Kadir Has University

Why Kadir Has University

Kadir Has University (KHAS) is a leading private, non-profit university in the heart of Istanbul, established in 1997 by the philanthropist Kadir Has. It has built a strong reputation for innovative education and research excellence, blending English-medium instruction, modern project-based learning and a uniquely historic campus. A mid-size university of about 5,000-6,000 students (drawn from 45+ countries, ~19:1 student-to-faculty ratio, half its faculty holding PhDs from abroad), it ranks 8th in Turkey by Times Higher Education, holds a mission to be a world-class research university, and offers the rare experience of studying in a beautifully restored landmark on the Golden Horn.

History & milestones

KHAS was founded in 1997 by the late industrialist Kadir Has, whose vision was to advance education and culture in Turkey. It began with five faculties, Art & Design, Communication, Economics & Administrative Sciences, Engineering & Natural Sciences, and Law. Its defining feature is its campus: the historic Cibali Tobacco Factory (built 1884) was handed to the university and meticulously restored over four years, preserving its architecture while adapting it for modern academic use, opening in February 2002 and earning a prestigious Europa Nostra heritage award (2003) for blending tradition and innovation. KHAS has since added schools, research centres and the Silivri Technopark, growing into one of Turkey’s most respected mid-size research universities.

Istanbul, the Cibali campus

KHAS’s main campus sits in the historic Cibali neighbourhood of Fatih, alongside the Golden Horn, minutes from Sultanahmet (the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia), Taksim and the Bosphorus. Behind ancient Byzantine-era city walls, the restored factory’s brick facades and sunny atriums house cutting-edge classrooms, labs, libraries, studios and the Rezan Has Museum (archaeology and culture), a one-of-a-kind blend of heritage and modernity, served by nearby bus lines and the Golden Horn metro. Two further campuses serve specific needs: Selimpaşa (vocational/associate programs, by the Marmara Sea ~50-60 km west) and Bahçelievler (the English preparatory school). Istanbul’s companies, media and culture put internships, networking and city life all within reach.

Vision & mission

KHAS’s vision is to be a world-class research university producing innovative, sustainable solutions to local and global challenges, guided by universal human values, and recognised internationally for excellence in education and high-impact research. Its mission emphasises educational excellence (critical thinking, creativity, interdisciplinary learning and humanitarian values), high-impact research with real-world impact, social responsibility (acting as a “problem solver” for society) and continuous improvement and sustainability, empowering students to be global citizens with the professional skills and ethical foundations to lead positive change.

Rankings & recognition

KHAS punches above its size in the rankings. Times Higher Education 2025 places it in the 801-1000 band globally (≈834th) and 8th in Turkey among 93 ranked universities, and 501-600 globally in Business & Economics (top 4 among Turkish foundation universities). QS Europe (Western Asia) 2025 ranks it #51 in Western Asia (551-600 in Europe), URAP 2024-25 12th among Turkish foundation universities (and 5th among Turkish universities under 6,000 students), and EduRank 2025 about 48th nationally. It also excels in the THE Impact Rankings, placing roughly 29th globally for Gender Equality and 28th for Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions, reflecting genuine strength in research, teaching and social impact.

Academics & language of instruction

KHAS offers about 23 bachelor’s, 26 master’s and 13 doctoral programs across 5 faculties, two vocational schools and two graduate institutes. The vast majority of programs are taught in English, a major draw for international students, with only a few (Law, Theatre, some vocational tracks) in Turkish, plus a School of Foreign Languages for English preparation and elective Turkish courses. A distinctive Core Curriculum (critical thinking and humanities) anchors the first year, the curriculum follows the Bologna/ECTS framework with double-major and minor options, and a strong project-based, interdisciplinary approach runs throughout. The university is especially recognised in Business & Economics, alongside engineering, communication, law and the arts, with research embedded via its centres and the Technopark.

Faculties & specializations

• Faculty of Engineering & Natural Sciences, Computer, Electrical-Electronics, Industrial and Mechatronics Engineering, Management Information Systems and Bioinformatics & Genetics (several MÜDEK/EUR-ACE-accredited), with project-based learning and Technopark links.
• Faculty of Economics, Administrative & Social Sciences, Business Administration, Economics, International Trade & Finance, International Relations, Political Science and Psychology (TPD-accredited); home to the Center for International and European Studies, with dual-degree options.
• Faculty of Communication, New Media, Advertising, Public Relations, Radio-TV-Cinema and Visual Communication Design (İLAD accreditation in progress), with professional studios and a student radio/TV, an alumna won Best Actress at the 2022 Istanbul Film Festival.
• Faculty of Art & Design, Architecture, Interior Architecture, Industrial Design (English) and Theatre (Turkish), with studios, workshops and 3D-printing.
• Faculty of Law, a Turkish LL.B. grounded in civil law with international-law electives, moot courts and Istanbul internships.
• Schools of Applied Sciences & Justice, career-focused 4-year (Banking & Insurance, Logistics, Accounting) and 2-year associate programs at Selimpaşa.

