Since its founding by the Bilgi Education and Culture Foundation in 1996, Istanbul Bilgi University has established a strong reputation within the Turkish higher education sector.
The university embraces the idea of “learning not for school but for life,” which has elevated it to the status of one of the top Turkish Universities across all degree types and academic levels.
For more than 23 years, Istanbul Bilgi University has shared this goal of raising the caliber of research and education with other worldwide universities and institutes of higher learning.
The Laureate Education Universities Group, one of the biggest educational networks in the world, is one of the most significant alliances.
The university now has about 20000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in its programs, 1500 teaching staff members, 7 faculties, 3 institutes, and 3 vocational schools, in addition to a large academic staff.
Academics available in Istanbul Bilgi University
Faculties
- Faculty of Architecture
- Faculty of Business
- Faculty of Communication
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
Schools
- School of Applied Sciences
- School of Aviation
- School of Sports Sciences and Technology
- School of Tourism and Hospitality
Vocational schools
- School of Advanced Vocational Studies
- Vocational School of Health Services
- Vocational School of Justice
Tuition Fees in Istanbul Bilgi University
The tuition fees for undergraduate programs in Istanbul Bilgi University ranges from 8000 to 10000 USD per year.
The tuition fees for associate programs is 2000 USD per year.
Who can apply to Istanbul Bilgi University as in international stident?
Istanbul Bilgi University applies the latest guidelines set by the Council of Higher Education ( YÖK – Yüksek Öğretim Kurulu ) as of 11/4/2012 in order to define who are the international students eligible to apply.
Minimum Grades Required for admission in Istanbul Bilgi University
Minimum Grades for International Tests
- GCE (General certificate of Education) 2 Advanced Level Subjects with minimum grades of “D”
- ACT (National College Admission Examination) 18 points
- SAT 1000 points
- IB (International Baccalaureate) 28 points
- French Baccalaureate Minimum 10
- Abitur Minimum 3 points
The required documents for Undergraduate Applications to Istanbul Bilgi University :
- Photocopy of high school diploma (with the official transcript)
- All High school Transcripts/Grades (last 4 high school years)
- Passport photocopy
- Equivalency Certificate
- The “Name Equivalency” document for applicants who received the Turkish citizenship following an original citizenship which confirms the original name/last name matches the Turkish name and last name.
- Blue Card and Certificate of Identity Register Copy
- If available, a record of scores for one English Language Competency Examinations (for example TOEFL or Cambridge Certificate) . The English Language requirements are detailed below.
- Residence Permit (if you reside in Turkey)
NOTE: For international students who are applying with the SAT exam score, please send officially the score report using Istanbul Bilgi University Designated Institution (DI) code: 7293 – Istanbul Bilgi University.
Future International students can follow-up on their application status by contacting the International Student Admissions Office.
The English Language requirement for Istanbul Bilgi University :
The medium of instruction at Istanbul Bilgi University is English, therefore the students’ English proficiency will be evaluated as follows:
If the future international student had obtained a sufficient score from one of the following English Language Competency Examinations, Then the student will be exempt from the ‘English Preparatory Program’ for one academic year at Istanbul Bilgi University:
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) : Minimum Score C
- Cambridge Proficiency Exam (CPE): Minimum Score C
- First Certificate in English (FCE): Minimum Score B
- TOEFL IBT : Minimum Score 75
- PTE Academic : 60
NOTE: International students should forward the TOEFL score report using Istanbul Bilgi University Designated Institution (DI) code: 8256 – Istanbul Bilgi University, as detailed in the TOEFL IBT Information and Registration Bulletin.
If the future international student did not obtain a sufficient score from one of the English Language Competency Examinations, or did not take any test, then the student will be required to take the Istanbul Bilgi University -Institutional Exemption Test (BILET) upon arrival/registration.
Those who fail the Institutional Exemption Test must register to the English Preparatory Program at Istanbul Bilgi University before beginning their academic studies.
This preparatory year is not included in the total number of years of study required for graduation.
The annual tuition fee for the English Preparatory Program is 8100 USD (taxes included).
Applications’ deadline and processing time:
The International Student Recruitment Office at Istanbul Bilgi University is always working on processing and evaluating students’ applications within a short time span.
