The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot is a research institute that trains students in the natural sciences and mathematics. Its academic arm, the Weizmann School of Science, runs MSc, PhD and MD-PhD tracks. The institute counts 1,766 students and postdocs and more than 280 research groups.[1][2]
All students at the school are exempt from tuition fees and receive a monthly fellowship: 7,000 NIS for MSc students (for up to 24 months) and 9,000 NIS for PhD students (for 4.5 years).[2][3][4] Teaching is in English.[2] We could not confirm a QS World University Rankings 2027 position for the institute.
Key facts
| Official name | Weizmann Institute of Science (מכון ויצמן למדע); its academic arm is the Weizmann School of Science (WISsE) |
| Location | 234 Herzl Street, Rehovot 7610001, Israel[5] |
| Type | Public postgraduate research institute and university (degrees in the natural and exact sciences)[6] |
| Founded | 1934 as the Daniel Sieff Research Institute; renamed Weizmann Institute of Science on 2 November 1949[7] |
| Weizmann School of Science | Founded 1958; chartered in New York State in 1967 as the Feinberg Graduate School; accredited by the Council for Higher Education in Israel[2] |
| Students and postdocs | 1,766[1] |
| Research | 280+ research groups across five faculties; 120 multidisciplinary centres and institutes[1] |
| Study tracks | MSc (regular and non-thesis Science Teaching), direct PhD, regular PhD, MD-PhD, teaching certification[2] |
| Language of teaching | English[2] |
| Tuition | All students at the school are exempt from tuition fees[2] |
| MSc fellowship | 7,000 NIS per month for up to 24 months (incentive fellowship 8,400 NIS)[3] |
| PhD fellowship | 9,000 NIS per month for 4.5 years (incentive fellowship 10,800 NIS); travel allowance $4,250[4] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Not confirmed |
| Official website | weizmann.ac.il · admissions |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 10 November 2026.
About the Weizmann Institute of Science
Chaim Weizmann founded the Daniel Sieff Research Institute in 1934; it was renamed the Weizmann Institute of Science on 2 November 1949.[7] The campus is in Rehovot.[5] The institute reports 1,766 students and postdocs, more than 280 research groups across five faculties and 120 multidisciplinary centres and institutes.[1]
Wikipedia describes it as a postgraduate university and research institute that offers only postgraduate degrees in the natural and exact sciences.[6]
How is the Weizmann Institute ranked?
We could not confirm a position for the institute in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026: none of the press reports we read on the Israeli results mentions it. Other positions we found are secondary: Wikipedia lists it 69th in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (2024) and 131st in the U.S. News Global ranking (2025).[6]
The institute’s own page says it is “ranked 6th worldwide for research quality and impact” in the Leiden Ranking, without naming the edition or indicator; Wikipedia’s infobox shows a different Leiden figure (697th in 2024), so the two cannot be compared without the indicator.[1][6] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the Weizmann Institute?
The Weizmann School of Science offers these study tracks:[2]
- Regular MSc track and a non-thesis MSc track in Science Teaching (the Rothschild-Weizmann Program)
- Direct PhD track and regular PhD track
- MD-PhD
- Teaching certification program
The main fields are physical sciences, chemical sciences, life sciences, mathematics and computer science, and science teaching.[2] All students are directly involved in the institute’s research.[2] The school also runs a visiting students programme for one week to one year for full-time students of accredited institutions.[8]
How much does the Weizmann Institute cost?
All students at the Weizmann School of Science are exempt from paying tuition fees, and all receive fellowships so that they can devote their time to research and study.[2] Visiting students are also exempt from tuition fees.[8] No fee is charged for registering an MSc application.[9]
| Fellowship | Monthly amount | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Regular MSc fellowship | 7,000 NIS | Up to 24 months |
| MSc incentive fellowship (for external fellowships below that level) | 8,400 NIS | Up to 24 months |
| Regular PhD fellowship | 9,000 NIS | 4.5 years |
| PhD fellowship for medical doctors and veterinarians | 11,500 NIS | 4.5 years |
| PhD incentive fellowship | 10,800 NIS | 4.5 years |
The MSc fellowship runs for 24 months and the PhD fellowship for 4.5 years, and external fellowships replace the institute’s fellowship rather than adding to it. PhD students also receive a travel allowance of $4,250.[3][4] The page says the PhD amounts are “currently” 9,000 NIS and 10,800 NIS, so check them before you plan. Living costs in Israel are not covered by these pages; see our Israel guide.
How do you apply to the Weizmann Institute?
MSc: applicants must hold a BSc from an accredited local or foreign institution, or be in the last year of studies and prove eligibility by the end of the first semester. A grade point average of 85 (or the equivalent) is required; for Mathematics and Computer Science it is 90. Life Sciences, Physics and Chemistry accept a lower average with a written explanation.[9] Applications are made in the online system; application windows differ by field and are listed on the how-to-apply page.[9]
PhD: you need an MSc (research track with thesis), an MD, or in selected fields a PhD in engineering. Applications are considered on previous studies, research achievements, letters of recommendation and an interview. Acceptance depends on finding an advisor who is a senior member of the institute’s research staff, and the application must contain that person’s support letter. Online applications for the PhD are accepted all year round, with no deadline.[10]
International students: MSc candidates from non-Israeli institutions are generally not required to take GRE, TOEFL or IELTS unless the relevant Board of Studies requires it. PhD candidates from outside Israel may be required to take them, and waiving them is at the Board’s discretion.[9][10] For visas, the school refers to the International Office of the institute.[11]
Which language level do you need?
The official language of instruction at the Weizmann School of Science is English, which lets international students take part in all programmes.[2] A TOEFL or IELTS score is asked for only from candidates whose mother tongue is not English, and only when the Board of Studies requires an external evaluation.[9][10] The pages we read do not mention a Hebrew requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Weizmann Institute free for international students?
Does the Weizmann Institute offer bachelor’s degrees?
What GPA do I need for the Weizmann MSc?
The school requires a grade point average of 85 or the equivalent, and 90 for Mathematics and Computer Science. Some fields consider a lower average with a written explanation.[9]
Do I need a supervisor before applying for the PhD?
Yes. Acceptance is contingent on finding an advisor who is a senior member of the institute’s research staff, and the application must include a support letter from that person.[10]
What is the difference between the Weizmann Institute and the Weizmann School of Science?
The school is the academic arm of the institute and is where students enrol. It was chartered in 1967 as the Feinberg Graduate School.[2]
More about studying in Israel
- Israel: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Israel
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
- Tel Aviv University
Sources
[1] Weizmann Institute of Science: The Institute (page without a date)
[2] Weizmann School of Science: General information (page without a date)
[3] Weizmann School of Science: MSc fellowships (page without a date)
[4] Weizmann School of Science: PhD fellowships (page without a date; amounts marked “currently”)
[5] Weizmann Institute of Science: Contact us (page without a date)
[6] Wikipedia: Weizmann Institute of Science (type and ARWU and U.S. News positions; secondary source)
[7] Weizmann Institute of Science: History (page without a date)
[8] Weizmann School of Science: Visiting students program (page without a date)
[9] Weizmann School of Science: How to apply for the MSc (site footer shows “Updated: November 10, 2026”, the day we read it)
[10] Weizmann School of Science: How to apply for the PhD (site footer shows “Updated: November 10, 2026”, the day we read it)
[11] Weizmann School of Science: Visa (site footer shows “Updated: November 10, 2026”, the day we read it)
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