Wikipedia

Istanbul Bilgi University

(Redirected from Bilgi University)

Istanbul Bilgi University (Turkish: İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi) is a private university founded in 1996, located in Eyüpsultan, Istanbul, Turkey. The university has four campuses in Istanbul: SantralIstanbul, Kuştepe, Dolapdere, and Kozyatağı.[8]

Istanbul Bilgi University
İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi
Motto
Motto in English
Learning not for school, but for life
TypePrivate
Established7 June 1996; 30 years ago (1996-06-07)
RectorEge Yazgan
Students22,000
Location
Istanbul
,
Turkey

41°04′00″N 28°56′45″E / 41.06667°N 28.94583°E / 41.06667; 28.94583
Campus
Language
Websitebilgi.edu.tr
Map
University rankings
Global – Overall
CWUR World[1]1325 (2025)
QS World[2]1401+ (2026)
THE World[3]1501+ (2026)
USNWR Global[4]974 (2026)
Global – Liberal arts
THE Social Sciences[5]1001+ (2026)
Regional – Overall
USNWR Asia[6]315 (2026)
Regional – Business
QS Europe MBA[7]91 (2026)

History

edit

The university was established with the motto Non scholae, sed vitae discimus, and is regarded as Turkey's fourth private university.[9][10] Its precursor institution was the Istanbul School of International Studies.

In 2007, the university expanded with the opening of its SantralIstanbul Campus, located on the site of the Silahtarağa Power Plant, the first urban-scale power plant of the Ottoman Empire.[11] The Kozyatağı Campus was later established on the Asian side of Istanbul in 2015.

In 2019, Can Holding became a supporter of the Bilgi Education and Culture Foundation, which oversaw the university.[12] The university furthered its internationalization efforts in 2020 through a collaboration with Arizona State University aimed at improving the quality of education and research. According to the 2020 Turkey University Satisfaction Survey, Istanbul Bilgi University ranked among the A group universities in the country. In 2025, Istanbul Bilgi University ranked among the top 5 private universities in Turkey according to the QS World University Rankings.[13]

Academic representatives from each department, elected by the students in the fall semester, are part of the university council.[14] The university also offers a vibrant student life, with various student clubs.[15] In 2007, Istanbul Bilgi University established an official student LGBT organization, named Gökkuşağı (English: Rainbow).[16] Since its foundation, Istanbul Bilgi University has been administered by the Board of Trustees, consisting of 11 members. The president of the board is Dr. Çağrı Bağcıoğlu.[17]

Istanbul Bilgi University was closed by decree published in the Official Gazette on 22 May 2026 in accordance with Additional Article 11 of the Higher Education Law No. 2547. Following the closure, students were transferred to Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, the university's guarantor institution.[18][19] The decree published in the Official Gazette on 25 May 2026 revoked the decision to withdraw the operating license of the university.[20][21]

Campuses

edit
Santralistanbul

Santralistanbul Campus is the largest of Istanbul Bilgi University's four campuses.[22] The campus is home to the Main Gallery building, which serves as a venue for contemporary art exhibitions and cultural events. In 2010, the Main Gallery received the prestigious International Architecture Awards. Additionally, the campus includes an annex building offering over 5,000 square meters of space for approximately 3,000 students, located just a four-minute walk from the main campus.[23]

Dolapdere Campus is situated near Taksim in Istanbul. This campus has received multiple accolades, including the "Structure and Life Architecture Award" in 2002 and the "European Award for Steel Structure" in 2005. Dolapdere Campus houses the Faculty of Health Sciences and the School of Applied Sciences, as well as a fitness center and a short-course swimming pool.[24]

Kuştepe Campus is located in the Şişli district of Istanbul and is Istanbul Bilgi University's first campus.[25]

Libraries and museums

edit

Istanbul Bilgi University has three libraries, located at the Dolapdere Campus, the Kuştepe Campus, and the Santralistanbul Campus. The university library system provides extensive resources to support degree programs, research, and teaching.[26]

The Santralistanbul Campus is also home to the Energy Museum. Istanbul Bilgi University Press was founded in 2000 and publishes academic and scholarly works.[27]

Controversies

edit

According to the Turkish media outlet Cumhuriyet, Bilgi has been accused of having connections with the US Central Intelligence Agency. [28] It was part of an investigation into an alleged 2016 taking by a Bilgi University board member of $18 million in funds meant for a Turkish reforestation program was closed in 2018 by the US Department of Justice, having considered charges of corruption violations.[28] In 2018, the US Department of Justice closed its inquiry into possible corruption violations.[29][30]

Notable people

edit

Faculty

edit

Alumni

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ↑ "Istanbul Bilgi University Ranking". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Istanbul Bilgi University". Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Istanbul Bilgi University". THE World University Rankings. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Istanbul Bilgi University". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Istanbul Bilgi University". THE World University Rankings. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Istanbul Bilgi University". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Istanbul Bilgi University". Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  8. ↑ "History - University | İstanbul Bilgi University". www.bilgi.edu.tr. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Turning on the Lights in Turkey". The Wall Street Journal. July 14, 2006.
  10. ↑ Sabrina Tavernise (October 24, 2008). "A Scholar's Boat Tour Offers New View of Istanbul". The New York Times. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Santralistanbul". www.santralistanbul.org. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  12. ↑ webteam. "Tarihçe - Üniversite | İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi". www.bilgi.edu.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  13. ↑ "QS Ranking". Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Student Council - Student | İstanbul Bilgi University". www.bilgi.edu.tr. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Clubs - Student | İstanbul Bilgi University". www.bilgi.edu.tr. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  16. ↑ "LGBTI in Turkey: A Short Summary".
  17. ↑ "Board of Trustees - University | İstanbul Bilgi University". www.bilgi.edu.tr. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Turkey revokes licence for university seized by state in criminal probe". Reuters.
  19. ↑ "İstanbul Bilgi University shut down by presidential decree". bianet.org. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Erdoğan reopens İstanbul Bilgi University three days after closing it". Bianet. May 25, 2026. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Karar Sayısı: 11387" (PDF). Resmi Gazete. May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  22. ↑ "About". www.santralistanbul.org. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Campuses – Life at Bilgi". Istanbul Bilgi University. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Campuses – Life at Bilgi". Istanbul Bilgi University. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Campuses – Life at Bilgi". Istanbul Bilgi University. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Library and e-Resources – Life at BİLGİ". Istanbul Bilgi University. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Istanbul Bilgi University Press". Istanbul Bilgi University. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  28. 1 2 "Bilgi Üniversitesi'nde '18 milyonluk' skandal - Cumhuriyet Ekonomi Haberleri". Cumhuriyet (gazete). November 13, 2016. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016.
  29. ↑ inquiry closed, November 30, 2018
  30. ↑ "Laureate, a for-profit education firm, finds international success with a Clinton's help", The Washington Post, January 18, 2014
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Istanbul_Bilgi_University&oldid=1359734319"