62.6% for Jews). The lowest proportion of Arab applicants was found at Tel Aviv University
(10.3%, compared with 84.8% for Jews).
( 25 )
The percentage of Israeli-born Jews out of all applicants to universities was highest at BarIlan University (83%), and lowest at Haifa University (81.4%). However, out of all applicants
who were accepted and studying, the percentage of Israeli-born Jews was highest at Tel
Aviv University (83.4%), and lowest at the Technion (74.6%).
2.3.2 Applicants for second-degree studies
In 2007/08, 20,281 applicants for second-degree studies submitted 24,195 applications to
universities – an increase of 8.3% in the number of applicants and 7.7% in the number of
applications compared to 2006/07. In 2007/08, the average number of applications per
applicant was 1.2, as in 2006/07 (Table 4 below).
57% of the applicants were women, and they submitted 58.5% of all applications to
universities.
In 2007/08, 13% of the applicants for second-degree studies applied to more than one
institution. Of the applicants for second-degree studies, 14.7% of the women and 10.6% of
the men applied to more than one institution. However, in contrast to the situation at the level
of first-degree studies, applications to more than one institution did not increase the women’s
chances of being accepted to second-degree studies: 61.7% of all applicants were accepted
and studying for a second degree. Whereas 65.2% of the men who applied were accepted
and studying, only 59% of the women who applied were accepted and studying.
The largest number of applications was to Tel Aviv University (5,841 applications), and the
smallest number was to the Weizmann Institute of Science (471 applications). However, the
number of applications per student was highest at the Weizmann Institute of Science (3.4
applications per student).
The proportion of applicants who were accepted and studying was highest at the Technion
(71.8%), and lowest at the Weizmann Institute of Science (only 29.7%). At Tel Aviv
University, the proportion of applicants who were accepted and studying was 52.8%.
59.8% of the applicants were accepted to their first-preference subject at the university
where they received the “best result” (the best result the applicants received out of all the
universities they applied to), and in which they started studying. The proportion of applicants
who were accepted to their first-preference subject and had commenced studying that
subject was lowest in Psychology and Criminology (34.4% and 37.4%, respectively). In
contrast, the proportion of applicants who were accepted to their first-preference subject and
had commenced studying that subject was highest in Aeronautical Engineering, Desert
Studies, and Pharmaceutics (over 85%).
( 26 )
For applications at the level of second-degree studies, Social Sciences was also in highest
demand (22.1% of all applicants chose it as their field of first preference). The highest
proportion of applications to Social Sciences was at Haifa University (45.4%), and the lowest
proportion was at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (only 17.8%).
In addition, 21.1% of all applicants chose the field of Business and Management Sciences as
their first preference: 36.9% of the applications to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev were
in Business and Management Sciences, whereas only 9.2% of the applications to Haifa
University were in that field.
In 2007/08, 10.4% of all applicants to universities chose Law as their field of first preference
– 29% of the applications to Bar-Ilan University were in that field, compared with 3.4% of the
applications to the Hebrew University.
The lowest proportion of applicants (2%) was in the field of Art, Crafts, and Applied Art
(excluding Agriculture, which is taught only at the Hebrew University). At Tel Aviv University,
4.7% of the applications were in that field, and at Bar-Ilan University, the proportion was only
1%.
At the Weizmann Institute of Science, 48.6% of all applications were in Biological Sciences,
compared with 36.7% in Physical Sciences, and 12.7% in Mathematics, Statistics, and
Computer Sciences.
Of the applicants for second-degree studies who were accepted and studying at the
Technion, 75.4% were graduates of the Technion. Of the applicants for second-degree
studies who were accepted and studying at the Hebrew University, 66.4% were graduates of
that university. Of the applicants for second-degree studies who were accepted and studying
at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 52.9% were graduates of that university. Of the
applicants for second-degree studies who were accepted and studying at Tel Aviv University,
42.3% were graduates of that university. Of the applicants for second-degree studies who
were accepted and studying at Haifa University, 37.8% were graduates of that university. Of
the applicants for second-degree studies who were accepted and studying at Bar-Ilan
University, only 35.9% were graduates of that university, whereas 25% were graduates of
academic colleges. Of the applicants for second-degree studies who were accepted and
studying at the Weizmann Institute of Science, 37.4% were graduates of Tel Aviv University,
and 6.5% were graduates of institutions of higher education abroad.
( 27 )
Table 4.- Applicants for Second-degree Studies at Universities, by Results of
Application and Field of First Preference
Applications and
applicants
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
Absolute Percent- Absolute Percent- Absolute
numbers
ages
numbers
ages
numbers
Applications
–total
Applicants –
total
Thereof:
Women
Applied to more
than one
institution
No. of
applications
per applicant
Results of
application
Accepted and
studying
Thereof:
Accepted to first
preference
Accepted and
not studying
Thereof:
Accepted to first
preference
Rejected
Applicants, by
field of first
preference
Total
Humanities
Social Sciences
Business and
Management
Sciences
Law
Medicine
Paramedical
Studies
Mathematics,
Statistics, and
Computer
Sciences
Physical
Sciences
Biological
Sciences
Agriculture
Engineering and
Architecture
2007/08
Percentages
Absolute
numbers
Percentages
Annual
percentage of
change
2007/08
20060/7
21,586
22,118
22,468
24,195
7.7
18,002
18,571
18,730
20,281
8.3
10,256
57.0
10,628
57.2
10,944
58.4
11,571
57.0
5.7
2,382
13.2
2,452
13.3
2,519
13.4
2,628
13.0
4.3
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
11,415
63.4
11,815
63.6
11,754
62.8
12,507
61.7
6.4
10,963
60.9
11,176
60.2
11,173
59.7
12,135
59.8
8.6
2,387
13.3
2,781
15.0
2,823
15.1
3,302
16.3
17.0
1,659
4,200
9.2
23.3
1,925
3,975
10.4
21.4
1,856
3,153
9.9
22.2
2,407
4,472
11.9
22.1
29.7
41.8
18,002
100.0
18,571
100.0
18,730
100.0
20,281
100.0
8.3
3,731
4,163
20.7
23.5
4,149
4,251
22.4
22.9
4,044
4,308
21.6
23.0
4,356
4,478
21.5
22.1
7.7
3.9
3,374
1,760
135
18.7
9.8
0.7
3,443
1,764
146
18.6
9.5
0.8
3,737
1,905
165
20.0
10.2
0.9
4,276
2,119
130
21.1
10.4
0.6
14.4
11.2
-21.2
838
4.7
848
4.6
845
4.5
952
4.7
12.7
859
4 .8
845
4.6
722
3.9
720
3.6
-0.3
543
3.0
578
3.1
603
3.2
602
3.0
-0.2
1,166
176
6.5
1.0
1,033
203
3.6
1.1
1,016
178
5.4
1.0
1,012
167
5.0
0.8
-0.4
-6.2
1,181
6.6
1,299
7.0
1,206
6.4
1,469
7.2
21.8
( 28 )
The median age of the applicants for second-degree studies at universities was 28.8 (for
those who were accepted as well as for those who were rejected). The median age for men
was 29.7, and the median age for women was 28.2.
Jews comprised 90.5% of all applicants for second-degree studies at universities, and Arabs
comprised 7.5%. Of the applicants who were accepted and studying, 93.2% were Jews and
4.9% were Arabs; and of the applicants who were rejected, 82.8% were Jews, and 15% were
Arabs.
Among the youngest applicants for second-degree studies at universities, the first fields of
preference were Medicine (median age 26.3), and Mathematics and Natural Sciences
(median age 26.6). Among the oldest applicants for second-degree studies at universities,
the first field of preference was Law (median age 30.6). Like the applicants for first-degree
studies, among the applicants for second-degree studies the highest proportion of Arab
applicants was found in the field of Paramedical Studies (18%, compared with 79.6% Jews).
The lowest proportion of Arab applicants was In the field of Agriculture (0.6%, compared with
96.3% for Jews).
Of the Jewish applicants for second-degree studies in Agriculture, 91% were Israeli-born,
and 9% were born abroad. By contrast, in the field of Paramedical Studies, 63.5% of the
Jewish applicants were Israeli-born and 36.5% were born abroad.
The highest proportion of Arabs out of all applicants for second-degree studies at universities
was found at Haifa University (21.2% of the applicants were Arabs, and 77.3% were Jews).
In contrast, the proportion of Arab applicants was lowest at the Weizmann Institute of
Science (1.8% of the applicants were Arabs, and 94.1% were Jews). The highest proportion
of Arabs who were accepted and studying toward a second degree was also found at Haifa
University (14.9%), and the lowest proportion was found at Bar-Ilan University (1.3% of the
applicants who were accepted and studying were Arabs).
The highest proportion of Israeli-born applicants out of all applicants for second-degree
studies at universities was found at Bar-Ilan University (86.4%), and the lowest proportion
was found at the Technion (70.9%). Out of all applicants for second-degree studies who
were accepted and studying, the lowest proportion of Israeli-born applicants was also found
at the Technion (70.3%), and the highest proportion was found at the Weizmann Institute of
Science (88.4%).
( 29 )
2.4 Applicants to Academic Colleges (Tables 1.18-1.23)
2.4.1 Applicants for first-degree studies
In 2007/08, there were 38,280 new applicants and 43,330 applications for first-year studies
toward a first degree at various academic colleges.
Women comprised 50.2% of all applicants to academic colleges, and submitted 50.9% of all
applications.
Of the applicants to academic colleges, 10.9% applied to more than one institution in
2007/08: 12.7% of the women and 9% of the men applied to more than one institution.
However, applications to more than one institution did not increase the women’s chances of
acceptance to the institutions they had applied to: 63.7% of the applicants to more than one
institution were accepted and studying (59.1% were accepted to their field of first
preference). The proportion of men was 65.1%, and the proportion of women was 62.3%. In
general, applications to more than one institution increase the applicant’s chances of
acceptance: 80.4% of those who applied to four or more institutions were accepted and
studying, compared to 62.7% of those who applied to only one institution (Table 5 below).
The largest number of applications was to the Ariel University Center of Samaria (5,352
applications), and to the College of Management – Academic Studies (4,132 applications).
The smallest number of applications was to the Zefat Academic College (51 applications),
and to the Peres Academic Center (203 applications).
The proportion of applicants who were accepted and studying was highest at the Peres
Academic Center (98.5%), and at the Jerusalem College of Engineering (91.6%).
In contrast, proportion of applicants who were rejected was highest at the Shenkar College of
Engineering and Design (66.5%), and at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem
(64.3%).
Social Sciences was the field most in demand – 24.1% of all applicants chose that field as
their first preference; 21.7% of all applicants chose Business Administration as their firstpreference field, 19.8% chose Engineering and Architecture, 13.8% chose Law, 8.5% chose
Art, 6.5% chose Computer Sciences and Natural Sciences, 3.7% chose Paramedical
Studies, and only 2% chose Humanities.
In the subjects Pharmaceutical Engineering and Logistics, all of the applicants were
accepted and studying; and in Materials Engineering, 95.7% of the applicants were accepted
and commenced studying. In Industrial Management, 90.1% were accepted, but only 69.7%
of those applicants were studying.
( 30 )
The highest percentage of rejected applicants (72.7%) was in Physiotherapy. The average
number of applications per student in that subject was 3.89. In Fashion Design, 70.6% of all
applicants were rejected, and in Visual Communication 67.8% of all applicants were rejected.