Applications’ deadline is set to August-end regarding fall-semester applications.
Future international students are required to submit their applications as soon as their official documents are ready.
Application to Istanbul Bilgi University before graduation
The students who haven’t graduated from High-school and who want to send their application early and during their senior/last year of high school, can do so as follows:
The evaluation will be done over the complete high school transcripts (3 or 4 years) and if accepted will be issued a ‘Conditional Acceptance Letter’.
Once the student has graduated and obtained the high-school diploma with the corresponding official transcripts, the student should forward these last documents to the International Student Recruitment Office to issue the ‘Final Acceptance Letter’.
The Registration Procedure:
After evaluation and if the application is accepted, the International Student Admissions Office will forward the ‘Acceptance Letter’ to the international student.
The ‘Acceptance Letter’ will be used to obtain the ‘Education Visa’ at the closest Turkish Embassy or Consulate from the student’s home/residency country.
Once the ‘Education Visa’ is granted, the student is required to proceed with the registration with the Student Registrar Office at Istanbul Bilgi University, by providing the following original documents :
- Original High School Diploma (in English or Turkish) – (Apostilled)
- Original High School Transcript (In English or Turkish) – (Apostilled)
- Original Passport
- Blue Card and Certificate of Identity Register Copy
- Tuition fee bank receipt
- if available, a certified copy of an English proficiency test (TOEFL, BİLGİ-BILET…)
- Equivalency Certificate
- The “Name Equivalency” document for applicants who received the Turkish citizenship following an original citizenship which confirms the original name/last name matches the Turkish name and last name.
- Residence Permit (if you reside in Turkey)
The High-School Diploma Equivalency
This is an easy procedure where the Provincial Department of Education in Istanbul (and in some cases a Turkish Embassy/Consulate) will provide the ‘Equivalency Letter’ (in Turkish ‘Denklik Belgesi’) certifying that the foreign High-School diploma is equivalent to its counterpart, the Turkish high school diploma.
This document is delivered by applying in person and providing the original foreign high school -diploma, its official Turkish translation and the student’s passport.
Graduate programs in Istanbul Bilgi University
Why should I choose BİLGİ graduate?
Today BİLGİ continues to follow the path in graduate education it initiated in 1997 with near 3,000 students, 11,000 graduates and over 50 graduate programs tailored to the needs of business world as well as academic specialization.
Pioneering graduate education with its innovative approach, BİLGİ introduced the first e-MBA program in Turkey and leaded the online higher education.
Features of BİLGİ graduate programs,
- You can get the opportunity to learn from the academicians and industry professionals who are the leaders of their own field.
- You can have good references by building a strong network.
- You can advance in your career through academia-industry collaborations and programs providing specialization in the business world.
- You can familiarize with the actual practices in lessons welcoming guest speakers from the business world.
- You can meet world-known names via international connections and conferences regularly held in your campus.
- With online courses and worker-friendly classes scheduled on weekdays, you can manage your work life and graduate education at the same time.
Admission procedure for graduate programs at Istanbul Bilgi University
To become a graduate student in BİLGİ, you should firstly fill the online application form. Once you complete online application, application conditions, necessary documents and details about assessment process are sent to your e-mail.
Application Conditions
Each program has its own application conditions. You can learn the application conditions from the programs’ websites.
ALES is not a prerequisite in BİLGİ graduate programs without thesis. If you don’t have a valid English language proficiency certificate, you can enter BİLGİ Graduate Online English Exam (BİLET 3) to determine your proficiency level. For further information about BİLET 3 click here.
Assessment of the application
If you are deemed suitable after your online application, you are invited to interview and/or written exam for further assessment.
Tuition Fees and Scholarships
In graduate programs, if you are deemed suitable in the assessment by the jury of the program you apply, you can benefit from academic scholarship.
Acceptance and Registration
Once you get accepted to graduate programs, you receive a pre-registration link and an e-mail about registration documents you have to submit. When you complete your registration within the deadline, you get the student status.
Campuses
Graduate education courses are offered in BİLGİ’s centrally located campuses which are santral istanbul and Dolapdere. You can have the experience of becoming a student again by seizing many social and cultural facilities in BİLGİ campuses.
