
Students from 64 Countries Choose BGU Despite Conflict
Students from 64 Countries Choose BGU Despite Conflict
January 16, 2025
Negev Development & Community Programs

Ben-Gurion of University of the Negev International Students at the BGU sign in the gathering spot on campus.
The Jerusalem Post – One might expect that during times of conflict, students seeking to study abroad would remove Israel from their list of preferred destinations. However, approximately 600 students from 64 countries chose to continue or begin their academic journey at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), located in southern Israel. This region includes areas near the Gaza Strip, which experienced devastating attacks on October 7, 2023, during the Israel-Hamas war.
Despite global headlines emphasizing the conflict, international students are discovering something even more meaningful during their time in Israel: solidarity, purpose, and community. Many who spent the past year in Israel explain their unique attraction to the country, even during challenging times.
Elizabeth Sick, a PhD student from the United States researching Bedouin women in the Negev (a desert region known for its arid climate and Bedouin communities), shared: “We mourned together for a shattered and lost future, but we also experienced healing moments that connected our diverse experiences.”
The university has made significant efforts to make students feel at home, providing not only security but also a space for academic and social growth. Prof. Michal Bar-Asher Siegal, Vice President for Global Engagement, acknowledges the added complexity of the current period, including navigating the ongoing impacts of conflict and the rise in academic boycotts against Israel. “Our office ensures that we remain a hub for international collaboration,” she stated.
One of the primary factors attracting international students is their seamless integration into the university’s academic and social fabric.
“We hear love stories from students who came here out of passion for Israel,” shares Lior Rosenthal-Almazanino, director of the university’s Welcome Center.
“Students choose Israel for the unique combination of academic excellence, interdisciplinary learning, and opportunities to engage with the country’s diverse and distinctive society,” a statement by BGU said.