Private Nonprofit university in Ankara, Turkey, founded 1984

Bilkent University Admission Requirements 2027

Bilkent University is a private, non-profit foundation university in Ankara and the first of its kind in Turkiye, founded in 1984, teaching entirely in English. Admission for international students combines a high school diploma with an accepted exam such as SAT, GCE A Level or IB, and tuition is set independently of the public university schedule, rising by admission year to USD 18,400 a year for students entering in 2026.

Verified 7 Sep 2026 Sources Official site
Next deadline
Not listed
No verified deadline yet
Tuition
$16,300 to $18,400
per year
English test
IELTS 6.5
TOEFL 87, waiver possible
Acceptance rate
Not published
Application fee
Not listed

Requirements

Bachelor's degree

A high school diploma or an equivalent certificate, with a final result in hand rather than predicted grades. One of: SAT, GCE Advanced Level or Cambridge International A Level, International Baccalaureate diploma, or an International Science Olympiad medal. English proficiency is required through one of TOEFL iBT (at least 87), IELTS Academic (at least 6.5 overall, at least 5.5 in each section), or Bilkent's own Proficiency in Academic English (PAE) exam taken after arrival.

Graduate

A relevant bachelor's or master's degree, official transcripts, letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose, on top of the same English proficiency requirement as undergraduate applicants.

Documents

High school diploma or equivalent certificate, with a final rather than predicted result. SAT, GCE A Level, IB or International Science Olympiad medal documentation. TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic score within two years of the test date at registration, if not planning to sit Bilkent's own PAE exam. For graduate applicants: transcripts, letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose.

How to apply

  1. Confirm the high school diploma and the accepted qualification being used (SAT, GCE A Level, IB or an International Science Olympiad medal); predicted or provisional results are not evaluated.
  2. Sit TOEFL iBT or IELTS, or plan to take Bilkent's own Proficiency in Academic English (PAE) exam after arrival.
  3. Complete the online application inside Bilkent's window; the 2026-2027 Fall semester window ran from 2 February to 12 July 2026.
  4. If admitted, pay the first instalment of tuition before Fall semester registration; the amount depends on the year of admission.
  5. Register, sitting the PAE exam first if no accepted external English score is on file; anyone below the requirement joins the English Language Preparatory Program.
  6. After registering, apply for a residence permit through e-ikamet.

English test waiver

Applicants may alternatively sit Bilkent's own Proficiency in Academic English (PAE) exam after arrival and registration rather than submit an external test. External test results (TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic) must be within their two year validity period at the time of registration. Anyone who does not clear the requirement through any of these three routes enters the English Language Preparatory Program before starting subject courses.

Sources, checked 7 September 2026
  1. https://w3.bilkent.edu.tr/international/how-to-apply/
  2. https://w3.bilkent.edu.tr/bilkent/international-and-other-students-tuition-fees/
  3. https://w3.bilkent.edu.tr/international/tuition-fee/
  4. https://w3.bilkent.edu.tr/international/english-language-proficiency/