On the Road to High-Tech? You Need to Study AI: Bar-Ilan University Launches an Innovative Bachelor's Degree in Computational Artificial Intelligence
As AI reshapes the high-tech industry, Bar-Ilan University is reshaping AI education with a winning proposition: a Bachelor's degree in Computational Artificial Intelligence. This advanced program is tailored for outstanding students who aim high and understand that the ability to develop tomorrow's AI systems provides a critical advantage in today's job market.
It's not easy to be a junior professional aspiring to enter the high-tech industry in 2026. AI tools may be making our lives easier, but at the same time they are making it harder for university students and graduates to find employment. As artificial intelligence becomes capable of writing high-quality code, the industry now expects even junior developers to have deeper knowledge and more advanced skills than ever before.
In this reality—and amid widespread discussion about the "junior crisis"—the question of what to study has become more critical than ever. The Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at Bar-Ilan University offers a new answer for the AI era: a Bachelor's degree in Computational Artificial Intelligence. Rather than a traditional Computer Science degree that "also teaches AI," this innovative program is entirely dedicated to developing and building advanced AI systems, a field whose demand continues to grow rapidly.
The program is built on the understanding that the market needs people who know how to develop AI systems, not just use them. Its goal is to equip graduates with the skills required in a world where AI is everywhere, and with a degree that opens doors to organizations developing the next generation of AI technologies.
Not a Specialization. Not a Track. A Dedicated AI Degree.
Academia is sometimes perceived as a massive ship that struggles to change course, even when reality demands a new direction. The Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at Bar-Ilan University responded rapidly to the AI revolution, joining leading universities worldwide, such as Carnegie Mellon University and the University of California, San Diego, that now offer similar standalone AI degrees.
The foundation of dedicated AI degree programs lies in the understanding that AI is no longer simply a branch of Computer Science. It has become a discipline in its own right. More precisely, it has become one of the most important and strategically significant fields of our time.
Students in the new program immerse themselves in AI from their very first year of study. The curriculum combines strong theoretical foundations with practical development skills and includes cutting-edge technologies that are typically not covered in a standard Computer Science degree.
From Large Language Models to Robotics: What Will You Study?
Professor Gal Kaminka, Head of the program and one of Israel's leading AI researchers with international recognition, explains:
"The goal of the program is not merely to familiarize students with AI tools, but to help them understand how these systems work at a fundamental level and to teach them how to develop the systems themselves."
Accordingly, the curriculum first establishes a strong mathematical, theoretical, and computational foundation centered on AI. Building on this base, students receive comprehensive programming training—from introductory programming to the development of complex software systems—alongside AI-focused algorithms, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), the development of Large Language Model (LLM)-based systems, robotics, and more.
Overall, the program includes 18 newly developed AI courses spanning the full spectrum of artificial intelligence.
Students also participate in advanced laboratories covering topics such as cryptography and Natural Language Processing (NLP)—a field in which Bar-Ilan University has ranked first in Israel between 1986 and 2026 according to the CSRankings index—as well as hands-on workshops in cybersecurity and advanced technologies.
Another key component of the program is direct engagement with industry experts, designed both to connect academic learning with real-world practice and to expose students to exciting career opportunities.
An Elite Program for Students Who Aim High
This advanced curriculum is designed to develop exceptional capabilities in software development, research, and analytical thinking. As such, it is intended for outstanding applicants with ambitious goals and the academic ability to meet its challenges.
Admission requires a Psychometric Entrance Test score of 700 or higher, as well as advanced-level matriculation studies in mathematics.
Beyond academic achievements, the University also looks for essential personal qualities: intellectual curiosity, a passion for deep learning, and the willingness to invest significant effort in order to gain a meaningful competitive advantage for the future.
Learn from Researchers Leading the AI Revolution
Universities must adapt to a rapidly changing employment landscape shaped by AI, rather than preparing students for a world that no longer exists. The new Bachelor's degree in Computational Artificial Intelligence reflects that adaptation.
Bar-Ilan demonstrates its commitment to practical, forward-looking education through its faculty, which includes 15 award-winning researchers recognized internationally in robotics, artificial intelligence, and related fields, including two Fellows of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) (out of only six such Fellows in Israel).
This program also extends to the broader implications of AI technologies. It is clear that developing AI systems requires more than technical expertise. It demands careful consideration of the societal impact and ethical implications of every new technology. Accordingly, alongside advanced technological training, the curriculum also addresses the social and ethical dimensions of AI.
Become the People Who Build the Next Generation of AI
In a world where nearly everyone will soon know how to use AI tools, the real question is: Who will know how to design new AI systems, improve existing ones, and shape the future of artificial intelligence—and, ultimately, the future of humanity?
The new Bachelor's degree offered by the Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at Bar-Ilan University is designed to provide precisely those capabilities.
It offers a significant advantage in the post-AI-revolution job market, particularly for students aspiring to careers such as Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher, or AI Developer.
A deep understanding of the technologies shaping the future—not merely the ability to use them—is the key to building a rewarding career, even in an increasingly competitive industry where employers expect more than ever before.
Interested in Learning More?
Discover whether a Bachelor's degree in Computational Artificial Intelligence is the right fit for you.
Learn more about the program, designed to place its graduates at the forefront of technological innovation and prepare them to help build the next generation of AI systems.
