Bilkent University Preparatory School/Bilkent International School

The Bilkent University Preparatory School and Bilkent International School is an English-medium school set up and operated by the Board of Trustees of Bilkent University, a private, English-medium university. The school, which opened in September 1993, caters for the needs of Turkish students wanting an education in English, as well as the needs of the international community of Ankara.

The Bilkent University Preparatory School/Bilkent International School's location on the campus of one of Turkey's leading universities means that the staff and students have access to the wide range of educational and social facilities which the university offers. The school is run by a Director together with a team of divisional heads and managers, both foreign and Turkish.

The Pre-school and Middle School curricula at Bilkent University Preparatory School/Bilkent International School are structured in content in order to cater for a multi-cultural community. The Elementary school curriculum is based on the Turkish National Curriculum with additional emphasis on music and English. The IGCSE curriculum is offered from Grade 9 onwards and the IB curriculum from grade 11 onwards with an additional emphasis on music and the arts.

The delivery of the curriculum at Bilkent University Preparatory School/Bilkent International School is designed to enable students to become independent thinkers and learners. Through an emphasis on practical activities, students are encouraged to learn by doing rather than to have facts and information delivered entirely by the teacher. This aspect of students being responsible for the acquisition of knowledge is mirrored in the personal responsibility and self discipline expected of them in their behaviour and interaction with other members of the school community. Competition for admission is keen; the entrance exams are demanding.

At present, the Bilkent University Preparatory School/Bilkent International School is housed in two four-storey school buildings and a three-storey main building with three separate wings. In addition, it has a sports hall, a sports annex and a pre-school complex.

The Bilkent University Preparatory School/Bilkent International School has extensive computer facilities based on a networked PC system and is connected through terminals to the computers of Bilkent University Computer Center. These latter provide access to Internet, e-mail, and file transfer facilities. The sports facilities consist of a sports hall, a sports hall annex, a mini-size soccer field with artificial turf and an open-air basketball court, as well as two playing fields and a roller-blading court. The sports hall has a basketball court. It also includes a fitness center with training equipment and changing rooms.

The new Performance Wing includes an auditorium, with over-sized stage and seating for 300, music and drama practice rooms and dressing rooms, and a dance area equipped for ballet and other dance.