The Bilkent university, situated in the capital city of Turkey- Ankara, was founded in 1984 by İhsan Doğramaci. A joint resolution of İhsan Doğramaci Science and Research Foundation, İhsan Doğramaci Education Foundation, and İhsan Doğramaci Health Foundation laid the foundation of the university. Later on, by an act of parliament, it was approved. It is Turkey’s first private university. It was founded with the fundamental mission of establishing a great center of excellence in research and higher education.

The university offers 29 undergraduates, 53 graduate, and some integrated doctorate programs in faculties of education, engineering, law, science, psychology, business, economics, art, mathematics, and literature. There are 9 faculties and 2 professional schools of 4- year terms. About 35000 alumni are spread all over the world who are really worth the fame they are garnering. 65% are receiving scholarships benefits. Some remarkable alumni of this institute are Haluk Akakҫe- a painter, Yasemin Mori- a musician, Hakan Fidan- a soldier and diplomat, Orkut Büyükkökten- a Google employee who developed Orkut, a social networking site, and Nasuh Mahruki- first Turk mountaineer to climb Mt. Everest.

Various institutes and organizations are associated with the university among which are Center for International Economics, Institute of Fine Arts, Bilkent Center for Advanced Studies (BICAS), and Genetics and Biotechnology Research and Development Center (BILGEN). IN 2014/15, the university employed over 689 academicians from 40 countries and had an enrollment of 9370 students. Around 3% were international students. Exchange programs and collaborative projects have been initiated with many universities from countries all over the world such as USA, UK, Japan, Italy, Canada, and Australia.