Table 5.- Applicants for First-degree Studies at Academic Colleges, by Number of
Applications, Results of Application, and Field of Study, 2007/08
Total
Applications and Applicants
Applications – total
Applicants – total
Applied to more than one institution
43,330
38,280
10.9
Men
Women
Absolute Numbers
21,266
19,050
9.0
22,067
19,230
12.7
1.13
1.12
Percentage of all applicants
1.15
Accepted and studying, by number of
institutions applied to
1
2
3
4+
62.7
71.6
70.3
80.4
61.3
69.7
67.8
78.4
Results of application
Accepted and studying
Thereof: accepted to first preference
Accepted and not studying
Rejected
100.0
63.7
59.1
10.6
25.7
Number of applications per applicant
Applicants, by first field of preference
Total
Humanities
Art
Social Sciences
Business and Management Sciences
Law
Paramedical Studies
Computer Sciences and Natural Sciences
Engineering and Architecture
Average number of applications per student,
by field of first preference
Humanities
Art
Social Sciences
Business and Management Sciences
Law
Paramedical Studies
Computer Sciences and Natural Sciences
Engineering and Architecture
( 31 )
64.2
74.2
75.1
82.9
Percentages
100.0
65.1
60.6
11.5
23.4
Absolute numbers
100.0
62.3
57.6
9.7
28.0
38,280
761
3,238
9,209
8,307
5,273
1,434
2,472
7,586
19,050
285
1,087
3,115
4,136
2,852
254
1,633
5,688
19,230
476
2,151
6,094
4,171
2,421
1,180
839
1,898
1.02
1.53
1.09
1.08
1.15
1.13
1.08
1.09
1.01
1.35
1.13
1.09
1.15
1.17
1.08
1.08
1.03
1.62
1.08
1.07
1.14
1.13
1.08
1.09
The median age of the applicants for first-degree studies at academic colleges was 24.1
(24.1 for those who were accepted and studying, and 23.8 for those who were rejected). The
median age for men was 24.9, and the median age for women was 23.2.
Jews comprised 88.7% of all applicants for first-degree studies at academic colleges, and
Arabs comprised 7.8%. Of the applicants who were accepted and studying in their field of
first preference, 90.5% were Jews, and 6.1% were Arabs; and of the applicants who were
rejected, 83.9% were Jews, and 12.2% were Arabs.
Among the youngest applicants for first-degree studies at academic colleges, the first fields
of preference were Art and Social Sciences (median age 23.7). Among the oldest applicants
for first-degree studies at academic colleges, the first field of preference was Humanities
(median age 25.2). In the field of Humanities, the proportion of Arabs was higher than in the
other fields (17.9%, compared with 80% for Jews). In the field of Art, the proportion of Arabs
was lower than in the other fields (2%, compared with 92.4% for Jews).
In the field of Law, 88.7% of the Jewish applicants were Israeli-born, and 11.3% were born
abroad. However, in the field of Engineering and Architecture, 76% of the Jewish applicants
were Israeli-born, and 24% were born abroad.
The highest proportion of Arabs out of all applicants for first-degree studies at academic
colleges was found at the Zefat Academic College (62.7% of the applicants were Arabs, and
35.3% were Jews). At the Max Stern Academic College Emek Yezreel, 28.5% of the
applicants were Arabs, and 68.6% were Jews. In contrast, at the Jerusalem College of
Technology – Machon Lev, there were no Arab applicants at all. Similarly, at the Lander
Institute Jerusalem Academic Center, only 1% of the applicants were Arabs and 98.4% were
Jews.
The highest percentage of Israeli-born applicants out of all applicants for first-degree studies
at academic colleges was found at the Sha’arei Mishpat College (90.9%), and at the College
of Management – Academic Studies (89.7%). In contrast, the lowest proportion of Israeliborn applicants was found at the Zefat Academic College (55.6%), and at the Shamoon
College of Engineering (65%).
( 32 )
3.
STUDENTS
3.1 General
This section presents data on students enrolled in academic degree programs in Israel. The
population includes students attending universities, academic colleges, colleges of
education, and extensions of foreign institutions of higher education. The section includes
data on the number of students enrolled in those institutions, the degrees they studied
toward, and the subjects and fields of study taught in the different frameworks, as well as
data on the demographic and georgraphic characteristics of the student population1. The
data are based on processing of files obtained from those institutions.
The first part of the Introduction relates to all students enrolled in institutions of higher
education in Israel. This part includes a comparison of different types of institutions, as well
as descriptions of the multi-annual changes and the variety of degrees and fields of study
offered, and data on the demographic characteristics of the students. The second part of the
Introduction relates separately to each type of institution, by field of study and demographic
characteristics of students.
The tables in the publication are divided according to the different types of educational
institutions. For each type of institution, there are historical tables, tables with data by field
and subject of study, and tables that include demographic data.
3.2 Main Findings and Multiannual Comparison
In 2007/08, 222,355 students were enrolled in academic degree or certificate programs at
institutions of higher education in Israel2. Of this population, 120,812 students attended
universities, 76,699 attended academic colleges, and 24,844 attended colleges of education.
In addition, 1,662 students were enrolled in extensions of foreign institutions of higher
education, and 41,811 were enrolled in academic programs at the Open University.
From the data presented in the following table, it is possible to see the changes that occurred
in the number of students enrolled in the various types of institutions.
1
The data have been presented in the past in the CBS publication: Demographic Characteristics of Applicants
for Studies, Students and Degree Recipients at Institutions of Higher Education 2004/05-2005/06,
Publication No. 1307, Jerusalem 2007.
2
Not including students at the Open University (see Section 7B).
( 33 )
Table 6.- Students in Institutions of Higher Education, by Degree
and Type of Institution (1)
Type of
Institution
1989/90
Total (3)
75,787
First degree
55,105
Second degree
16,155
Third degree
Universities
3,764
67,201
First degree
46,519
Second degree
16,155
Third degree
Academic
colleges
First degree
Second degree
Colleges of
education
First degree (4)
Second degree
3,764
1999/2000
2005/06
2006/07
Absolute Numbers
170,953 215,314 217,104
131,701 165,068 166,912
30,913
38,931
39,230
6,645
9,972
9,715
112,987 122,658 121,234
74,194
76,155
76,707
30,454
33,817
34,935
6,645
9,972
9,715
2007/08
Aannual
percentage of
change (2)
1999/2000
1989/90
Annual
percentage of
change (2)
2007/08
1999/2000
Annual
percent
-age of
change
2007/08
2006/07
222,355
8.5
3.3
2 .4
170,236
9.1
3.3
2.0
40827,
6.7
3.5
4.9
10,156
120,812
5.8
5.3
5.4
0.8
1.8
-0.3
75,635
4.8
0.2
-0.7
33,885
6.5
1.3
0.2
10,156
5.8
5.4
1.8
3,968
3,968
-
33,709
33,250
459
64,355
60,645
3,710
70,046
65,926
4,120
76,699
71,159
5,540
23.9
23.7
-
10.8
10.0
36.5
9.5
7.9
34.5
4,618
4,618(5)
-
24,257
24,257
-
28,301
27,716
585
25,824
24,831
994
24,844
23,442
1,402
18.0
18.0
-
0.3
- 0 .4
-
- 3 .8
- 5 .6
41.0
Percentages
Total
Thereof:
First degree
Universities
Thereof:
First degree
Academic
colleges
Thereof:
First degree
Colleges of
education
Thereof:
First degree
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
72.7
88.7
77.0
66.1
76.7
57.0
76.9
55.8
76.6
54.3
61.4
43.4
35.6
35.1
34.0
5.2
19.7
29.9
32.3
34.5
5.2
19.4
28.2
30.4
32.0
6.1
14.2
13.1
11.9
11.2
6.1
14.2
12.9
11.4
10.5
Not including students at the Open University (see Section 7B).
Geometric average
Including academic diplomas.
As of 2007/08 non-academic studies were not included.
In 1989/90, not including students in programs for continuation of studies toward an academic
degree at colleges of education.
( 34 )
Of the students studying at institutions of higher education in 2007/08, 170,236 (76.9%) were
studying toward a first degree. Of those studying toward a first degree, 44.4% were enrolled
in universities, 41.8% were enrolled in academic colleges, and 13.8% were enrolled in
colleges of education. In 2007/08, the general upward trend in the number of students at
academic colleges continued.
In the 1990s, the number of students enrolled in academic degree programs at institutions of
higher education increased at an average annual rate of 8.4%, compared with an increase of
only 2.4% in 2007/08. Between 1989/90 and 1999/2000, the number of students enrolled in
first-degree programs increased at an average annual rate of 9.2%, compared with an
increase of 2.0% between 2006/07 and 2007//08. Regarding the number of students enrolled
in second-degree programs, there was an increase of 4.9% over the past year, compared
with a decline of 0.8% between 2005/06 and 2006/07. The number of students enrolled in
third-degree programs (at universities only) increased at an average annual rate of 5.8%
during the previous decade, compared with an increase of 1.8% over the past year.
At universities, enrollment declined over the past year. The number of students in firstdegree programs dropped by 0.7% (compared with an average annual increase of 4.8% over
the past decade). In academic colleges of education, there was also a decline of 5.6% in the
number of students enrolled in first-degree programs over the past year, compared with an
average annual increase of 18.8% over the past decade. By contrast, the number of students
enrolled in first-degree programs at academic colleges continued to rise in 2007/08, albeit at
a more moderate rate than over the previous decade: between 2006/07 and 2007/08, the
enrollment rate for first-degree programs in academic colleges increased by 7.9%, compared
with an average annual increase of 23.7% between 1989/90 and 1999/2000. The number of
students enrolled in second-degree programs at universities stabilized in comparison with the
previous year (compared with a decline of 3.2% between 2005/06 and 2006/07, and an
average annual increase of 6.5% during the previous decade). In 1998/99, academic
colleges began granting second degrees, and in 2007/08, 5,540 students were enrolled in
second-degree programs at those institutions – an increase of 34.5% compared with
2006/07. At academic colleges of education, the percentages of second-degree students
increased by 41% over the past year.
In sum, over the years there has been a relatively large increase in the number of students
enrolled in academic colleges, compared with a moderate increase and even a decline in the
number of students enrolled in universities. As a result of these processes, there is has been
a change in the relative proportion of students enrolled at universities in comparison with
academic colleges. In 1989/90, the number of students enrolled in first-degree programs at
( 35 )
universities was five times higher than the total number of students enrolled in those
programs at academic colleges and colleges of education. In 1999/2000, the proportion of all
students enrolled in first-degree programs at universities was 55.7%, compared with 44.4%
in 2007/08.
Table 7.- Students Enrolled in First-degree Programs, by Type of Institution (1)
Year
Total
Universities
Absolute
numbers
Academic
colleges
Colleges of
education (2)
Percentages
1989/90
55,105
100.0
84.9
6.7
1990/91
58,359
100.0
83.6
7.3
9.1
1991/92
66,632
100.0
81.0
7.7
11.3
1992/93
72,588
100.0
80.7
9.0
10.2
1993/94
80,048
100.0
79.0
10.8
10.2
1994/95
92,503
100.0
71.8
10.0
18.1
1995/96
92,782
100.0
74.4
14.6
11.0
1996/97
111,396
100.0
63.1
15.6
21.3
1997/98
124,618
100.0
58.2
18.8
23.0
1998/99
130,022
100.0
56.8
22.0
21.3
1999/2000
131,701
100.0
55.7
24.9
19.4
2000/01
138,111
100.0
53.6
27.1
19.3
2001/02
144,799
100.0
52.1
29.4
18.5
2002/03
151,582
100.0
50.6
31.0
18.4
2003/04
157,837
100.0
49.8
32.4
17.9
2004/05
161,930
100.0
48.3
33.9
17.7
2005/06
165,068
100.0
46.5
36.7
16.8
2006/07
166,912
100.0
45.1
39.0
15.9
2007/08
170,236
100.0
44.4
41.8
8.4
13.8
Percentage of annual increase
2007/08 (3)
1989/90
2007/08 (3)
1999/2000
2007/08
2006/07
6.5
2.7
17.9
3.3
0.2
10.0
2.0
0.7-
7.9
9.4
1.25.6-
(1) Not including students at the Open University (see Section 7B).
