Tel Aviv University facts for kids
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| Motto | בעקבות הלא נודע (Hebrew), التّميّز بإكتشاف المجهول (Arabic) |
|---|---|
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Motto in English
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Pursuing the Unknown |
| Type | Public research |
| Established | 1956 |
| President | Ariel Porat |
| Vice-Chancellor | Milette Shamir |
| Rector | Mark Shtaif |
| Principal | Mordechai Kohen |
| Vice presidents |
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Academic staff
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1847 |
| Undergraduates | 15,285 (2019) |
| Postgraduates | 11,098 (2019) |
| 2,143 (2019) | |
| Location |
,
Israel
32°06′45″N 34°48′18″E / 32.11250°N 34.80500°E |
| Campus | Urban, 220 acres (89 ha) |
| Language | Hebrew |
| Colors | Black White |
| ARWU World | 201–300 |
|---|---|
| THES World | 201–250 |
Tel Aviv University (TAU) is a large public university in Tel Aviv, Israel. It is a place where people do a lot of important research. With over 30,000 students, it is the biggest university in Israel.
TAU is located in northwest Tel Aviv. It is a main center for learning and research in the city. The university has 9 main areas of study called faculties. It also has 27 schools, 106 departments, and many research centers and labs. Tel Aviv University is known for being a top university worldwide.
The university started in 1956. Three smaller education groups joined together to create it. The campus has grown a lot since then. It is now a large area in Tel Aviv's Ramat Aviv neighborhood.
Contents
History of Tel Aviv University
TAU began in 1956 when three research groups came together. These groups were:
- The Tel Aviv School of Law and Economics (started in 1935)
- The Institute of Natural Sciences (started in 1931)
- The Academic Institute of Jewish Studies (started in 1954)
At first, the city of Tel Aviv ran the university. In 1963, the university became independent. This meant it could make its own decisions. George S. Wise was the first president of the university, from 1963 to 1971. The main campus in Ramat Aviv was also built that same year.
Today, Ariel Porat is the president of Tel Aviv University. The university also helps oversee other colleges. These include the Center for Technological Design in Holon and the Afeka College of Engineering. The Wise Observatory, which is a place for studying stars, is located far away in the Negev desert.
What You Can Study at TAU
Tel Aviv University has many different areas of study. These are called faculties and schools.
Main Study Areas (Faculties)
- Arts
- Engineering
- Exact Sciences (like Math and Physics)
- Humanities (like History and Literature)
- Law
- Life Sciences (like Biology)
- Medicine
- Social Sciences (like Psychology and Sociology)
- Coller School of Management (for business studies)
Specialized Schools
- Economics
- Environmental Studies
- Music
- Architecture
- Dental Medicine
- Education
- Social Work
- TAU International (for students from other countries)
- Neuroscience (study of the brain)
The university also has over 130 research centers. These are places where scientists and scholars do important studies.
Study Programs for International Students
The Lowy International School at Tel Aviv University offers many programs for students from all over the world. All these programs are taught in English.
Students can come for a semester or a full year. They can also get a full degree. There are also special programs, like the International LL.M. for law students. Students in these programs can choose to live in the Einstein Dorms, which are close to the university.
Programs for Younger Students (Undergraduate)
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Liberal Arts and Humanities
Programs for Advanced Students (Graduate)
- Political Science (Leadership, Communications, Elections)
- Security and Diplomacy
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Archaeology and History of the Land of the Bible
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- Conflict Resolution and Mediation
- Social Work (specializing in Crisis and Trauma)
- Emergency and Disaster Management
- Environmental Studies
- Global MBA (Master of Business Administration)
- Migration Studies
- International LL.M. (Master of Laws)
Medical School The Sackler Faculty of Medicine used to have a special four-year Doctor of Medicine program for students from North America. This program helped students prepare to work as doctors in the United States and Canada. However, as of 2022, Israeli medical schools stopped these programs for foreign students. This was done to make more room for Israeli students.
University Rankings
Tel Aviv University is often ranked as one of the best universities in the world.
- In 2024, QS World University Rankings placed TAU at 214th globally. This makes it the highest-ranked university in Israel.
- In 2016, the Center for World University Rankings put Tel Aviv University at 81st in the world.
- The Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2019 ranked TAU at 189th worldwide. These rankings look at how good a university is at research and teaching.
- In 2016, QS World University Rankings also ranked TAU 22nd in the world for how often its research is mentioned by others. This shows that TAU does very important research.
- In 2022, PitchBook Data ranked Tel Aviv University 7th in the world. This ranking looks at how many former students have started successful companies that get funding from investors. TAU was the highest-ranked university outside the United States for this.
Working with Other Universities
Tel Aviv University works with many other universities around the world.
TAU offers special programs about Jewish studies. These are for teachers and students from countries like the United States, France, Brazil, and Mexico. These programs are taught in English.
The Law Faculty at Tel Aviv University has agreements with 36 universities in other countries. This allows students to study abroad for a while. The Coller School of Management also has exchange agreements with over 100 universities worldwide. This means business students can also study in other countries.
In 2013, Tel Aviv University and Ruppin Academic Center created a study center by the Mediterranean Sea. Here, students can learn about issues affecting the ocean and its resources.
International Partnerships
Tel Aviv University also works closely with the Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany. These two cities have a long-standing partnership.
Well-Known People from TAU
Many famous and important people have studied or taught at Tel Aviv University.
Teachers and Researchers (Faculty)
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Some notable teachers and researchers (past and present) include:
- Joseph Agassi, a philosopher
- Yakir Aharonov, a physicist
- Noga Alon, a mathematician
- Shlomo Ben-Ami, a historian and former Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Daniel Chamovitz, a biologist
- Yoram Dinstein, a law professor and former president of TAU
- Israel Finkelstein, an archaeologist
- Ariel Porat, a legal scholar and the current president of Tel Aviv University
- Anita Shapira, a historian
- Lev Vaidman, a physicist
- George S. Wise, the first president of the university
Former Students (Alumni)
Many former students of Tel Aviv University have become leaders in different fields:
- Dan Ariely, an author and academic
- Ayelet Shaked, Israel's former Minister of Justice and current Minister of Interior
- Benny Gantz, a former Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army
- Ron Huldai, the current mayor of Tel Aviv
- Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut
- Gideon Raff, a director and screenwriter who created the TV series Prisoners of War
- Adi Shamir, a computer scientist who helped create the RSA encryption system
- Ariel Sharon, a former Prime Minister of Israel
- Ghil'ad Zuckermann, a linguist
The Sackler Family and the University
The Sackler family has given a lot of support to Tel Aviv University over the years. Many schools and special positions at the university were named after them. However, there have been discussions about the Sackler family's connection to a global health issue involving strong painkillers. Because of this, some groups, like the Israel Medical Association, have asked for the Sackler name to be removed from the Faculty of Medicine. As of November 2021, no members of the Sackler family were on the university's board of governors.
More to Explore
In Spanish: Universidad de Tel Aviv para niños
- Beth Hatefutsoth
- List of universities in Israel
- Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival
