Setting and
Infrastructure

Bilkent University was founded on October 20, 1984 by İhsan Doğramacı, through the joint resolution of İhsan Doğramacı Education Foundation, İhsan Doğramacı Science and Research Foundation and İhsan Doğramacı Health Foundation. The establishment of this private university was later approved by an act of Parliament. The aim was to create a center of excellence in higher education and research. The name “Bilkent”‘ exemplifies the founder’s aim, since it is an acronym of “bilim kenti” in Turkish for “city of science and knowledge.”

Preparations for Bilkent University had begun as early as 1967, with the purchase of a large tract of land to the west of Ankara. In the late 1970s and early 1980s the above mentioned foundations undertook construction, on the future site of Bilkent, of the buildings which now house administrative offices, the Faculty of Engineering, and the library. Construction of residences for academic staff, cafeterias, student dormitories, the Student Union building and various academic buildings followed in rapid succession.

Bilkent University campus is a single campus structure spread over a wide area. However, this large area is divided into two: “Main Campus” and “Eastern Campus”.

• Total campus area is 2.954.109 m2.
• Total campus buildings area is 537,778 m2 and,
• Total forest area is 1.622.442 m2.

In I.D. Bilkent University, Security Office is in charge of campus security in line with the provisions of Article 5188 of the law regarding private security services. Security Office is responsible for:

• Checking and registering the IDs of people and vehicles at campus entrance points
• Bilkent University security staff provides 24 – hour safety by making regular rounds around the buildings, facilities and the green areas located in vicinity of campus. The University also has a surveillance system available at campus entrances as well as buildings and parking lots.
• Regulating campus traffic; enforcing traffic rules and regulations.
• In campus vicinity, physical violence is considered an unacceptable behavior and may be required a disciplinary action.
• Preventing noise pollution on campus inside buildings, classrooms, and dormitories.
• Regularly checking on non-smoking areas to make sure all individuals comply with smoking ban.
• In the case of a lost item, please immediately contact the security staff of the building where the items were lost. If you cannot find your item at the building security desk, contact the main Security Office located in the basement of G Building (Main Campus) in Room B-09.
• Please call the Bilkent Emergency Call Center, which is available for 24/7 at 290-6666 for assistance in the above or similar matters.

In campus, there are total 938 CCTV, panic button, personnel, fire extinguisher, hydrant and various emergency lighting and directions available. And then the security and civil defense personnel can respond to all emergencies within 3-5 minutes. (126 personnel, 2218 fire extinguisher, 62 hydrant, etc.)

Safe Campus Environment:

• Patrolling
• Emergency Call Center
• Lost and Found

Basic Safety Rules:

• Personal Safety
• Walking, Riding a Bicycle and Doing Other Activities
• Wild and Stray Animals
• Smoking Ban on Campus
• Smoke Free Areas on Campus
• Safety in Cars
• Over the Phone Threads
• Fire Situation
• Traffic at Bilkent

Safe Traffic

The university has defined different types of vehicle stickers to ensure traffic safety. For drivers with these vehicle stickers, classifications have been made as academic-administrative personnel parking, student, graduate and visitor parking. Special areas have been designated for vehicles such as motorcycles and bicycles.

The rules that all stakeholders with high awareness of safe traffic are obliged to comply with are;

Speed Rules: The speed limit on campus is 50 km/h as shown on the signs, and 30 km/h when approaching intersections. Controls are carried out with cameras within the campus borders. Pedestrians have undisputed superiority of passage: PEDESTRIANS have the superiority of passage on the Bilkent University campus. Vehicles must stop completely behind pedestrian crossings and give way to pedestrians who want to cross.

• Dangerous driving is prohibited.
• Drivers must heed the warnings of security guards.
• Vehicles that have been modified in a way that disturbs the environment or whose exhaust system is faulty or that produce excessive smoke and noise are not allowed on campus.
• It is forbidden to honk the horn unnecessarily, listen to loud music in the vehicle that disturbs the surroundings, and throw garbage out of the vehicle.

Safe Life

The Security Office, which takes precautions and informs its stakeholders about any security weakness or emergency situation that may be encountered within or outside the campus borders throughout the day, has also detailed what to do in the following situations;

• Theft situation (in dormitory, gym, classrooms, libraries, at home)
• Fire (in dormitory, at home, in forest areas)
• Earthquake
• Emergency assistance (Health Center and ambulance service)

The goal of the university’s Health Center is to promote the physical and emotional well-being of the students and staff. Located on both the Main and East Campuses, the center provides medical services as well as preventative health care and health education. Its professional staff includes general practitioners, a neurologist, a gynecologist, an ophthalmologist, psychiatrists, a dermatologist, an orthopedist, a dentist, a radiologist, an ear, nose and throat specialist, nurses, emergency medical technicians and a paramedic.

A physician and a nurse are on duty at the Main Campus Health Center 24 hours, including weekends. In cases of emergency, university ambulances accompanied by Health Center doctors and nurses are available 24 hours to take patients to nearby hospitals.

The Centers have two in-house laboratories for immediate medical tests such as blood counts, urine analysis, blood chemistry and a unit for X-ray and ultrasound exams.

Services Provided:

• First aid treatment and medical examinations
• Contagious disease prevention
• Supervision of patient recovery
• Conducting research about the environmental health conditions on campus and reporting the results to the university administration
• Health education programs on general medical and health issues and first aid courses

Applying to the Health Center:

• In the event of illness or injury, students and staff should seek medical help from the Health Center. First aid and initial treatment are carried out at the Health Center and, if necessary, the patient may be referred to a specialist or to a hospital which has a medical services agreement with the university.

Bilkent University Main and East Campus Health Centers have contracted health personnel working in different fields of expertise. These areas of expertise are as follows;

• Dermatology
• Dentist
• Ophthalmology
• Gynecology
• Ear-Nose-Throat
• Orthopedist
• Psychiatrist
• Radiology and Ultrasonography

Psychological Counseling and Development Center

The Health Center, offers its services to help Bilkent University students to improve their psychological well-being, know themselves and realize their true potential, and apply this knowledge to their academic, social and personal lives. Located on the Main Campus, the center provide counseling, consultation and referral services free of charge to Bilkent University students. Its professional staff are licensed psychologist in clinical psychology. 3 full time and 8 part-time psychologists are working in the Center.

The working hours of the PCDC is from 08.30 a.m. to 17.30 p.m. on the weekdays. PCDC is closed at the weekends and public holidays.

Services Provided:

• Individual counseling sessions: Sessions lasts 50 minutes and takes place once a week for a maximum of 8 week-period.
• Psychoeducation Group Works: These groups are organized by the Center’s professional staff and accommodate 15-20 individuals, who it is believed, will benefit from attending. Group sessions last 90 min takes place once a week for a maximum of 4 week-period.
• Seminars: Topics / titles of such programs include; “Time Management”, “Coping with Performance Anxiety”, “Self-Confidence”, etc…

Applying to the PCDC:

Students can apply to our Center by sending an e-mail through pdgm@bilkent.edu.tr mail address. When their application received, they need to fill out an information form and a regulations form which is attached. They also need to mark their free times in the attached schedule so that their appoinment can be made accordingly.

Disabled Campus

Main Campus

• Building A (Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences)

A ramp outside and inside the building at the entrance opposite the grass area, a shared toilet with the Faculty of Business Administration, a private parking lot shared with the Faculty of Business Administration and Faculty of Humanities and Letters

• Building B (Computer Center)

Private parking lot, private toilet, ramp outside the building, elevator.

• E Building (Faculty of Engineering)

Private parking, ramp, elevator, private toilet

• Building F (Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Block FF)

Private toilet on the ground floor, a ramp between the private parking lot and the building in the Academic-Administrative staff parking lot, a door suitable for wheeled car access from the parking lot in the building, an elevator, a ramp at the entrance of the Express Cafe.

• G Building

Shared private parking space with Building L (School of Applied Foreign Languages), ramp at the entrance and exit of the building, ramp inside the building, private toilet

• L Buildings (SLS)

Shared private parking with Building G, private toilet in a cabin inside the ladies’ toilet on the 1st floor

• M Building (Faculty of Business Administration)

Ramp to entrance from Coffee Break (ALLE), ramps at entrance to ground floor classes in the building, private parking lot shared with Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences and Faculty of Humanities and Letters.

S Building (Faculty of Science, SB Block)

Elevator, ramp outside the building, private parking, ramp next to the parking lot, private toilet

• U Building (Dean of Students/Disabled Students Unit)

Private parking, ramp next to the parking lot

• V Building (Amphitheater Building)

Elevator, private toilet, ramp

• Central Cafeteria and Book Sales Building

Ramp, ramp at the entrance of Cafe-In, ramp at the entrance of Tabldot and private toilets for men and women

• Student Dormitories (Center)

1 private room, elevator in Dormitory 69 and 70 (between Dorm 69 and Dormitory 70 entrance)

Private toilet (dorm 69 and 70 entrance), ramp at the entrance to the cafeteria of Dormitory 76, private toilet and bathroom on the ground floor of dormitories 77 and 78.

East Campus

• P Building (Faculty of Music and Performing Arts)

Private parking, ramp, elevator, private toilet

• D Building (School of English Language)

Private parking, elevator, private toilet

Special Needs

The Disabled Students Unit, established under the Rectorate in order to prepare the necessary academic environment to facilitate the lives of disadvantaged students studying at Bilkent University and to ensure their full participation in educational life, continues its activities actively. The Disabled Students Unit, which was established in accordance with the Higher Education Institutions Disability Solidarity and Coordination Regulation, includes an academic representative assigned by each faculty and a representative of the Dean of Students. Faculty representatives also serve as advisors for disabled students of their academic units. The “Disabled Student Academic Advisor” mechanism is an important requirement for academic staff to be in close communication and cooperation with disabled students in the departments (visually, physically, hearing, dyslexia, hyperactivity and attention deficit problems, diabetes, etc.). In addition to the facilities provided by the university for disabled students and staff, the Activity Report prepared by the unit at the end of each academic year is submitted to the Presidency of the Council of Higher Education.

Kindergarden

Bilkent University Kindergarten has the most suitable conditions for a kindergarten building. It is built on a single floor without stairs. There are 5 classrooms with a total closed area of 630 m2 and a usage area of 50 m2. It has 2 separate toilets. The garden, which is quite large, is very suitable for the use of students with pleasure. There is a mini swimming pool and a large sandbox.

There are different types of animal friends on Bilkent University campuses. The living species that are seen as members of the family by all internal stakeholders of the university and symbolize natural life are as seen in the pictures below;