Founded in 1996 with the motto "Learning not for school but for life" (Non scholae sed vitae discimus), BİLGİ has attempted to establish a community that promotes tolerance and respect for diversity of individuals with different lifestyles, beliefs and ways of thinking within the framework of contemporary universal values, while at the same time maintaining strong ties with all segments of the society. As one of the leading international higher education institutions of Turkey, BİLGİ provides diversified higher education to all domestic and international students. With nearly 20.000 students, 60.000 alumni and nearly 1.500 academic staff, BİLGİ offers over 150 programs in its 8 faculties, 3 institutes and 2 vocational schools. Besides its excellence in academics, BİLGİ hosts more than 1.000 academic and cultural events each year at award-winning campuses located in the heart of Istanbul. • A city university intertwined with İstanbul's vibrant cultural life • Leading Turkish university with innovative academic environment and diverse student body • English as the medium of instruction • More than 600 exchange agreements in Europe, an active participant in the Erasmus exchange network • Full member of European University Association (EUA), International Association of Universities (IAU), EUA-CDE (EUA-Council for Doctoral Education) and OECD/Programme on Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE)