Istanbul Okan University

Why Istanbul Okan University

Istanbul Okan University is one of Turkey’s most dynamic private universities, renowned for innovative education and strong ties to the business world. Founded in 1999, it lives by its motto, “the university closest to business life”, combining academic excellence with real-world practice. With two modern campuses, 11 faculties, 250+ programs, diverse English and Turkish options, internationally recognised degrees, its own teaching hospital, and one of the largest student bodies among Turkey’s private universities (over 20,000 students, ~1,400 international), Okan is an appealing choice for a globally oriented education in Istanbul.

History & milestones

Okan University was established in 1999 by the Okan Culture, Education and Sports Foundation, founded by entrepreneur Bekir Okan, and began teaching in 2003-04. It opened its modern Akfırat (Tuzla) Campus in 2006. From the start it positioned itself as a “bridge between academic and business worlds”: in 2005 it launched the pioneering Preparing for Business Life program, integrating workplace experience into the curriculum from the first year, so graduates leave with practical experience and professional certificates alongside their diplomas. Okan was also the first Turkish university to join a major international exchange network (ISEP), with 400+ partner institutions worldwide, and has since added research centres and its own university hospital, evolving into a comprehensive, forward-looking institution.

Istanbul, two campuses

Okan’s main campus is in Akfırat, Tuzla, on the Asian side about 10 km from Sabiha Gökçen Airport, an expansive, modern, green campus with dormitories, labs and recreation, next to the Istanbul Park F1 track (a fitting neighbour for its strong automotive engineering programs). Its city campus in Mecidiyeköy (Şişli) on the European side hosts some vocational and graduate programs, evening MBA classes and a dental hospital, putting students amid Istanbul’s corporate centres, malls and metro lines for internships and clinical training. Regular shuttles link the campuses, the airport and the city, so students get a focused suburban community on weekdays and a world-class city at the weekend.

Vision & mission

Okan’s vision is to be an innovative, leading “world university” meeting the needs of society and business at the highest universal standards. Its mission centres on quality education and personal development (analytical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, entrepreneurship), a global mindset and ethical values (multilingual, culturally aware graduates sensitive to national and global issues, with respect for human dignity, gender equality and the environment), and research and community contribution to science, technology, culture and art, all in a supportive, people-oriented environment with genuine team spirit.

Rankings & recognition

Okan ranks within the top quarter of Turkish universities and the mid-tier globally, with a clear upward trajectory. The THE Impact Rankings 2024 place it in the 801-1000 band worldwide and among the top 40 in Turkey for contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (with strengths in Quality Education, Gender Equality and Industry Innovation). Webometrics 2023 ranks it around 108th in Turkey (≈3,511th globally; ~top-30 among foundation universities), and EduRank 2025 about 72nd nationally. Notably, in 2025 Okan was reported among Turkey’s top 5 on a Nature Index category for high-impact research in the physical sciences, a striking achievement for a young university, while its industry ties give graduates strong employability beyond the numbers.

Academics & language of instruction

Okan offers a remarkable breadth, about 56 bachelor’s, 44 associate and 140+ graduate programs across 11 faculties, a Conservatory, vocational schools and graduate institutes. Many programs, especially in engineering, business and medicine, are taught in English, with Turkish options and English or Turkish (TÖMER) preparatory years available. The curriculum follows the Bologna/ECTS framework, supports cross-faculty electives and exchange, and the pioneering Preparing for Business Life program weaves real workplace experience and professional certificates through every year, a defining feature reflected in the university’s motto.

Faculties & specializations

• Faculty of Medicine, a 6-year English MD with clinical rotations at the Okan University Hospital (Tuzla), TEPDAD-accredited and WDOMS-listed.
• Faculty of Dentistry, a 5-year English DDS with dental hospitals in Tuzla and Mecidiyeköy; Faculty of Pharmacy, a 5-year program with pharmaceutical labs.
• Faculty of Engineering & Natural Sciences, Computer, Electrical-Electronics, Mechanical, Civil, Industrial, Automotive, Mechatronics, Food and Genetics & Bioengineering (several MÜDEK-accredited; some technology programs ABET-recognised), plus Pilotage flight training.
• Faculty of Business & Management Sciences, Business Administration, Economics, International Relations, Banking & Finance, Logistics Management and Tourism, anchored by the business-life program.
• Faculties of Law, Health Sciences, Education, Humanities & Social Sciences and Applied Sciences, LL.B. with a moot court, Physiotherapy/Nursing/Nutrition, ELT and counseling, Psychology (with the OPDEM clinic) and aviation/logistics.
• Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture and a Conservatory, Architecture, Interior, Visual Communication and Industrial Design, Cinema-TV, Animation, plus Theatre and Music.