(2) As of 1995/96, includes students in programs for continuation of studies toward a first
degree at colleges of education.
(3) Geometric average.
( 36 )
3.3 Fields of Study
Differences were found in the distribution of students in first-degree programs in the various
fields of study at universities versus academic colleges and colleges of education. In
2007/08, 91.2% of all students studying toward a first degree in education, were enrolled in
colleges of education; 78.9% of all students studying Law and 85.8% of those studying
Business and Management Studies were enrolled in academic colleges.
In the other fields of study, the share of the student population at the six universities was
higher: 70.7% of all students specializing in the Humanities studied at universities, as did
54.2% of all those studying Social Sciences, 81.4% of all those Paramedical Studies, 62% of
all those studying Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Sciences, 95.5% af all those
studying Physical Sciences, 77.5% af all those studying Biological Sciences, and 100.0% of
all those studying Medicine and Agriculture. The students in these fields constituted 70% of
all first-degree students at universities.
The number of students in Engineering and Architecture at academic colleges was slightly
higher than at universities. The proportion of students in Engineering and Architecture out of
all students at academic colleges was 20.6%, compared with 18.2% of all students at
universities. These data reflect the rapid increase in the number of students enrolled in
academic colleges in recent years.
( 37 )
Table 8.- First-degree Students(1), by Type of Institution and Field of Study, 2007/08
Field of Study
Total
Universities
Academic
Colleges of
Colleges
Education
Absolute Numbers
170,300
75,635
71,159
23,442
Humanities
19,349
13,681
5,668
-
Education and Teacher Training
25,705
1,718
545
23,442
Social Sciences
38,012
20,598
17,414
-
Business and Management Sciences
17,019
2,415
14,604
-
Law
15,783
3,338
12,445
-
Medicine
1,421
1,421
-
-
Paramedical Studies
7,945
6,467
1,478
-
Mathematics, Statistics
and Computer Sciences
8,308
5,154
3,154
-
Physical Sciences
2,816
2,688
128
-
Biological Sciences
4,768
3,694
1,074
-
Total
Agriculture
Engineering and Agriculture
735
735
-
-
28,439
13,790
14,649
-
Percentages
100.0
44.4
41.8
13.8
Humanities
100.0
70.7
29.3
-
Education and Teacher Training
100.0
6.7
2.1
91.2
Social Sciences
100.0
54.2
45.8
-
Business and Management Sciences
100.0
14.2
85.8
-
Law
100.0
21.1
78.9
-
Medicine
100.0
100.0
-
-
Paramedical Studies
100.0
81.4
18.6
-
Mathematics, Statistics
and Computer Sciences
100.0
62.0
38.0
-
Physical Sciences
100.0
95.5
4.5
-
Biological Sciences
100.0
77.5
22.5
-
Agriculture
100.0
100.0
-
-
Engineering and Agriculture
100.0
48.5
51.5
-
Total
(1) Excluding students in the Open University (see Section 7B).
( 38 )
3.4 Demographic Characteristics of First-degree Students
In 2007/08, women constituted 55.3% of all students: 54.6% at universities, 48% at academic
colleges, 55% at the Open University, and 80.1% at colleges of education.
The students at universities were youngest (median age 24.5, compared with median age
25.3 at academic colleges and 26.9 at the Open University).
Thirty percent of the Arab students in first-degree programs were enrolled in colleges of
education, and 40.5% were enrolled in universities. The proportion of Arabs among all
students at colleges of education was 28.5%, compared with 11.8% of the students in
universities, 5.9% at the Open University, and 5.7% at academic colleges.
Of the first-degree students, 44.5% were Israeli-born with Israeli-born parents. One-fourth of
the Jewish students enrolled in first-degree programs were of Asian-African origin. Their
proportion at universities was relatively low (19.8%), and their proportion at colleges of
education was relatively high (29.5%). The propotion of immigrants from Europe/America at
universities was relatively high (16.5% of all students at universities were born in these
continents), whereas their proportion at colleges of education was 9.5%.
Nearly half of the students lived in the Central and Tel Aviv districts; 27.7% of the students in
academic institutions lived in the Haifa and Northern districts, 12.9% lived in the Southern
District, 8.4% lived in the Jerusalem District, and 4.6% lived in the Judea and Samaria Area.
About half of the students lived in localities in socio-economic clusters 7-10 (the highest
clusters), whereas 24.8% lived in localities in clusters 1-4 (the lowest clusters). Half of the
students from localities in the low socio-economic clusters were enrolled at colleges of
education which, as mentioned, had a relatively high representation of Arabs. At universities,
the representation of students from low socio-economic localities (25.3%) was higher than at
academic colleges and at the Open University (21.7% and 18.8%, respectively).
( 39 )
Table 9.- First-degree Students, by Selected Demographic Characteristics
and Type of Institution, 2007/08
Total
The Open
University
Universities
Academic
colleges
Colleges of
education
Absolute Numbers
Grand total
Median age
Sex – total
Men
Women
212,111
25.1
100.0
44.7
55.3
75,635
24.5
100.0
45.4
54.6
41,811
26.9
100.0
45.0
55.0
71,159
25.3
100.0
52.0
48.0
23,442
24.8
100.0
19.9
80.1
Percentages
Age – total
Up to 21
22-24
25-29
30-34
35-44
45+
100.0
14.7
34.0
34.0
8.2
6.2
2.9
100.0
17.5
40.4
33.5
4.5
2.7
1.3
100.0
11.4
22.5
34.6
14.9
11.2
5.4
100.0
10.7
35.9
37.5
8.0
5.6
2.3
100.0
23.6
28.1
23.9
8.7
10.2
5.4
Age – total
UP to 21
22-24
25-29
30-34
35-44
45+
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
35.8
42.7
42.5
35.2
19.8
15.7
16.4
19.7
15.2
13.1
20.1
35.9
36.0
36.6
33.5
24.4
35.3
36.9
32.6
30.2
26.4
11.0
17.6
9.1
7.7
11.7
18.2
20.6
Population group
and religion – total
Jews and Others
Thereof: Jews
Arabs
Thereof: Moslems
Christians
Druze
100.0
89.5
86.5
10.5
7.5
1.8
1.2
100.0
88.2
84.8
11.8
7.6
2.5
1.7
100.0
94.1
90.6
5.9
4.4
1.0
0.6
100.0
94.3
91.3
5.7
3.9
1.2
0.6
100.0
71.5
70.5
28.5
23.9
2.6
1.9
Population group
and religion – total
Jews and Others
Thereof: Jews
Arabs
Thereof: Moslems
Christians
Druze
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
35.8
35.2
35.1
40.5
36.1
50.5
54.2
19.7
20.7
20.7
11.2
11.5
11.3
9.5
33.5
35.2
35.3
18.3
17.5
21.9
17.9
11.0
8.8
9.0
30.0
34.9
16.3
18.3
( 40 )
Table 9.- (continued)
Total
Universities
The Open
University
Academic
colleges
Colleges of
education
Origin (Jews) – total
Israel
Asia/Africa – total
Israeli-born
Born abroad
Europe/America – total
Israeli-born
Born abroad
Origin (Jews) – total
Israel
Asia/Africa – total
Israeli-born
Born abroad
100.0
44.5
24.7
22.6
2.1
30.8
16.0
14.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
47.0
19.8
18.0
1.7
33.3
16.8
16.5
35.1
37.0
28.1
28.0
29.1
100.0
41.5
28.3
26.4
1.9
30.2
16.1
14.2
20.7
19.2
23.7
24.2
18.3
100.0
44.0
26.3
23.9
2.4
29.8
14.9
14.8
35.3
34.9
37.5
37.3
40.5
100.0
44.4
29.5
26.7
2.8
26.1
16.6
9.5
9.0
8.9
10.7
10.6
12.1
Europe/America – total
100.0
37.9
20.3
34.1
7.6
Israeli-born
Born abroad
District of residence – total
Jerusalem
Northern
Haifa
Central
Tel Aviv
Southern
Judea and Samaria Area
District of residence – total
Jerusalem
Northern
Haifa
Central
Tel Aviv
Southern
Judea and Samaria Area
Socio-economic cluster of
locality of residence - total
1-2
3-4
5-6
100.0
100.0
100.0
8.4
15.2
12.5
26.2
20.2
12.9
4.6
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
36.8
39.1
100.0
8.2
18.2
16.2
23.2
18.1
12.9
3.3
35.8
34.7
42.9
46.7
31.6
32.1
35.8
25.2
20.8
19.8
100.0
8.3
8.3
9.9
31.1
27.5
10.8
4.0
19.7
19.6
10.9
15.8
23.4
26.9
16.4
17.0
33.1
35.3
100.0
8.5
12.6
9.3
28.6
21.4
14.6
5.1
33.5
33.8
27.7
24.9
36.5
35.5
37.8
36.8
9.3
5.8
100.0
9.1
25.6
14.4
20.2
10.1
11.7
8.9
11.0
11.9
18.5
12.7
8.5
5.5
10.0
21.0
100.0
4.3
20.5
27.9
100.0
4.1
21.2
26.3
100.0
2.7
16.1
25.9
100.0
2.7
19.0
30.9
100.0
12.6
30.8
27.9
7-8
9-10
Socio-economic cluster of
locality of residence – total
1-2
3-4
5-6
7-8
9-10
45.8
1.5
46.7
1.8
53.9
1.4
45.8
1.6
28.0
0.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
35.8
34.1
37.0
33.7
36.6
41.6
19.7
12.6
15.5
18.3
23.3
17.8
33.5
20.9
31.1
37.0
33.5
35.8
11.0
32.4
16.5
11.0
6.7
4.8
( 41 )
3.5 Universities (Tables 2.4-2.17)
In 2007/08, 120,812 students attended universities – a decrease of 0.3% compared with
2006/07, whereas between 1989/90 and 2007/08 the number of students increased by an
annual average of 3.5%. At the first degree level, there were 75,635 students in 2007/08 – a
decrease of 0.7 compared with 2006/07. Between 1989/90 and 2007/08, the number of firstdegree students increased by an annual average of 2.7%. At the second degree level, there
were 33,885 students in 2007/08 – a stable trend compared with 2006/07. However, between
1989/90 and 2007/08, the number of students increased by an annual average of 4.2%. At
the third degree level, there were 10,156 students in 2007/08 – an increase of 1.8%
compared with 2006/07. Between 1989/90 and 2007/08, the number of students increased
by an annual average of 5.7%.
In Humanities, there was a decrease of 5.7% between 2006/07 and 2007/08, compared with
an average annual increase of 1% between 1989/90 and 2007/08; in Physical Sciences,
there was a decrease of 6.0% between 2006/07 and 2007/08, compared with an average
annual increase of 1.8% between 1989/90 and 2007/08; in Agriculture, there was a decrease
of 8.9% between 2006/07 and 2007/08, compared with a stable trend between 1989/90 and
2007/08.
