Istanbul Arel University

Why Istanbul Arel University

Istanbul Arel University is a private, non-profit (foundation) university on the European side of Istanbul, founded in 2007 by the Kemal Gözükara Education and Culture Foundation. Despite its youth, it has grown into a comprehensive institution of around 13,000 students taught by 480+ academic staff across three campuses and seven faculties, known for modern facilities, an international outlook and a broad range of programs, from engineering and medicine to media and the arts. With reasonable tuition, generous scholarships and a genuinely multicultural community (students from dozens of countries, including a large Iranian cohort), Arel is an attractive choice for international students who want to study in one of the world’s most vibrant cities.

History & milestones

Istanbul Arel University was established on 18 May 2007 under the Kemal Gözükara Education and Culture Foundation, beginning its journey at the Sefaköy campus in Küçükçekmece. It expanded rapidly: the large Tepekent (Kemal Gözükara) campus opened in 2009; the university earned a national Quality Certificate from Turkey’s Ministry of Higher Education in 2013; it joined the Erasmus program in 2014; it founded its Faculty of Medicine (welcoming its first medical students in 2016) and the ArelTech Technology and Engineering Research Center in 2017; and it inaugurated the dedicated Cevizlibağ Health Campus in 2019. In a remarkably short span, these milestones transformed Arel from a startup institution into a multi-campus, comprehensive and increasingly international university.

Istanbul, three campuses

Arel operates three campuses on Istanbul’s European side, each with its own role:

• Kemal Gözükara (Tepekent) Campus, the 52,000+ m² flagship in Büyükçekmece overlooking Büyükçekmece Lake, home to most undergraduate faculties (Engineering & Architecture, Economic & Administrative Sciences, Arts & Sciences, Fine Arts, Communication). It offers 300+ smart classrooms, research centers, a vast library, abundant sports facilities, a 900-seat auditorium and on-campus dorms, a self-contained “university town.”
• Sefaköy Campus, the original, compact (~18,560 m²) central campus in Küçükçekmece on a major highway, hosting the Vocational School and radio/TV studios, with easy city transport and proximity to industry and media.
• Cevizlibağ Health Campus, the newest (2019, ~15,000 m²) campus in Zeytinburnu along the E5, dedicated to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, with around 2,000 m² of medical labs and close access to Istanbul’s training hospitals.

Free shuttles link the campuses, giving students both spacious academic facilities and the cultural and professional opportunities of the city.

Vision & mission

Arel’s vision is to be an internationally recognized education and research institution of world-class standards, carrying out innovative scientific research and producing graduates who can identify and respond to changing social, cultural, economic and technological needs, powering national and regional progress as a bridge between Turkey and the global knowledge economy. Its mission is to deliver high-quality education and research to international benchmarks, nurturing well-rounded, globally minded citizens who respect human rights, ethical values and the rule of law, and who think critically and creatively, in a student-centred environment with updated curricula, practical training and encouragement for research and entrepreneurship, true to the values of the Turkish Republic.

Rankings & recognition

As a young university, Arel sits in the mid-range of Turkey’s institutions but is steadily climbing. EduRank 2025 places it 119th in Turkey (~5,584th globally), Webometrics 2024 about 125th nationally (~5,392nd worldwide), URAP 2024 122nd in Turkey for academic performance, and the SCImago 2025 research ranking around 122nd nationally (~3,933rd globally). It is not yet in the QS or THE world tables, typical for newer universities, but its rising publications, international collaborations and web visibility point to a positive trajectory, with the university openly aiming to break into Turkey’s top 100. For prospective students, the key point is that Arel is firmly established, recognized and accredited, with degrees that hold real value.

Academics & language of instruction

Arel offers 100+ programs, about 54 associate, 40 bachelor’s, ~50 master’s and 8 doctoral programs, across 7 faculties, 2 vocational schools and an Institute of Graduate Studies. Programs run in English and Turkish: many engineering, business, international relations and some science tracks are taught in English (ideal for international students), while others are in Turkish. Students entering English-medium programs without sufficient English attend an English Preparatory Year (priced at the program’s tuition), and those in Turkish programs without Turkish take a Turkish prep year (~$1,200). The curriculum follows the Bologna/ECTS framework and emphasises practical training, research and entrepreneurship, supported by partnerships with 2,500+ companies for internships.

Faculties & specializations

• Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, Computer, Electrical-Electronics, Industrial, Civil and Mechanical Engineering plus Architecture and Interior Architecture; supported by ArelTech and an Artificial Intelligence Research & Applications Center, with electronics, mechanical and design labs.
• Faculty of Medicine, a 6-year MD (Turkish-medium) with foundational science years at Cevizlibağ and clinical rotations in affiliated Istanbul hospitals.
• Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Nutrition & Dietetics, Healthcare Management and Child Development, with simulation and clinical-skills labs.
• Faculty of Economic & Administrative Sciences, Business Administration (English), International Trade & Finance, Economics, International Relations (English) and Political Science & Public Administration.
• Faculty of Communication, New Media, Cinema & Television, PR & Advertising and Visual Communication Design, using the Sefaköy TV studio and editing suites.
• Faculties of Arts & Sciences and Fine Arts, Psychology, Molecular Biology & Genetics (FEDEK-accredited, English), Mathematics & Computer Science, Sociology, plus Graphic Design, Fashion & Textile Design and Cartoon & Animation.

