Top-ranking universities

Private · Est. 2008

Istanbul Gelişim University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2011. One of the city’s largest and most international universities, it offers English- and Turkish-medium programmes across health sciences, engineering and architecture, applied sciences, economics and the fine arts.

Private · Est. 1998 · 20K students

Bahçeşehir University (BAU) is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 1998. Located on the Bosphorus and part of the international BAU Global network, it offers English-medium programmes across medicine, engineering, law, business, communication, architecture and the arts.

Private · Est. 2016

Fenerbahçe University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2016 and affiliated with the Fenerbahçe sports club. It offers programmes across engineering, health sciences, sports sciences, business, communication and the arts.

Private · Est. 2010

Antalya Bilim University is a private foundation university in Antalya, Türkiye, established in 2010 (formerly Antalya International University). It offers English-medium undergraduate and graduate programmes in tourism, business, engineering, law and the social sciences on Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast.

Private · Est. 2007

Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2007 by the Acıbadem Healthcare Group. It specialises in health sciences and medicine, working in close partnership with Acıbadem's nationwide network of hospitals, and also offers programmes in engineering, business and the social sciences with English-language instruction.

Private · Est. 2011

Alanya University (formerly Alanya HEP University) is a private foundation university in Alanya, Antalya Province, Türkiye, established in 2011. Located on Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast, it offers English- and Turkish-medium undergraduate and graduate programmes in fields such as engineering, business, law, health sciences and tourism.

Private · Est. 2008

Altınbaş University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2008 (formerly İstanbul Kemerburgaz University). It offers English- and Turkish-medium programmes across medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, law, business and the social sciences, and hosts a large international student community.

Private · Est. 2017 · 3K students

Ankara Bilim University is a private foundation university in Ankara, Türkiye, established in 2017. It focuses on technology, engineering, architecture, business and the social sciences, with an emphasis on industry collaboration and applied, career-oriented education in the capital.

Private · Est. 2018

Ankara Medipol University is a private foundation university in Ankara, Türkiye, established in 2018 as part of the Medipol education group. It offers programmes in medicine, dentistry, health sciences, engineering, law, business and the social sciences, with a strong focus on health and applied sciences in the capital.

Private · Est. 1996

Atılım University is a private foundation university in Ankara, Türkiye, established in 1996. It offers English-medium undergraduate and graduate programmes across engineering, medicine, business, law, architecture and the social sciences, and is known for its strong research output and accredited engineering programmes.

Private · Est. 2017

Bahçeşehir Cyprus University (BAU Cyprus) is a private university in Nicosia, North Cyprus, part of the international BAU Global education network. It offers English-medium undergraduate and graduate programmes in fields such as medicine, dentistry, engineering, law, business and the arts.

Private · Est. 1994

Başkent University is a private foundation university in Ankara, Türkiye, established in 1994 as one of the country’s first foundation universities. It has a strong focus on health sciences and offers programmes across medicine, dentistry, engineering, law, economics and the social sciences, supported by its own network of hospitals.

Private · Est. 1997

Beykent University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 1997. It offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes across engineering, business, law, communication, fine arts and the health and social sciences, with multiple campuses across the city.

Private · Est. 2016

Beykoz University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2016 and rooted in the Beykoz Logistics vocational school. It specialises in logistics, business, engineering, art and design, and the social sciences, with an applied, sector-focused approach.

Private · Est. 2010 · 3K students

Bezmiâlem Vakıf University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2010 and rooted in the historic Bezmiâlem Valide Sultan Foundation. It specialises in health sciences — medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and nursing — supported by its affiliated hospitals.

Private · Est. 1984

Bilkent University is a private, non-profit university in Ankara, Türkiye, established in 1984 as the country’s first private university. Consistently ranked among Türkiye’s best universities, it offers English-medium programmes across engineering, science, business, law, humanities, music and the arts.

Private · Est. 2014

Biruni University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2014. Named after the polymath Al-Biruni, it focuses on health and life sciences — medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and allied health — alongside engineering and the social sciences.