An analysis of the data for second-degree students reveals a mixed trend. In Mathematics,
Statistics, and Computer Sciences, there was a decline of 5.4%, compared with an average
annual increase of 3.7% between 1989/90 and 2007/08. In the Humanities, there was a
decline of 0.1% in the number of students studying toward a second degree between
2006/07 and 2007/08, compared with an average annual increase of 3.6% between 1989/90
and 2007/08. In Biological Sciences, there was a decline of 4.7% between 2006/07 and
2007/08, compared with an average annual increase of 3.6% between 1989/90 and 2007/08;
and in Engineering and Architecture, there was a decline of 5.1% in the number of seconddegree students between 2006/07 and 2007/08, compared with an average annual increase
of 1.9% between 1989/90 and 2007/08. However, there were fields in which the number of
second-degree students rose between 2006/07 and 2007/08: in Medicine and Paramedical
Studies, there was an increase of 2.7% in the number of second-degree students. In
addition, there was an increase of 3.6% in the number of second-degree students in Law
between 2006/07 and 2007/08, although the average annual increase between 1989/90 and
2007/08 was much higher in that field (15.7%).
In contrast to 2006/07, there was a decline in the number of first-year students at
universities. The number of new students declined by 3.4% in 2007/08, compared with an
increase of 6.4% between 2005/06 and 2006/07.
( 42 )
Table 10.- Percentage of Change in the Number of Students at Universities,
by Field of Study and Degree
Annual Percentage of Change (1)
Field of Study
Total
First Degree
Second Degree
Third Degree
2007/08 2007/08 2007/08 2007/08 2007/08 2007/08 2007/08 2007/08
1989/90 2006/07 1989/90 2006/07 1989/90 2006/07 1989/90 2006//07
Total
3.3
-0.3
2.7
-0.6
4.2
0.0
5.7
1.8
Humanities
2.0
-3.7
1.0
5.7-
3.6
0.1-
5.6
1.9-
Social Sciences
3.3
1.3
2.9
2.5
4.0
2.5-
8.5
1.7
Business and Management
4.8
0.9
3.7
7.3-
5.3
4.5
6.4
0.9-
Law
5.4
8.4
2.7
12.0
15.7
3.6
8.2
10.2
Medicine and Paramedical
Studies
5.3
0.6
5.4
0.9-
4.4
2.7
11.8
6.0
Mathematics and Natural
Sciences – total
3.6
-2.9
3.4
4.5-
3.3
3.0-
4.6
2.7
Mathematics, Statistics
and Computer Sciences
3.5
-1.3
3.3
0.4-
3.7
5.4-
4.9
0.3
Physical Sciences
2.3
0.8-
1.8
6.0-
2.4
3.1
3.8
4.3
Biological Sciences
4.6
4.9-
5.0
8.8-
3.6
4.7-
5.0
2.7
Agriculture
1.2
4.1-
-
-8.9
2.4
3.3-
3.3
9.1
3.2
2.4
3.4
3.8
1.9
5.1-
4.5
4.0
Engineering and Arcitecture
(1) Geometric average
The proportion of women in the overall student population at universities in 2007/08 was
54.9%, compared with 43.3% in 1969/70. The proportion of women studying for their third
degree has been increasing steadily: in 2007/08 women constituted 56.2% of all students
studying toward a second degree, and 52.7% of all students studying toward a third degree.
Table 11.- Percentage of Women in the Student Population at Universities, by Degree
Degree
Total
First degree
Second degree
Third degree
1969/70
1979/80
1989/90
2007/08
43.3
46.9
26.1
19.3
46.2
47.6
41.4
32.2
50.8
51.3
50.3
41.3
54.9
54.6
56.2
52.7
( 43 )
3.6 The Open University (Tables 2.18-2.19)
In 2007/08, 41,811 persons were enrolled in first-degree programs at the Open University,
and 2,516 were enrolled in second-degree programs – an increase of 10.9% in enrollment in
first-degree programs, and a decrease of 3.1% in enrollment in second-degree programs
compared with the previous year.
Of the first-degree students at the Open University, 78.7% studied courses in Social
Sciences, 9.2% in the Humanities, 7.7% in Natural Sciences and Mathematics, 4.1% in
Computer Sciences, and the rest in Biological Sciences and Engineering.
Of the students studying toward a second degree in Education, 83.9% were women,
compared with 46.3% of those studying toward a second degree in Business Administration,
and 19.1% of those studying toward a second degree in Computer Sciences.
The median age of the students at the Open University was relatively high (26.9 years,
compared with 24.5 years for university students, and 25.3 for students at academic
colleges).
The percentage of Arab students out of all first-degree students at the Open University
(5.9%) was half of the percentage of Arab first-degree students at universities.
Most of the students at the Open University (56%) lived in the Central region of Israel - in the
Tel Aviv District and in the Central District.
3.7 Academic Colleges (Tables 2.20-2.25)
There were 71,159 students enrolled in first-degree programs at academic colleges in
2007/08 – an increase of 7.9% compared with 2006/07. The number of new students
studying toward a first degree rose by 12.2%, and the number of second-degree students
rose by 34.5%.
The increase in the number of students in 2007/08 is evident in all fields of first-degree
studies. In the Humanities, Art, and Education, the number of students rose by 11% between
2006/07 and 2007/08, compared with an average annual increase of 15.6% between
1989/90 and 2007/08. In 2007/08, 45% of the students in academic colleges studied Social
Sciences and Business Administration, and 17.5% studied Law. The students in those fields
comprised 62.5% of all first-degree students at academic colleges.
In Social Sciences and Business Administration, the number of students enrolled in firstdegree programs at academic colleges rose by 9.6% between 2006/07 and 2007/08 – a
lower rate than the average annual increase between 1989/90 and 2007/08 (13.4%). In
Paramedical Studies, there was a substantial increase of 29.8% between 2006/07 and
2007/08, compared with an average annual increase of 12.3% between 1989/90 and
( 44 )
2006/07. In Mathematics and Computer Sciences, there was an increase of 12.6% in the
number of students between 2006/07 and 2007/08, compared with an average annual
decline of 6% between 1989/90 and 2007/08. In Physical Sciences, the rate of increase in
the number of students slowed down. Between 2006/07 and 2007/08, there was an increase
of 24.3% in that field of study, compared with an increase of 47.1% between 2005/06 and
2006/07. Notably, this field was not taught in academic colleges in 1989/90.
Table 12.- First-degree Students at Academic Colleges, by Field of Study
Field of Study
Total
Humanities
Social Sciences and Business
Law
Paramedical Studies
Mathematics and Natural Sciences –
total
Mathematics, Statistics, and
Computer Sciences
Physical Sciences
Biological sciences
Engineering and Architecture
Annual percentage of
change(1)
Annual percentage of
change
2007/08
1989/90
10.0
15.8
13.4
8.3
14.4
2007/08
2006/07
7.9
11.0
9.6
0.7
29.8
0.1
9.7
-3.8
7.5
12.6
24.3
0.5
7.3
(1) Geometric average.
Of the students enrolled in academic colleges in 2007/08, 5,540 (7.2%) were studying toward
a second degree – 54.8% in Business Administration, 13.3% in Jewish Studies, and 19.4% in
Social Sciences. The rest of the second-degree students were studying Computer Sciences,
Law, Engineering and Architecture, Art, and Optometry.
Women constituted 48.6% of all students in academic colleges in 2007/08 (48% of the firstdegree students, and 56.3% of the second-degree students). This reflects an increase
compared with 1989/90, when only 40.2% of the students in academic colleges were women.
The proportion of women studying toward a first degree was particularly high. In Paramedical
Studies, 83.8% of the students were women (in Communication Disorders, the proportion of
women was over 90%). In Humanities, women comprised 62.3% of the students. The field of
Humanities included subjects in the Arts such as Dance, Fashion Design, Textile Design,
Jewellery Design, and Ceramic Design, in which over 80% of the students were women.
By contrast, in the field of Engineering and Architecture, women comprised only 23.7% of all
students in that field. In the subjects Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and
Electrical Engineering and Electronics, women comprised less than 10% of the students. In
Computer Sciences and Natural Sciences, women comprised 32.4% of all students.
( 45 )
In the Social Sciences, the proportion of women was 64.9% - higher than the proportion of
men. In therapeutic professions such as Psychology, Social Work, and Criminology, women
constituted the absolute majority of students. In Management Studies, the majority of
students were men, and in Law, the percentages of men and women were similar.
Of the Arab students enrolled in academic colleges, 24.9% were studying Law, compared
with 17.5% of the Jewish students.
3.8 Colleges of Education (Tables 2.26-2.28)
In 2007/08, there were 23,442 students enrolled in studies toward a first degree at colleges
of education (of whom 5,030 were in programs for continuation of studies) – a decline of
5.6% compared with 2006/07. That was the second year in which the number of students
enrolled in colleges of education declined, compared with an average annual increase of
about 20% between 1995/96 and 1999/2000.
Of the students enrolled in colleges of education, 19.8% specialized in special education,
13.1% in teaching Bible and Jewish Studies, 9.1% in the Arts, 5.5% in English, 6.4% in
Physical Education, 6.2% in Mathematics, 4% in Social Sciences, 1.3% in Biology, 0.8% in
Computer Sciences, and 0.5% in Physics.
The proportion of students specializing in Humanities and History declined by 17.8%, and the
proportion of students specializing in Mathematics and Computer Sciences declined by 7.1%
between 2006/07 and 2007/08. During that period, there was also a decline in the number of
students specializing in the following subjects: Art – a decline of 8.2%; technological and
technical subjects – a decline of 1.4%; Special Education – a decline of 7.7%; and Arabic
and Arab culture – a decline of 1.9%. In contrast, between 2006/07 and 2007/08 there was
an increase in the number of students specializing in some subjects, as follows: Education –
an increase of 2.7%; Literature and Hebrew – an increase of 8.6%; and a particularly
significant increase in Natural Sciences – 14.3%.
Over the years, a downward trend has been observed in the fields of Humanities and History.
There was a substantial decline in the number of students in 2007/08 compared with
1999/2000 in Humanities and History (9.5%), as well as in Literature and Hebrew (9.1%).
( 46 )
Table 13.- First-degree Students at Colleges of Education, by Field of Specialization
Field of Specialization
Annual percentage of change
Annual
2007/08
(1) percentage of change
2007/08
1999/2000
Total
Humanities and History
Education
Art
Social Sciences
English
Literature and Hebrew
Mathematics and Computer Sciences
Natural Sciences
Bible and Jewish Studies
Technological and Technical Subjects
Special Education
Physical Education
General Teaching and Other Subjects
Arabic and Arab Culture
-0.4
-9.5
7.7
11.3
7.3
3.2
-9.1
-1.3
-1.1
-3.4
20.9
1.6
0.6
-5.1
7.5
2006/07
-5.6
-17.8
2.7
-8.2
-9.1
-6.1
8.6
-7.1
14.3
-3.7
-1.4
-7.7
-2.5
-11.6
-1.9
(1) Geometric average.
The share of women studying at colleges of education was 80.1% in 2007/08, compared with
90.6% in 1989/90. Over one-third of the men studying at those colleges specialized in
teaching Jewish Studies, compared with 6.8% of the women. The men also tended to
specialize in Physical Education (14% of the men, compared with 4.5% of the women).
Almost half of the women specialized in Special Education and in General Teaching,
compared with 10% of the men. About half of the Arab men specialized in Physical
Education, Special Education, and Mathematics, whereas half of the Jewish men specialized
in teaching Jewish Studies. The proportion of Jewish women who specialized in teaching Art
was 13.1%, compared with 1.2% of Arab women. In contrast, the percentage of Arab women
who specialized in teaching English was 10.4%, compared with 4.7% of Jewish women.
