Istanbul Health and Technology University

Why Istanbul Health and Technology University

Istanbul Health and Technology University (ISTUN) is a dynamic private foundation university in Istanbul with a distinctive focus on the intersection of healthcare and technology. Established in 2018 by the Bilgiç Foundation, which brings over 30 years of experience in the health sector, it has quickly built a reputation for innovative programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering and the health sciences. With a modern Golden Horn campus, 29 laboratories, industry partnerships, a low ~8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and many programs in English, ISTUN offers a focused, forward-looking education for the 2,000+ students, increasingly international, who want to study health and technology in Turkey.

History & milestones

ISTUN was founded on 9 May 2018 under the leadership of the Bilgiç Foundation and, after extensive preparation, opened to students in the 2020-21 academic year, beginning with health-related faculties. It achieved 100% enrollment in its first year, a clear sign of demand, initially operating at its Topkapı Campus (Zeytinburnu), then adding a Merter Campus as it grew. A major milestone came in 2023 when it consolidated at a new, modern main campus in Sütlüce, on the shores of the Golden Horn, which became the primary site for all faculties. Leadership passed from founding rector Prof. Dr. Seyhan Alkan to Prof. Dr. Buğra Özen in early 2024. In just a few years, ISTUN has grown from a fledgling institution into a multi-campus university uniting health and technology disciplines.

Istanbul, the Golden Horn advantage

ISTUN’s modern main campus sits in Sütlüce on the European side, in a scenic setting along the Golden Horn with views of the historic skyline, and is well-connected to the city, near the Halıcıoğlu metrobus stop, with university shuttle services. Studying in Istanbul gives students a culturally rich, opportunity-filled environment: a high concentration of businesses and healthcare institutions for internships, comparatively low crime, excellent public transport, and the city’s famous landmarks, cafés and social life just off campus. Fittingly for a health-focused university, the former Topkapı campus is being repurposed as a dedicated medical training center, a future teaching-hospital environment for the Faculty of Medicine.

Vision & mission

ISTUN’s vision is to be a leading international institution at the intersection of healthcare and technology, innovating in education and research, especially in medicine, the health sciences and engineering, to produce graduates who drive positive change in Turkey and globally, transforming scientific discoveries into real-world solutions. Its mission centres on technology and innovation (producing and applying cutting-edge technology through research and industry collaboration), contribution to society and public health, international cooperation (via Erasmus+ and global partnerships), and student development, educating ethical, entrepreneurial leaders with a strong sense of responsibility in a genuinely student-oriented environment.

Rankings & recognition

As a university that only began teaching in 2020, ISTUN is not yet in major global tables such as QS or THE, expected for so young an institution still building its research output. In Webometrics 2023 it sits around ~560th in Turkey (and ~12,000th globally), and national indicators place its research publications in the mid-500s nationally, figures expected to rise as its faculty and labs expand. More tellingly for prospective students, ISTUN reached full enrollment in its first year, records high student satisfaction (around 4.0/5), and was ranked among Turkey’s top three universities for the scholarship support it provides, signs of strong trust, demand and a deep commitment to its students.

Academics & language of instruction

ISTUN offers 40+ programs, about 23 bachelor’s departments plus around 17 master’s, 4 doctoral and several associate programs, across six faculties (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Engineering & Natural Sciences, Health Sciences, and Economics/Administrative & Social Sciences), a Vocational School of Health Services and a Graduate Education Institute. Many high-demand programs, especially Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Computer Engineering and Business Administration, offer English-medium tracks alongside Turkish, with a School of Foreign Languages providing English preparation. The curriculum follows the Bologna/ECTS framework, emphasises practical, research-driven and interdisciplinary learning, and notably encourages double majors (e.g. Pharmacy with Business) across its faculties.

Faculties & specializations

• Faculty of Medicine, a flagship 6-year MD (English and Turkish) with an integrated curriculum, 3D-simulation labs, early clinical exposure, hospital clerkships and a dedicated medical center in development; with support for USMLE and international licensing.
• Faculty of Dentistry, a 5-year DDS with on-site clinics and dental-simulation units, where senior students treat patients under supervision (Orthodontics, Endodontics, Oral Surgery).
• Faculty of Pharmacy, a 5-year B.Pharm with a pioneering on-campus Pharmaceutical R&D Institute for drug-development research.
• Faculty of Engineering & Natural Sciences, Computer, Software, Industrial, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, Architecture and Molecular Biology & Genetics, with a project-based, biomedically connected approach.
• Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Nutrition & Dietetics, Audiology and Occupational Therapy, with specialised labs and clinical placements.
• Faculty of Economics, Administrative & Social Sciences, Business Administration (with Healthcare/Technology Management tracks), Management Information Systems, Applied English & Translation and Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

