The Weizmann Institute of Science was founded in 1934 as the Daniel Sieff Research Institute, with the chemist Chaim Weizmann among its founders. It took its present name on 2 November 1949 in his honour. Fritz Haber was invited to lead it but died on the way to Palestine, and Weizmann took over the direction. The institute completed WEIZAC, a locally built electronic computer, in 1954 and 1955, and created Yeda Research and Development, its technology-transfer company, in 1959.
The campus is in Rehovot, Israel, with its main gate on Herzl Street. It extends over about 1,250 dunams and has more than 100 buildings of about 155,000 square metres. Around 100 residential units house scientists, and there are student dormitories. On 15 June 2025 a missile strike destroyed or damaged several buildings, among them a life sciences building and a chemistry building under construction, without casualties.
The institute offers only postgraduate degrees, the master of science and the doctorate, in the natural and exact sciences: mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology and interdisciplinary programmes. In 2025 it counted 952 academic staff, 400 administrative staff and about 1,700 students and fellows, among them 500 postgraduates, 750 doctoral students and 450 postdoctoral fellows. The institute cites about 3,800 scientists, students and staff in all.
Research includes a sustainability initiative, the Institute for Environmental Sustainability, which works on food security, climate, biodiversity, renewable energy, marine science, health and the environment, and sustainable materials. Ada Yonath received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009, and Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel, former scientists of the institute, shared the 2013 prize in Chemistry. Amir Pnueli, Adi Shamir and Shafrira Goldwasser won the Turing Award in 1996, 2002 and 2012.
Other scientists linked to the institute include Ephraim Katzir, the fourth President of Israel, Mordehai Milgrom, who proposed modified Newtonian dynamics in 1983, and Ehud Shapiro, who built a biological computer in 2004. Admission is selective and funding arrangements depend on the programme. Check the current tariff. Doctoral teaching and research are in English.
Domains taught:
Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Microbiology and Genetics, Physics
Diplomas*:
Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Yeda Research and Development as technology-transfer company, and research collaborations with institutions worldwide.
Research:
Mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology and interdisciplinary fields, with an institute for environmental sustainability on food security, climate, biodiversity and renewable energy.
Famous Alumnis:
Chaim Weizmann, Ephraim Katzir, Ada Yonath, Michael Levitt, Arieh Warshel, Adi Shamir
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
1350
Current students***:
1700
Foreign students***:
N/A%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Postgraduate research institute of the highest level, small laboratories, strong funding and links to industry through Yeda, three Nobel laureates and three Turing Award winners.
Cons
Graduate degrees only, small size, location in Rehovot away from the large cities, narrow range of disciplines.
Best For
Graduate students and researchers in the natural and exact sciences who want a small, research-only institute of international level.
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Most Similar Schools Locally
For students who like the microbiology and genetics, chemistry and physics focus of this school but want another option nearby, Hebrew University of Jerusalem fits well: it is far larger, with about 23,000 students against roughly 1,700 here, and is also a public institution.
In terms of fields, Tel Aviv University is the nearest neighbour, with chemistry, physics and mathematics again at the core; it covers finance and computer vision as well, and is far larger, with about 28,500 students against roughly 1,700 here.
Think of Technion - Israel Institute of Technology when chemistry, physics and mathematics is the priority: it is also a public institution and also offers bachelor's programmes.
For students who like the ecology and sustainability, physics and life sciences focus of this school but want another option nearby, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev fits well: it is far larger, with about 18,357 students against roughly 1,700 here, and is also a public institution.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Seen from abroad, Brandeis University (the United States) is a close relative on subject matter, since microbiology and genetics, chemistry and physics are central to both, and it is private, whereas this school is public, and also offers bachelor's and mba programmes.
The closest overseas parallel on chemistry, physics and mathematics is CUNY Graduate Center, located in the United States; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely master's and doctoral.
On content, University of Barcelona in Spain and this school are close, as both teach microbiology and genetics, chemistry and ecology and sustainability; it is also a public institution and also offers bachelor's programmes.
Seen from abroad, University of St Andrews (the United Kingdom) is a close relative on subject matter, since chemistry, physics and mathematics are central to both, and it is also a public institution and also offers bachelor's programmes.
The closest overseas parallel on microbiology and genetics, chemistry and physics is University of Vienna, located in Austria; it covers finance and statistics as well, and is far larger, with about 85,243 students against roughly 1,700 here.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is the Weizmann Institute of Science?
In Rehovot, Israel, with its main gate on Herzl Street.
When was it founded?
In 1934, as the Daniel Sieff Research Institute.
When did it get its present name?
On 2 November 1949, in honour of Chaim Weizmann.
Which degrees does it offer?
Only postgraduate degrees: the master of science and the doctorate.
Which fields does it cover?
Mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology, plus interdisciplinary programmes.
How many people work and study there?
About 952 academic staff, 400 administrative staff and 1,700 students and fellows in 2025.
What is Yeda?
The institute's technology-transfer company, created in 1959.
Which Nobel laureates are linked to it?
Ada Yonath in 2009, and Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel in 2013.
Which Turing Award winners are linked to it?
Amir Pnueli, Adi Shamir and Shafrira Goldwasser.
What does it cost?
Funding arrangements depend on the programme. Check the current tariff.
Biology, Chemistry, Innovation, Physics, Research and Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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