3.9 Extensions of Foreign Institutions of Higher of Education
(Tables 2.35-2.36)
In 2007/08, 1,662 students were enrolled in extensions of foreign institutions of higher
education in Israel. Of those, 873 studied toward a first degree, and 789 studied toward a
second degree. Between 2006/07 and 2007/08, there was a decline of 75.2% in the number
of students enrolled in extensions of foreign institutions of higher education in Israel – the
number of students in first-degree programs declined by 76.1%, and the number of students
in second-degree programs declined by 74.2%. The decline is in contrast to the trend of
recent years, during which the number of students in extensions of foreign institutions of
( 47 )
higher education increased. This trend might be attributed to the conversion of some of the
extensions of foreign universities in Israel into academic colleges in recent years, a process
that is expected to continue next year as well.
Table 14.- Students in Extensions of Foreign Institutions of Higher Education,
by Field of Study
Degree
1989/99
1999/2000
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
Annual
percentage
of change
2007/08 (1)
1999/2000
Annual
percentage
of change
2007/08
2006/07
Absolute Numbers
First degree
12,467
10,739
2,650
3,648
873
-26.9
-76.1
Second
degree
6,168
4,915
3,383
3,057
789
-20.4
-74.2
(1) Geometric average.
At the second degree level, the number of students enrolled in the field of Education at
extensions of foreign institutions of higher education declined by 90.1%, and there were no
second-degree programs in the field of Humanities. At the first degree level, the number of
students enfolled in Computer Sciences and Natural Sciences at extensions of foreign
institutions of higher education declined by 39.3%, whereas enrollment in Paramedical
Studies increased by 23.9%.
Table 15. – Students in Extensions of Foreign Institutions of Higher Education,
by Field of Study
2006/07
2007/08
Field of Study
Total
Degree
First Second
Total
Degree
First
Second
Annual percentage of
change
2007/08
2006/07
Degree
Total
First
Second
Absolute Numbers
Total
6,705
3,648
3,057
1,662
873
789
-75.2
-76.1
-74.2
Education
1,049
-
1,049
104
-
104
-90.1
-
-90.1
Humanities
399
-
399
-
-
-
-100.0
-
-100.0
Social Sciences
425
268
157
75
33
42
-82.4
-87.7
-73.2
4,046
2,597
1,449
643
-
643
-84.1
-100.0
-55.6
Paramedical
Studies
577
577
-
715
715
-
23.9
23.9
-
Computer Sciences
and Natural
Sciences
209
206
..
125
125
-
-40.2
-39.3
-
Business and
Management
( 48 )
Among students at extensions of foreign institutions of higher education, the proportion of
women was 70.7% - among first-degree students, the proportion of women was 84.9%, and
among second-degree students the proportion of women was 55%.
The students at extensions of foreign institutions of higher education were relatively old – the
median age of students at those institutions was 34.2 years, compared with 24.5 years at
universities, 25.3 years at academic colleges, and 26.9 years at the Open University.
4.
RECIPIENTS OF ACADEMIC DEGREES
4.1 Main Findings
In 2007/08, academic institutions in Israel awarded academic degrees to 55,321 students:
39,349 were first degrees, 13,649 were second degrees, 1,437 were third degrees, and 886
were diplomas. Of the first-degree recipients, 18,793 received their degrees from
universities, 2,259 from the Open University, 12,830 from academic colleges, and 5,467 from
colleges of education. Of the second-degree recipients, 11,759 received their degrees from
universities, 331 from the Open University, 1,300 from academic colleges, and 259 from
colleges of education. Third degrees were awarded only by the universities.
( 49 )
Table 16.- Recipients of Degrees from Institutions of Higher Education,
by Degree and Type of Institution (1)
Type of
Institution
1989/
1990
1999/
2000
2006/
2007
2007/
2008
1989/
1990
1999/
2000
Absolute numbers
2006/
2007
2007/
2008
Percentages
Grand total (3)
15,251
38,762
54,723
55,321
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
First degree
11,528
29,317
39,261
39,349
75.6
75.6
71.9
2,790
7,528
13,234
13,649
18.3
19.4
24.2
Second degree
Annual percentage
of change (2)
1999/00 2007/08 2007/08
1989/90 1999/00 2006/07
9.8
4 .5
1.3
70.6
9.8
3.7
0.2
24.5
10.4
7.7
3.1
Third degree
450
800
1,288
1,427
3.0
2.1
2.4
2.6
5.9
7.5
1 1 .6
Diploma
Universities –
total (3)
483
1,117
832
886
3.2
2.9
1.5
2.4
8.7
-2.9
6 .5
13,915
26,743
33,380
32,840
91.2
69.0
61.1
58.9
6.8
2.6
-1.6
First degree
10,192
17,298
19,527
18,793
66.8
44.6
35.8
33.7
5 .4
1.0
-3.8
2,790
7,528
11,762
11759
18.3
19.4
21.5
21.1
10.4
5.7
0.0
3.0
2.1
2.4
2.6
5.9
Second degree
Third degree
450
800
1,288
1427
Diploma
The Open
University –
total (3)
483
1,117
803
851
281
1,408
2,428
2,625
1.8
3.6
4.5
4.7
First degree
281
1,408
2,095
2,259
1.8
3.6
3.8
-
-
313
331
-
-
400
6,243
13,367
14,147
2.6
400
6,243
12,206
12,830
2.6
Second degree
Academic
colleges –
total (3)
First degree
7.5
1 1 .6
-3.3
6.0
17.5
8 .1
8 .1
4.1
17.5
6.1
7.8
0.6
0.6
-
-
5.8
16.1
24.5
25.4
31.6
10.7
5.8
16.1
22.3
23.0
31.6
9.4
5.1
1.5
Second degree
Colleges
of education total
-
-
1,159
1,300
-
-
2.1
2.3
-
655
4,368
5,500
5,726
4.3
11.3
9.9
10.3
20.9
3.4
First degree
655
4,368
5,433
5,467
4.3
11.3
9.9
9.8
20.9
2.8
-
-
117
259
Second degree
0.5
12.2
5.4
0.6
127.2
(1) Incl. continuation of studies at colleges of education.
(2) Geometric average.
(3) Incl. recipients of academic diplomas.
The table indicates that in 2007/08, the number of first-degree recipients from universities
declined by 3.8% compared with the previous year. In contrast, the number of degree
recipients from the Open University rose by 8.2%, the number of degree recipients from
academic colleges rose by 5.1%, and the number of degree recipients from colleges of
education rose by 0.6%.
Differences were found between universities and colleges with regard to the distribution of
fields in which degrees were awarded. In 2007/08, most of the first degrees awarded in
Education and Teacher Training, Business and Management Sciences, and Law were from
( 50 )
academic colleges and colleges of education. In Education and Teacher Training, 5,433
degrees were awarded by colleges of education (90% of the first-degree recipients in
Education and Teacher Training), and 565 were awarded by universities; in Business and
Management Sciences, 3,065 degrees were awarded by colleges (70.2% of the first-degree
recipients in this field), 726 were awarded by universities, and 577 were awarded by the
Open University. In Law, 2,585 degrees were awarded by colleges (74.9%), and 867 were
awarded by universities. In contrast, most of the first degrees in the Humanities (75.3%),
Social Sciences (56.3%), and Paramedical Studies (89.0%), Biological Sciences and
Agriculture (80.9%), and in Engineering and Architecture (53.7%) were from universities. In
Medicine, degrees were awarded only by universities. In Mathematics, Statistics and
Computer Sciences, there was a decline in the number of degree recipients from universities
in 2007/08 (1,102, compared with 1,298 in 2005/06), as well as from academic colleges (400,
compared with 616 in 2005/06).
Table 17.- Recipients of a First Degree, by Type of Institution and Field of Study,
2007/08
Field of Study
Total
Absolute
numbers
Universities
The Open
Academic
Colleges of
University
Colleges
Education
Percen- Absolute Percen- Absolute
tages numbers tages numbers
Percen- Absolute Percen- Absolute
tages numbers tages numbers
Percentages
39,349
100.0
18,793
47.8
2,259
5.7
12,830
32.6
5,467
13.9
Humanities
4,005
100.0
3,015
75.3
166
4.1
824
20.6
-
-
Education and
teacher training
6,077
100.0
565
9.3
-
-
45
0.7
5,467
90.0
Social sciences
10,562
100.0
5,945
56.3
1,332
12.6
3,285
31.1
-
-
Business and
management
4,368
100.0
726
16.6
577
13.2
3,065
70.2
-
-
Law
3,452
100.0
867
25.1
-
-
2,585
74.9
-
-
442
100.0
442
100.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
Paramedical
studies
1,925
100.0
1,713
89.0
-
-
212
11.0
-
-
Mathematics,
statistics and
computer
sciences
1,612
100.0
1,102
68.0
110
6.8
400
24.8
-
-
770
100.0
703
91.3
45
5.8
22
2.9
-
-
Biological
sciences and
agriculture
1,548
100.0
1,252
80.9
20
1.3
276
17.8
-
-
Engineering and
agriculture
4,588
100.0
2,463
53.7
9
0.2
2,116
46.1
-
-
Total
Medicine
Physical sciences
( 51 )
Women comprised 58.9% of all first-degree recipients: in academic colleges the share of
women out of all first-degree recipients was 50.1%, compared with 57.6% in universities,
59.1% in the Open University, and 83.9% in colleges of education.
In universities, first-degree recipients were younger than in other institutions of higher
education. The median age of first-degree recipients in universities was 26.6 years,
compared with 27.6 years in academic colleges and 27.9 years in colleges of education.
Recipients of first degrees from the Open University were the oldest (median age 31.6
years).
Of the Arab first-degree recipients, 42.8% were enrolled in colleges of education, and 40.3%
were enrolled in universities. The share of Arabs out of all first-degree recipients was 31.8%
in colleges of education, compared with 8.7% in universities, 4.7% in academic colleges, and
3.7% in the Open University.
Of the Jewish first-degree recipients, about 42.3% were Israeli-born with parents also born in
Israel, and 26.2% were of Asian-African origin. In the Open University, a relatively large
share of the first-degree recipients were of Asian-African origin (34.9%), whereas the share
of first-degree recipients of Asian-African origin in universities was lowest (21.7%). The share
of first-degree recipients of European-American origin from all institutions of higher education
was relatively large (31.5%); the highest percentage first-degree recipients of EuropeanAmerican origin was found in universities (34.2%), and the lowest percentage was found in
colleges of education (26.3%).
Almost half of first-degree recipients resided in the Tel Aviv and Central districts; 27% of the
first-degree recipients resided in the Haifa and Northern districts, 12% resided in the
Southern District, 7.9% resided in the Jerusalem District, and 4.5% resided in the Judea and
Samaria Area. 75% of the degree recipients from non-budgeted academic colleges and 69%
of the first-degree recipients from the Open University resided in the Tel Aviv and Central
districts, compared with 45.5% of the first-degree recipients from universities and 32.2% of
the first-degree recipients from colleges of education.
Of the first-degree recipients from institutions of higher education, 47.8% resided in localities
belonging to socioeconomic clusters 7-8. Of the first-degree recipients from the Open
University, the percentage that resided in localities belonging to those clusters was 64.6%,
compared with only 27% of the first-degree recipients from colleges of education. In contrast,
4.5% of all first-degree recipients from institutions of higher education resided in localities
belonging to socioeconomic clusters 1-2 (the lowest clusters): the share of first-degree
recipients residing in those localities was highest in colleges of education (14.7%), and
lowest in the Open University (1.6%). In contrast, 1.6% of all recipients of first degrees from
( 52 )
institutions of higher education resided in localities belonging to socioeconomic clusters 9-10:
the share of first-degree recipients residing in those localities was highest in universities
(2.1%), and lowest in colleges of education (0.5%).
Table 18.- Recipients of a First Degree, by Sex and Age
2007/08
Total
The Open
University
Universities
Academic
colleges
Colleges of
education
Absolute numbers
Grand total
39,357
18,793
2,259
12,830
5,467
Percentages
Grand total
100.0
47.8
5.8
32.6
13.9
Sex – total
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Men
41.1
42.4
40.9
49.9
16.1
Women
58.9
57.6
59.1
50.1
83.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1.8
2.4
0.6
1.1
1.9
22-24
18.2
22.5
3.0
12.9
21.8
25-29
55.5
60.6
34.3
59.5
37.7
30-34
12.8
9.1
31.4
14.0
15.1
35-44
7.5
3.5
21.6
7.8
14.9
45+
4.2
2.0
9.2
4.7
8.5
Up to 21
100.0
63.6
1.9
19.7
14.9
22-24
100.0
59.2
0.9
23.2
16.7
25-29
100.0
52.1
3.6
35.0
9.4
30-34
100.0
33.9
14.1
35.6
16.4
35-44
100.0
22.0
16.5
34.0
27.5
45+
100.0
22.7
12.7
36.5
28.1
27.3
26.6
31.6
27.6
27.9
Age – total
Up to 21
Age
Median age
( 53 )
Table 19.- Recipients of a First Degree, by Population Group, Religion, and Origin,
2007/08
Total
Universities
The Open
University
Academic
colleges
Colleges of
education
Percentages
Population group and religion
– total
Jews and Others
Thereof: Jews
Arabs
Thereof: Moslems
Christians
Druze
100.0
89.7
87.6
10.3
7.5
1.7
1.1
100.0
91.3
88.7
8.7
5.3
2.2
1.2
100.0
96.3
95.1
3.7
3.0
0.4
0.3
100.0
95.3
93.0
4.7
3.1
1.1
0.5
100.0
68.2
67.8
31.8
27.6
2.2
2.0
Population group and religion
– total
Jews and Others
Thereof: Jews
Arabs
Thereof: Moslems
Christians
Druze
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
47.8
48.7
48.4
40.3
33.4
59.5
54.4
5.8
6.2
6.3
2.1
13.2
21.0
16.0
32.6
34.6
34.6
14.9
2.3
1.3
1.6
13.9
10.6
10.7
42.8
51.1
18.2
27.9
Origin (Jews) – total
Israel
Asia/Africa – total
Israeli-born
Born abroad
Europe/America – total
Israeli-born
Born abroad
100.0
42.3
26.2
24.1
2.1
31.5
17.5
14.0
100.0
44.1
21.7
19.9
1.8
34.2
18.4
15.9
100.0
35.9
34.9
33.1
1.7
29.3
17.5
11.8
100.0
41.7
28.5
26.3
2.2
29.8
16.4
13.4
100.0
39.6
34.1
31.0
3.2
26.3
16.9
9.4
Origin (Jews)
Israel
Asia/Africa – total
Israeli-born
Born abroad
Europe/America – total
Israeli-born
Born abroad
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
50.4
40.0
39.8
41.5
52.5
50.7
54.6
34.0
37.5
37.6
37.0
32.6
32.4
32.8
5.3
8.3
8.6
5.1
5.8
6.2
5.3
10.3
14.2
14.1
16.5
9.1
10.6
7.3
( 54 )
Table 20.- Recipients of a First Degree, by District of Residence and Socio-Economic
Cluster of Locality of Residence, 2007/08
Total
Universities
The Open
University
Academic
colleges
Colleges of
education
Percentages
District of residence - total
Jerusalem
Northern
Haifa
Central
Tel Aviv
Southern
Judea and Samaria Area
100.0
7.9
15.2
12.0
25.3
22.9
12.1
4.5
100.0
8.3
15.1
14.5
22.7
22.8
13.4
3.3
100.0
7.7
4.8
8.1
34.4
34.8
6.5
3.6
100.0
7.1
13.1
8.8
28.8
26.2
11.3
4.6
100.0
8.7
25.0
12.8
22.1
10.1
12.1
9.2
District of residence
Jerusalem
Northern
Haifa
Central
Tel Aviv
Southern
Judea and Samaria Area
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
50.1
47.4
57.5
43.0
47.8
52.8
34.6
5.6
1.8
3.9
7.9
8.8
3.1
4.6
29.1
28.2
24.0
37.1
37.4
30.3
33.1
15.1
22.6
14.7
12.0
6.1
13.8
27.7
Socio-economic cluster of
locality of residence – total
1-2
3-4
5-6
7-8
9-10
100.0
4.5
19.4
26.8
47.8
1.6
100.0
3.3
19.8
25.5
49.6
1.8
100.0
1.6
11.3
20.9
64.6
1.6
100.0
2.4
15.4
29.6
50.9
1.7
100.0
14.7
30.9
26.9
27.0
0.5
Socio-economic cluster
of locality of residence
1-2
3-4
5-6
7-8
9-10
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
35.4
48.8
45.6
49.7
55.3
2.1
3.4
4.5
7.8
6.0
17.2
25.9
36.1
34.7
34.3
45.3
21.9
13.8
7.8
4.4
4.2 Recipients of Degrees from Universities (Tables 3.4-3.17)
In 2007/08, 18,793 students received first degrees (59.1% of all recipients of degrees), and
11,759 (36.8% of all recipients of degrees) received second degrees, of whom 495 students
received medical degrees (M.D.), and 65 received degrees in dentistry (D.M.D.); 1,437
students (4.5%) received third degrees. The number of degree recipients in 2007/08 declined
by 1.6% compared with 2006/07; the number of first-degree recipients declined by 3.8% and
the number of second-degree recipients remained stable, whereas the number of thirddegree recipients rose by 10.8%.
( 55 )
The percentages of degree recipients in Social Sciences were 31.6% at the first degree level,
19.8% at the second degree level, and 13.7% at the third degree level. The percentages of
recipients of degrees in Business and Management Sciences were 3.9% at the first degree
level, 19.7% at the second degree level, and 2.2% at the third degree level. The percentages
of recipients of degrees in Mathematics and Natural Sciences were 14.9% at the first degree
level, 12.2% at the second degree level, and 40.7% at the third degree level (see Table 21).
Table 21.- Recipients of Degrees from Universities, by Degree and Field of Study
2007/08
Field of study
Total
First degree
Second degree
Third degree
Absolute numbers
Total
31,989
18,793
11,759
1,437
Percentages
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Humanities
19.7
19.0
20.1
24.7
Social Sciences
26.5
31.6
19.8
13.7
Business and Management
9.6
3.9
19.7
2.2
Law
6.6
4.6
10.5
1.0
Medicine
3.4
2.4
4.8
5.1
Paramedical Studies
7.2
9.1
4.8
1.3
15.1
14.9
12.2
40.7
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.8
10.6
13.1
6.8
9.5
Total
Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Agriculture
Engineering and Architecture
In 2007/08, there was an increase of 7.3% in the number of first-degree recipients in general
Humanities compared with 2006/07, as well as an increase of 5.5% the number of firstdegree recipients in Paramedical Studies. Concomitantly, there was a decline in the number
of first-degree recipients in the following fields: Languages, Literature and Regional Studies
(10.4%), Education (12.2%), Social Sciences (6.4%), Physical Sciences (4.9%), Biological
Sciences (7.4%), and Engineering and Architecture (9.4%).
Among the second-degree recipients, there was an increase in the fields of Education
(4.4%), Art (10.7%), Medicine (6.5%), Paramedical Studies (7.0%), Physical Sciences
(9.9%), and Agriculture (17.3%). In contrast, there was a decline in the number of seconddegree students in the Humanities (5.6%), Languages, Literature and Regional Studies
(6.8%), and Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Sciences (5.6%). At the third degree
( 56 )
level, there was a substantial increase in the number of degree recipients in most fields, and
particularly in Mathematics and Natural Sciences (9.2%).
Completion of a second degree with a thesis may indicate a person’s intention to continue
studying toward a third degree, or the possibility of doing so. Therefore, it is important to
analyze the data over a period of years in order to better understand the phenomenon.
During the period from 1990/91 to 2007/08, there was an increase in the total number of
second-degree recipients with a thesis in all fields, except for Business and Management
Studies. However, the relative share of second-degree recipients with a thesis (compared to
those who received a second degree without a thesis) dropped in all fields – except for
Medicine, where all second-degree recipients completed a degree with a thesis. In 2007/08,
there was an overall increase in the number of second-degree recipients with a thesis
compared with 2006/07, and their proportion was 33.9%.
Table 22.- Recipients of a Second Degree With Thesis, and their Proportion out of all
Recipients of Second Degrees, 1990/91-2007/08
Field of Study
Recipients of a second degree
with a thesis
Percentage out of all recipients
of second degrees
1990/
1991
1990/
1991
1999/
2000
2006/
2007
2007/
2008
Absolute numbers
1999/
2000
2006/
2007
2007/
2008
Percentage of
change
2007/08
2006/07
With a
thesis
Without
a thesis
Percentages
1,742
2,223
3,774
3,833
72.6
31.5
33.3
33.9
1.6
1.4
Humanities
345
574
875
826
69.3
34.1
36.3
34.9
-5.6
0.3
Social Sciences
287
466
634
732
55.5
30.5
26.9
31.5
15.5
-7.8
Business and
Management
238
98
116
128
58.6
4.7
4.9
5.5
10.3
-2.7
Law
11
30
38
33
78.6
8.1
3.1
2.7
-13.2
0.7
Medicine
14
51
99
94
77.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
-5.1
-
Paramedical Studies
51
77
234
217
92.7
54.6
44.5
38.5
-7.3
18.5
513
607
1,204
1,218
99.2
91.8
84.9
84.7
1.2
2.8
54
46
86
110
73.0
55.4
64.7
70.5
27.9
-2.1
229
274
488
476
76.6
63.4
61.9
59.9
-2.5
6.3
Total
Mathematics and
Natural Sciences
Agriculture
Engineering and
Architecture
Of all recipients of first degrees from universities, 22.9% were from Bar-Ilan University; of all
second-degree recipients, 26% were from Tel Aviv University, and of all third-degree
recipients, 22.5% were from the Hebrew University.
( 57 )
At all of the universities except Haifa University, there was a decline in the overall number of
first-degree recipients. At Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the number of first-degree
recipients declined by 8.8%, compared with a decline of about 8% at the Technion, about 6%
at Tel Aviv University, about 5% at Bar-Ilan University, and 2.4% at the Hebrew University. In
contrast, the number of first-degree recipients at Haifa University increased by 10.7%.
At the second degree level, there was a substantial increase in the number of degree
recipients from Haifa University (16.6%). At the Hebrew University, the Technion, and BenGurion University of the Negev the number of second-degree recipients increased by 2-3%.
In contrast, the number of second-degree recipients declined by 11.6% at the Weizmann
Institute of Science, and by about 2% at Bar-Ilan University.
At the third degree level, there was an increase in the number of degree recipients at most of
the universities – except at Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute of Science, where
the number of third-degree recipients declined by 5% and 1.5%, respectively. The most
substantial increase in the number of third-degree recipients was found at the Technion
(47.5%). At Haifa University, the number of third-degree recipients increased by 23.7%,
followed by Bar-Ilan University (15.1%), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (13.1%), and the
Hebrew University (6.3%).
The proportion of women out of all degree recipients in 2007/08 was 56.8% - a decline of 0.8
percentage points compared with 2006/07. The decline was found at the first and third
degree levels, whereas the proportion of women remained stable at the second degree level.
