Boğaziçi University (Boğaziçi Üniversitesi) is a public university in Istanbul that teaches every bachelor's programme in English. International applicants compete for a separate quota and must hold one result from the university's list: SAT from 1300, TR-YÖS from 450 out of 500, three A grades at A-level, ACT 29 or an equivalent diploma. National exams such as Russia's EGE (Unified State Exam) or Kazakhstan's UNT are not on that list. Tuition for 2026/27 is $8,000–10,000 a year depending on the faculty, and the university offers no scholarships to international students.
| At a glance | Checked 1 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Type | Turkish public university, Istanbul (European shore of the Bosphorus) |
| Language of instruction | English; Law and Turkish Language and Literature also require Turkish at B2 |
| International admission | Separate quota, online application directly to the university |
| Accepted results | SAT, ACT, A-level, AP, TR-YÖS, IB, Abitur, Matura and several other diplomas; EGE and UNT are not accepted |
| 2026/27 application window | 6 April – 5 June 2026; second round 1–16 July |
| Application fee | $103 |
| 2026/27 tuition | $10,000 a year (Engineering, Economics and Administrative Sciences), $8,000 (Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Education, Law) |
| English preparatory year | $10,000 ($5,000 per semester) |
| University scholarships | None for international students |
| Ranking | THE World University Rankings 2027: 401–450 band |
Who Boğaziçi suits
Boğaziçi makes sense if you want an English-taught bachelor's degree at a selective public university in Istanbul and can reach a high SAT or TR-YÖS score. The university took its current form on 10 September 1971, when the American-founded Robert College was turned into a Turkish state university, which explains the English medium and the US-style curriculum.
| A good fit | Look elsewhere |
|---|---|
| You already have, or can realistically reach, SAT 1300–1350 or TR-YÖS 450 by spring | Your only result is a national school-leaving exam such as EGE or UNT |
| You want engineering, economics, psychology or sciences in English | You want medicine or dentistry: Boğaziçi has neither |
| Your budget covers $8,000–10,000 tuition plus Istanbul living costs | You need a tuition discount from the university |
| Your English is around IELTS 6.5, or you accept a preparatory year | You need an admission decision before the spring of your final school year |
Applicants from Russia with strong EGE scores but no SAT usually do better at public universities that accept the EGE: Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara asks for an average of 80% across three subjects, and Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) for 70%. The nearest private alternative is Koç University, at several times the price. The wider admission logic is explained in our guide to public universities in Turkey, and every university profile is listed on our Study in Turkey page.
Bachelor's programmes
The international admissions page lists these faculties and departments:
| Faculty | Programmes |
|---|---|
| Engineering | Computer, Electrical and Electronics, Industrial, Civil, Chemical, Mechanical |
| Economics and Administrative Sciences | Economics, Management, Political Science and International Relations, Tourism Administration, International Trade, Management Information Systems |
| Science | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Molecular Biology and Genetics |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | Psychology, Sociology, History, Philosophy, Linguistics, Translation and Interpreting, Western Languages and Literatures, Turkish Language and Literature |
| Education | Computer Education, Educational Sciences, Elementary Education, Mathematics and Science Education, Foreign Language Education |
| Law | Law (Turkish B2 required at the application stage) |
There is no medical school. Future doctors should compare medical universities in Istanbul such as Medipol; our page on medicine in Turkey covers the options.
Accepted exams and minimum scores
You apply with one result from the list below, and it must already meet the minimum when you submit.
| Exam or diploma | Minimum to apply |
|---|---|
| SAT | Engineering 1350 with Math 700; Science 1300 with Math 700; Education 1200; other programmes 1300. Superscores are not accepted |
| ACT | Composite 29/36 |
| TR-YÖS | 450/500 |
| GCE or International A-levels | Three subjects relevant to the programme, grade A in each |
| AP | Four exams with 4 or higher; Engineering and Science also need Calculus AB or BC at 5 |
| IB Diploma | 36/45 |
| French Baccalauréat | 14.5/20 |
| Abitur | 2.0 or better |
| Swiss / Austrian Matura | 5.0/6 / 1.5 or better |
| Olympiads | Gold or silver at an international science olympiad recognised by TÜBİTAK |
SAT scores count only when the College Board sends them directly (Boğaziçi code 0796). TR-YÖS is Turkey's exam for foreign applicants, run by the national testing centre ÖSYM twice a year in several languages including English and Russian. The 2026 autumn sitting takes place on 11 October 2026; registration closed on 3 August. For entry in autumn 2027 the realistic options are that sitting (if you are registered) or the spring 2027 sitting, which ÖSYM will date in its calendar. Our guides to the YÖS exam and to exams for Turkish universities compare the routes.
Meeting the minimum only makes you eligible. International applicants compete for a quota agreed with Turkey's Council of Higher Education (YÖK), and Boğaziçi's admissions committee makes the decision.
Who can use the international quota
You can apply in your final school year or after graduating, provided your entire high-school education took place outside Turkey and Northern Cyprus. Foreign nationals who studied at an ordinary Turkish high school are not eligible (embassy schools and international schools registered in Turkey's MOBİS system are exceptions). Turkish citizens with a Turkish school diploma enter through the national YKS exam instead.