Private · Est. 2013

Cyprus Aydın University is a private university in Northern Cyprus, part of the Aydın University education group. It offers English-medium undergraduate and graduate programmes across health sciences, engineering, business, law and the social sciences in a Mediterranean campus setting.

Private · Est. 2016

Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University is a private university in Northern Cyprus focused on health and social sciences. It offers English- and Turkish-medium undergraduate and graduate programmes in fields such as medicine, dentistry, health sciences and the social sciences.

Private · Est. 1997 · 11K students

Doğuş University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 1997. It offers English- and Turkish-medium undergraduate and graduate programmes across engineering, economics and administrative sciences, law, arts and design, and the social sciences.

Public · Est. 1979

Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) is a public university in Famagusta, Northern Cyprus, established in 1979. The oldest and one of the largest universities in Northern Cyprus, it is international and English-medium, offering programmes across engineering, business, architecture, communication, health and the social sciences.

Private · Est. 2010

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2010 and rooted in historic Ottoman charitable foundations. It offers programmes across engineering, architecture and design, Islamic sciences, humanities and the social sciences, with particular strengths in culture, restoration and the arts.

Private · Est. 1998

Haliç University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 1998. It offers programmes across medicine and health sciences, engineering, business, fine arts, conservatory and the social sciences, with campuses along the Golden Horn (Haliç).

Private · Est. 1996

Işık University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 1996 and rooted in the historic Feyziye Schools Foundation (1885). It offers English-medium programmes across engineering, business, economics, communication, fine arts and the sciences.

Private · Est. 2007

Istanbul Arel University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2007. It offers programmes across engineering, health sciences, business, communication, fine arts and the social sciences, with a focus on applied, industry-linked education.

Private · Est. 2018

Istanbul Atlas University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2018. With a strong focus on health sciences, it offers programmes across medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and allied health, alongside engineering, aviation and the social sciences.

Private · Est. 2007

Istanbul Aydın University (IAU) is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2007. One of the city’s largest universities, it offers a wide range of English- and Turkish-medium programmes across medicine, engineering, business, communication, fine arts and the health and social sciences.

Private · Est. 1996

Istanbul Bilgi University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 1996. Part of Global University Systems, it is known for the social sciences, law, communication, business and the arts, with a vibrant campus on the Golden Horn (santralistanbul).

Private · Est. 2019

Istanbul Galata University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2019. Located in the historic Galata district, it offers programmes across health sciences, engineering, business, economics and the social sciences.

Private · Est. 2010

Istanbul Gedik University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2010 and rooted in the Gedik education and welding-technology institutions. It offers programmes across engineering, health sciences, sports sciences, business and the fine arts.

Private · Est. 2016

Istanbul Kent University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2016. It offers programmes across health sciences, engineering, dentistry, economics, fine arts and the social sciences in the heart of the city.

Private · Est. 1997

Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 1997. It offers programmes across engineering, architecture, law, economics and administrative sciences, arts and design, and the sciences.

Private · Est. 2009

Istanbul Nişantaşı University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2012. It offers career-oriented programmes across engineering and architecture, health sciences, economics, communication, art and design, and the social sciences.

Private · Est. 1999

Istanbul Okan University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 1999. It offers programmes across medicine, dentistry, engineering, business, law and the health and social sciences, with a strong international focus and multilingual instruction.

Private · Est. 2010

Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University (İZÜ) is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2010. It offers programmes across engineering and natural sciences, health sciences, business, education, Islamic sciences and the social sciences.

Private · Est. 2001

Istanbul Ticaret University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2001 by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. It offers programmes across business, economics, law, engineering, communication and the applied and social sciences, with strong links to the business world.

Private · Est. 2015

Istanbul Topkapı University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2015. It offers career-oriented programmes across engineering, health sciences, business, communication, fine arts and the social sciences.

Private · Est. 2009

Istanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2009. With a strong emphasis on health sciences, it offers programmes across medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, health sciences, engineering and the social sciences.

Private · Est. 2015

İstinye University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2015 and affiliated with the MLP Care / Medical Park hospital group. It has a strong focus on health sciences, offering programmes across medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, business and the social sciences.