Tuition & scholarships

Okan’s tuition is competitive among Istanbul’s private universities; 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 $2,000-2,500 / year
• Bachelor’s programs: about $3,800-4,500 / year for most engineering, business, social-science, health and design fields (a ~5% prompt-payment discount often applies)
• Specialised bachelor’s: Pharmacy ~$7,600, Pilotage ~$8,000, Dentistry ~$17,000, Medicine ~$21,500 / year
• Master’s programs: about $5,000 / year (non-thesis) to $6,000 / year (thesis); some specialised tracks higher
• PhD programs: roughly $7,000-15,000 / year depending on field (~$9,000 typical)

Okan applies a ~5% prompt-payment discount (with up to ~15% for full multi-year upfront payment), a 10% sibling discount, and merit scholarships for high-achieving applicants, and accepts government Türkiye Scholarships. PhD candidates may receive assistantships or partial waivers, and the built-in industry placements and professional certificates add real value beyond tuition.

Graduate studies

Graduate study is a major strength: Okan runs 140+ master’s and doctoral programs through institutes of Social Sciences, Science & Engineering, Health Sciences and more, with both thesis (research) and non-thesis (professional) tracks, many in English, several scheduled evenings/weekends at Mecidiyeköy for working professionals. Flagship master’s include the MBA (concentrations in International Business, Finance, Marketing and International Logistics Management), M.Sc. in Engineering (Computer, Mechatronics, Civil, Power Electronics & Clean Energy), health masters (Public Health, Nutrition, Physiotherapy, Healthcare Management), and MA programs in Clinical Psychology, International Relations, Educational Administration and Law (LL.M.). PhD programs span Business Administration, Mechatronics, Computer and Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Architecture, Health Sciences and more, research-intensive, often linked to TÜBİTAK-funded projects and Okan’s research centres, with teaching-assistant experience and conference opportunities in Istanbul.

Campus & facilities

Okan’s Tuzla campus is a self-contained university town: 74 laboratories and workshops (including a Technology Center with an automotive garage), 10 conference halls, a central library of ~60,000 print and 400,000+ e-books with 50+ databases, and research centres and innovation hubs. The Okan Life Center sports complex offers a 400-seat gym, fitness centre and indoor pool, with tennis, basketball, volleyball and a full football field outdoors; a Social Center adds a cinema, cafés and event venues, and a small shopping centre, bank and medical clinic cover daily needs. On-campus dormitories house ~1,500 students (single-quad rooms with private bath, mini-fridge, TV and 24/7 internet, weekday dinner included). The Mecidiyeköy campus adds a modern city facility with a dental hospital, all linked by free shuttles.

Student services & campus life

Okan wraps students in comprehensive support. On-campus dormitories include daily cleaning, a meal plan, a 24/7 health centre with nurses and an on-call doctor, study rooms and social activities. A Career Center runs career and entrepreneurship courses from the first year, hosts career fairs with 100+ recruiting companies, and draws on 1,000+ partner companies for internships and jobs; the OPDEM Psychological Counseling Center offers free, confidential counseling; and a Special Needs Services Center ensures accessibility. A dedicated International Office handles admissions, visas, residence permits, airport pickup, orientation and “International Days,” with Turkish-language support for newcomers. With ~60 student clubs, extensive sports facilities and teams, a famed annual Spring Festival, guest speakers and on-campus conveniences (banks, market, salon, shuttles, 24/7 security), campus life is lively, safe and genuinely multicultural.

Accreditations & recognition

Okan holds strong national and international credentials. Beyond Turkey’s YÖK, its engineering programs carry MÜDEK accreditation (with ABET recognition reported for certain technology programs), its Faculty of Medicine is TEPDAD-accredited and WDOMS-listed (so its MD is recognised abroad for licensing exams), its science-and-letters programs hold FEDEK, and its English prep (PACE) is Pearson Assured. The university is a member of the European University Association (EUA), holds multiple ISO certifications (9001 quality, 27001 information security, 50001 energy), and follows the Bologna/ECTS framework. It runs Erasmus+ and ISEP exchange with 400+ partners worldwide, and its degrees are recognised across the EU and the Middle East/North Africa (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan and more).

Special highlights & why choose

Okan’s signature is being “closest to business life”, the Preparing for Business Life program places students in real workplaces from year one, backed by 1,000+ partner companies and a career centre that makes graduates notably employable. Distinctive strengths include automotive and aviation engineering beside the Istanbul Park F1 track (with Pilotage flight training), a WDOMS-listed English MD and English DDS with the university’s own hospital and dental hospitals, MÜDEK/ABET-recognised engineering, and a top-5 Nature Index research showing in the physical sciences. Add 400+ exchange partners (Okan was Turkey’s first ISEP member), broad English-medium options, generous discounts and scholarships, EUA membership, MENA-wide recognition and a comprehensive green Tuzla campus plus a city campus, and Istanbul Okan University is a practical, globally connected and career-focused choice for international students.