Introduction

The Sabancı University MBA in English step by step guide below is written for international student recruiters, university admissions teams, HR and marketing professionals in education, and placement agencies. This program is a high-impact, 17-month, part-time MBA taught entirely in English and designed for professionals who want to progress their international business careers while continuing to work. In this post you will find a clear, actionable walkthrough of admissions, structure, curriculum, student profile, outcomes and graduation — followed by practical recruitment and partnership steps you can implement immediately. For a direct institutional reference, see Sabancı University’s profile on Study in Turkiye.

Quick snapshot — why this MBA matters for your recruitment pipeline

• Program length: 17 months (12 months coursework + graduation project).
• Format: Part-time with evening and weekend classes, enabling employed candidates to participate without leaving their jobs.
• Language of instruction: English.
• Location: Altunizade Digital Campus.
• International student share: ~55%, making it attractive for globally-minded applicants.

This mix of flexibility, international composition and practical curriculum makes the program an excellent option to promote to mid-career professionals and recent graduates seeking global mobility.

Step 1 — Admission requirements and application process

Eligibility

Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree or be in their final undergraduate year. This allows recruiting agencies to target both recent graduates and early-career professionals.

Documents required (prepare these for efficient processing)

• Copy of diploma
• Recent photograph
• Official undergraduate transcript
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Two letters of recommendation
• Statement of purpose (clear career goals and reasons for choosing this MBA)
• Proof of English proficiency

English proficiency requirements (minimum scores)

• TOEFL iBT: 83
• PTE Academic: 56
• CAE: grade B
• CPE: grade C
• YDS / EYDS / YÖKDİL: 69

Applicants who do not submit an accepted exam result must take the Sabancı University English Language Assessment Exam (ELAE). Failing the ELAE requires completion of the English preparatory year — note that the prep year does not carry scholarship support.

Deadlines (planning for recruitment cycles)

• Early Application: June 20, 2025
• Regular Application: August 18, 2025

Action for recruiters: Prepare candidate shortlists and document checklists at least 6–8 weeks before these dates to allow time for reference collection and English testing where required.

Step 2 — Program structure and delivery

Timetable and format

• Evening classes: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 19:00 – 22:00
• Weekend intensive: Saturdays, 09:30 – 16:30

This schedule is ideal for professionals who need to balance work and study; it also supports employers who wish to sponsor employee development.

Campus and modality

Primary delivery at the Altunizade Digital Campus, with a curriculum oriented toward real-world business cases and simulations. Digital campus resources mean hybrid-friendly learning and opportunities for remote engagement in some components.

Step 3 — Curriculum (what students learn and how it maps to employer needs)

Core courses (foundation for cross-functional leadership)

Core modules focus on essential management knowledge:

• Financial Reporting and Statement Analysis
• Global Business Context
• Fundamentals of Data-Driven Business Decisions
• Ethics in Business
• Economics for Managers
• Marketing Management
• Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Organizational Behavior and Leadership
• Principles of Finance
• Strategic Management
• Business Simulations

These modules build analytical capability, strategic insight and leadership skills — critical competencies employers look for in managerial hires.

Electives and specialisation

Students take at least 6 credits of electives, enabling focus areas such as finance, marketing, leadership and digital transformation.

Recommendation for recruitment teams: Target candidates whose elective choices align with employer hiring priorities (e.g., digital transformation electives for technology firms).

Graduation project

All candidates must complete a graduation project after coursework. This is an ideal point for employer engagement — companies can sponsor projects, offer real business problems and evaluate potential hires through project performance.

Step 4 — Student profile and cohort characteristics

Typical cohort snapshot

• Average age: 25
• International representation: ~55%
• Gender ratio: ~45% female

This diverse and relatively young cohort is attractive for organizations seeking cross-cultural teams and long-term talent pipelines.

Step 5 — Program outcomes and employer value

Skills and competencies graduates bring

• Analytical and reflective thinking — graduates apply rigorous analysis to business decisions.
• Social and ethical responsibility — ethical reasoning embedded in coursework.
• English communication — oral, written and technological fluency.
• Team leadership and cross-disciplinary collaboration — practical group work and business simulations.
• Statistical and data skills — fundamentals of data-driven business decisions prepare graduates for analytics roles.

Hiring signals for HR teams

• Look for candidates who completed the graduation project with real-company links.
• Prioritize those who selected industry-relevant electives.
• Use cohort diversity as a selling point in employer branding and international mobility programs.

