Bethlehem University

Bethlehem University (Arabic: جامعة بيت لحم) is a Catholic university located in the city of Bethlehem, in the West Bank, Palestine.^[1]

Bethlehem University

جامعة بيت لحم
Motto	Indivisa Manent Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve
Type	Private
Established	1 October 1973
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic De La Salle Brothers
Academic affiliations	ACCU UNIMED International Association of Lasallian Universities (IALU)
Chancellor	Most Rev. Monsignor Adolfo Tito Yllana
Vice-Chancellor	Brother Héctor Hernán Santos González FSC, PhD
Administrative staff	c. 409
Undergraduates	5000 (fall 2023)
Location	Bethlehem, West Bank , Palestine
Website	www.bethlehem.edu

History

Established shortly before the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War in 1973,^[1] the university traces its roots to 1893, when the De La Salle Brothers opened schools in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Nazareth, along with others in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt; and to 1964's Pope Paul VI's visit to the Holy Land in which he promised the Palestinian people a university, a centre for Ecumenical Studies (Tantur Ecumenical Institute), and a school for children with special educational needs (Effetá Paul VI School).

As of 2025^[update], Bethlehem University is the first established university in Palestine and the only Catholic university in the Holy Land (excluding seminary schools and theological or biblical institutes).^[1] It continues to be a joint project supported by the Vatican and run by the De La Salle Brothers.

In 2017 the Palestine Museum of Natural History opened on the campus; it is closely linked to the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability.^[2][3]

Demographics

Bethlehem University students are predominantly Muslim (~75%) and female (~78%), with Christians representing ~25% of the students.^[4]

Faculties

• Arts & Humanities

• Business Administration

• Education

• Nursing & Health Sciences

• Applied Sciences, Technology & Engineering

• Institute of Hotel Management & Tourism

Interreligious character

All religious groups are welcome at the university, which currently counts among its students Christians of many different denominations including Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Russian Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, Greek Catholic, and others.

See also

• Education in the Palestinian territories
• List of Palestinian universities
• Lasallian educational institutions