The medium of instruction at Bilkent University is English. The BUSEL English Language Preparatory Program aims to equip students with the necessary language and study skills for successful entry to and study in their chosen faculties and schools. There is an emphasis on English for Academic Purposes (EAP) in the program as a whole, which recognizes that students need more than linguistic input in order to be successful in their studies. During their stay in the program, students are required to develop the ability to analyze texts and information sources, as well as critical thinking skills and awareness of their own learning styles and preferences. The program is demanding and requires a full-time commitment on the part of the students.

The Preparatory Program consists of five levels (Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Pre-Faculty) which build on one another. Each level includes the production of a complete learning portfolio (vocabulary journal, oral presentation, written outcomes and core homework). The courses are explained below but it is important to realize that, in addition to class work, students are expected to attend tutorials, make use of computerized learning facilities, do regular independent study, and produce assignments. Students will be evaluated continuously through achievement tests, classroom assessment and assignments. Those students who have successfully completed the exit levels may sit the proficiency test and, if successful, be eligible to enter their freshman year.

This course provides grounding in the English language and equips students with the necessary basic skills essential for work at higher levels. Students start to develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills and are required to produce assignments in these areas as well as mastering the Elementary level word list. Students also begin to develop some of the basic study skills needed for successful study in an English medium university.

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to a number of language items and follows on from the initial introduction at the Elementary level. Students are expected to both develop their awareness of language points and produce accurately through the skills. In order to prepare students for higher levels, skills development is graded according to a strict language framework. In addition, students are required to use both current and previous level lexis.

At Intermediate level students are primarily expected to develop fluency and accuracy in the language they were presented with at previous levels. Students focus in more depth on the academic skills they are required to have at entry into their freshman year. All the skills, speaking, listening, reading and writing are extended with particular emphasis on the productive skills. At the same time students are required to further develop their lexical knowledge to extend their means of expression through oral and written production.

This course offers a new set of advanced language items and further consolidates the ones introduced from the previous levels. Students are expected to produce coherent and accurate language and appropriate to a university setting, and be fluent in skills with specific reference to those required for academic success. They are required to demonstrate a good command of the productive skills with an ability to express themselves clearly and concisely together with an ability to read effectively a broad range of material, and to follow lectures and talks in English.

This course aims to bring students' language, skills and lexis up to the level required for entry into faculties and schools and to equip them with the ability to follow lectures successfully, to write to an acceptable academic standard, to read a wide range of academic literature of relevance to their chosen discipline, and to participate in seminars and discussions related to their field of study.

In addition to normal teaching hours, students are also given instruction individually or in small groups of 3-5 to further meet their needs.