For business, engineering and design, the Özyeğin vs Bahçeşehir vs Bilgi choice depends on what you value most. Özyeğin University (OzU) suits students who want a green campus with dormitories and an AACSB-accredited business school, Bahçeşehir University (BAU) suits students who want the widest list of English-taught design and engineering programs in central Istanbul, and Istanbul Bilgi University suits students drawn to communication, design and city campuses, as long as they check its current situation first. All three are private foundation universities approved by YÖK.
Özyeğin vs Bahçeşehir vs Bilgi at a glance
This table sums up the main facts. Each point is explained below.
| Topic | Özyeğin (OzU) | Bahçeşehir (BAU) | Istanbul Bilgi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007, by the Hüsnü M. Özyeğin Foundation | 1998, by the Bahçeşehir Uğur Education Foundation | 1996, run by the Bilgi Education and Culture Foundation |
| Main campus | Çekmeköy (Asian side) | Beşiktaş, on the Bosphorus (European side) | santralistanbul, Eyüpsultan (European side), plus three more campuses |
| Faculties | 7 | 9–10 (sources differ), plus a conservatory | 8 listed on its international admissions page |
| Students (THE data, 2027 ranking) | 6,448, about 17% international | 19,930, about 24% international | 15,173, about 9% international |
| Housing | On-campus dormitories | No on-campus dormitories; affiliated private residence | Not described on the pages we checked |
| Key accreditations | AACSB (business); MÜDEK (several engineering programs) | MÜDEK (several engineering programs) | WSCUC (US institutional accreditor); MÜDEK (eight engineering programs) |
| THE World University Rankings 2027 | 801–1000 | 1001–1200 | 1801–2000 |
Founding and background
Özyeğin University was founded on 18 May 2007 by the Hüsnü M. Özyeğin Foundation and calls itself an entrepreneurial research university. It has seven faculties: Business, Engineering, Social Sciences, Aviation and Aeronautical Sciences, Law, Architecture and Design, and Applied Sciences.
Bahçeşehir University was founded in 1998 by the Bahçeşehir Uğur Education Foundation, and its first students started in 1999–2000. It has faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Engineering and Natural Sciences, Architecture and Design, Communication, Law, Educational Sciences, and Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, plus a conservatory. It belongs to the BAU Global network, with institutions in Berlin, Washington DC, Batumi and Cyprus.
Istanbul Bilgi University is the oldest of the three. It was established in 1996, and its precursor was the Istanbul School of International Studies. Its international admissions page lists faculties of Applied Sciences, Architecture, Business, Communication, Engineering and Natural Sciences, Health Sciences, Law, and Social Sciences and Humanities.
Important note on Bilgi’s current situation
Bilgi has been through an unusual period. Since September 2025, its founding foundation has been run by a state-appointed trustee. On 21 May 2026 a Presidential Decision removed the university’s operating permit, and on 25 May 2026 a new decision, published in the Official Gazette, cancelled it, so the university can operate again. Its international admissions page still invites online applications. Before you apply, ask our advisors or the university to confirm the latest situation for your program and intake.
Campus and location
Özyeğin: a closed campus in Çekmeköy
OzU’s main campus is in Çekmeköy, on the Asian side. It is a closed campus with security at the gates, and school shuttles run to several parts of Istanbul. Dormitories for more than 2,600 students are within walking distance of the academic buildings, and international students get priority for housing. The library is open 24/7, and three campus buildings hold LEED Gold certification.
Bahçeşehir: a city university on the Bosphorus
BAU’s main campus is on Çırağan Caddesi in Beşiktaş, right on the Bosphorus. It also teaches at its Beşiktaş North, Galata, Pera and Göztepe campuses, with free shuttle buses between them. There are no on-campus dormitories; students live in nearby private residences, such as the BAU-affiliated Ortaköy Aparts, about ten minutes from the main campus.
Bilgi: four campuses around the city
Bilgi’s largest campus, santralistanbul in Eyüpsultan, is built on the site of a former power plant and houses the Energy Museum. Kuştepe in Şişli was its first campus, Dolapdere near Taksim has a fitness centre and a swimming pool, and Kozyatağı is on the Asian side. Shuttles run between campuses, and Bilgi reports more than 100 student clubs.
Read more in our guide to private universities in Istanbul for international students.
Business, engineering and design programs
All three teach their main business, engineering and design programs in English. The table uses each university’s own program lists.
| Field | OzU | BAU | Bilgi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business | Business Administration, Economics | Business Administration, International Trade and Business, International Finance, Economics, Logistics Management | Business Administration, International Trade and Business, International Finance, Marketing, Management Information Systems, Economics |
| Engineering | Computer Science, Electrical and Electronics, Industrial, Mechanical, Civil | Computer, Software, Artificial Intelligence, Industrial, Civil, Mechatronics, Biomedical and more | Computer, Electrical and Electronics, Industrial, Civil, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Energy Systems |
| Design | Architecture, Industrial Design, Communication Design; Interior Architecture (English and Turkish) | Architecture, Interior Architecture, Industrial Design, Visual Communication Design, Digital Game Design, Cartoon and Animation | Architecture, Industrial Design, Visual Communication Design |
| Something different | Professional Flight Program (pilot training) | Dual-Up second diploma from BAU Berlin | Advertising, Radio, Television and Film |
Business
OzU’s business school, which includes the Faculty of Business and the Graduate School of Business, is listed by AACSB as accredited in business. BAU and Bilgi offer a wider spread of business majors, such as International Finance and International Trade and Business. Bilgi’s full-time MBA is listed in the QS MBA rankings for Europe, which may matter if you plan a master’s later.
