Beykoz University

Why Beykoz University

Beykoz University is a private, non-profit foundation university on the Asian (Bosphorus) side of Istanbul, known for an innovative, practice-oriented approach to higher education. Established in 2016, it grew out of the respected Beykoz Logistics Vocational School and has quickly built a reputation for career-focused, industry-linked learning. With around 5,000 students in a close-knit community, English-medium programs in many fields, and standout quality marks, AACSB for business and ABET for engineering, it offers international students a supportive, affordable pathway with a specialised heritage in logistics and aviation.

History & milestones

Founded on 20 August 2016, Beykoz University traces its roots to the Beykoz Logistics Vocational School, which laid its foundation in 2008 under the Türkiye Logistics Research and Education Foundation (TÜRLEV) to strengthen logistics education. After eight years of success, its founders expanded that vision into a full university, adding undergraduate and graduate programs while keeping its strength in hands-on, industry-aligned training. Since 2016 it has opened multiple campuses, launched bachelor’s and master’s programs in engineering, business and social sciences, and built international partnerships, a purposeful evolution from a niche logistics school into an emerging comprehensive university focused on producing industry-ready graduates.

Istanbul, the Beykoz/Kavacık campuses

Beykoz University sits in the historic, green Beykoz district, mainly in Kavacık, near the Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Second Bosphorus) Bridge and major highways, minutes from Üsküdar and Kadıköy and a short hop to the European side. The setting is calm and leafy yet close to Istanbul’s business and industry. The university spreads across several nearby sites:

• Kavacık Main Campus, the academic and administrative core, home to the Faculties of Business & Administrative Sciences and Social Sciences & Humanities, the School of Civil Aviation, the Vocational School of Logistics (with logistics labs and simulation centres) and the Graduate Institute.
• Engineering & Design (Undergraduate) Campus, the Faculties of Engineering & Architecture and Art & Design, with engineering, robotics and CAD/CAM labs, design studios, fabrication workshops and professional culinary kitchens for the Gastronomy program.
• Çubuklu Vocational Campus, most two-year associate programs, with practical labs (graphic-design Mac labs, media studios, technical workshops).
• School of Foreign Languages campus, English preparatory classes (and BeykozTÖMER Turkish courses) plus culinary training kitchens.
• Administrative (Rectorate) campus, admissions, the International Office and student services, and a future Mahmut Şevket Paşa campus (the “Pearl of the Bosphorus”) is in development.

Vision & mission

Beykoz’s mission is “to be a universal university that learns and contributes to learning and to society through learning”, a community of lifelong learners and public engagement. Its vision is to be a center of excellence and a source of happiness, freedom, tolerance and success, producing graduates who are competent, research-minded, creative and ethically grounded. Its core values, academic freedom, student-centricity, inclusivity, innovation, internationalisation and transparency, show up in project-based learning, industry projects and a supportive, mentoring culture.

Rankings & recognition

As a young, smaller university, Beykoz sits in the upper tier of newer Turkish institutions and is climbing: Webometrics 2025 places it around 164th in Turkey (~7,614 globally), uniRank 2025 around 152nd (~6,534 globally), and URAP 2024 around 144th nationally for academic performance. It isn’t yet in the main QS or THE world tables given its age and size, but it has earned a QS 5 Stars rating in academic excellence and top rankings for student satisfaction in Turkey, and, crucially, programmatic accreditations (AACSB, ABET) that punch well above its rankings.

Academics & language of instruction

Beykoz offers 50+ programs, about 20 bachelor’s, 15 master’s and 23 associate, across four faculties and several schools. Roughly half of the undergraduate programs are taught in English (Business, International Trade, Computer Engineering, Political Science, Aviation Management), with the rest in Turkish (many design and some social-science programs); associate programs are mainly Turkish. An English preparatory year and Turkish courses (BeykozTÖMER) support students who need them, and the curriculum is Bologna-compliant with a strong applied, project-based emphasis.

