Hasan Kalyoncu University

Why Hasan Kalyoncu University

Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU) is a prominent private university in Gaziantep, southeastern Turkey, known for an innovative approach to education and a growing international profile. Founded in 2008 as the first foundation (private) university in its region, it has quickly become a dynamic, comprehensive institution offering programs in English and Turkish across engineering, business, health, law, the arts, education and more. Serving 6,000-7,000 students (including 300+ international students from 20+ countries) on a vast modern campus with global partnerships and affordable tuition, HKU is an appealing choice for international students, especially those drawn to a culturally rich, lower-cost city near the Middle East.

History & milestones

HKU was established in 2008 by the Gaziantep Education and Service Foundation, originally under the name Gazikent University, and admitted its first cohort in the 2009-10 academic year. In 2012, it was renamed Hasan Kalyoncu University to honour its founder, a respected Turkish businessman and philanthropist. Since then it has steadily expanded its academic offerings, built state-of-the-art campus facilities and forged international partnerships, growing into a comprehensive, research-minded university. In just over 15 years it has produced 14,000+ graduates and earned recognition both nationally and internationally, a rapid development that has laid a strong foundation for its continued growth.

Gaziantep, the southeastern advantage

HKU sits in the Şahinbey district of Gaziantep, conveniently close to Gaziantep International Airport and known for its calm, student-friendly atmosphere. Gaziantep is one of Turkey’s largest and most vibrant cities, celebrated as the country’s culinary capital (famous for baklava and pistachios) and rich in history, from bustling bazaars and ancient castles to modern malls and cafés. Its lower cost of living compared to Istanbul or Ankara is a major advantage for students from Africa, Asia and the Middle East seeking quality education at an affordable price, while the city’s warm hospitality and multicultural fabric help international students feel at home. Gaziantep’s strategic location near the Middle East and Mediterranean and its strong industrial base also open doors for internships and cultural exchange.

Vision & mission

HKU’s vision is to be a leader in science, art and technology, contributing sustainable solutions to societal problems from an international perspective and driving positive change in the community. Its mission centres on five goals: educational excellence (robust programs fostering critical thinking, creativity and research, taught by internationally experienced faculty); socio-economic development (graduating competent professionals and entrepreneurs ready for the labour market); student development (building problem-solving and logical-reasoning skills); a global outlook (English-taught programs and international partnerships promoting cross-cultural competence); and values and ethics (justice, freedom and responsible conduct). Together these shape an education that is both value-based and practical.

Rankings & recognition

Despite its youth, HKU has made a clear mark in the rankings. Webometrics 2024 places it 104th in Turkey and ~3,110th worldwide, while URAP 2024 ranks it 92nd nationally and around 2,810th globally for academic performance. The Scimago Institutions Rankings 2025 position it roughly 44th among Turkish institutions and ~2,399th globally for research influence, and HKU was ranked 13th of 200 universities in a 2022 academic-satisfaction survey (UniAr). While not yet among the oldest, top-tier Turkish universities, this consistent upward trajectory, particularly in research-focused indices, confirms HKU as a strong, fast-rising emerging university.

Academics & language of instruction

HKU offers 40+ undergraduate departments plus dozens of graduate programs, bachelor’s, master’s, PhD and some 2-year associate degrees, across 8 faculties, a Vocational School and an Institute of Graduate Studies. Language of instruction is English and Turkish: notably, most Engineering programs (Aerospace, Civil, Computer, Software, Electrical-Electronics) are taught in English, as are Political Science & International Relations and English Language Teaching, with International Trade & Logistics offered in both tracks; many other programs (Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Architecture, Law, Business, Psychology and most health and design fields) are in Turkish. A School of Foreign Languages runs a preparatory year (accredited by Pearson Assured) for students who need to strengthen their English or Turkish, and a favourable student-to-faculty ratio supports personalised mentorship.

Faculties & specializations

• College of Engineering, a flagship, with Computer, Electrical-Electronics, Civil, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering plus a distinctive Aerospace Engineering program; equipped with robotics, materials, circuits and telecommunications labs and an on-campus incubator.
• Faculty of Aeronautics & Space Sciences, a rare, forward-looking faculty for aviation and aerospace, with industry partnerships and a regional aviation focus.
• College of Economics, Administrative & Social Sciences, Business Administration, Economics, International Trade & Logistics (bilingual), Political Science & International Relations (English) and Psychology.
• College of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation and Nutrition & Dietetics (both SABAK-accredited) and Nursing, with anatomy, physiology and assessment labs and hospital internships (note: HKU has no Medicine/Dentistry programs).
• College of Fine Arts & Architecture, Architecture, Interior Architecture & Environmental Design and Visual Communication Design, with studios and multimedia labs.
• Colleges of Law, Education and Communication, a Turkish LL.B. with a moot court; EPDAD-accredited teacher training (including English Language Teaching); and Radio-TV & Cinema and media programs.

