Ariel University
אוניברסיטת אריאל בשומרון | |
Hecht Library, located at the center of campus | |
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1982 |
| President | Ehud Grossman |
| Rector | Albert Pinhasov |
| Students | 17,000 (as of 2025) |
| Location | , 32°06′17″N 35°12′34″E / 32.10472°N 35.20944°E Building details |
Hecht Library, located at the center of campus | |
|
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| Campus | urban |
| Colors | Teal, navy and white |
| Website | English Hebrew |
Ariel University (Hebrew: אוניברסיטת אריאל), previously a public college known as the Ariel University Center of Samaria, is an Israeli university located in the urban Israeli settlement of Ariel in the West Bank.
The college was founded in 1982 as a regional branch of Bar-Ilan University and was originally located in the settlement of Kedumim, After moving to a larger campus in Ariel, it became the largest Israeli public college. In 2004–2005, the affiliation with Bar-Ilan ended and it became an independent college.
On 17 July 2012, the Council for Higher Education in Judea and Samaria voted to grant the institution full university status. This move was praised by the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Education Gideon Saar, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and some Knesset members as well as Nobel Prize in Economics winning mathematician Robert Aumann. The Council of presidents of Israeli Universities condemned the move. A survey in 2013 found that 65% of the public in Israel supported the recognition of Ariel University as Israel's eighth university.
Ariel University has 26 departments for B.A., BSc and BArch studies, in three faculties and three schools. In addition, Ariel University offers a master's degree programs for M.A., M.B.A. and MSc in 2014, Ariel University initiated a PhD programs for Doctorate studies also. In 2011, it had a student population of 14,000, with a branch in Tel Aviv. All degrees are recognized by the Council for Higher Education in Israel.
The university and its staff have been the target of boycotts in Israel and overseas for its location in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.