In most fields, at all degree levels, women comprised at least one-half of all degree
recipients, except in the fields of Engineering and Architecture; and Mathematics, Statistics
and Computer Sciences (except Statistics); and Physical Sciences. At all of the institutions
except for the Technion and the Weizmann Institute of Science, the ratio of women was
higher than 50%.
( 58 )
Table 23.- Percentage of Women among Recipients of Academic Degrees
from Universities, by Degree and Field of Study
Percentage of Women
Degree and Field of Study
1979/80
1999/90
1999/2000
2006/07
2007/08
42.9
49.6
57.6
57.6
56.8
First degree
45.0
51.7
59.3
58.7
57.6
Second degree
37.8
44.3
54.8
56.3
56.3
Third degree
27.2
34.9
47.3
53.0
50.9
Total (excl. academic diplomas)
Field of study
Thereof: First degree
(in descending order according to 2007/08)
Education and teacher training
71.1
86.7
90.0
81.3
87.8
Paramedical studies
75.4
88.5
85.4
79.4
81.4
Art, crafts and applied art
74.8
82.3
81.7
75.0
74.7
Languages, literature and regional studies
84.5
84.3
80.3
74.8
73.8
Biological sciences
76.1
69.0
71.9
66.8
66.3
Social sciences
49.7
55.1
64.7
66.5
65.0
General humanities
57.4
57.3
54.8
57.4
54.3
Agriculture
28.3
43.3
50.3
55.6
52.2
-
40.3
42.4
55.1
51.8
Law
34.4
42.9
55.3
54.8
51.2
Business and management sciences
13.4
29.5
51.5
54.6
50.4
Physical sciences
33.6
42.4
35.3
41.7
40.5
Mathematics, statistics and
computer sciences
44.0
39.3
37.7
34.3
34.6
Engineering and agriculture
7.0
14.4
21.9
29.2
28.2
Medicine
4.3 Recipients of Academic Diplomas from Universities
In 2007/08, 1,195 students received academic diplomas: 1,016 received teaching
certificates, and 179 received other diplomas. Of those who received teaching certificates,
851 received only that certificate, and the rest received the certificate in addition to an
academic degree. 67% of the recipients of teaching certificates specialized in Humanities;
17.8% specialized in Social Sciences, and 14.6% specialized in Natural Sciences,
Mathematics and Engineering. In 2007/08, 24% of all recipients of teaching certificates were
men, compared with 20.9% in 2006/07.
( 59 )
Table 24.- Recipients of Teaching Certificates from Universities, by Field of Study
2006/07
Field of study
Total
Total
2007/08
Thereof:
Women
Total
Thereof:
Women
941
744
1,016
776
General humanities
161
123
240
173
Languages, literature and regional
studies
Education and teacher training
291
266
264
218
69
67
115
99
61
48
62
47
198
141
181
140
..
..
4
..
Mathematics, statistics and
computer sciences
Physical sciences
61
39
57
39
53
30
37
15
Biological sciences
42
29
54
42
..
..
..
..
Art, crafts and applied art
Social sciences
Business and management sciences
Engineering and architecture
4.4 Recipients of Degrees from the Open University
(Tables 3.18-3.19)
In 2007/08, there were 2,259 recipients of first degrees, 331 recipients of second degrees,
and 33 recipients of teaching certificates from the Open University. 91.8% of all first-degree
recipients from the Open University received degrees in the Humanities and Social Sciences,
of which 25.5% were in Management Sciences. The rest of the degree recipients from the
Open University received degrees in Natural Sciences and Mathematics (8.2%), of which
4.5% were in Computer Sciences. Second degrees were awarded mainly in Business
Administration (80%).
The proportion of women among the first-degree recipients from the Open University was
58.9%, and among the second-degree recipients was 49.5%.
Among the recipients of a first degree from the Open University, 35.9% were Israeli-born with
Israeli-born parents, 34.9% were of Asian-African origin, and 29.3% were of EuropeanAmerican origin. Among those of European-American origin, 11.8% were born abroad.
Of all first-degree recipients from the Open University, 69.2% lived in the Tel Aviv and
Central districts, 7.7% lived in the Jerusalem District, 12.9% lived in the Haifa and Northern
districts, and the rest lived in the Southern District and in the Judea and Samaria Area (6.5%
and 3.6%, respectively).
( 60 )
4.5 Recipients of Degrees from Academic Colleges
(Tables 3.20-3.25)
Academic colleges awarded 14,130 academic degrees in 2007/08. Of those, 12,830 were
first degrees, and 1,300 were second degrees, mainly in Humanities, Social Sciences, and
Business Administration. The number of first-degree recipients at academic colleges rose by
5.1% compared with 2006/07, and the number of second-degree recipients rose by 12%.
The distribution of academic degree recipients in 2007/08 was similar to 2006/07 – except in
the field of Computer Sciences, where the number of recipients of first degrees declined
(Table 25 below).
Table 25.- Recipients of a First Degree from Academic Colleges, by Field of Study
Field of Study
1999/
2000
1990/91
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
Annual percentage of
change
2007/08 (1)
1999/2000
2007/08
2006/07
Absolute numbers
Total
1,299
6,243
Total
Education and teacher
training
100.0
Percentages
100.0
100.0
Art and design
10,856
12,206
12,830
100.0
100.0
9.4
5.1
-
0.8
0.5
0.8
0.4
-0.5
-51.6
24.5
6.9
6.0
6.0
6.4
8.4
13.0
Social sciences
Business and
management sciences
-
17.5
20.9
27.5
25.6
14.8
-2.1
45.2
22.1
21.0
23.4
23.9
10.5
7.1
Law
19.5
28.7
16.7
18.7
20.1
4.7
13.5
Paramedical studies
-
2.9
1.5
1.8
1.7
2.2
-1.4
Computer sciences
Biological sciences
and agriculture
Engineering and
architecture
-
9.3
9.8
3.3
3.1
-4.6
-1.2
-
0.9
1.8
2.2
2.3
22.7
13.3
10.9
11.0
21.7
16.5
16.5
15.2
5.4
(1) Geometric average.
In 2007/08, 6,429 women studied toward a first degree, and they comprised 50.1% of all firstdegree recipients. The percentages of women who received degrees in Humanities, Social
Sciences, Business Administration, and Paramedical Studies ranged from 51.8% to 83.5%.
However, in Engineering and Architecture, women comprised only 22.4% of all recipients of
degrees. In Computer Sciences and Natural Sciences, the share of women who received
degrees was 34.8%, whereas in Law the share of women was 47%.
( 61 )
4.6 Recipients of Degrees from Colleges of Education (B.Ed.)
(Tables 3.26-3.28)
In 2007/08, 26 colleges of education awarded a first degree in education to 5,467 students.
Of those, 1,543 were in programs for continuation of studies. The recipients of a first degree
from colleges of education specialized in 6,548 subjects (about 20% of them received a
degree in two subjects of specialization). The number of recipients of a first degree from
colleges of education remained stable (an increase of 0.6% compared with 2006/07),
compared with an average annual increase of 2.8% between 1999/2000 and 2007/08. Of the
first degrees awarded by colleges of education, 41.6% were in Education, Special Education,
and General Teaching.
Table 26.- Recipients of a First Degree (B.Ed.) from Colleges of Education,
by Subject of Specialization (1)
Annual percentage
of change
Subject of Specialization
Total
Total
Humanities and History
Education
Art
Social Sciences
English
Hebrew
Paramedical Studies
Mathematics and Computer Sciences
Natural Sciences
Bible and Jewish Studies
Technological and Technical Studies
Special Education
Physical Education
General Teaching and Other Subjects
Arabic and Arab Culture
1999/2000
2006/07
2007/08 2007/08(2)
1999/2000
Absolute numbers
4,373
5,433
5,467
Percentages
100.0
100.0
100.0
0.9
2.4
1.4
1.2
3.1
2.9
1.5
6.4
6.5
1.2
2.3
3.9
2.3
3.9
4.5
4.8
3.0
4.1
0.2
0.1
5.8
5.5
7.2
3.8
6.1
5.6
14.1
11.9
11.2
0.1
0.7
0.3
13.1
18.6
20.6
7.1
8.2
5.8
43.0
20.1
18.0
0.9
7.6
7.6
2.8
9.2
15.2
23.1
18.8
11.5
0.9
5.7
7.9
-0.1
15.5
8.8
0.3
-7.8
34.1
2007/08
2006/07
0.6
-40.3
-5.8
2.0
71.2
14.0
39.1
-36.4
32.9
-6.9
-5.1
-50.0
11.9
-28.2
-10.1
0.7
(1) Students who received a first degree in two subjects of specialization were counted separately in
each subject.
(2) Geometric average.
( 62 )
In 2007/08, one-third of the graduates of colleges of education received a first degree in the
Multi-grade track, and about 29% received degrees in the track for Grades VII-X. In the Early
Childhood track, the proportion of degree recipients in 2007/08 was 17.9%, and in the
Grades III-VI track, the proportion was 15.8% (a decline of 5.1% compared with 2006/07). In
the Preschool track, the proportion of degree recipients from colleges of education was 3.8%
(an increase of 50% compared with 2006/07).
Table 27.- Recipients of a First Degree (B.Ed.) from Colleges of Education,
by Track of Study
Track of Study
Total
Total
Preschool
Early Childhood
Grades III-IV
Grades VII-X
Multi-grade Track
Informal Education
1999/2000
2006/07
2007/08
Absolute numbers
4,373
5,433
5,467
Percentages
100.0
100.0
100.0
4.2
18.2
24.1
29.5
23.7
0.3
2.5
18.0
16.7
29.3
33.0
0.4
3.8
17.9
15.8
28.8
33.2
0.5
Annual percentage
of change
2007/08(1)
2007/08
1999/2000
2006/07
2.8
0.6
1.7
2.6
-2.5
2.5
7.3
11.4
50.7
0.4
-5.1
-1.1
1.2
13.0
(1) Geometric average.
The median age of the first-degree recipients from colleges of education was 27.9 years, and
the men were older than the women (median age 30.1 years, compared with 27.6 years for
women).
The difference between the men and the women who received degrees from colleges of
education is also reflected in their subjects of specialization. Most of the men specialized in
Jewish Studies (50.4%), and in Physical Education (40.4%).
( 63 )
5.
SOURCE OF THE DATA
a. The data on applicants, students, and recipients of degrees from universities and
academic colleges are based on processing of files from the institutions of higher
education in Israel. The files include the following personal details (surname, first name,
identity card number, and sex), as well as details of studies at the academic institution
(degree, subjects of study, and other academic data).
The files received by the Central Bureau of Statistics were checked carefully for
uniformity of classifications and definitions in each individual record, as well as for the
completeness and coverage of the populations included in them. The files are collected
annually from the institutions of higher education – except for the file of students at
colleges of education, which is received from the Ministry of Education.
b. The source of the demographic data is the file of the Population Register:
This file includes the following demographic information (for citizens and permanent
residents), among other data:
-
Sex
Year of birth
Population group and religion
Country of birth
Locality of residence
For Israeli-born residents, father’s country of birth.
5.1 The Population and the Period of Reference
Population of Applicants
Applicants: All persons who submitted an application for acceptance to first-year studies
toward a first or second degree at a university, or those who submitted an application for
first-degree studies at a recognized academic college (one or more). Students who applied to
change their course of studies were not included among the applicants.
Population of Students
Student: A student at a university, studying for an academic degree or for a recognized
academic diploma. These individuals were included on the condition that they were required
to pay tuition fees. Students who cancelled their registration by the date of updating the file
were not included.
( 64 )
Population of Degree Recipients
The population of degree recipients for a given year includes all of those who received or
were entitled to receive a degree at one of the graduation ceremonies held during the
academic year under review.