Tuition & scholarships

KHAS’s tuition is competitive for an English-medium research university; 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 $5,250-7,000 / year (most English-medium programs ~$6,000; Theatre nearer $5,250)
• Associate / vocational programs: about $5,000 / year
• Master’s programs: around $9,000-11,000 (often quoted per program, paid across the two years)
• PhD programs: around $16,000-20,000 for the full program

Crucially, most international students receive scholarships, merit waivers of 25%, 50% or 100% are commonly awarded, plus a ~5-6% cash discount for upfront payment and a 10% sibling discount, with government Türkiye Scholarships accepted. After a typical 50% award a $6,000 program effectively costs ~$3,000/year. PhD candidates (especially in STEM) often receive full waivers with stipends or research/teaching assistantships, making KHAS excellent value for its quality and location.

Graduate studies

KHAS’s two graduate institutes, Science & Engineering and Social Sciences, run about 26 master’s and 13 PhD programs, mostly thesis-based and in English. Master’s options include M.Sc. in Computer/Electronics/Industrial Engineering, Information Technology, Financial Engineering and Computational Biology & Bioinformatics, alongside the MBA, M.A. in Economics, Finance & Banking, International Relations, Communication Studies, Cinema & Television, New Media, Design and Film & Drama, plus Turkish LL.M. tracks. PhD programs span Computer/Electronics Engineering, MIS, Bioinformatics & Genetics, Economics, Finance & Banking, International Relations and Private Law. Graduate students work closely with faculty (half PhD-holders from abroad), engage the Silivri Technopark and research centres (including the Center for International and European Studies), publish internationally, and often serve as funded research/teaching assistants.

Campus & facilities

The Cibali campus offers a remarkable environment within the restored 1884 factory: the Information Center library (~1,000 m²) with study halls, group rooms and extensive databases; engineering and science labs; media and design studios with broadcast equipment; architecture and model-making workshops; a moot courtroom; a sports centre with a pool and gym; the Rezan Has Museum and exhibition spaces; and cafés, lounges and auditoria for conferences and career fairs, all minutes from the Golden Horn waterfront. The Silivri Technopark incubates startups and university-industry research, the Selimpaşa seaside campus serves vocational students, and the Bahçelievler campus hosts the language school. Free shuttles connect the three sites, and dormitories (a women’s dorm near Cibali, a men’s dorm in Hasköy) plus partner residences house students.

Student services & campus life

KHAS provides comprehensive, student-centred support. It helps students secure housing in its dormitories (near Cibali and in Hasköy) and partner residences, with an active International Office assisting students from 45+ countries with admissions, visas, residence permits and orientation, plus elective Turkish classes for integration. A Career Center runs fairs, CV and interview workshops and internship placement, leveraging Istanbul’s companies, media houses and NGOs, and dual-degree and 75+ Erasmus+ partnerships across 19 countries open semesters abroad or second degrees (with Coventry, IUPUI, Bremen). Counseling, academic advising, a sports centre with a pool, an array of student clubs, cultural events at the Rezan Has Museum, and the buzz of a central-Istanbul campus make for an engaged, multicultural community.

Accreditations & recognition

KHAS is fully accredited by Turkey’s YÖK and aligned with the Bologna Process (ECTS, Diploma Supplement), so its degrees transfer and are recognised across Europe and beyond. Its engineering programs (Computer, Electrical-Electronics, Industrial) hold MÜDEK accreditation (Washington Accord / EUR-ACE, through 2027), its Psychology program is accredited by the Turkish Psychological Association (TPD), and its Communication programs are in İLAD accreditation. The campus restoration won a Europa Nostra award (2003). The university is a member of the European University Association (EUA), the UN Global Compact, IAUP, the Magna Charta Observatory, the OECD Higher Education Programme and SDSN, runs extensive Erasmus+ exchange, and its degrees are recognised across the EU, Middle East and Asia (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan and more).

Special highlights & why choose

KHAS’s signature is prestige and research strength in a one-of-a-kind setting, a top-ranked (8th in Turkey), English-medium research university housed in a beautifully restored 1884 tobacco factory on the Golden Horn, minutes from Istanbul’s historic and business hearts. It is internationally recognised in Business & Economics, strong in MÜDEK-accredited engineering (with the Silivri Technopark), and a standout for Communication and the creative arts (professional studios, a Film Festival Best Actress alumna). Add genuine social-impact leadership (top-30 globally for Gender Equality and Peace & Justice), dual diplomas with Coventry, IUPUI and Bremen, 75+ Erasmus+ partners, generous scholarships (25-100%), EUA and UN Global Compact membership, MENA-wide recognition, and an intimate ~19:1 community with globally experienced faculty, and Kadir Has University is one of Turkey’s most distinctive, prestigious and globally connected choices.