diff --git src/bp-core/admin/bp-core-admin-schema.php src/bp-core/admin/bp-core-admin-schema.php
index 1867e78..c017b23 100644
--- src/bp-core/admin/bp-core-admin-schema.php
+++ src/bp-core/admin/bp-core-admin-schema.php
@@ -11,6 +11,20 @@
 defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
 
 /**
+ * Get Database collation type and make sure to load
+ * the file that is containing the dbDelta function.
+ *
+ * @since  2.7.0
+ *
+ * @return string Database collation type
+ */
+function bp_core_get_charset_collate() {
+	require_once( ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/upgrade.php' );
+
+	return $GLOBALS['wpdb']->get_charset_collate();
+}
+
+/**
  * Main installer.
  *
  * Can be passed an optional array of components to explicitly run installation
@@ -76,7 +90,7 @@ function bp_core_install( $active_components = false ) {
  */
 function bp_core_install_notifications() {
 	$sql             = array();
-	$charset_collate = $GLOBALS['wpdb']->get_charset_collate();
+	$charset_collate = bp_core_get_charset_collate();
 	$bp_prefix       = bp_core_get_table_prefix();
 
 	$sql[] = "CREATE TABLE {$bp_prefix}bp_notifications (
@@ -117,7 +131,7 @@ function bp_core_install_notifications() {
  */
 function bp_core_install_activity_streams() {
 	$sql             = array();
-	$charset_collate = $GLOBALS['wpdb']->get_charset_collate();
+	$charset_collate = bp_core_get_charset_collate();
 	$bp_prefix       = bp_core_get_table_prefix();
 
 	$sql[] = "CREATE TABLE {$bp_prefix}bp_activity (
@@ -167,7 +181,7 @@ function bp_core_install_activity_streams() {
  */
 function bp_core_install_friends() {
 	$sql             = array();
-	$charset_collate = $GLOBALS['wpdb']->get_charset_collate();
+	$charset_collate = bp_core_get_charset_collate();
 	$bp_prefix       = bp_core_get_table_prefix();
 
 	$sql[] = "CREATE TABLE {$bp_prefix}bp_friends (
@@ -192,7 +206,7 @@ function bp_core_install_friends() {
  */
 function bp_core_install_groups() {
 	$sql             = array();
-	$charset_collate = $GLOBALS['wpdb']->get_charset_collate();
+	$charset_collate = bp_core_get_charset_collate();
 	$bp_prefix       = bp_core_get_table_prefix();
 
 	$sql[] = "CREATE TABLE {$bp_prefix}bp_groups (
@@ -249,7 +263,7 @@ function bp_core_install_groups() {
  */
 function bp_core_install_private_messaging() {
 	$sql             = array();
-	$charset_collate = $GLOBALS['wpdb']->get_charset_collate();
+	$charset_collate = bp_core_get_charset_collate();
 	$bp_prefix       = bp_core_get_table_prefix();
 
 	$sql[] = "CREATE TABLE {$bp_prefix}bp_messages_messages (
@@ -308,7 +322,7 @@ function bp_core_install_extended_profiles() {
 	global $wpdb;
 
 	$sql             = array();
-	$charset_collate = $GLOBALS['wpdb']->get_charset_collate();
+	$charset_collate = bp_core_get_charset_collate();
 	$bp_prefix       = bp_core_get_table_prefix();
 
 	// These values should only be updated if they are not already present.
@@ -393,7 +407,7 @@ function bp_core_install_extended_profiles() {
  */
 function bp_core_install_blog_tracking() {
 	$sql             = array();
-	$charset_collate = $GLOBALS['wpdb']->get_charset_collate();
+	$charset_collate = bp_core_get_charset_collate();
 	$bp_prefix       = bp_core_get_table_prefix();
 
 	$sql[] = "CREATE TABLE {$bp_prefix}bp_user_blogs (