6.
DEFINITIONS
A.
Definitions for Applicants and Applications
First-degree applicant: A person who submitted an application to be accepted to first-year
studies toward a first degree at a recognized university or academic college (one or more) or
any of its branches. Since 1978/79, students who have applied to change their course of
studies are no longer included among the applicants.
Second-degree applicant: A person who submitted an application to be accepted to firstyear studies for a second degree in a recognized university (one or more). Not including
applicants whose candidacy is conditional on completion of prior studies.
Application: an application submitted by an applicant in order to be accepted to first-year
studies for a first or second degree at a specific university.
Results of application: The university or academic college indicated the result of each
application according to the situation at the time of producing the file, as follows:
(1) Accepted and studying: The applicant received a positive reply and was studying at the
university or academic college when the file was updated. At universities, the information
is in accordance with the data appearing in the file of applicants; at academic colleges,
the information is in accordance with actual enrollment at the college.
(2) Accepted, not studying: The applicant received a positive reply but did not commence
studies at the academic institution. In some cases, the applicant commenced studying at
another institution; in other cases, the applicant did not commence studying at all, or the
applicant commenced studying but stopped before the date of updating the file.
(3) Rejected: The applicant received a negative reply from the university (in some cases,
the applicant received a positive reply from another university, and commenced studying
there).
“Best result”: In the processing of the applications at each institution, each application was
included according to the result as above. In the processing of applicants (persons), each
person was included according to the "best result" achieved out of all the universities (for
applicants to universities) or according to the “best result” achieved out of all the academic
( 65 )
colleges (for applicants to academic colleges) to which they applied. The representative
record was selected at the institution where the application results of the applicant were best,
in the following order: studying; accepted, not studying; and rejected.
- Regarding applicants who commenced studies at a specific institution, the representative
record is the application to that institution.
- Regarding applicants who were admitted to only one institution but did not commence
studying, the representative record is the application to the institution by which they were
accepted.
- Regarding applicants who did not commence studying, the representative record is the
“best result”. If the results of the applicant’s applications are identical in two or more
institutions, one of the applications will be selected at random to represent that applicant
with respect to “institution” and “field of first preference”.
Accepted to the subject of study of first preference: Applicants who received a positive
answer to their first preference at the institution where they received the "best result"
(according to the reports of the institution).
Institution of application: Every university or college to which the applicant applied for
registration to first-year studies toward a first or second degree.
Subject of study: The specific subject that the applicant requests to study. In the
processing, a distinction was made (for each institution that the applicant applied to) between
subjects indicated as first preference and those indicated as second preference.
Field of first (or second) preference: The scientific discipline to which the subject of study
belongs, and which the applicant has requested to study as first (or second) preference. The
field of first preference of an applicant who applied to more than one institution was
determined according to the subject(s) to which he applied at the institution where he had the
"best result".
B.
Definitions for Students
Student: Any person studying for an academic degree at a recognized institution of higher
education.
Year of study: Determined according to the academic year in which the student began to
study at a given institution.
( 66 )
C.
Definitions for Recipients of Degrees
A recipient of a degree/diploma: Any person who received from any of the abovementioned institutions a degree recognized by the Council for Higher Education, including
any person who received a diploma conditional on having previously received an academic
degree. Those who received two degrees or both a diploma and a degree during the year of
the survey were counted only once, as recipients of degrees.
As of 1986/87, an additional tabulation was carried out for all recipients of teaching
certificates, according to the subject which they were qualified to teach (Table 26 above).
D.
Definitions for Demographic Characteristics
Age: Age is calculated in full years, by subtracting the year of birth (copied from the
Population Register) from the appropriate academic year: for 1989/90 – 1989, 1999/2000 –
1999, 2003/04 – 2003, 2004/05 – 2004, 2005/06 – 2005; 2006/07 – 2006; 2007/08 – 2007.
Population group and religion: This publication presents data according to the new
classification, and in accordance with the change in the CBS classification as of 2002/03.
According to the new classification, the population group “Jews and others” includes Jews,
non-Arab Christians and people without religious classification; and the Arab population
includes Moslems, Christian Arabs, and Druze. In previous publications, the classification
was “Jews” and “Other Religions”. Applicants, students and degree recipients whose religion
is listed in the Register file as “unclassified” were not included in the distribution by religion.
Data for 2002/03 and 2003/04 cannot be compared with data for previous years.
Origin (Jews): Persons born abroad were classified by continent of birth, and Israeli-born
persons were classified according to the father’s continent of birth.
District of residence: Determined according to the locality of residence in the Population
Register file. (It is possible that regarding some of the above populations, the data are not up
to date, due to lack of changes of address).
Socio-economic cluster of local authorities: Based on the socio-economic index of Local
Authorities developed by the Central Bureau of Statistics, according to an analysis of
selected social and economic variables. Local Authorities were classified into ten
homogenous clusters, represented by values of 1-10. These values reflect the relative socioeconomic level of the Local Authority – the lower the index value of the cluster, the lower the
socio-economic level of the Local Authority.
( 67 )
7.
CLASSIFICATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS
A.
Universities
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
Tel Aviv University
Bar-Ilan University
Haifa University
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Weizmann Institute of Science
B.
The Open University
The Open University is a unique academic institution in Israel. There is no formal application
process for first-degree studies, and students enroll without any prerequisites. It is possible
to enroll in single courses or in a full Bachelor’s degree program.
Students at the Open University are not required to enroll in a specific faculty or department.
Rather, they enroll in courses. Whoever enrolls in a course is considered a student at the
Open University. Thus, in addition to students who are studying toward an academic degree,
there are also those who are not studying toward a degree. Therefore, the tables in the
section on Applicants do not include the Open University, and in the section on Students,
data on students enrolled in the Open University appear separately in the tables.
In the past, most of the academic degrees granted by the Open University were more
general than those granted by other institutions of higher education (e.g., a combined degree
in Humanities and Social Sciences). Therefore, those degree recipients from the Open
University are listed separately in the tables with historical information.
Enrolled: Anyone who paid tuition fees for academic studies in at least one of the semesters
that year. Enrolled persons are counted only once, even if they attended more than one
course in a session. Those who did not study in previous years are registered as "new".
The designation is determined by the majority of courses taken by the student.
Year of study toward a first degree: Determined in accordance with the number of credit
points earned by the student, including credit points on account of previous studies:
First year: 0-36 credit points
Second year: 37-72 credit points
Third year: 73-107 credit points
A first degree is granted after accumulating 108 or more credit points.
( 68 )
C.
Academic Colleges: Institutions that have been recognized by the Council for
Higher Education, and are authorized to grant an academic degree.
There are 19 colleges funded by the government, and 10 non-funded colleges.
Bezalel - Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem
The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance
Jerusalem College of Technology - Machon Lev
Shenkar College of Engineering and Design
Ruppin - The Academic Center
The College of Management - Academic Studies
“ORT” Braude College
The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo
The Hadassah Academic College, Jerusalem
The Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel
Tel-Hai Academic College
Netanya Academic College
The Interdisciplinary Center Herzliyya
Afeka – Tel Aviv Academic College of Engineering in Tel Aviv
Ariel University Center of Samaria
Sapir Academic College
Shamoon College of Engineering
Sha’arei Mishpat – The College of Legal Studies
The Holon Institute of Technology
The Academic Center of Law and Business (formerly Academic College of Law)
Ono Academic College
Jerusalem College of Engineering
Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies
Ashkelon Academic College
Kinneret College on the Sea of Galilee
Lander Institute Jerusalem Academic Center
Peres Academic Center11
Zefat Academic College Center1
The Center for Academic Studies: Management of Social Education1
D.
Colleges of Education
Institutions that have been recognized by the Council for Higher Education. And are
authorized to grant academic degrees in education (B.Ed., M.Ed.):
David Yellin College of Education
Michlala - Jerusalem College
Beit Berl College
Levinsky College of Education
The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at Wingate Institute
Kibbutzim College of Education
Oranim – Academic College of Education
Gordon College of Education
Talpiot College
1
In 2007/08 there were only applicants and students.
( 69 )
Emuna College
The Arabic College for Education in Israel
Lifshitz College of Education
Kaye College of Education
Herzog College
Al-Qasami – Academic College of Education
Campus of Education Givat Washington
The College for Technology Teaching
Achva Academic College
Orot Israel College
Moreshet Yaakov Religious College of Education
Hemdat Hadarom – College for Education in Jewish Studies, Science and Humanities
Shaanan Religious College of Education
Ohalo College of Education
Efrata College of Education
The Neri Bloomfield Academy of Design and Education
E.
Extensions of Foreign Institutions of Higher Education
Extension of a foreign institution of higher education: An extension of a foreign
institution of higher education that is not an Israeli institution, and is therefore not recognized
as an institution of higher education by the Israeli Council for Higher Education. Extensions
of foreign institutions of higher education operate under a licence from the Council for Higher
Education.
Student: A person studying towards a degree at an extension of a foreign institution of
higher education.
Degree: The degree granted to graduates of extensions of foreign institutions of higher
education is an academic degree from the foreign university and not an Israeli academic
degree.
The following is a list of foreign institutions of higher education with extensions in
Israel:
University of New England
New England College
Clark University
Northeastern University
University of Indianapolis
Moscow State University
University of Derby
Lesley College
Heriot Watt University
University of North Texas
( 70 )
F.
Academic Degree/Diploma
A distinction has been made between academic degrees and other academic diplomas, as
follows:
Academic Degree
The academic degrees were classified into three groups:
-
First degree1, such as B.A., B.Sc., B.Tech., B.Ed.
-
Second degree, such as M.A., M.Sc., and M.B.A., as well as M.D. and D.M.D. in
medicine.
-
Third degree, such as Ph.D., Dr.Sc.
Academic Diploma
Included are diplomas which require a first academic degree as a prerequisite, such as: a
teaching certificate, a diploma in translation, a diploma in museum sciences, a diploma in
library sciences, etc.
Field of Study:
The subjects of study were grouped according to the scientific field to which they belong. A
student who graduated in two subjects is presented according to the field of study appearing
first in the institution’s file.
The scientific fields are presented in the tables at two different levels of specification, as
follows:
15 fields of study
7 fields of study
General humanities
Languages, literature and regional studies
Education and teacher training
Art, crafts and applied art2
Special programs and miscellaneous
Humanities
Social sciences3
Business and management sciences
Social sciences3
Law
Law
Medicine
Paramedical studies
Medicine
Mathematics, statistics and computer sciences
Sciences and mathematics
Physical sciences
Biological sciences
Agriculture3
Engineering and architecture
1
2
3
Agriculture3
Engineering and architecture
As of 1981/82, a first degree in medicine has been granted.
In academic colleges – Art and Design.
As of 1984/85, agricultural economics is classified in social sciences instead of in agriculture.
( 71 )
Subjects of study: A detailed classification of subjects of study is updated on an ongoing
basis by the Central Bureau of Statistics. In the tables that present detailed data on subjects
of study, students studying two subjects are listed in each one separately.
Fields of specialization (in colleges of education): The file of subjects that colleges of
education train teachers to teach. Field of specialization includes all of the subjects that
teachers are trained to teach. One person can have more than one field of specialization.
Fields of study were aggregated by the scientific discipline they belong to:
Humanities and history
Jewish studies
English
Hebrew
Arabic
General teaching
Special education
Art
Social sciences
Physical education
Mathematics
Technological subjects and computer sciences
Natural Sciences
Continuation of studies (at colleges of education): Completion of B.Ed. degree studies
for teachers in the education system.
( 72 )