Important University Services

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is one of Israel’s leading research universities and among the world leaders in many fields.
It has around 20,000 students and 4,000 faculty members in the Faculties of Engineering Sciences; Health Sciences; Natural Sciences; the Pinchas Sapir Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; the Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management; the Joyce and Irving Goldman School of Medicine; the Kreitman School of Advanced Graduate Studies; and the Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies. More than 100,000 alumni play important roles in all areas of research and development, industry, health care, the economy, society, culture and education in Israel.

The University has three main campuses: The Marcus Family Campus in Beer-Sheva; the research campus at Sede Boqer and the Eilat Campus, and is home to national and multi-disciplinary research institutes: the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev; the National Institute of Solar Energy; the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology; the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research; the Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel & Zionism, and Heksherim – The Research Institute for Jewish and Israeli Literature and Culture.

University's website

University's FB page

In 2007, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev took a strategic decision to establish the "Office of International Academic Affairs", reporting to the Rector, which will be centrally responsible for coordination of all mobility matters – incoming and outgoing – for the university.

The decision to establish the "Office of International Academic Affairs" reflects the university's appreciation of the global changes that have swept the world and a serious institutional commitment to broaden and deepen its international character, incorporating a high degree of academic, scientific exchanges on all levels from undergraduate to postdoctoral and faculty.

The Office is located in building 72, floor 5.5, room 574.

Download – Pre-Arrival Guide for International Students and Researchers

BGU Overseas Student Programs (OSP) FB Page

The office is dedicated to advancing students' welfare including economic, personal and academic assistance to students in need. The office is also in charge of the student's dorms, study areas and individual psychological counseling to students as well as offering special scholarships and operating the Student Employment Unit.

The office is located on the second floor of the Student Center, reception hours are between: Sunday-Thursday, 10:00-13:30.

The Dean of Students Office's website

Aranne Library is the Ben-Gurion University's main library and is located by the Ben- Gurion Entrance (Soroka Gate). The library has four floors, and near the many book shelves you can find many areas for reading, studying and group studies. There are also computers, printers and photocopy machines available to students. The library has an Internet website, in which you can check out the catalogue of books, enter many academic information archives (after receiving authorization), extend lending time and more. For your information, during the exam period, the library is open until night time in order to allow students to study.

Opening hours

Sunday – Thursday: 8:30 – 19:45

Friday: 8:30 – 12:45

Library's website

The Sports Center is located nearby the university near the Ramot Gate, and is 30 acres in total. At the center you will find a gym, extracurricular activities, 2 swimming pools and large expanses of green grass. At the center many Student Union events take place, such as the Opening Year Show – a huge party with performances by different Israeli artists to celebrate the beginning of the academic year.

Every Student Union Member can enter the center free of charge and enjoy the pools at the center. Extracurricular activities as well as using the gym require extra payment.

Summer Opening hours:

Sunday 12PM – 12 AM

Monday – Tuesday 5 AM – 12 AM

Wednesday – Thursday 5 AM – 11 PM

Friday 5 AM – 7 PM

Saturday 7 AM – 7 PM

Winter Opening hours:

Sunday 12PM – 12 AM

Monday – Tuesday 5 AM – 12 AM

Wednesday – Thursday 5 AM – 11 PM

Friday 5 AM – 6 PM

Saturday 7 AM – 6 PM

Contact Information: FB page, 08-647-2740.

The Computation Helpdesk assists students with any problem concerning computer authorizations. The helpdesk is in charge of creating passwords for students' use throughout the year, for the various computer services on campus, and takes care of any issues a student might have with these. If you've got a problem when trying to enter the university website or email, contact the helpdesk.

The helpdesk is located in building 58 rooms 003. Phone number: 08-6477171.

Nursing Rooms

Student Center, room 159

Building 35, room -106

Building 72, room A593

Building M105

Building H2, room 1

Contact Rachel Balaban Promovitz to receive a key for the nursing rooms at: 08-6472367,babycoord@bgu.ac.il.

Diaper changing areas: (Inside the ladies toilet if not mentioned otherwise)

Building 72, 3rd floor, room 892C.

Building 16, floor 0, room 086.

Aranne Library, ground floor, room 251.

Student Center, 1st floor, room 191

Building 97, 1st floor, Handicap toilets.

Building 32, 1st floor, room 131

Building 90, 1st floor

Building M8, 1st floor

Building H2, ground floor, room 241.

building 55, Floor 0 next to the elevator

The responsible authorities dealing with complaints of sexual harassment on campus:

– Student Union Sexual Harassment Issues & Gender Equality Coordinator, Yael: [054-2321345], gender@aguda.bgu.ac.il. Student Center, level 1, room 163.

– Sexual Harassment Complaints Representative, Prof. Esther Priel: [08-6479537], priel@bgu.ac.il.

What is sexual harassment?

According to the law (legislated in 1988):

1. Blackmail and threatening, when the act demanded is of a sexual nature.

2. Sexual contact that leads to sexual arousal, satisfaction or humiliation, without consent.

3. Repeated suggestions of sexual nature, when the person to whom the suggestions are directed has shown to the harasser that she/he isn't interested in him/her.

4. Repeated references focused on a person's sexuality or sexual preferences, when the person referred to has shown to the harasser that she/he isn't interested in said references.

5. A degrading or humiliating reference regarding a person's gender, sexuality or sexual preferences.

Or to put it simply: Any physical harassment of a sexual nature or/and any sexual statement or behavior that is repeated though obviously unwanted, is sexual harassment.

The above sections refer to the whole population, regardless of gender and sexual preferences.

Sexual harassment procedure in university

If you've been sexually harassed on campus, you may write a complaint and send it to the Sexual Harassment Complaints Representative Prof. Esther Priel, in order to act according to the university regulations.

You could also turn to her personally, via the details as seen above, or turn to the Student Union's Coordinator – Tom Yogev, and be accompanied throughout the procedure. All information handed in to both coordinators is completely confidential until you decide otherwise!

The coordinator or representative will inform you on the different options of action, after which you may decide to act, or decide not to act with an official complaint after all. If that is the case, the procedure will be stopped and all other details will remain confidential.

If you do decide to hand in an official complaint, the representative will conduct a more thorough inquiry with further authorities – the defendant (the person you complained about) and further witnesses, in order to know the whole picture. At the end of the inquiry, the representative will sum up her conclusions and hand them in to the President of the university, who will in turn decide how to continue the rest of the procedure according to the disciplinary and sexual harassment prevention protocols. As well as the procedure taking place within the university, you may file a complaint at the police station or/and through civilian procedures.

The entire procedure is completed with maximum confidentiality and privacy, as well as protection from further harassment if necessary.