Three-Year M.D. Program (.M.D)

עברית

What will you study, and why should you study at Bar-Ilan?

.M.D

The transition from the pre-clinical phase to clinical studies marks the beginning of practical medical training, when theoretical knowledge is transformed into hands-on patient care. The Three-Year M.D. Program at Bar-Ilan University is specifically designed for this stage, offering an intensive and structured pathway that enables students to integrate into the Israeli healthcare system from the very start of their studies.

The program is intended for Israeli citizens and permanent residents aged 20 and above who have successfully completed three years of general medical studies in a six-year M.D. program abroad at an institution recognized under the Yatziv Reform. The curriculum combines academic alignment with immediate clinical exposure and focuses on developing clinical skills, medical communication, and professional ethics.

 
 

  

An M.D. degree provides a significant gateway to a medical career in Israel. Graduates of the program may pursue residency training in any medical specialty and continue their professional development in a wide range of healthcare settings, including:

  • Major public hospitals and medical centers.
  • Community clinics and health maintenance organizations (HMOs).
  • Specialties such as family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, emergency medicine, and many others.
  • Medical research centers and healthcare innovation initiatives.
  • Healthcare institutions throughout the Galilee, a region with a growing demand for physicians.

The program equips graduates with the knowledge, clinical skills, and professional foundations required to advance within Israel’s healthcare system and contribute to the delivery of high-quality patient care.

The Three-Year M.D. Program is designed as a direct continuation of the pre-clinical medical studies completed abroad. Its goal is to ensure academic alignment while advancing students' clinical training through a structured and intensive curriculum:

  • Intensive Preparatory Semester: Classroom-based instruction combined with weekly clinical placements, alongside the HILA Program, which identifies knowledge gaps and helps align students from different academic backgrounds and medical schools.
  • Training in the Examination Formats Used in Israel and the United States: Students receive preparation in the multiple-choice examination format commonly used in medical education and licensing examinations, supporting their transition into clinical studies.
  • Integrated Clinical Education: A disease-centered approach that combines multiple medical disciplines and connects theoretical knowledge with clinical practice.
  • Personal Mentorship Program: In addition to the academic curriculum, each student group is accompanied throughout the program by a dedicated medical mentor, either a community physician or a hospital-based doctor. This mentorship program focuses on professionalism, early identification of challenges, personal guidance, and professional development.**

The program combines classroom-based instruction with hands-on clinical training, providing students with systematic exposure to medical practice in both hospital and community settings.

Clinical education is delivered through three primary teaching methods:

  • Bedside teaching with hospitalized patients, following the clinical education traditions widely practiced in Western Europe and the United States.
  • Ambulatory training in community clinics, reflecting the reality of contemporary clinical medicine, where much of patient care takes place outside the hospital setting.
  • Advanced simulation-based training, enabling students to practice clinical skills in a controlled environment, repeat clinical scenarios, and learn without risk to patients.
The admissions process consists of three sequential stages:
  1. Initial Cognitive Screening
    Eligibility is determined based on fulfillment of the admission requirements, including a full matriculation certificate, a psychometric score above 600, satisfaction of the Hebrew language requirement, and passing grades in all required and elective courses.
  2. Knowledge Examination in Physiology, Biochemistry, and Anatomy
    A multiple-choice examination designed to assess foundational medical knowledge.
  3. Non-Cognitive Personal Assessment
    This stage includes personal interviews and the SHAUL assessment.

Admission to the program is initially conditional and becomes final only upon submission of official documentation confirming the successful completion of three full years of medical studies and eligibility to progress to the fourth year at the candidate's medical school abroad.

For complete details, applicants are encouraged to review the full admission requirements before submitting an application.

Want to Learn More About the Three-Year M.D. Program at Bar-Ilan University?

For additional information about the Three-Year M.D. Program at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, please contact us:

Three-Year M.D. Program FAQs

Who Is Eligible to Apply to the Three-Year M.D. Program?

Any applicant who meets all of the following criteria may apply:

  • Israeli citizen or permanent resident.
  • At least 20 years old.
  • Has successfully completed three full years of general medical studies abroad in a six-year medical program.
  • Is enrolled at a medical school recognized by Bar-Ilan University.
At What Stage of My Studies Abroad Can I Apply?

Applications may be submitted at the end of the applicant's fourth semester of medical studies abroad.

The application period generally takes place during May and June, with the admissions process conducted during the summer of the same year. Applicants should follow updates published on the Faculty website for the most current information.

Can I Apply More Than Once?
No. Applicants may apply to the program only once, during the designated application period while they are at the end of their fourth semester of studies.
What Are the Required Psychometric and Matriculation Scores?

Applicants must have:

  • A Psychometric Entrance Test score of at least 600.
  • A full Israeli matriculation certificate (Bagrut) or equivalent qualification.
What Was the Average Psychometric Score of Students Admitted in the Previous Year?
For the 2023-2024 academic year, the average Psychometric Entrance Test score of admitted students was 680.
When Does Registration Open?

The application period generally opens during the month of May and remains open for approximately two months.

Information regarding registration dates and online application forms is published on the Faculty website.

I Missed the Registration Deadline. Is Late Registration Available?

No. Applications may be submitted only during the official registration period.

Late registration is not available, and no exceptions can be granted.

What Is the Tuition Fee?
What Are the Stages of the Admissions Process?

The admissions process consists of three main stages:

Stage 1: Initial Screening

Applicants' academic credentials, including matriculation and Psychometric Entrance Test scores, are reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Approximately two weeks after the close of the application period, eligible applicants are invited to take the Knowledge Examination.

Stage 2: Knowledge Examination

Applicants who achieve a score of 60 or higher on the Knowledge Examination are invited to proceed to the interview stage.

Stage 3: Interviews and SHAUL Questionnaire

Applicants attend an interview day at the Faculty of Medicine and complete:

  • Two personal interviews conducted by different professionals.
  • The SHAUL Questionnaire, which takes up to one hour to complete.

Following completion of all stages, admission decisions are sent to applicants by email.

Admission offers are initially conditional.

Detailed information about the admissions process is available here.

When Does My Admission Become Final?

Initially, applicants receive a conditional admission offer from the Faculty, followed by an official conditional admission notice from the University's Admissions Office.

A final admission decision is typically issued by the University's Admissions Committee during August or early September, before the start of the academic year, and is contingent upon:

  • Verification that all admission requirements have been met.
  • Submission and review of final official academic transcripts and supporting documents.

Last Updated Date : 20/08/2026