Documents and application steps
Applications are online only, and every document must be in English, so translate your school records in advance.
- Official score report for your exam (SAT via the College Board).
- Official high-school transcript with a wet signature, e-signature or QR code.
- Copy of the diploma, or a school letter confirming expected graduation.
- Validated English test report (see the next section).
- Statement of purpose.
- Passport copy.
- Turkish B2 certificate for Law and Turkish Language and Literature only: TÖMER certificates from state universities or the Yunus Emre Institute exam.
- $103 application fee, paid online.
For 2026/27 the window ran from 6 April (10:00 Turkish time) to 5 June 2026 (17:00), with a second round on 1–16 July. The university posts 2027/28 dates on its Application Process page before spring, so plan your exam around a similar timetable.
After admission you bring originals, an apostilled diploma and a certificate of equivalence (denklik) from Turkey's Ministry of National Education; see our denklik guide.
English requirements
Without validated English you start in the English Preparatory Program. To go straight into the first year you need one of the following:
- Boğaziçi's own BÜYES/BUEPT exam;
- IELTS Academic (paper or test-centre computer) with 6.5 overall and Writing 6.5; IELTS Online is not accepted;
- TOEFL iBT on the scale used from 12 June 2026: 4.5 overall and at least 4.5 in each section; TOEFL Home Edition and institutional TOEFL are not accepted.
Results must be less than two years old and must be approved in person at the preparatory school office (YADYOK). If your overall score is high enough but Writing falls short, you can sit the separate TWE writing test on the BÜYES exam day. The preparatory year is billed separately at $5,000 per semester.
Tuition in 2026/27
Boğaziçi set its international fees in US dollars after Presidential Decision No. 11625 on tuition for 2026/27. The tariff is published as a per-semester table dated August 2026:
| Faculty | Per semester | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Economics and Administrative Sciences | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Science | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| Education | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| Law | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| English preparatory year | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Master's and PhD | $300 | $600 |
The general international applicants' page differs from the tariff on two lines: it shows $10,000 a year for Humanities and Social Sciences and $500 per semester for graduate study. We follow the tariff. It is the document issued for 2026/27, and its Humanities rate ($4,000 per semester) has not changed since the 2024/25 intake. Your registration invoice is final. If a $2,000 difference matters for your budget, ask the admissions office at globalstudents@bogazici.edu.tr to confirm the amount before you pay.
Students who stay beyond the normal programme length pay a separate lira rate. Boğaziçi gives no discounts or financial aid to international students. The main external option is the government's Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları), open from 10 January to 20 February, where the scholarship agency rather than the applicant decides the placement; see our Türkiye Scholarships guide.
Where you study and live: campuses, dorms, budget
Most teaching takes place on the South Campus in Bebek, next to the Rumelihisarı fortress, where the university's oldest buildings stand. The North, Hisar and Uçaksavar campuses are within walking distance. Kandilli Campus, home to the observatory, is on the Asian shore, and Sarıtepe Campus near Kilyos on the Black Sea coast is 34 km from South Campus.
Boğaziçi runs Theodorus Hall and the North (Kuzey) dorms on the main campus, Kandilli and Anadolu Hisarı on the Asian shore, and a dorm in Kilyos on the Black Sea coast. The dormitory office allocates places through its YBS system, and rooms are not always available.
| Dormitory, 2026/27 | Monthly fee per person (undergraduate) |
|---|---|
| Six-bed room (Theodorus Hall, Anadolu Hisarı) | $80 (TRY 4,000) |
| Four-bed room (Theodorus Hall) | $110 (TRY 5,600) |
| Double room in a flat (North dorms) | $140 (TRY 7,100) |
| Double room (Theodorus Hall, Anadolu Hisarı) | $160 (TRY 7,900) |
| Four-bed room in a flat (Kandilli, Kilyos) | $80 (TRY 3,700) |
| Six-bed room in a flat (Kilyos), the cheapest option | $70 (TRY 3,500) |
| Deposit on moving in | $120 (TRY 6,000) |
Rent is paid monthly by the last day of the month. Add food, transport, insurance and the residence card. See our pages on the cost of living, student accommodation and studying in Istanbul; students paying from Russia will find legal options in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
Visa and residence permit
Visa rules depend on your passport. Russia's Foreign Ministry states that Russians' 60-day visa-free entry does not cover study, and Turkey's Foreign Ministry limits it to tourist and business trips, so Russian citizens apply for a student visa at a Turkish consulate with the admission letter. Kazakh citizens enter visa-free for 90 days in any 180; check study requirements with the consulate where you apply. Other nationalities should check Turkey's visa list.
After registering at the university you apply for a student residence permit at e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr. The residence card cost TRY 964 (about $20) in 2026, and you need health insurance for the whole period. The consulate decides on the visa and the migration authority on the permit. Step-by-step details are in our student visa guide.
