For all international staff half of the salary is quoted in US Dollars (USD) and the other half in Turkish Liras (TL). The TL portion of the salary is paid into a TL account and the portion quoted in USD is deposited in a Dollar account in Ankara by the end of each month. All staff also are provided with a meal card with money deposited each month to cover lunch expenses.

All income tax, social security and other charges are paid by the University.

All salaries are paid at the end of each month. First payment will be calculated from the starting date of the contract.

The salary scale placement is done according to qualifications / years of teaching experience outside Bilkent and years of service in Bilkent. The salary offered is not negotiable. Salaries are reviewed on a yearly basis according to experience gained and qualifications obtained at the end of each year.

Once employed by the University, instructors are entitled to receive health services in state hospitals after a working period of 90 days, under the state medical insurance scheme. In addition, they can consult the University doctors on campus; however, there is a charge for certain services and prescriptions.

The University will also arrange a private medical insurance scheme for you subject to being acceptable to the insurance company. Insurance premiums will be paid by the University. Please visit the Human Resources website for more information. This private policy’s start date is approximately two weeks before the instructors’ arrival in Turkey, which will enable them to utilize certain private hospitals and clinics, in accordance with the scope of the policy.

It should be noted though that the insurance doesn’t cover documented pre-existing conditions.

Regardless of the policy expiration date on the insurance agreement, the private medical insurance coverage expires when the instructor’s contract ends.

Yes, you are welcome to view the contract if you have already received a job offer from BUSEL. Please send an email to intrec@bilkent.edu.tr to obtain the password to view the contract.

Yes, you will need to sign the Turkish version of the contract and the residence permit as they are sent to government offices.

Please read the relevant clauses in your contract. If you have any questions please write to intrec@bilkent.edu.tr.

If you have already received a job offer from BUSEL please send an email to intrec@bilkent.edu.tr to obtain the password to view the Probation Handbook.

We will send you a password which will allow you to have access to the Employment Procedures website.  Information on this website will assist you with your preparation.

Yes, you will apply for the visa in your home country. We will carry out all the necessary procedures in Turkey and send the necessary documents to you. We will cover the visa expenses.

BUSEL will make flight reservations through a local travel agency and send an e-ticket.

The University will provide an extra baggage allowance to the value of 250 US dollars provided a receipt is presented upon arrival and within 15 days of the end of contract.

A member of University staff will meet you at the airport and take you to your flat on the University campus.

A BUSEL member will meet you and give a brief tour of the environs. You will also have the opportunity to visit the cell phone store to obtain a card / plan.

Yes, there is a comprehensive induction at the beginning of the academic year.

Yes, there is. The program will be subsidized by the school, but instructors will be expected to contribute to the costs.

The University has several facilities including gymnasiums, indoor swimming pool, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, volleyball and basketball courts, football fields, aerobic/step studios and fitness/conditioning rooms on East Campus where most staff / lodging. In addition, there is a seven thousand square meter multi purpose sports complex (fitness center, basketball, volleyball, team handball courts, squash courts) on Main Campus where FAE program classes are held. Several on-campus activities like training sessions, tournaments and competitions are also available. If you wish, you may also have a discount membership to a five star gym (Sports International – please see photo gallery) 20 minutes walk from the housing area.

We offer rent-free (a fee is charged for utilities), private and furnished apartments on campus: studio-type, one or two bedrooms. There are shared laundry facilities in every apartment building. Currently, the fee for utilities is around 130 US dollars (paid in Turkish Lira), which covers heating, garbage collection and general maintenance. Electricity bills are separate. Bottled drinking water and propane gas costs (for cooking) are paid by the instructors.

The following items are in your apartment: curtains, duvet, sheets, 2 pillows, towels(2 bath, 2 hand), silverware & dishes, cooking utensils (including pots, pans) lamps, all furniture (desk, table, chairs, drawers, shelves, etc), oven, stove, refrigerator with a freezer, iron and ironing board.

In Turkey the power voltage is 220 volts, 50 Hz, 2 round-prong plugs, so it is recommended to bring any electrical equipment if you don’t have to.

The university provides a laptop and limited free internet access via the University server.  All campus flats are wired for the Ethernet (ADSL), allowing direct connection to the university network.

Small pets are allowed in on-campus faculty housing.  If you do have a pet that you would like to bring with you, please inform us (intrec@bilkent.edu.tr) as soon as you receive the provisional offer letter.

Please note that if you decide to bring your pet, you will need to take care of all expenses, present a health certificate to the Housing Office and follow the housing rules and regulations for keeping pets. You should also be aware that some countries require a 6-month quarantine period before allowing a pet to re-enter the home country.

This is a return air ticket without baggage allowance and it is given to those instructors whose contracts are extended at the end of two years employment and every subsequent two years.

Flights to Ankara are provided according to school’s general contractual terms.  You may inquire about your particular preferences during the interview.

Luncheon vouchers are worth monthly work day lunch cost and are given every month except August. The vouchers can be used in lieu of money in all eateries on campus and other restaurants that accept them throughout the country. How much you spend will depend on the lunch you buy.

There are 60 instructors and around almost half of them are International.

The instructors are required to work a forty-hour week. Regular daily working hours are 8:30 to 17:30 with a one hour lunch break. The course load for FAE Program instructors is set at 420 hours of classroom teaching and an additional 140 hours of tutorial with students over an academic year (Fall and Spring semester and the Summer School) in accordance with the needs of program. Weekly classroom teaching hours may vary throughout the academic year, but will not exceed 20 regularly scheduled hours per week under normal circumstances.

The class sizes may vary from semester to semester. On average class sizes vary between 18-22. Almost all of your students will be university students age 18-24.

Please visit http://fae.bilkent.edu.tr/courses/

Yes, we are committed to raising standards in teaching English for Academic purposes. The BUSEL Competency Framework for Teachers of English for Academic Purposes (adapted from BALEAP 2008) serves as a reference document acting as a basis for supporting professional development of teachers. All teachers set themselves professional development goals and work towards pursuing these with guidance from Unit Heads. BUSEL offers CTEAP course open to all staff. Please visit http://fae.bilkent.edu.tr/for-instructors/professional-development/eap-teaching-certificate/ BUSEL has held 15 International conferences over the years. Please visit http://buselcider.bilkent.edu.tr/conferences.html

The appraisal system is incorported into the professional development explained in 29 and the focal point is on the work teachers have been engaged in throughout the academic year with reference to academic practice, students and their needs, curriculum development and communication.

Yes, please write to intrec@bilkent.edu.tr to view the Staff Handbook.

Instructors are expected to appear well presented. They should bear in mind that they are representing the professional community and the University.

University offers free of charge basic Turkish classes to all International staff.

Yes, please write to intrec@bilkent.edu.tr to receive a contact e-mail.

The employee is granted annual paid leave after having worked for academic year, including the probationary period.

While our international instructors are certainly most welcome to bring their families, we offer single-status contracts. In other words, we assist only our instructors with their work permit and visa procedures and pay only their airfare. Please refer to question no. 19 for accommodation arrangements. For more information about pre-school, as well as elementary, middle and high school options on campus for instructors’ children please visit https://blisankara.org/en/home/ and http://www.obieng.bilkent.edu.tr/