Faculties & specializations

• Faculty of Business & Administrative Sciences, Business Administration (English/Turkish), International Trade & Finance, Logistics Management and Economics, all benefiting from the university’s AACSB accreditation and its deep logistics expertise.
• Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, Computer Engineering (English, ABET-accredited), Industrial and Software Engineering, plus Architecture and Interior Architecture (Turkish, MİAK-aligned), with modern labs and design studios.
• Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Psychology (English/Turkish), Political Science & International Relations (English) and Public Relations & Advertising.
• Faculty of Art & Design, Graphic Design, Cartoon & Animation, Digital Game Design, Communication Design and Gastronomy & Culinary Arts, taught in creative studios and professional kitchens.
• School of Civil Aviation, Aviation Management (English), combining business and aviation-industry knowledge.
• Vocational Schools, the heritage Vocational School of Logistics plus a general vocational school offering ~23 two-year programs (foreign trade, computer programming, media, cabin services, culinary arts and more).

Tuition & scholarships

Beykoz is among Istanbul’s more affordable private universities; figures below are approximate guidance, exact current fees appear in the tuition table above:

• Associate (2-year) programs: ~$1,400-1,900 / year
• Bachelor’s (English): ~$6,000-6,600 / year list, but a standard 50% international scholarship brings this to roughly $3,000-3,300 / year (e.g. Computer Engineering $6,600 → $3,300)
• Bachelor’s (Turkish): lower base (~$4,600) → roughly $2,300 / year after scholarship, net undergraduate fees commonly fall in the $1,950-2,450 range
• Master’s: competitively priced, with thesis and non-thesis tracks

The university grants scholarships up to 50% (often guaranteed for international applicants), academic-merit awards and early-enrolment discounts, and accepts government Türkiye Scholarships, making an English-medium, accredited degree very affordable.

Graduate studies

The Institute of Graduate Programs offers around 15 master’s programs with thesis and non-thesis tracks, several available in evening or distance formats for working students. Flagships include an MBA (non-thesis, English, with a Turkish Executive MBA option) drawing on the AACSB-accredited business faculty, and an M.A./M.Sc. in International Trade & Logistics that deepens supply-chain, international-commerce and logistics-strategy expertise, a natural fit for the university’s heritage. Programs emphasise applied projects and industry links, and the Logistics Applications & Research Center connects graduate work to real sector partners.

Campus & facilities

For its size, Beykoz is well-equipped: 14 research and training laboratories (engineering, robotics, computer and logistics simulation labs), design studios and culinary kitchens, a central library with databases, innovation and incubation centres for entrepreneurship, six sports halls/academies, multiple cafeterias and student lounges, plus a health center and campus-wide Wi-Fi. The multi-campus layout gives each field tailored, modern facilities while keeping a tight community within the Beykoz district, surrounded by forests and Bosphorus promenades.

Student services & campus life

Student support is comprehensive: an International Office (registration, residence-permit guidance, orientation) on the administrative campus, counselling and a career center, a campus health center, and BeykozTÖMER Turkish-language support. Campus life is lively for a smaller university, 23 student clubs, sports teams and academies, the annual Beykoz University Festival, and frequent seminars, industry guest talks and workshops that reflect its hands-on ethos. Strong company partnerships (especially in logistics and aviation) feed internships and recruiting events, helping graduates step straight into careers.

Accreditations & recognition

Beykoz is accredited by Turkey’s YÖK, and stands out for two elite programmatic marks: AACSB accreditation for its business programs, by its own account the only foundation university in Turkey to hold it, and ABET accreditation (USA) for Computer Engineering, both rare for a young university. It follows the Bologna Process, participates in Erasmus+ exchange, aligns architecture with MİAK, and its degrees are recognised across the EU and by ministries in countries including Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Sudan, Lebanon, Palestine and Morocco. It has also won academic-excellence and student-satisfaction recognitions, strong assurance of quality for such a new institution.

Special highlights & why choose

Beykoz’s identity is built on applied, industry-ready education with a unique logistics and aviation heritage, elevated by two world-class accreditations: AACSB business and ABET engineering. Add a green, calm Bosphorus-side campus minutes from Istanbul’s business core, distinctive programs in logistics, aviation management, digital game design and culinary arts, a close-knit community with personal attention, and very affordable tuition with scholarships, and Beykoz University is an excellent, career-focused choice for international students who want a practical, globally recognised degree in Istanbul.