Private · Est. 2019 · 3K students

İzmir Tınaztepe University is a private foundation university in İzmir, on Türkiye’s Aegean coast, established in 2019. Rooted in the Tınaztepe hospital group, it focuses on health sciences, offering programmes in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and allied health.

Private · Est. 1997 · 6K students

Kadir Has University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 1997. Housed in a landmark restored tobacco factory on the Golden Horn, it is known for its programmes in communication, international relations, engineering, business, law and the arts.

Private · Est. 2017

Lokman Hekim University is a private foundation university in Ankara, Türkiye, established in 2017. Named after the legendary physician Lokman Hekim, it focuses on health sciences, offering programmes across medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and allied health, supported by its affiliated hospitals.

Private · Est. 1997

Maltepe University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 1997. It offers programmes across medicine, engineering, law, business, communication, fine arts and the health and social sciences on its campus on the Anatolian side of the city.

Private · Est. 2009

Istanbul Medipol University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2009. With a strong focus on health sciences and its large Medipol Mega hospital complex, it offers programmes across medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, health sciences, engineering, law and the social sciences.

Private · Est. 1988 · 28K students

Near East University (NEU) is a large private university in Nicosia, Northern Cyprus, established in 1988. Internationally oriented and English-medium, it offers a comprehensive range of programmes across medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, law, education and the arts, supported by extensive research and hospital facilities.

Private · Est. 2017 · 0K students

OSTIM Technical University is a private foundation university in Ankara, Türkiye, established in 2017 by the OSTIM industrial zone. It focuses on technology and engineering, offering industry-integrated programmes across engineering, architecture and applied sciences.

Private · Est. 2007

Özyeğin University (ÖzÜ) is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2007. English-medium and entrepreneurship-focused, it offers programmes across engineering, business, aviation, hospitality, law and the social sciences on its campus in the Çekmeköy hills.

Private · Est. 2008

Piri Reis University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2008 by the Turkish Maritime Education Foundation. Named after the Ottoman admiral and cartographer Piri Reis, it specialises in maritime studies, marine engineering and naval architecture, alongside business and economics.

Private · Est. 1994

Sabancı University is a leading private, non-profit research university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 1994. English-medium and highly selective, it is consistently ranked among the country’s best universities, known for its interdisciplinary approach across engineering and natural sciences, management, and arts and social sciences.

Private · Est. 2009

TED University (TEDU) is a private non-profit university in Ankara, Türkiye, founded in 2009 by the Turkish Education Association (TED). It offers English-medium, liberal-arts-based education with an interdisciplinary curriculum and a mandatory co-op work experience program.

Private · Est. 1999

Ufuk University is a private foundation university in Ankara, Türkiye, established in 1999. It offers English- and Turkish-medium programs in medicine, law, engineering, economics, and social sciences, and is well regarded for its medical faculty and affiliated teaching hospital.

Private · Est. 2011

Üsküdar University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 2011. Specialising in behavioural health, it is known for its programmes in psychology, neuroscience, health sciences and related fields, alongside engineering, communication and the social sciences.

Private · Est. 2001

Yaşar University is a private foundation university in İzmir, Türkiye, established in 2001 by the Selçuk Yaşar Sports and Education Foundation. Located in central Bornova, it offers English-medium programs in business, engineering, communication, and the arts, and is known for its strong international partnerships and Erasmus mobility.

Private · Est. 1996

Yeditepe University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Türkiye, established in 1996 by the Istanbul Education and Culture Foundation (İSTEK). One of Türkiye’s largest private universities, it offers English-medium programs across medicine, dentistry, engineering, law, and social sciences on its modern Kayışdağı campus.

Private · Est. 2013

Yüksek İhtisas University is a private foundation university in Ankara, Türkiye, established in 2013. Rooted in the Yüksek İhtisas medical tradition, it specialises in health sciences—medicine, dentistry, and allied health—alongside programs in engineering, business, and social sciences, with a strong clinical training emphasis.