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. 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, 70,000 alumni and nearly 1,500 academic staff, BİLGİ offers over 150 programs in its 8 faculties, 1 professional school, 3 institutes and 2 vocational schools.