Antalya Bilim University

Why Antalya Bilim University

Antalya Bilim University (ABU) is a young, dynamic private university in Antalya, Turkey’s sun-soaked Mediterranean city. Founded in 2010 as the region’s first foundation (private) university, it has quickly built a reputation for student-centered, English-medium education and a genuinely global campus. Each year it draws students from 80+ countries, about 30% of its ~8,400 students are international, one of the highest ratios in Turkey, attracted by modern facilities, affordable tuition, a rare English-taught dentistry program, and the chance to study in one of Turkey’s most beautiful and livable cities.

History & milestones

ABU was founded in 2010 by the Gaye Education, Health, Sports and Environment Foundation as “International Antalya University,” becoming the first private university in Antalya Province and only the second in the region after public Akdeniz University. It welcomed its first students in 2012-13 and later rebranded as Antalya Bilim (“Bilim” = science) to emphasise its focus on science and innovation. It graduated its first undergraduate class in 2017 and has since grown to seven faculties, four specialised schools and graduate institutes, with 6,000+ alumni. Despite its youth, it quickly rose to rank among Turkey’s top universities for patent filings, reflecting a strong culture of research and invention.

Antalya & the campuses

ABU is based in Antalya, the “capital of Turkish tourism”, a modern coastal city of 2+ million with beaches, a sunny year-round climate, a historic old town and an international airport, yet a relaxed, resort-like atmosphere and a lower cost of living than Istanbul or Ankara. The university runs several sites:

• Döşemealtı Campus (main), a ~300,000 m² campus just north of the city centre, with a grand archway entrance, a landscaped fountain plaza, most faculties, research and innovation labs, a central library, sports facilities and on-campus dormitories.
• MarkAntalya & Güllük campuses, smaller downtown sites hosting the School of Foreign Languages (English prep), some evening/weekend master’s classes and administrative services, linked to the main campus by shuttle.
• Health & Applied Sciences campus, dedicated to Dentistry and health vocational programs, with simulation centres and clinical-skills labs.

Antalya’s status as a global tourist hub creates real opportunities, internships and part-time work for tourism, business and aviation students, multilingual practice, and a multicultural, English-friendly environment that helps international students settle quickly.

Vision & mission

ABU’s vision is to become one of the leading universities in its broader region, which it defines to include Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Russia and Southeast Europe, an international hub of knowledge and innovation across undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels. Its mission is to graduate well-rounded, knowledgeable students who benefit themselves and society, built on core principles: student development, respect and diversity, lifelong learning, innovation and technology, and quality education at every level, instilling ethical leadership and intercultural understanding alongside academic knowledge.

Rankings & recognition

ABU sits around the top 150 universities in Turkey and is the highest-ranked private university in Antalya Province (second overall only to Akdeniz). It appears in the QS World University Rankings 2024 (1201+ band globally), EduRank 2025 (149th in Turkey, ~8,234 worldwide) and Webometrics 2023 (152nd in Turkey, ~7,535 worldwide). A standout distinction: it ranks 10th in Turkey among “Patent Champion Universities,” punching well above its weight in innovation, a strong signal of its research orientation for such a young institution.

Academics & language of instruction

ABU offers 50+ programs across all levels, 19 bachelor’s, ~16 associate, 21 master’s and 2 PhD, through seven faculties and four schools. Most programs are taught in English, including the engineering, business, architecture, tourism and dentistry degrees, which makes the university very accessible to international students. A few programs are in Turkish where the field requires it (notably Law and some health programs). Strong language support is built in: an English Preparatory Program and a Turkish preparatory program, with the prep-year fee equal to the normal program fee (so students pay for time, not a surcharge). All programs follow the Bologna / ECTS framework.