Engineering
BAU has the longest list of English-taught engineering programs, including newer fields such as Artificial Intelligence Engineering and Information Security Technology. OzU’s engineering faculty says Industrial, Electrical-Electronics, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science were accredited by MÜDEK in 2016, and Civil Engineering in 2020. Bilgi reports MÜDEK accreditation for eight engineering programs, and BAU announced MÜDEK accreditation for eight English-taught programs in its 2018–2019 and 2020–2021 evaluation rounds. Accreditation periods end and are renewed, so ask for the current status of your program.
Design
For design, BAU offers the most choice in English, from Industrial Design to Digital Game Design and Cartoon and Animation. OzU has a compact design faculty with Architecture, Industrial Design and Communication Design taught in English. Bilgi’s design programs sit next to strong communication programs such as Advertising and Radio, Television and Film.
Some programs at each university, such as Law, are taught fully or partly in Turkish. OzU asks for a Turkish certificate at B1 level for programs taught partly or fully in Turkish. Check the language of your program in our program search.
Özyeğin vs Bahçeşehir vs Bilgi in the rankings
In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, OzU is in the 801–1000 band, BAU in the 1001–1200 band and Bilgi in the 1801–2000 band. In THE’s 2026 subject rankings:
- OzU: Computer Science 501–600, Business and Economics 601–800, Engineering 601–800.
- BAU: Engineering 501–600, Business and Economics 601–800, Computer Science 601–800, Arts and Humanities 601–800.
- Bilgi: no subject bands listed on its THE profile. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, Bilgi is in the 1401+ band.
Bilgi also holds institutional accreditation from WSCUC, a US accreditor, first granted in 2021, with its next accreditation visit planned for spring 2027. Rankings and accreditations are useful signals, but the program and the campus usually matter more for your daily life.
Admission, fees and scholarships
All three accept international students based on their high school documents. OzU may also invite you to an interview. BAU’s bachelor’s programs start only in the fall, and many of its master’s programs also have a spring intake. If you do not have an accepted English score, you take the university’s own English exam, and if you do not pass, you study one preparatory year first. See our guide on how to apply to Turkish universities.
We do not quote fees here, because they vary by program and change every year. See the current fees in our program search.
- OzU lists merit and financial-need scholarships, but no fixed scheme for international applicants.
- BAU lists a success scholarship for top students after the second year, a sibling discount and extra scholarships for some departments.
- Bilgi does not publish a fixed international scholarship on the pages we checked. Ask an advisor about the current offer.
For living costs, read our guide to the cost of studying in Turkey.
Which one is right for you?
- Choose Özyeğin if you want a smaller, green campus with dormitories, an AACSB-accredited business school, MÜDEK-accredited engineering or pilot training, and you are happy on the Asian side.
- Choose Bahçeşehir if you want the widest choice of English-taught engineering and design programs, a central Bosphorus location and links with BAU Berlin, and you are fine with private housing.
- Choose Bilgi if communication, design or business in a city setting appeals to you, and you have confirmed the university’s current status for your intake.
How Lord Agency can help
Since 2017, Lord Agency has helped international students apply to private universities in Turkey and North Cyprus. We can compare current fees, program languages and intakes at Özyeğin, Bahçeşehir and Bilgi, check the latest situation at each university and help you prepare your documents. You can also browse all universities. Our consultation is free. Request a free consultation or start your free application in our student portal.
Frequently asked questions
Are Özyeğin, Bahçeşehir and Bilgi recognized?
Yes. All three are foundation (private) universities approved by YÖK, the Council of Higher Education of Turkey. Their degrees have the same legal status as degrees from state universities. For Bilgi, confirm the latest situation before you apply.
Which is best for business?
OzU’s business school is AACSB-accredited. BAU and Bilgi offer more business majors, such as International Finance and International Trade and Business. Compare the program content, campus and fees for your case.
Which is best for engineering?
BAU has the most English-taught engineering programs, and it has the higher THE 2026 band for Engineering (501–600). OzU has several MÜDEK-accredited programs and the higher band for Computer Science. Bilgi reports MÜDEK accreditation for eight programs.
Which university has dormitories?
OzU has dormitories on its Çekmeköy campus for more than 2,600 students. BAU has no on-campus dormitories but works with an affiliated private residence. For Bilgi, plan for private housing or ask our advisors.
Can I study design in English?
Yes. All three teach Architecture and Industrial Design in English. BAU also teaches Interior Architecture, Visual Communication Design and Digital Game Design in English, and OzU teaches Communication Design in English.
