Established in 1906 by artist Boris Schatz as the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts, his visionary undertaking has evolved into one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions for art, design and architecture.

For over a century Bezalel has been leading the way and setting the standard - most of its programs were the first of their kind in Israel making the name Bezalel synonymous with more than 100 years of innovation and excellence. The Academy is characterized by its quick response to cultural changes and its pride in the generations of graduates - renowned leaders of art, design and architecture in Israel and abroad. Thanks to its passion for creativity and pursuit of quality and excellence, Bezalel has been leading the cultural and artistic discourse in Israel and playing a vital role in shaping the country’s cultural identity.

Essentially the birthplace of Israeli art, Bezalel follows the principles of preserving traditions, heritage and history, while simultaneously and continuously standing at the forefront of technology and as the vanguard of the global arts and design fields. The variety of workshops and equipment available at the Academy are among the most advanced in Israel. Alongside traditional courses, the Academy also offers courses for the development of apps and gaming, interactive design in a digital environment, 3D technologies and printing courses, groundbreaking equipment design and collaborations of various departments with tech companies and the high-tech industry.

Bezalel trains its students for innovative creation, design and development, giving its graduates a distinct advantage in rising to key design positions in the technology market.

Bezalel has 10 departments that offer undergraduate degrees: Industrial Design; Ceramics and Glass Design; Visual Communication; Fine Art; Screen-Based Arts (animation and video); Photography; Jewelry and Fashion Design; Landscape Architecture; Architecture; and a theoretical degree in Visual and Material Culture.

Bezalel also offers joint programs combining between the Bezalel disciplines and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s School of Computer Science or with the School of Education offering interested students the possibility to acquire a teaching certificate.

In addition, Bezalel has 5 graduate programs for students who hold a bachelor’s degree: Master in Fine Art; Master in Industrial Design (in one of three tracks: About Design, Design Management, or Design and Technology); Master in Policy and Theory of the Arts; (in one of two tracks: Curatorial Studies or Art Criticism); Master in Urban Design; and Master in Visual Communication.

Bezalel trains and prepares its students for a life of achievement and excellence. The interaction of designers and artists from all disciplines that takes place offers students numerous opportunities to be introduced to disciplines outside their specialized field and for interdisciplinary and interdepartmental collaborations.

Bezalel’s faculty consists of over 500 of Israel’s most prominent artists, designers and architects – designers who work for leading companies in Israel and worldwide, in high-tech, commercial companies and cultural institutions; artists who exhibit solo shows in world-renowned museums; architects who devise and build significant and large-scale projects. They impart their knowledge, experience and skills to the students, whom they see as the future generation in their fields.

Bezalel graduates join leading companies in the high-tech, industrial, film and fashion worlds, among them: Apple, Google, Facebook, Samsung, Microsoft, Waze, HP, Nissan, Ford, LEGO, Wix, LG, Frog Design, Tiny Love, Skoda, Intel, Zara, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Disney, Nickelodeon, Snowball Studios, Pixar Animation Studios and many others.

Bezalel offers an exceptionally extensive student exchange program, collaborating with over 180 leading academic institutions in Asia, Europe, the US, South America and Australia. About one quarter of our students (!) get to take part in an exchange program and go on a semester abroad.

Bezalel students, alumni and lecturers constantly win prestigious awards and competitions in Israel and worldwide. In fact, no other Israeli arts and design institution can compare in terms of accomplishments and reputation. Notable achievements include more than 10 Israel Prizes; Emet Prizes; Ministry of Culture and Sports Prizes; Azrieli Awards (Architecture); Israel Museum and Tel Aviv Museum Awards; representation of Israel at the Venice Biennale for both art and architecture; dozens of prizes in animation and video festivals around the world and more.

The atmosphere of studying in Jerusalem is unique and enables a vibrant student experience in a rich and diverse social fabric.

As Bezalel's new dormitories are located in the heart of the city, students are within close proximity to almost every leisure area of activity in Jerusalem: from museums, galleries and theatres to restaurants, bars and pubs. These areas include the German Colony, the First Station Complex, downtown and the Machane Yehuda Market, which has become one of Israel’s hotspots with live music, street parties, beer, wine, food and cultural events.

The Academy has a particularly active Students’ Union and the years of study at Bezalel are extremely lively with a long and celebrated events and party scene renowned for over a century.

At the end of every academic year, Bezalel invites the public to an exhibition showcasing the works of graduates from all the Academy’s departments. The largest show of its kind in Israel – and one of the most impressive (not only among art and design institutions)– the annual exhibition attracts tens of thousands of visitors, among them opinion leaders, active designers, artists and art collectors. The exhibition also draws a wide audience of potential employers from the industry’s smallest studios to largest companies, who wish to be the first to recognize and recruit the new graduates.

Bezalel has an extensive support network that allows each and every student to make the most of their artistic potential and enjoy a distinctive student experience.

This network includes, among others: need-based scholarships; mentoring and social engagement scholarships; free first year tuition for discharged soldiers; dormitories in the city center and on Mount Scopus, a significant professional support system; assistance for students with learning disabilities, new immigrants, Arabic-speaking students and students with other special needs. In addition, Bezalel presents opportunities to participate in a wide range of projects that offer scholarships and courses that combine social engagement both on and off campus.