Faculties & specializations

• Faculty of Engineering & Natural Sciences, one of ABU’s largest: Computer, Civil, Electrical-Electronics, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering (in English), with labs in circuits, robotics and materials, MUDEK-aligned curricula, and graduate tracks in Electrical & Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, Cyber Security and Data Science.
• Faculty of Economics, Administrative & Social Sciences, Business Administration, Economics, International Trade & Finance and Political Science & International Relations (English), with an American-style flexibility for double majors/minors and graduate programs (MBA, MA in Global Politics & IR).
• Faculty of Fine Arts & Architecture, Architecture (B.Arch) and Interior Architecture & Environmental Design (English), taught hands-on with design studios, workshops and 3D-fabrication labs, plus a Master of Architecture.
• Faculty of Law, a Turkish-medium LLB covering civil, criminal, constitutional and international law, with moot court and legal clinics, plus LL.M. in Private Law and Public Law.
• Faculty of Health Sciences, programs such as Nursing, Nutrition & Dietetics, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation and Healthcare Management, combining coursework with simulation-lab and clinical training, complemented by health vocational programs.
• Faculty of Tourism, strategically strong in Antalya: Tourism & Hotel Management (English) with resort/hotel internships, guest lectures from industry and electives in tourist languages such as Russian and German.
• Faculty of Dentistry, a 5-year DDS taught entirely in English (rare in Turkey), training students on phantom-head simulators then real patients in modern on-campus dental clinics, with specialists in orthodontics, periodontology and oral surgery.
• School of Civil Aviation, aviation-management and cabin-services programs that leverage Antalya’s busy international airport, alongside the Vocational School, Vocational School of Health Services and School of Foreign Languages.

Tuition & scholarships

ABU’s tuition is competitive for English-medium education; figures below are approximate annual guidance, exact current fees appear in the tuition table above:

• Most bachelor’s (engineering, business, architecture, tourism): ~$4,150 / year (the discounted international rate)
• Dentistry: ~$14,000 / year list, often effectively ~$7,000-8,000 with partial scholarships
• Law & similar: ~$4,000-5,000 / year
• Master’s (with thesis): ~$5,400 / year; without thesis: ~$4,000 / year
• PhD: ~$9,000 / year
• Associate (2-year) programs: ~$1,700-3,000 / year

All fees are quoted in USD for stability. ABU’s listed international rate is already discounted, and it does not add separate cash or sibling discounts; merit scholarships are available for outstanding students, and government Türkiye Scholarships are accepted. Language prep is integrated, the English prep-year fee equals the program fee, while the Turkish prep year is about $2,000.

Graduate studies

The Institute of Graduate Studies runs 21 master’s and 2 PhD programs, with both thesis and non-thesis master’s tracks. English-taught master’s include Electrical & Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, Cyber Security, Data Science, an MBA, and an MA in Global Politics & International Relations; Turkish-taught options include LL.M. in Private and Public Law and Clinical Psychology. Doctoral offerings centre on a PhD in Business Administration (Turkish) plus a science/engineering track, with research-intensive 4-year structures, faculty mentorship and encouragement to publish. Graduate students enjoy small classes, access to research centres and databases, and possible assistantships with stipends or tuition waivers.

Campus & facilities

The Döşemealtı campus is built for an engaging, self-contained student experience: modern classrooms and lecture halls, engineering, science and design labs, digital-fabrication and innovation centres, dental simulation clinics, a multi-floor central library with group study rooms and extensive databases, on-campus dormitories (single/double/triple, plus studio units for couples/families), dining halls and cafés, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, and green courtyards. Campus-wide Wi-Fi, 24/7 security and an on-site International Student Office complete a comfortable, safe environment.

Student services & campus life

ABU supports students well beyond the classroom. Dormitories (separate for men and women, 24/7 security, study lounges, laundry, game/TV rooms) sit steps from classes; the International Office assists with registration, residence permits, orientation and off-campus housing. Dining offers Turkish and international menus with halal, vegetarian and vegan options. A campus health centre handles first aid and check-ups, and free, confidential counselling supports wellbeing and cultural adjustment. The Career Center runs CV/interview workshops, career fairs and an internship database, placing tourism students at five-star resorts and engineering students at tech firms. Active clubs, sports and Antalya’s beaches and social scene round out a balanced student life.

Accreditations & recognition

ABU is recognised by Turkey’s YÖK, follows the Bologna Process / ECTS, and its degrees are recognised across the European Union and much of the MENA region, including ministries in Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan and Palestine. It participates in Erasmus+ with partners across Europe, Asia and the Americas, designs its engineering programs to MUDEK / EUR-ACE standards, and is a member of the International Association of Universities (IAU). Combined with its patent-champion standing, this gives graduates a credible, internationally portable degree.

Special highlights & why choose

ABU’s distinctive strengths flow from both its ambitions and its location. Its English-taught Dentistry program is a rare offering that draws international students who want a dental degree without first learning Turkish. Its Tourism faculty and Civil Aviation school turn Antalya’s tourism economy into a living classroom of internships and industry links. Its innovation focus (10th in Turkey for patents) and English-medium engineering and business programs prepare graduates for global careers, all on a 300,000 m² Mediterranean campus with beaches, sunshine and affordable living. For students who want a high-quality, international, English-medium education in a beautiful and welcoming city, Antalya Bilim University is a standout choice.