History

revised: June 13, 2011, 10:53 a.m.

Adopting the principle of 'Non scholae, sed vitae discimus' (We do not learn for the school, but for life), Istanbul Bilgi University took its place within the Turkish system of higher education as a civil corporation after the application made by the Bilgi Education and Culture Foundation on 7 June 1996 and the subsequent approval by the Turkish Grand National Assembly according to Law number 4142.

Over time Istanbul Bilgi University has grown to encompass 3 main campuses that total 160,000 square meters and it is on these three campuses (Kuştepe 25,000 m2, Dolapdere 18,000 m2 and Santralİstanbul 112,000 m2) that it continues to serve its students and the academic world in Turkey.

Having realized many firsts in its 15 years and with the aim of increasing the quality of education and research and becoming a university that can compete globally, Istanbul Bilgi University began a long term partnership with Laureate Education, one of the largest international education networks in the world, in 2006 and continues to be a part of this network.

The university currently has around 11,000 students, 600 academic staff members, 6 faculties, 4 institutes, 4 schools, and 7 programs associated with its Vocational Schools, and around 100 programs that provide education to its associate, undergraduate and graduate students. As of 2011, the university has graduated over 14,000 students.