The University

Boğaziçi University was formally established on September 12, 1971. However, it has behind it the long history of Robert College – the first American college to be established outside the United States. With the transfer of the school’s site to the Turkish government, Boğaziçi University became the heir to the distinguished academic tradition of Robert College as well as to its excellent facilities.

In 1971 Boğaziçi University had three faculties plus one school of higher education. Since 1982, it has grown to include four faculties, six institutes offering graduate programs, the School of Foreign Languages, and the School of Applied Disciplines. The University's four faculties are: Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Economics and Administrative Sciences, and Education. Many faculty members teach in more than one faculty and the faculty structure promotes interdisciplinary teaching whenever appropriate.

Oldest University buildings are located on the historic South Campus, bounded on the east by the Bosphorus and the castle of Rumelihisar. The North Campus, the Hisar Campus and the Sarıtepe Campus in Kilyos contain the newer additions to the University facilities. A fourth campus on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus houses the historic Kandilli Observatory, a prominent research unit of the University which is the center of a nationwide network of seismic stations.

University Administration

The Rector, as chief officer of the University, presides over the Senate and the University Executive Council.

The chief executive body of the University is the University Executive Council comprised of deans and members elected by the University Senate.

The Senate is the principal academic body, comprised of vice rectors, deans, directors of institutes and directors of schools, as well as members elected by the faculties.

Senate committees deal with a wide range of subjects related to teaching and research. In addition, each Faculty, School or Institute has its own Executive Council and Academic Board responsible for the administration of their respective units.

Academic Policies and Courses of Study

Boğaziçi University grants Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees upon completion of eight semester programs offered by its faculties. The Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees are granted upon completion of four semester programs offered by the institutes. The institutes also offer programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. These programs generally involve a minimum of six semesters of study beyond a Master of Arts or Science degree. Further information concerning the programs of study required by each department for a Bachelor's, Master's or Ph.D. degree can be found under the separate headings for each department.

Double-major undergraduate programs between two departments may be pursued by academically qualified students to receive two diplomas. It is also possible to change majors within the first two years of a program without extending the normal length of study.

The language of instruction at BU is English. The School of Foreign Languages provides one to two semester intensive courses in the English language to all incoming students whose English is not adequate for Freshman courses.

Weekly credit hours for a course are determined according to the following scheme:

(a+b+c) d

a: Theoretical instruction
b: Problem session/ Applications
c: Laboratory/ Practice
d: Total credit hours

Courses can have up to four total credits hours. Problem sessions/ Applications (b) are not included in total credit hours. Only half the credits of laboratory or practice sessions (c) are counted towards total credit hours.

Cr stands for Boğaziçi University credits.
ECTS stands for European Credit Transfer Systems.

The different courses of study offered by the University are listed below.

DEPARTMENTS OFFERING BACHELOR'S DEGREES

A. Faculty of Arts and Sciences

• Chemistry
• History
• Mathematics
• Molecular Biology and Genetics
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Translation and Interpreting Studies
• Turkish Language and Literature
• Western Languages and Literatures

B. Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences

• Economics
• Management
• Political Science and International Relations

C. Faculty of Education

• Computer Education and Educational Technology
• Educational Sciences
• Foreign Language Education
• Primary Education
• Secondary School Science and Mathematics Education

D. Faculty of Engineering

• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

E. Faculty of Managerial Sciences

• International Trade
• Management Information Systems
• Tourism Administration

F. School of Foreign Languages

INSTITUTES OFFERING GRADUATE PROGRAMS

A. Atatürk Institute for Modern Turkish History

B. Institute of Bio-Medical Engineering

C. Institute of Environmental Sciences

D. Institute of Science and Engineering

• Chemical Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)
  • Fuel and Energy Technologies* (M.S.)
• Chemistry (M.S., Ph.D.)
• Civil Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)
• Computational Science & Engineering (M.S.)
• Computer Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)
  • Software Engineering* (M.S.)
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)
• Engineering and Technology Management* (M.S.)
• Financial Engineering* (M.S.)
• Industrial Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)
• Mathematics (M.S., Ph.D.)
• Mechanical Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)
  • Automotive Engineering* (M.S.)
• Medical Systems and Informatics* (M.S.)
• Molecular Biology and Genetics (M.S., Ph.D.)
• Nuclear Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)
• Physics (M.S., Ph.D.)
• Secondary School Science and Mathematics Education (M.S., Ph.D.)
• Systems and Control Engineering (M.S.)

E. Institute of Social Sciences

• Business Information Systems* (M.A.)
• Cognitive Science (M.A.)
• Clinical Psychology (M.A., Ph.D.)
• Conference Interpreting (M.A.)
• Critical and Cultural Studies (M.A.)
• Economics (M.A., Ph.D.)
• Economics and Finance* (M.A.)
• Educational Sciences (M.A., Ph. D.)
• English Language Education (M.A., Ph.D.)
• English Literature (M.A., Ph.D.)
• European Studies* (M.A.)
• Executive M.B.A.*
• History (M.A., Ph.D.)
• International Trade Management (M.A.)
• Linguistics (M.A., Ph.D.)
• Management (M.A., Ph. D.)
• Management Information Systems (M.A.)
• Philosophy (M.A., Ph. D.)
• Political Science and International Relations (M.A., Ph.D.)
• Psychological Sciences (M.A.)
• Sociology (M.A.)
• Translation and Interpreting Studies (M.A., Ph.D.)
• Turkish Language and Literature (M.A., Ph.D.)

F. Kandilli Observatory Earthquake and Research Institute

• Geophysics (M.S., Ph.D.)
• Geodesy (Ph.D.)
• Earthquake Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)
• Earthquake Risk Reduction (M.S.)

* Subject to additional fees and tuition