Events
Hosting more than 1,000 thousand events every year, BİLGİ offers an education intertwined with culture and art. Attending conferences and workshops welcoming world-known names, you can have the opportunity of self-development in line with your career intention.
BİLGİTalent
While you are achieving your career targets, you can get support from BİLGİTalent, improve your knowledge and add new connections to your network by attending certificate programs, seminars and industry meetups organized for your professional development.
Library
BİLGİ Library has a rich collection where you can find the most recent resources in the field you specialized.
You can reach BİLGİ Library -housing over 62,500 e-journals, more than 445,000 e-books and 125 databases and e-encyclopedia- any time of the day, either on or off-campus access.
When You Graduate
BİLGİ graduate alumni can continue their academic careers in the most prestigious universities of the world or maintain their business life in the leading international corporations.
When you graduate, you can find the opportunity of building up a network with thousands of BİLGİ alumni from various industries and develop new initiatives and projects through your new business network.
You can follow the events organized for academic and professional development of BİLGİ Alumni with “lifelong learning” perspective by joining by BİLGİ Alumni Communication Portal. To join the portal click here.
FAQ about Istanbul Bilgi University
Is Istanbul Bilgi University public or private?
Istanbul Bilgi University (Turkish: İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi), officially established in 1996, is a private university located in Istanbul, Turkey.
Does Istanbul Bilgi University teach in English?
Following the English Preparatory Program, BİLGİ Language Programs offer Academic English Language Skills courses correlated with the faculties and the vocational schools as well as several elective English and foreign language courses.
How many intakes per year at Istanbul Bilgi University ?
According to the decision of the Turkish Council of Higher Education dated 16/11/2015, Turkish Universities can only admit international students once a year. Therefore, there is only one intake which is Fall of each academic year. Change of department or re-entry applications can only be accepted for the next Fall term.
What is the Maximum period of studies in Istanbul Bilgi University ;
English Preparatory Program : 2 years
Undergraduate Programs : 7 years
Student who fail to complete their studies within the above mentioned time periods will loose their student status.
Please contact International Student Admissions Department for further information.
Is Istanbul Bilgi University good?
İstanbul Bilgi University was awarded 4 stars by QS Stars, the world’s reputable higher education ranking institution centered in UK.
How many International students in Bilgi University?
2000 international students
We have nearly 2000 international students from over 90 countries around the world. We also provide our students various educational program opportunities abroad. BİLGİ has partner agreements with more than 250 institutions in 43 countries with Erasmus+ and Bilateral Exchange Programs.
What is the English requirements for Istanbul University?
- The English Language requirement:
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) : Minimum Score C.
- Cambridge Proficiency Exam (CPE): Minimum Score C.
- First Certificate in English (FCE): Minimum Score B.
- TOEFL IBT : Minimum Score 75.
- PTE Academic : 60.
How do I apply to Istanbul Bilgi University ?
To apply to Istanbul Bilgi University first check the admission requirements then collect all your qualifying academic documents and your passport in electronic formats. Then click to ADMISSION or APPLY NOW buttons on admissionex.com and fill the form of application, upload your documents, and click SUBMIT.
After reviewing your papers one of our representative will contact you to explain the next steps which include any additional documents, admission test date, deposit payment, visa issuance, and final registration at Istanbul Bilgi University .
More about Istanbul Bilgi University
History
(learning not for school but for life)
After the Bilgi Education and Culture Foundation submitted an application on June 7, 1996, and the Turkish Grand National Assembly approved it as per Law number 4142, Istanbul Bilgi University became a civil corporation and adopted the motto “Non scholae, sed vitae discimus” (learning not for school, but for life).
Istanbul Bilgi University has expanded throughout time to include three campuses, Kuştepe, Dolapdere, and central Istanbul, with a combined area of around 210,000 m2, where it continues to serve its students and the Turkish academic community.
With the goal of improving the quality of instruction and research and developing into a university that can compete internationally, Istanbul Bilgi University had a long-term partnership with Laureate Education between 2006 and 2019 after breaking numerous new ground in Turkey in the previous 23 years. Can Holding became a supporter of the Bilgi Culture and Education Foundation in 2019.