Step 6 — Graduation and timeline to ROI

Completion requirements

To earn the MBA, students must complete all course requirements and the graduation project within 17 months.

Employer return on investment (ROI)

• Short course duration and part-time structure means minimal downtime for sponsored staff.
• Graduate skills target strategy, analytics, leadership — rapid contributions to business projects.
• The graduation project is a practical deliverable that can provide immediate business insights.

Practical recruitment checklist — a step-by-step process for agencies and admissions teams

Before outreach

• Build a candidate profile template aligned to employer needs (experience, English scores, elective interests).
• Prepare a document checklist and sample SOP questions to speed applications.
• Coordinate a timeline anchored to the program’s June and August deadlines.

During selection

• Screen for English proficiency first; this minimizes risk of candidates needing the preparatory year.
• Assess readiness for part-time study commitments (evening+weekend schedule).
• Evaluate fit based on elective interests and potential graduation project topics.

Post-admission

• Encourage employer-sponsored projects and internships during the graduation project phase.
• Facilitate introductions between HR teams and student career services to fast-track interviews and assessments.
• Use alumni and industry networks for mentorship and placement opportunities.

How Study in Turkiye supports international recruitment, admissions automation and partnerships

Education leadership and recruitment expertise

Study in Turkiye is the trusted authority guiding international students and institutional partners. We offer dedicated services to scale international recruitment and admissions. We combine market insights with operational support to identify and qualify candidates who meet Sabancı University’s requirements. We work with universities and agencies to streamline document collection, validate English proficiency and prepare application packages that stand out.

Admissions automation and operational efficiency

Our solutions reduce manual touchpoints across the application lifecycle:

• Digital checklist management for applicants and recruiters.
• Automated reminders ahead of application deadlines and English testing requirements.
• Integration with university admissions portals to shorten processing time.

Partnering opportunities

We collaborate with major universities across Turkiye to create integrated recruitment funnels. Depending on program focus, our team can recommend institutions from our partner network such as:

These partner links help recruiters position Sabancı’s MBA within a broader Turkiye study strategy for international candidates.

Implementation roadmap for HR & admissions teams (90-day plan)

Days 1–30: Set-up and sourcing

• Finalize employer skills matrix and ideal candidate profile.
• Start outreach to alumni networks and LinkedIn pools; prioritize candidates with required English scores.
• Create a digital intake form with required documents.

Days 31–60: Screening and application support

• Screen applicants for eligibility and language proficiency.
• Offer document-check clinics and SOP coaching.
• Register eligible candidates for ELAE if needed, and prepare contingency plans for those at risk of needing the preparatory year.

Days 61–90: Finalize placements and project briefs

• Confirm admissions for selected candidates and agree employer-sponsored graduation project briefs.
• Schedule interviews with HR and prepare onboarding timelines aligned to coursework schedule.
• Use Study in Turkiye’s tracking and communications workflows to monitor next steps.

Best practices and tips for international agents and recruiters

• Emphasize the part-time schedule and Altunizade Digital Campus when marketing to working professionals.
• Promote the program’s international cohort (55% international) to candidates seeking global exposure.
• Encourage candidates to select electives aligned to hiring market demands (digital transformation, finance, marketing).
• Use the graduation project as an employer evaluation tool — offer real business problems to candidates.
• Maintain frequent communication around English testing results to avoid unexpected prep-year placements.

Why partner with Study in Turkiye for Sabancı MBA recruitment

• We provide end-to-end recruitment services tailored to professional programs like Sabancı’s MBA.
• Our processes reduce time-to-offer and keep applicants engaged and compliant with requirements.
• We connect universities, employers and agents with streamlined project sponsorship and placement workflows.
• Our knowledge of the Turkiye higher education landscape — including partner universities such as Medipol University, Bilgi University and Ozyegin University — allows us to create cohesive cross-institutional pathways for students and employers.

Final notes and call to action

The Sabancı University MBA in English step by step guide above provides the operational details and tactical next steps needed by recruiters, admissions teams, HR and placement agencies to build a high-quality candidate pipeline. If you are ready to accelerate recruitment, design employer-sponsored graduation projects, or streamline your admissions workflow, Study in Turkiye can help. Contact our team to set up a consultation, discuss partnership models, or receive a tailored recruitment campaign plan for Sabancı University and other leading institutions in Turkiye.

Contact us to start a partnership or request a recruitment demo — let Study in Turkiye transform your international admissions and employer connections.

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