Bora Keskiner was born in Munich in 1980.
He learned to read and write Ottoman Turkish from Nermin Suner. He studied calligraphy with Savaş Çevik. He studied Persian with Daryuş Kupal, Arabic with Numan Tütüncü, and Greek with Sultana Abacı. He graduated from Yıldız Technical University, Faculty of Art and Design in 2004.
During his university years, he studied Turkish music theory with Prof. Ruhi Ayangil.
In 2007, he completed his master's thesis titled “The Significance of Calligraphy on Mamluk Monuments” at the University of London - SOAS, Department of Islamic Art History.
In 2012, he earned his PhD at the University of London - SOAS with his thesis titled “Sultan Ahmed III as a Calligrapher and a Patron of Calligraphy,” written under the supervision of Prof. Doris Abouseif.
He has published books and articles in the field of Ottoman art history. Keskiner continues his work as an academic and expert in Islamic calligraphy.