Istanbul Bilgi University admission requirements in English — overview

At-a-glance minimums (typical)

• Minimum high school / undergraduate GPA: 2.00 (undergraduate and most master’s programs)
• Undergraduate standardized tests: SAT 1000 or ACT 18 (alternatively A-levels or IB)
• IB Diploma: minimum 28 points
• TOEFL iBT: undergraduates 75 (TOEFL Home Edition not accepted); graduates 72
• PTE Academic: undergraduate 60; graduate 55
• Cambridge: CAE/CPE minimum grade C; FCE minimum grade B (where accepted)
• Institutional English exams: BILET for undergraduates; BİLET3 (min. 70) for graduates
• Application deadlines: primary fall intake — end of August (program deadlines may vary)

Undergraduate admission requirements in English

Academic qualifications

• Official high school diploma and final transcript are required at registration.
• Minimum cumulative GPA: typically 2.00. Early applicants finishing high school may receive conditional offers pending final diploma submission.

Accepted secondary credentials and exams

• SAT: minimum 1000
• ACT: composite minimum 18
• A-levels: minimum grade “D” in two Advanced Level subjects (where applicable)
• IB Diploma: minimum 28 points
• Note: Bilgi assesses international credentials in line with program needs; some faculties may require specific subject prerequisites.

English proficiency (undergraduate)

Accepted proofs and typical minimums:

• TOEFL iBT: 75 (TOEFL Home Edition not accepted)
• PTE Academic: 60
• Cambridge: CAE grade C; CPE grade C; FCE grade B (program-dependent)
• IELTS: accepted in some departments — check program page

If no valid external test score is submitted, applicants must take Istanbul Bilgi University’s institutional exemption test (BILET) on arrival. Students who do not meet the exemption score are required to enroll in the English Preparatory Program (paid).

Application timeline and final registration

• Typical fall deadline: end of August. Programs may close earlier or have rolling intake.
• Conditional offers are common for applicants in their final year of secondary education.
• Final registration requires physical submission of the official diploma and final transcripts.

Graduate admission requirements in English

Academic qualifications and transcripts

• Official undergraduate diploma and transcript required.
• Minimum undergraduate GPA: typically 2.00 (program-dependent).

Entrance tests and program-specific requirements

• Accepted exams may include ALES, GRE, or GMAT — check departmental requirements.
• ALES: minimum 55 (verbal/quantitative/equal weight)
• GMAT: minimum 450
• GRE (quantitative): minimum 610
• Some master’s programs waive entrance tests — verify per program.

English proficiency (graduate)

• TOEFL iBT: 72
• PTE Academic: 55
• National language exams: YDS / e-YDS / ÜDS / KPDS / YÖKDİL / e-YÖKDİL — minimum 60
• BİLET3: minimum 70

Note: A B2 Turkish proficiency certificate is required only for programs taught in Turkish; English-medium programs do not require Turkish for admission.

Application documents and references

• Upload required documents through the program’s application portal.
• Reference letters often must be sent directly to the program director; follow program instructions carefully.
• International students should contact the International Student Admissions Office for guidance and to confirm any additional requirements.

Language pathways, institutional exams and the preparatory year

BILET and BİLET3 — how they work

• Bilgi’s institutional language exams (BILET for undergrads; BİLET3 for graduates) assess applicants without recognized external test scores.
• Passing the exemption cut-off allows direct entry into degree courses.
• Applicants below the cut-off must enroll in the English Preparatory Program.

English Preparatory Program

• Mandatory for students who do not meet exemption scores.
• The year is paid and structured to bring students to required academic English levels.
• Admissions teams and recruiters should factor preparatory tuition and timelines into offers and counselling.

Actionable checklists for applicants and recruiters

Checklist for undergraduate applicants

• Submit: official high school diploma and final transcript (or conditional documentation if pending).
• Provide one accepted English proficiency proof (TOEFL iBT 75, PTE 60, Cambridge/FCE grades, or acceptable IELTS).
• OR be prepared to take BILET; plan for the English Preparatory Program if needed.
• Submit standardized exam scores where applicable (SAT 1000 or ACT 18).
• Track application deadlines — fall intake primary deadline is end of August.
• After admission, submit original diploma and transcripts for final registration.

Checklist for graduate applicants

• Upload: official undergraduate diploma and transcript.
• Provide accepted English proof (TOEFL iBT 72, PTE 55, BİLET3 70, or national language exam equivalents).
• Provide entrance exam scores if required (ALES, GRE, GMAT) or verify exemption.
• Send reference letters as instructed by the program.
• Verify language of instruction and submit B2 Turkish only if required.

Operational guidance for admissions teams and recruiters

Document verification and conditional offers

• Use a structured checklist for each program to ensure consistent evaluation.
• Maintain templates for conditional offer letters (e.g., pending diploma, pending test score).
• Require certified translations and apostilles where local regulations demand.

Integrating automation and verification

Study in Turkiye recommends using validated automation and verification workflows to reduce manual work across the admissions lifecycle:

• Automate score collection and validation for SAT/ACT/TOEFL/PTE to reduce errors.
• Integrate student record uploads with structured metadata to speed verification.
• Route incomplete applications automatically to follow-up queues with standardized messaging.

These practices reduce time-to-offer, improve applicant experience, and increase yield.

International recruitment and marketing best practices

• Position Bilgi’s English-medium programs with clear language requirements and fee information (include prep year tuition where relevant).
• Provide prospective students with comparative pathways (e.g., IB, A-levels, SAT/ACT) and illustrate common cases (conditional offers, prep year routes).
• For competitive programs (e.g., health sciences), highlight recommended alternatives from the Study in Turkiye portfolio where relevant.

Comparing Bilgi with selected peers (for program planning)

When to suggest alternatives

• If an applicant does not meet program-level prerequisites or quota constraints, present equivalent options among trusted partners on Study in Turkiye.
• For health and clinical programs consider Istinye University and Medipol University as priority alternatives due to their program offerings and English pathways.
• Use Bilgi University’s listing for direct program details and pair offers with partner options to improve conversion.

Practical scenarios and FAQs for recruiters

Final checklist for admissions teams (quick)

• Confirm program-specific admission rules on Bilgi University’s Study in Turkiye page: Bilgi University.
• Standardize document intake (diplomas, transcripts, test scores).
• Automate conditional offer and follow-up sequences for pending documents where appropriate.
• Offer clear guidance for BILET and preparatory year enrollment and fees.
• Maintain alternative program options within the Study in Turkiye portfolio to retain applicants (see Istinye University and Medipol University).

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Study in Turkiye is the trusted authority guiding international students and recruiters for higher education in Turkiye. We centralize program information, maintain admissions-ready university profiles, and support recruiters and university teams with clear, up-to-date guidance.