Tuition & scholarships

Arel’s tuition is competitive for a private Istanbul university; fees are quoted in US dollars and reflect typical post-scholarship figures as approximate annual guidance, exact current fees appear in the tuition table above:

• Associate (2-year) programs: roughly $2,500 / year (often reduced by a 50% vocational scholarship)
• Bachelor’s programs: about $3,000 / year for Turkish-medium fields and $3,500-4,000 / year for English-medium fields (most carry an automatic ~50% scholarship off list price)
• Medicine: approximately $12,000-15,000 / year, reflecting its intensive 6-year clinical training
• Master’s programs: around $3,000-8,000 depending on field and language (roughly $4,000/year Turkish, $4,500/year English)

The university provides academic-merit scholarships (partial to full, by entrance score), a 10% sibling discount, early-payment discounts (~5%), and sports/achievement and need-based awards, and, like many Turkish foundation universities, commonly advertises programs with an automatic ~50% international scholarship, so the figures above are typically what students pay. Government Türkiye Scholarships are accepted.

Graduate studies

Arel’s Institute of Graduate Studies offers around 50 master’s and 8 doctoral programs, many with thesis or non-thesis tracks. Master’s options span Engineering (Computer, Electrical-Electronics, Industrial and Logistics Engineering, Big Data Analytics, linked to the AI research center), Business (an MBA with finance, marketing and HR concentrations, plus International Trade & Finance and Logistics Management), Social Sciences (International Relations, Clinical Psychology, English Language Teaching, Media & Communication) and Health Sciences (Nursing, Physiotherapy). PhD programs cover fields such as Business & Management, engineering and applied sciences, and the social sciences, usually requiring four years including a dissertation. Graduate students benefit from research centers, journal-rich libraries, and assistantships or tuition waivers, with many doctoral candidates working as research or teaching assistants, and the ARELSEM continuing-education center adds certificate and language courses.

Campus & facilities

Across its campuses Arel offers strong, well-funded infrastructure. The central library holds 40,000+ books plus electronic databases, and the university maintains 16 medical research centers, 7 health-science centers, 22 technology labs and 18 vocational workshops, alongside radio and TV studios, design studios and a language-learning center. Student life, especially at Tepekent, is exceptional: an indoor semi-Olympic swimming pool and an outdoor pool, 5 football fields, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, a mini-golf course, a fitness centre, and a 900-seat auditorium for events and performances. On-campus dormitories, cafeterias and dining halls, a campus health centre/clinic, prayer spaces and campus-wide Wi-Fi round out a comfortable environment, with free shuttles connecting all three sites.

Student services & campus life

Arel surrounds its large, diverse community with comprehensive support. An International Office assists with admissions, visas, residence permits and orientation, and the university’s strong existing cohorts from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Iraq help newcomers feel at home. Health services, free counseling and guidance, and special-needs support look after well-being and accessibility, while a Career Center leverages 2,500+ company partnerships for internships, career fairs and placements. Beyond academics, students join media clubs, sports teams and cultural societies, produce real films, campaigns and exhibitions, and enjoy the rich extracurricular life of the Tepekent campus, pools, courts, mini-golf and a 900-seat auditorium, all within easy reach of Istanbul via the free shuttle network.

Accreditations & recognition

Arel is fully accredited by Turkey’s Council of Higher Education (YÖK), so its degrees are equivalent to those of any Turkish public university, and it holds a national Quality Certificate (2013). It follows the Bologna Process and uses ECTS, making its credits and degrees compatible across the European Higher Education Area, and its Faculty of Medicine is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS), important for international medical graduates. Program-level accreditations include FEDEK for Molecular Biology & Genetics, with engineering programs aligned to MÜDEK standards. Through Erasmus+ (since 2014) and recognition by education ministries across the EU, Middle East and North Africa, Arel degrees travel well, letting graduates pursue careers or postgraduate study at home and abroad.

Special highlights & why choose

Arel’s appeal is its breadth and modern facilities across three campuses, anchored by genuine strengths. Its lakeside Tepekent flagship offers a rare, fully featured campus experience, semi-Olympic pool, sports fields, mini-golf and a 900-seat auditorium, while its dedicated Cevizlibağ health campus supports a WDOMS-listed Medicine program and allied health training near Istanbul’s hospitals. Add ArelTech and an AI research center, FEDEK-accredited Molecular Biology & Genetics, professional media studios, English-taught engineering and business, a large and welcoming international community, generous ~50% scholarships and Erasmus+ mobility, and Istanbul Arel University is a well-rounded, well-equipped and genuinely international place to study in Istanbul.