Vision
Being an international university that pushes the boundaries of science and art, values freedom, leads the way in societal development, fosters a learning environment where faculty and students are passionate about their studies, and where all staff members—academic and administrative—dedicate their lives to this goal.
Mission
In addition to educating students whose research and problem-solving abilities have grown in an atmosphere of free thought and social responsibility, whose competencies meet international standards, and who in addition to abiding by the rules of ethics and professional objectivity are also open to multi-disciplinary approaches, Istanbul Bilgi University undertakes to contribute to science, artistic production, and the development of technology.
The values of Istanbul Bilgi University
- Respect for universal rights and freedoms
- Academic freedom and responsibility
- The inseparability of research and teaching
- Independence and autonomy
- Respect for pluralism and diversity
- Transparency and accountability
- Participation
- Social responsibility
- Internationalism
- A belief in life-long learning
The campus of Istanbul Bilgi University
All cultural events are planned for Istanbul Bilgi University’s three main campuses, Kuştepe, Dolapdere, and Sultanahmet, which together comprise roughly 210,000 m2.
Istanbul Bilgi University develops a contemporary university environment for its students where they can advance themselves on several levels, including intellectually, culturally, and socially, in accordance with the idea of “learning not for school but for life.
” As well as practical education through various courses and well-equipped spaces, such as a courtroom for law students, architecture workshops, engineering & healthcare laboratories, and art studios. These are all features of life at Istanbul Bilgi University.
Aiming to connect students with successful role models, professionals, and entrepreneurs so they can learn from their experiences, conferences, festivals, and other events are planned on the three campuses.
Sports, social causes, the arts, and other activities are the focus of more than 100 student clubs.
Center for Global Talent Management
In addition to the numerous career and internship openings that the Global Talent Management Center consistently announces.
In order to assist students in developing networks with business leaders and successful role models, the center also made it a priority to organize open discussion panels, conferences, and job fairs.
Fundamental Principles of Istanbul Bilgi University
- ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITY affirms its commitment to upholding the universal standards of human rights and liberties in all interactions and denounces all types of discrimination at all levels.
- As a signatory to the Magna Charta Universitatum in Bologna, Istanbul Bilgi University recognizes that the fundamental tenet of a university’s existence is the freedom of thought in both teaching and research.
- In opposition to all forms of political and economic power, Istanbul Bilgi University values and defends the independence and autonomy of all research, teaching, and learning.
- Pluralism, variety, and critical thinking are essential components of both academic and society life, according to Istanbul Bilgi University .
- ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITY prioritizes ecological sustainability of the physical environment at the scales of the campus, city, and nature in addition to cultural and aesthetic values, and works to support both.
- ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITY imparts academic and professional information and skills necessary for dealing with the difficult issues facing today’s society to students at every level, knowledge and skills that are both rooted in tradition and innovative in nature.
- ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITY is an international institution in every sense of the word, using accredited concepts and processes as well as worldwide standards of excellence for all of its programs as a point of reference.
- The development of sensitive individuals who take ownership of societal and global issues is important to Istanbul Bilgi University ‘s students and alumni.
- ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITY adheres to the values of responsibility and transparency in all of its dealings, and as a result, conducts itself in a way that is consistent with the law and morality.
- In its business contacts as well as in the operation and decision-making processes at every level of the institution, Istanbul Bilgi University adheres to a participative management style that benefits from the knowledge and skills of teachers and students.
- ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITY adheres to the philosophy that all of its initiatives should be continuously evaluated in light of the changing nature of modern living.
- ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITY creates lifelong educational programs because it considers access to tools for self-improvement to be a fundamental right for people of all ages.
- ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITY wants to conduct business and offer services on a national and international scale.
- ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITY prioritizes the needs of its students in all aspects of teaching and learning. Istanbul Bilgi University makes sure that its students take an active role in their education and learning so they may develop into people who can do research, ask questions, and integrate knowledge.
Istanbul Bilgi University in numbers
The university currently has more than 20,000 students and near 45,000 alumni, over 1,000 academicians; 7 faculties, 3 institutes, 4 schools, 3 vocational schools, and 150+ programs that provide education to its associate, undergraduate and graduate students.