Recognition of the degree
Boğaziçi awards a standard Turkish state bachelor's degree (lisans). Turkish universities are not on Russia's government list of foreign degrees recognised automatically, so graduates returning to Russia go through recognition via the Glavexpertcentre, with Rosobrnadzor deciding. In Kazakhstan recognition is handled through ENIC-Kazakhstan.
Common mistakes
- Preparing only a national exam. Boğaziçi does not accept the EGE or UNT; without SAT or TR-YÖS the application is not considered.
- Uploading a screenshot of the SAT. Only College Board score reports sent to code 0796 count, and superscores are ignored.
- Taking IELTS Online or TOEFL Home Edition. Neither exempts you from the preparatory year.
- Counting on a discount. There is no university aid for international students.
- Applying to Law without Turkish. The B2 certificate is needed at the application stage.
- Confusing Boğaziçi with private universities using "Bosphorus" in their English names. Check for Boğaziçi Üniversitesi and the bogazici.edu.tr domain.
Timeline for autumn 2027 entry
- October–December 2026: choose the programme, sit the SAT (sending scores to Boğaziçi) or register for the spring 2027 TR-YÖS.
- Winter 2027: take IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT, translate your transcript into English, write the statement of purpose.
- Spring 2027: apply in the 2027/28 window (in 2026 it ran from 6 April to 5 June) and pay the fee.
- Summer 2027: receive the decision, get a student visa and denklik, apply for a dorm place.
- September 2027: register, take the English exam or start the preparatory year, apply for the residence permit.
FAQ
Can I apply to Boğaziçi with a national school-leaving exam?
Only if it appears on Boğaziçi's list, such as the French Baccalauréat, Abitur or Matura. Russia's EGE and Kazakhstan's UNT are not on it, so applicants from those countries need SAT, TR-YÖS 450, A-levels or another listed result.
How much does Boğaziçi cost for international students?
For 2026/27, Engineering and Economics and Administrative Sciences cost $10,000 a year; Science, Education and Law $8,000. Under the tariff Humanities also costs $8,000, although the general applicants' page still shows $10,000; the registration invoice is final. The English preparatory year costs $10,000.
Does Boğaziçi offer scholarships to international students?
No. The university states that it offers no scholarships or financial aid to international students. The realistic external option is Türkiye Scholarships, whose agency decides both the award and the university placement for each scholar.
Do I need an English certificate to apply?
The document list includes a validated English test report. IELTS Academic 6.5 with Writing 6.5, TOEFL iBT 4.5 on the new scale or the BÜYES exam exempt you from the preparatory year; the university's preparatory school decides on the exemption.
When should I apply for 2027/28?
Boğaziçi publishes new dates on its Application Process page. In 2026 the main window ran from 6 April to 5 June, with a second round from 1 to 16 July. Take your exam before spring so that the score is ready for the main window.
Does Boğaziçi have a medical school?
No. Boğaziçi has no medicine or dentistry programmes. Applicants aiming for medicine should compare public medical faculties with private medical universities in Istanbul and Ankara that teach in English.
How can StudyU help with Boğaziçi?
You submit the Boğaziçi application yourself through the university portal: StudyU does not handle applications to Turkish public universities and does not represent Boğaziçi. We can compare this route with other universities and plan your SAT or TR-YÖS preparation. Boğaziçi's admissions committee decides on admission, and a Turkish consulate on the visa.
Sources
- Boğaziçi University: eligibility, accepted exams and minimum scores, application documents, 2026/27 application process, second round notice, programmes
- Boğaziçi University: English proficiency and exemption
- Boğaziçi University: international tuition page and 2026/27 semester fee table (PDF, Turkish)
- Boğaziçi University: 2026/27 dormitory fees (PDF, Turkish), dormitory office
- Boğaziçi University: Robert College archive (founding date), campuses
- Presidential Decision No. 11625 on 2026/27 tuition (PDF, Turkish)
- Turkish Embassy education counsellor in Moscow: TR-YÖS/2 on 11 October 2026
- Türkiye Scholarships calendar
- Russian Foreign Ministry: Turkey travel information and Turkish Foreign Ministry: visa information
- METU: student residence permit procedure and 2026 card fee
- Times Higher Education: Boğaziçi University
- Russian National Information Centre: recognition, ENIC-Kazakhstan
Lira amounts are converted at the ECB reference rates of 30 September 2026 (€1 = $1.1355 = TRY 55.6596, so $1 ≈ TRY 49.02) and rounded to $10. Information checked on 1 October 2026. The International Baccalaureate Organization has been declared an undesirable organisation in Russia; the IB Diploma is listed here only because Boğaziçi accepts it.
If you want to compare Boğaziçi with METU, İTÜ and private universities and plan your SAT or TR-YÖS, send a request: route comparison and exam planning are provided under an agreement with StudyU, you submit the university application yourself, and the university makes the admission decision.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Ankara University (Ankara Üniversitesi): Admission and Fees for International Students
- Istanbul University (İstanbul Üniversitesi): Admission and Fees for International Students
- Middle East Technical University (METU, ODTÜ): Admission for International Students
- Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ): How International Students Get In
- Koç University: Admission and Tuition for International Students
- Public Universities in Turkey: Admission and Fees for International Students
