Boğazici University: A Qualified University with a Spectacular View

Bogazici University is one of the best universities in Turkey. The views from the South Campus are very famous. Unfortunately, since a couple of years only students and graduates are allowed. I'll tell you about it in case you can make your way in or come as an Erasmus student.

History

The history of the university begins with Robert Collage. The boys' section of the university gave service at Bebek campus until 1971. Then, there was a change of law. Robert Collage could no longer be a collage, but a high school. It united with Arnavutkoy American Girls' Collage. The Bebek campus was granted to the government, under the condition that a university would be founded there. So began the history of Bogazici university.

Faculty of Arts and Sciences, where I studied philosophy :)

Campuses

There are six campuses of the university. Four of them are close to each other and the other two are a little bit far away.

South Campus: This is the most famous campus, because it keeps almost all the view to itself. Especially at spring and summer time, you can walk on the paths surrounded with trees and watch Bosphorus from different angles. It is also the original campus, so all the historical buildings dating from 19th century are here.

I was one of the lucky students whose faculty was at this campus (but we had lectures at three campuses). Aside from  the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Rectorate Building, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, the School of Foreign Languages, Natuk Birkan Building, Fine Arts Building (where you can take ceramics and sculpture courses), Conference and Concert Center, Student Activities' Building, Zeynep-Ayse Birkan Girls' Dormitory, 1. Boys' Dormitory (with a nice study hall where most students prepare for exams and write their papers), Kennedy Lodge (a restaurant with a Bosphorus view for only academics), Bogazici Alumni Association (with a fine restaurant and a pool), Dining Hall, Outdoor Swimming Pool, and the majestic Albert Long Hall, or the "Building with Clock (where important events and classical music concerts take place) are also in the confines of the South Campus.

There is a division of universities at Turkey: Some belong to the state and are free, some belong to foundations or rich people, they are expensive. Bogazici University is a state university, but the view at the resturants are not for free. BUMED restaurant serves very delicious food (and cheesecakes!) but it may not be suitable for students or backpackers. The canteens are also a little bit more expensive than they should be and you have to pay more the dining hall, compared to other universities.

You can take your food into the campus, or just sit and watch the view for free, of course. There are two famous spots of the university. The one at the top is called Petek (the comb, because of the shapes of the tiles) and the other one is called Manzara (the view, where you can view the Rumeli Fortress and the Anatolian coast, especially Goksu. Cats will always accompany you.)



North Campus: This is for me the most dull campus of all. All the buildings are new and grey. However, Aptullah Kuran Library is here. There is also a big, smooth space where you can see skaters. There are also Education Faculty, Educational Technologies faculty. Computer Engineering Building, the labs of Science and Engineering Sciences, 1. North Dormitory, 2. North Dormitory, 3. North Dormitory, 4. North Dormitory, 5. North Dormitory, the School of Foreign Languages, the New Building (which is obviously not new anymore), and the Dining Hall.

Hisar Campus: This is the other campus where you can see a bit of Bosphorus' view. The Natural Sciences' Institute, the School of Applied Sciences, Indoor Swimming Pool, Fitness Center, and the Agac Ev (a garden restaurant) are here. It is five minute walk away from the South Campus.

Ucaksavar Campus: This campus is ten minute walk away from the South Campus. It is not technically at Rumelihisarustu neigbourhood, but at Ucaksavar neighbourhood. The luxurious Superdorm is here. (Some friends were staying at lovely buldings with gardens around, but they are much more expensive than they should be, because cunning householders know that many students will have to rent an apartment. This is also valid for Rumelihisarustu.) There are also athletics track, sport halls, lodgings and Garanti Cultural Center.

Saritepe Campus: This campus is at Kilyos (yes, beaches!). The sea-sun-sand triangle may seem attractive, but the students didn't like it at the first years, because there was nothing else and the campus was very far away to the city center. I don't know how the situation is now, but I guess it is somehow better, after new buildings and new metro lines. The School of Foreign Languages, 2 student dormitories, community facilities complex and BURCBeach are here. You can pay the entrance fee and use BURCBeach whenever you want at summer.

How to get to Bogazici University 

It is easy to get to Bogazici University, if there is not any traffic. When I was a student, a crossover road was being built and I spent hours at traffic to get to my home at Anatolian coast. The road was finished and a Kadikoy bus (125) was put into servise (which actually enters directly into the Bosphorus traffic.)

Today, there are more options, if you like to avoid traffic. Marmaray has a Yenikapi stop. You can interchange the train (M2) there and go to Levent stop, there you can interchange again (M6) and get to Hisarustu stop. There are also buses to Taksim (559C) and Kabatas (43R). It is possible to walk some distances.