Istanbul Gelisim University

Why Istanbul Gelisim University

Istanbul Gelişim University (IGU) is a dynamic private foundation university on Istanbul’s European side and one of Turkey’s most international universities. Established in 2008, it has grown rapidly into a reputable institution of around 39,000 students, including over 7,500 internationals from 100+ countries, taught by 700+ academic staff across six-to-seven faculties. Known for innovative programs, 40 internationally accredited degrees and a student-centred approach, with modern facilities, affordable tuition and a strong global outlook, IGU is consistently among the most preferred Turkish universities for students from around the world, true to its name, Gelişim (“development”).

History & milestones

IGU’s journey began in 2008 when the Gelişim Education, Culture, Health and Social Service Foundation established the Istanbul Gelişim Vocational School. The institution expanded quickly and became Istanbul Gelişim University through a national law on 17 February 2011. From a focus on two-year vocational education it has grown continuously, now spanning 6 faculties (with a newer Sports Sciences faculty), 2 schools, 2 vocational schools and a Graduate Education Institute, producing 49,600+ graduates to date. Guided by the principle of “development” in every field, it has also built a strong international presence, forming collaborations with 130+ universities worldwide by 2023. From a modest start, IGU has become a genuinely international university featured in global rankings.

Istanbul, the Avcılar advantage

IGU’s main Avcılar Campus sits on Istanbul’s European side near the former Atatürk Airport, well-connected to central Istanbul by the Metrobus line. Students enjoy a lively yet relatively relaxed urban setting with affordable housing, eateries and shops nearby, plus easy access to the city’s historic landmarks, business centres and internships. The campus clusters all faculties and institutes together for easy movement between disciplines, and beyond it the city becomes an extended campus, health and dentistry students train in Istanbul’s hospitals and clinics, aviation and engineering students visit airports and industrial sites, and a strong distance-education (LMS) system adds online flexibility, especially at graduate level.

Vision & mission

IGU’s vision is to be an “innovative and leading global university that drives value in education, science, technology and the arts, all while embracing the concept of sustainability.” Its mission is “to foster societal development and transformation by cultivating confident individuals with international qualities and to serve humanity through education and research activities grounded in the principle of sustainability.” These are anchored by core values, continuous development, innovation and entrepreneurship, academic merit, ethics, sustainability, social and environmental responsibility, internationalisation, stakeholder engagement and transparency, producing well-rounded, globally minded graduates who are not just job-seekers but potential job creators and community leaders.

Rankings & recognition

Despite its youth, IGU has earned strong recognition. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 it sits in the 1001-1200 band globally, and, strikingly, in the top 600 worldwide for International Outlook (5th in Turkey), reflecting its diverse student body and global partnerships. It is ranked #21 in QS’s “Europe: Western Asia” regional table (and 301-350 in QS Emerging Europe & Central Asia in 2022), and ~2,329th globally in Webometrics 2024, where it is also around 56th-58th in Turkey, within the national top quartile among 200+ institutions. Its presence in THE and QS puts IGU on the radar of employers and academic networks worldwide, lending real credibility to its degrees.

Academics & language of instruction

IGU offers an exceptional breadth, over 85 bachelor’s, 101 associate, around 80 master’s and 11 doctoral programs across its faculties, taught in English or Turkish (the university treats English as an official language alongside Turkish). Fields range from engineering, architecture and dentistry to business, health sciences, aviation, gastronomy, sports and the arts. A School of Foreign Languages provides an English Preparatory Year and Turkish (TÖMER) courses for those who need them. Crucially, 40 of IGU’s programs hold international accreditation from agencies in Germany, the US and the UK, the curriculum follows the Bologna/ECTS framework, and double-major and minor options plus emerging courses (AI, big data, digital marketing) keep it current.

Faculties & specializations

• Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, Computer, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical-Electronics, Mechatronics, Industrial and Aviation/Aerospace Engineering plus Architecture and Interior Architecture; several programs ABET-accredited, with 150+ labs and Teknofest/robotics participation.
• Faculty of Dentistry, a 5-year DDS with an on-campus Dental Clinical Training Center (phantom labs and supervised patient clinics), aligned to international (AHPGS) norms.
• Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Nutrition & Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Child Development and Health Management (many English-medium, AHPGS-accredited).
• Faculty of Economics, Administrative & Social Sciences, Business Administration, International Trade & Finance, Economics, Political Science & IR, Psychology, Media & Communication and Gastronomy & Culinary Arts.
• Faculty of Applied Sciences, Banking & Finance, International Logistics, Management Information Systems, Aircraft Maintenance and new media.
• Faculties of Fine Arts and Sports Sciences, graphic and communication design, fashion, cinema & TV (with studios); plus coaching, sports management and PE.

Tuition & scholarships

IGU’s tuition is competitive for its accredited, international quality; fees are quoted in US dollars, and the figures below are approximate annual guidance, exact current fees appear in the tuition table above:

• Associate (2-year) programs: roughly $2,750-3,000 / year
• Bachelor’s programs: about $3,500 / year for Turkish-medium fields and $4,000-5,500 / year for English-medium (e.g. Business ~$4,000, Architecture ~$4,500, Aviation Engineering ~$5,500)
• Dentistry: approximately $13,000 (Turkish) to $17,000 (English) / year
• Master’s programs: ~$3,250-6,500 / year (non-thesis nearer the lower end; some engineering theses up to ~$6,500; a few specialised tracks higher)
• PhD programs: about $6,000-8,000 / year

IGU offers a 7% cash-payment discount (for paying the year’s bachelor’s tuition upfront), a 5% sibling discount, merit and ÖSYM-based scholarships for top scorers, and accepts government Türkiye Scholarships, with installment plans available. Combined with Istanbul’s manageable cost of living, this delivers strong value for an internationally accredited education.

Graduate studies

IGU’s Institute of Graduate Studies runs around 80 master’s and 11 doctoral programs, with thesis and non-thesis tracks and even distance-learning options (e.g. an online MBA) for working professionals. Flagship master’s include an English MBA, MSc programs across Computer, Civil, Electrical-Electronics, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (with specialisations from AI to earthquake engineering), MA in International Relations, Clinical Psychology (with supervised practice via the counseling center), Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Public Health/Health Management, and MFA-level design and cinema. PhD programs span Business Administration, Economics & Finance, Electrical-Electronics and Civil Engineering, Communication Sciences and Psychology. Research is supported by ~22 research centers, a Technology Transfer Office (IGU holds 900+ patents and 12,000+ published papers), extensive digital libraries and conference-travel support, a fast-growing, internationally oriented research environment.

Campus & facilities

IGU’s modern, integrated Avcılar campus is exceptionally well-resourced. It offers 150+ laboratories and workshops for hands-on learning (engineering, aviation, computing, dentistry, physiotherapy, gastronomy, design and more), five libraries holding 9 million+ print and electronic resources (ScienceDirect, EBSCO, JSTOR and more), computer labs and campus-wide high-speed Wi-Fi. Beyond academics, students enjoy indoor and outdoor sports facilities (gym, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts), a Healthy Life Cafe, green courtyards, five conference halls seating up to 1,000, and multiple cafeterias. With 70+ (up to ~94) student clubs, frequent events and competitions, an OBIS student portal and a dedicated mobile app, daily life is convenient and vibrant across a community of 100+ nationalities.

Student services & campus life

IGU surrounds its huge, cosmopolitan community with comprehensive support. Although it does not run its own dorms, it partners with vetted nearby student residences (furnished, with meals, gyms, study halls and 24/7 security) and a “Welcome to Gelişim” team helps international students settle in. An International Office handles admissions, visas, residence permits, bank accounts and orientation, while the School of Foreign Languages builds English and Turkish proficiency. A Career Development Center offers career counseling, CV and interview workshops and job fairs with strong industry links; psychological counseling, an on-campus health unit, and a dedicated Office for Disabled Student Services look after well-being and accessibility. With 70+ clubs, sports leagues, cultural festivals and a busy events calendar, campus life is rich, supportive and genuinely global.

Accreditations & recognition

IGU’s commitment to international quality is a defining strength: 40 of its programs hold international accreditation. Beyond Turkey’s YÖK (with YÖKAK quality alignment), it holds ABET accreditation for several engineering programs (rare among Turkish universities), German AQAS (social sciences and engineering) and AHPGS (health and social sciences) accreditations, and Pearson Assured quality assurance for language/vocational training, plus TSE/ISO 9001 certification and UN PRME membership in responsible management education. It follows the Bologna/ECTS framework and maintains one of Turkey’s largest exchange networks, Erasmus+ agreements with 400+ institutions and 130+ global partners. The practical result: IGU diplomas are widely recognised and respected by employers and graduate schools worldwide.

Special highlights & why choose

IGU’s appeal is its rare combination of scale, exceptional internationality and accredited quality. Few Turkish universities match its 40 internationally accredited programs, including ABET-accredited engineering and AHPGS-accredited health and dentistry with an on-campus dental training centre; its distinctive aviation and gastronomy programs use specialised labs and Istanbul’s industry; and its Erasmus+ network of 400+ institutions and top-600 International Outlook ranking make it genuinely global. Add 150+ labs, 9 million library resources, 70+ clubs, 900+ patents, competitive tuition with cash and sibling discounts, and a community of 100+ nationalities in the heart of Istanbul, and Istanbul Gelişim University stands out as one of Turkey’s most globally connected, well-resourced and welcoming choices, for almost any field, from engineering to dentistry to the arts.