Tuition & scholarships

HKU’s tuition is highly competitive; fees are quoted in US dollars, and the figures below are approximate annual guidance, exact current fees appear in the tuition table above:

• Bachelor’s programs: roughly $4,500 / year for most fields (engineering, business, arts and sciences), rising to about $6,500 / year for Law
• Master’s: around $2,250 / year for most thesis programs (engineering, architecture, finance, economics, OHS), with Clinical Psychology higher at about $6,000 / year
• PhD: about $3,600 / year (Electrical-Electronics and Civil Engineering, Economics, Political Science & IR)
• Associate (2-year) programs: roughly $2,000-3,000 / year through the Vocational School

Base fees are already subsidised by the university’s foundation, and scholarships of 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% are awarded to high-achieving or financially needy students, alongside athletic and talent awards and accepted government Türkiye Scholarships. A standout is housing: HKU heavily subsidises on-campus dormitories, making them low-cost, or, for scholarship students and those in need, nearly free.

Graduate studies

HKU’s Institute of Graduate Studies offers master’s and doctoral programs marked by small class sizes, close mentorship and practical relevance. Master’s options (mostly 2 years, with thesis or non-thesis tracks) span Civil and Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Architecture and Interior Architecture, Banking & Finance, International Trade & Logistics, Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Sciences & Energy Management, Economics, Political Science & IR (English) and Clinical Psychology. PhD programs concentrate on HKU’s strengths, Electrical-Electronics and Civil Engineering, Economics and Political Science & IR, with doctoral candidates accessing advanced labs, the Kalyoncu Middle East Research Center, close faculty supervision and teaching opportunities. The university encourages publication and conference participation (sometimes with travel grants), offers assistantships and tuition waivers, and supports international graduate students with orientation and Turkish-language classes.

Campus & facilities

HKU’s single main campus is a self-contained university village spanning roughly 500,000 m², among the largest in Turkey. It holds modern faculty buildings and specialised labs (engineering workshops, design studios, science labs and a law moot court), a large library with multilingual collections, digital databases and assistive technology (a text-to-audio scanner for visually impaired students), and numerous research and innovation hubs, including an Innovation & Incubation Center that even maintains a presence in Silicon Valley for entrepreneurial students. On-campus dormitories (gender-segregated, furnished, with lounges, kitchens, laundry and 24/7 security) sit alongside sports courts, football fields and fitness centres, and, uniquely, the first golf training course in the region. Cafés and restaurants, a health centre, mini-markets, ATMs, green spaces, campus-wide Wi-Fi and gated 24/7 security complete a comfortable, fully equipped “home away from home.”

Student services & campus life

HKU surrounds students with comprehensive, student-centric support. Heavily subsidised on-campus housing and a Student Affairs office (which also helps with off-campus apartments) ease the transition, while an International Office handles admissions, visas, residence permits, orientation and Turkish-language classes for newcomers. A campus health centre provides first aid and referrals, and the Psychological Counseling Center offers free, confidential support and workshops on stress and adjustment. A dedicated special-needs framework ensures accessibility, ramps, lifts, note-taking help, exam accommodations and the library’s assistive scanner. A Career Center runs counselling, CV and interview workshops, job and internship fairs and entrepreneurship support through the incubator, and 60+ student clubs plus festivals, sports tournaments and the region’s golf course keep campus life vibrant.

Accreditations & recognition

HKU is fully accredited by Turkey’s Council of Higher Education (YÖK), ensuring its diplomas are nationally recognised, and holds program-level accreditations including EPDAD (education), SABAK (Nutrition & Dietetics, Physiotherapy) and Pearson Assured (English prep). It follows the Bologna/ECTS framework, issues Diploma Supplements, and runs Erasmus+ exchange with partner universities across Europe, alongside MoUs with institutions such as the University of Ottawa, Purdue, University of Malaysia Pahang and Myongji University. Its degrees are officially recognised across the Middle East and Africa (Palestine, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, Somalia and others) and respected in the EU, so graduates can build careers or continue their studies at home and abroad. With 16+ research centers and steady gains in Scimago, URAP and Webometrics, HKU is a young university clearly punching above its weight.

Special highlights & why choose

HKU’s appeal is its blend of modern, innovation-focused education with exceptional affordability in one of Turkey’s most welcoming cities. Few universities pair a strong English-taught engineering faculty with a rare Aeronautics & Space Sciences college, an Innovation & Incubation Center linked to Silicon Valley, and even a regional golf course, all on a ~500,000 m² campus. Add SABAK-accredited health programs, EPDAD-accredited teacher training, generous 25-100% scholarships, near-free dormitory housing, MENA-wide recognition and Erasmus+ mobility, and Hasan Kalyoncu University is a compelling, fast-rising choice for international students who want a comprehensive, future-focused education, including fields like aerospace, at outstanding value in Gaziantep.