Tuition & scholarships

ISTUN is affordable for its specialised, English-medium offering; 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: about $2,200-3,000 / year for most engineering, health-science and business fields (Turkish-medium nearer $2,200; English ~$2,500-3,000)
• Pharmacy: approximately $6,000 (Turkish) to $8,000 (English) / year
• Dentistry: approximately $12,000 (Turkish) to $14,000 (English) / year
• Medicine: approximately $13,000 (Turkish) to $15,000 (English) / year
• Associate, master’s & PhD programs are also offered (associate roughly $1,500-3,000; master’s ~$3,000-5,000; PhD around $5,000), often with waivers or assistantships

ISTUN is exceptionally scholarship-focused, ranked among Turkey’s top three universities for the proportion of students on financial aid, with merit scholarships of up to 25-50%, early-payment and sibling discounts, and acceptance of government Türkiye Scholarships. Combined with Istanbul’s opportunities, this makes a health/technology education here genuinely strong value.

Graduate studies

ISTUN’s Graduate Education Institute runs around 17 master’s and 4 doctoral programs aligned with its strengths in health and technology, with thesis and non-thesis tracks. Master’s options include an MBA (with Healthcare and Technology Management specialisations), M.Sc. programs in Computer and Industrial Engineering (AI, data science, process engineering), Pharmaceutical Sciences/Biotechnology (drawing on the R&D Institute), and Health Sciences (Public Health, Nursing Science, Physiotherapy, Nutrition). PhD programs span Health Sciences, Engineering/Applied Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Business/Management. Because the university is wired into the health and pharma industries through the Bilgiç Foundation, many graduate projects are funded or conducted with industry partners, and PhD candidates often receive tuition waivers, assistantships and applied-research opportunities, preparing them for both academia and industry R&D.

Campus & facilities

For its size, ISTUN is genuinely well-equipped. The integrated Sütlüce campus (Blocks A, B and C) houses classrooms and lecture theatres with smart technologies, 29 modern laboratories (medical and dental simulation, anatomy, biology, chemistry, engineering workshops with robotics and 3D printers, and computing labs), and a central and digital library with academic journals, e-books and databases. On-campus medical services, dining halls and lounges, study spaces, computer labs and campus-wide high-speed Wi-Fi round out daily life. Its small scale, a low ~8:1 student-to-faculty ratio across just over 2,000 students, fosters an interdisciplinary community where medical, engineering and business students share common spaces, while the scenic Golden Horn setting and central location keep the city’s amenities within easy reach.

Student services & campus life

ISTUN surrounds students with attentive, well-being-focused support. Although it has no dorms of its own, it helps students, especially internationals, find nearby private dormitories and apartments (sometimes at partner-discounted rates) through its International Office, which also handles admissions, visas, residence permits, orientation and basic Turkish/cultural support. A Department of Health, Culture & Sports oversees an on-campus medical unit, free or low-cost counseling (for stress, homesickness or academic guidance), and wellness and sports activities. A Career & Internship Center runs CV and interview workshops, career fairs and campus recruitment, leveraging the Bilgiç Foundation’s healthcare and tech network to place students in hospitals, labs and companies, contributing to a reported 90%+ employment rate. Student clubs (medical, engineering, entrepreneurship, arts and sports), hackathons, seminars and a dedicated disability-support framework complete a friendly, inclusive campus life.

Accreditations & recognition

ISTUN is fully recognised by Turkey’s Council of Higher Education (YÖK), so its programs are nationally accredited and its degrees officially recognised in Turkey and internationally. As a YÖK foundation university it is part of the European Higher Education Area via the Bologna Process, using ECTS for comparable, transferable credits. Given its focus, it aligns its programs with specialised bodies, MÜDEK standards in engineering, and TEPDAD (medical education) and SABAK (health sciences) for its health faculties, with accreditation processes underway as a new institution, and its pharmacy and dentistry curricula follow Turkish professional-council regulations that align with international norms. It participates in Erasmus+ exchange and maintains collaborative agreements with universities and research centres in Europe and Asia, so an ISTUN degree is respected and portable.

Special highlights & why choose

ISTUN’s defining strength is its focused fusion of health and technology. Its Medicine program, English-medium, with 3D-simulation labs, early clinical exposure, a developing teaching hospital and USMLE support, is the crown jewel, alongside English-medium Dentistry and Pharmacy (with a rare on-campus Pharmaceutical R&D Institute). Its engineering programs use project-based learning and team up with health students on biomedical devices and health apps; its business programs offer healthcare- and technology-management niches; and its allied-health programs (Nursing, Physiotherapy, Audiology, Occupational Therapy) deliver hands-on clinical training. Add a modern Golden Horn campus, a low ~8:1 ratio for close mentorship, double-major flexibility, top-three-in-Turkey scholarship support, Erasmus+ mobility and strong industry ties driving 90%+ employment, and Istanbul Health and Technology University is a focused, forward-looking choice for students aiming at medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biomedical or engineering careers in Istanbul.