Founded by an American philanthropist as educator as Robert College in 1863, Boğaziçi University (or Bosphorus University) (BU) was formally established in 1971 as the first American university outside of the United States. BU is an elite research university, with outstanding undergraduate and graduate programs in the natural and social sciences, humanities, engineering, education, and applied disciplines. The flexibility of its academic programs, the wide range of courses offered, and the emphasis on interdisciplinary curricula are significant advantages that characterize and distinguish the institution.

There are six campuses across Istanbul, South, North, Hisar, Uçaksavar, Kilyos-Saritepe and Kandilli, with varied architecture styles. BU offers a range of sports facilities and the annual Fall Games Tournament and Interfaculty Tournament are big events on the university calendar. Alongside the clubs and societies that cover a range of hobbies and interests, the university organises weekly classical music concerts, bringing world-renowned artists to perform in the Albert Long Hall.

BU is endorsed by the European Universities Association (EUA) and all departments of the Faculty of Engineering have been accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering Technology (ABET) since 1998. 

An hour by air from Turkey’s capital of Ankara, lies Istanbul, a city that straddles Europe and Asia. Having been ruled by Thracian tribes, ancient Greeks, the Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire, the city of Istanbul has an old and rich history which is reflected in its arts, culture and architecture. Istanbul was named Europe's Capital of Culture in 2010 and was one of the top ten most popular tourist cities in 2018. Today with a population of 15.07 million, Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, and is the country's cultural and economic centre.

Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is a country located mainly on the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe, making it a country that crosses continents in geography as well as culture. Turkey is bordered by Greece, Bulgaria, the Black Sea, Georgia, Armenia, Nakhchivan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Aegean Sea to its west.

Turkey's population is approximately 84 million, and is relatively young with a median age of 31 years. While Ankara is the capital, Istanbul is the largest city in the country. Turkish and Kurdish are the most common languages spoken, however there are a whole host of endangered languages also present in the region.

Turkey is friendly, beautiful, multicultural, excellently located, culturally rich and reasonably affordable. It's also one of the most popular tourist destinations, welcoming more than 46 million visitors every year. Thanks to the many oceans and seas it borders, Turkey has a number of gorgeous beaches. One of the experiences many people associate with Turkey is visiting the Turkish baths for a spot of luxury.

Because of its central location in an important nexus of the world, Turkey has a long and fascinating history encompassing many empires and civilisations. There are palaces, mosques, ruins, tombs, underground cities and ancient sites scattered throughout the land. There are excellent museums that preserve these sites and display antiquities, such as the world's largest mosaic museum. If you have an interest in architecture, Turkey is definitely a country to visit, as the range of structures and melting pot of styles is a great source of inspiration. The Turkish people are known for their culture of hospitality and are very welcoming to travellers.

Did you know?

Santa Claus, or more precisely Saint Nicolas, a Christian saint and Greek Bishop of Myra, was born in Patara, Lycia or what is now known as Demre in Turkey. 

All students must meet standard exchange selection criteria and any host institution restrictions. 

All courses at Boğaziçi is taught in English.  

All exchange students are expected to select at least two courses from the academic unit with which they are registered at Boğaziçi. 

• UniSA academic transcript 
• Passport
• Evidence of English proficiency (if applicable)
• Statement of Purpose: An essay, no more than 300 words, explaining why you would like to attend Boğaziçi University.  
• A list of courses you would like to take (a minimum 2 courses should be taken from the host department). Please note that this list is only for the application. Your actual classes will be determined during registration at the beginning of the semester.  
• A letter of recommendation 

Please refer to the host university website for details of course credit values. Boğaziçi courses are weighted in both Turkish credits as well as ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). 
 
The following ECTS rules apply: 

• 18 units = 30 ECTS 
• 13.5 units = 22.5 ECTS 

It can sometimes be difficult to make up exactly 22.5 units (not all courses will be worth exactly 7.5 ECTS), but you should be able to get very close. Make sure you check with your Program Director if you don’t have exactly 22.5 ECTS 
 
Note: Boğaziçi University uses a credit-hour system. A typical course is 3 or 4 credits with 3 to 5 hours of contact per week in the form of lectures. Credits per semester for full-time Bogaziçi Students 15-24 credits, corresponding to 5-6 courses, or approximately 30 ECTS.

Non-native speakers of English must provide proof of proficiency in the English Language by means of the TOEFL or IETLS.  

Minimum scores required: 
TOEFL: 550 + TWE 4.5 for the paper-based test, 213+ TWE 4.5 for the computer-based test, 79 + TWE 24 for the Internet-based test, IELTS (6.5). 

Find courses at Boğaziçi

Boğaziçi University does not offer airport pick up. Students will need to make their own way to the campus from Istanbul Airport. 

More information on how to get to the campus can be found here. 

Exchange students can reserve a room at the Superdorm which is the on-campus dormitory. It is advisable that you apply for on-campus housing when you apply for exchange as places are limited. 

Alternatively if you wish to stay off-campus, there are rental units near the University as well as in other areas of the city are available. No assistance is provided by the Office in securing housing. 

More information on accommodation can be found here. 

As an exchange partner with the University of South Australia, you do not have to pay tuition fees to Boğaziçi University, instead you will pay tuition as you would normally at UniSA. Travel and living expenses are at your own cost. The table below gives an indication of costs you will incur:  

More information can be found here.

You may be eligible to receive additional grants or scholarships to fund your experience. For more information please see the funding and scholarships website.

UniSA offers travel insurance as part of your exchange for up to 270 days (can be extended up to 365 days). For more information please see travel insurance website.  

Please click here to read the travel insurance policy. 

A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found here. 

If you have any further questions about travel insurance, please contact the UniSA Insurance Office on 08 8302 1678.