Istanbul Bilgi University — English-Taught Programs, Admissions and Tuition

Istanbul Bilgi University is a private university in Istanbul, and the catalogue published on this page holds 90 programs. What separates it from most Istanbul private universities is the language ratio: 66 of those 90 programs are taught in English and only 24 in Turkish. Among Turkish universities an English-majority catalogue is the exception rather than the rule.

The second difference is what the catalogue does not contain. The published list holds no medicine, dentistry or pharmacy entries, and just 1 nursing entry in the health field. Engineering is present with 10 programs, and the rest of the catalogue is built around the social sciences and humanities, business, law, communication and the arts.

Study is offered at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels; there are no associate programs on the list. Published tuition rows run from $4,800 to $18,000 a year, while the range the university states for its own catalogue is $4,800 to $6,000. That $4,800 floor is higher than at several other Istanbul private universities, and we would rather say so than let you find out later.

If you have already decided to study in English and do not want to spend a year on Turkish preparation, this is one of the few places where studying in English is not a choice between a handful of programs: 66 English-taught rows means there is a good chance your target field is in that group, and you are not forced to trade the right program for the right language.

The second point is where this university genuinely fits. It is not the cheapest option in our directory, and it is not an option at all for a health-science applicant. It fits someone who wants a program in the social sciences and humanities, business, law, communication or engineering, and wants it in English. For that profile, the number of English-taught rows is a countable advantage rather than a claim.

The figure above is the university's own tuition — not our fee. Everything involved in getting you admitted here, from checking your documents to holding your acceptance letter, is done at no cost to you.

Bachelor's admission is assessed on your high-school record; Iran's national entrance exam plays no part in it. Because most of the catalogue is English-taught, in practice the English certificate — or a pass in the university's own English exam — is the centre of most applications here. If your level falls short of the threshold, an English preparatory year is the usual route.

For the 24 Turkish-taught programs, a Turkish preparatory year is the standard path. For master's and doctoral entry, the previous degree and its transcripts are the basis of assessment, and some programs add a statement of purpose, references or an interview. Score thresholds and the list of accepted exams are confirmed with the university each year.

Like the rest of our partner private universities, Istanbul Bilgi runs rolling admission: no fixed, pre-announced application deadline is set, and programs close when their international capacity fills rather than on a set calendar date. The main intake is September (fall).

Because 66 of this catalogue's 90 programs are taught in English and those are the highest-demand programs, their capacity usually fills sooner than the Turkish-taught ones. The exact date a given program opens or closes cannot be guessed on this page; we check it in the free consultation and on the [tuition page](/en/pricing), which updates as soon as a program fills. The full month-by-month plan for reaching a September start is in our [application deadlines guide](/en/guides/deadlines).

A standard file holds your high-school transcripts and diploma with official translations, a copy of a valid passport, a passport photo and an English language certificate — which, given the weight of English-taught programs here, is the heart of the file for most applicants. Master's and doctoral applications add the previous degree and its transcripts.

Preparing and checking these documents is part of the same free service. If your language score is near the threshold, or its validity is close to expiring, that is something we check before the file goes out. In our experience most delays come from exactly these details rather than from the applicant's academic record.

Istanbul is Turkey's largest city, a layered metropolis spread across two continents, and for many students the ferry crossing between Europe and Asia is part of the daily commute. It holds the country's largest concentration of universities, so student life turns up everywhere, from library cafes to cheap lunch spots in almost every district. Public transit is extensive — metro, tram, Marmaray rail under the Bosphorus, and city ferries all work with a single Istanbulkart — though rush-hour traffic tests everyone's patience. It is also Turkey's most expensive city, with rent taking the biggest share of a student budget, which is why shared flats and dormitories are common. Winters are mild and rainy, summers warm and humid.