Doctors are a valuable resource in the State of Israel, which is facing a shortage of doctors in the coming years. Medicine is a prestigious field in Israel, and getting accepted to medical school is a journey of its own. Below is a brief overview of medical school in Israel and the criteria for acceptance.

Tracks of Study

There are two ways to study medicine in Israel:

The first option is a full six-year track, followed by a medical internship in Israel. These programs are offered at Hebrew University, The Technion, Tel-Aviv University,  Bar-Ilan University and Ben–Gurion University. In addition to excellent high school grades and a bagrut equivalent*, schools only accept students with a very high score on the Psychometric Exam (usually not less than 740 although the “official” requirement is lower). SAT and ACT scores are not accepted. Olim applicants must obtain a score of at least a 105 or higher on the YAEL Hebrew proficiency exam, although some of the medical schools require an even higher score.

The second option is to study in a  pre-med program (or a BSc which includes the prerequisites delineated below) followed by a four-year Medical School program offered at Tel Aviv University, Bar-Ilan University, Ariel University and Ben-Gurion University.

Olim students must have completed the Aliyah process in order to apply for any medical school program in Israel. The international schools at the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University and the Technion American Medical School have permanently closed for enrollment as of the fall of 2023.

Ben-Gurion University is keeping its Medical School for International Health (MSIH) open for Olim/Israeli citizens only. Studies in years one and two are in English, and studies in years three and four are in Hebrew. More information is here. The acceptance criteria are here.

In order to be accepted to a 4-year medical program in Israel, students must have completed a Bachelor’s degree recognized in Israel and maintained at least an 80 average (and in some cases higher) with the following prerequisites**:

• Biochemistry- 4 credits
• Cell biology- 4 credits
• Molecular biology- 4 credits
• Genetics– 3 credits
• Microbiology- 4 credits
• Physiology- 4 credits
• Statistics- 3 credits

Applicants must take a Mivhan Yeda, a medical knowledge exam (administered in Hebrew), once they have applied to the medical schools of their choice. This exam is offered twice a year, usually in May and June at Tel-Aviv University. More information about the test and registration is here. The application process includes an in-person, individual interview before final acceptance.

Each program has different acceptance criteria, and some may require applicants to take a personality test. Since each medical school program has its own unique requirements and application process, we recommend you see the websites of each medical school for exact prerequisites and updated information.

*A bagrut equivalent for applicants from the United States is 6 APs with a score of 4 or 5. Bagrut equivalency for Canadian Olim can be found here. For more information on bagrut equivalency, please see this.

**At present, BGU’s Medical School for International Health accepts applications with an MCAT score (in addition to applications with a Mivhan Yeda score). If applying with an MCAT score, the required prerequisites are different from the above. Please be in touch with BGU for more information: [email protected]

Updated: December 2023