Maltepe University

Why Maltepe University

Maltepe University is a prominent private foundation university on Istanbul’s Asian side, established in 1997 by the Istanbul Marmara Education Foundation (İMEV). It is known for high-quality, student-centric education and a striking main campus, a 100-hectare “Education Village” set in pine forest with breathtaking views of the Marmara Sea. A comprehensive, medium-large university of roughly 9,000-11,000 students across 9 faculties and a conservatory, with 680+ academics and its own teaching hospital, it offers everything from vocational programs to doctorates. With strong international partnerships (600+ agreements in 108 countries) and a motto of “Free in Thought, Contemporary in Education, Global in Science,” Maltepe pairs academic excellence with a beautiful, tranquil setting.

History & milestones

Maltepe grew out of a “From Kindergarten to University” vision: the Marmara Educational Foundation, established in 1991 by Hüseyin Şimşek, created an integrated education system that led to Maltepe University’s founding on 9 July 1997 under Law 4282. After starting in temporary facilities, a major milestone was the 2003 opening of the Maltepe Education Village, a 100-hectare campus consolidating its faculties and services. Over 25+ years it has grown into a comprehensive university with 9 faculties, a conservatory, several schools and a graduate institute, built a strong research culture (15 research centres), and embraced internationalisation early, hosting annual International Student Conferences that bring young researchers from around the world together, while carrying forward its founders’ nearly 40-year educational tradition.

Istanbul, three campuses

Maltepe operates three campuses in Istanbul:

• Maltepe Education Village (main), a ~100-hectare green campus in Büyükbakkalköy amid pine forest, housing most faculties, an Olympic-size swimming pool, sports fields, an 8,000-seat open-air amphitheater, central library, labs, dormitories and the on-campus Marma Hotel, a true self-contained university town.
• Dragos Campus, a smaller coastal campus near the Marmara shore hosting the Vocational School, the graduate institutes (Social Sciences, Natural Sciences) and the Continuous Education Center.
• Medical Faculty & University Hospital, in Maltepe’s city centre (the university’s original site), where the Maltepe University Hospital provides clinical training and full healthcare services.

The setting offers the best of both worlds, a peaceful, nature-integrated campus and the cultural opportunities of Istanbul, connected by shuttle services and public transport.

Vision & mission

Maltepe’s vision is to be a globally recognised university championing freedom of thought, contemporary education and universality in science, leading in shaping students’ futures alongside all stakeholders, with innovation, critical thinking and creativity at the forefront. Its mission is to create a nurturing, innovative environment that prepares students to be active, rational, modern and competitive intellectuals who have internalised scientific thinking as a way of life (“thinking education”) and uphold ethical, humanistic and professional values, continuously elevating education and research quality, collaborating with industry and international partners, and contributing to national and global development through education, research, social projects and socially responsible citizens.

Rankings & recognition

Maltepe holds a respectable, steadily improving standing. EduRank 2025 places it about 64th in Turkey (≈3,352nd globally), and Webometrics 2024 around 100th nationally (≈3,535th worldwide), with Scimago listing it ~3,606th globally, typically in the top 60-100 of Turkey’s ~175 universities. While not among the elite research universities (and not yet in the QS/THE global lists), its strengths in teaching quality, international outlook and comprehensive offerings are well recognised, reflected in student satisfaction, graduate success and consistent inclusion in global rankings, credibility that matters to prospective international students.

Academics & language of instruction

Maltepe offers 150+ degree programs at every level, associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral, across 9 faculties, a conservatory, specialised schools and graduate institutes. Programs run in Turkish and English, with roughly 30-40% of undergraduate programs offering an English-medium track (especially in medicine, engineering and business), Turkish-medium programs including mandatory English courses, and a School of Foreign Languages for English (or other-language) preparation. The curriculum follows the Bologna/ECTS framework, awards an EU Diploma Supplement, and offers tuition-free double majors and minors plus some distance-learning options, all built on a thinking-oriented education that develops creativity, critical thinking and real-world skills.

Faculties & specializations

• Faculty of Medicine, a 6-year MD (English/Turkish), TEPDAD-accredited, with early clinical exposure and rotations at the Maltepe University Hospital, plus simulation and cadaver labs.
• Faculty of Engineering & Natural Sciences, Computer, Software, Electrical-Electronics, Industrial and Civil Engineering (many in English), with project-based learning and research centres.
• Faculty of Business & Management Sciences, Business Administration, Economics, International Relations, Political Science and International Trade & Logistics (English/Turkish).
• Faculty of Architecture & Design, Architecture (English/Turkish) and Interior Architecture, with the conservatory’s rare Ship & Yacht Design.
• Faculties of Law, Communication, Education, Health Sciences and Humanities & Social Sciences, LL.B. with a moot courtroom; İLEDAK-accredited Journalism, Visual Communication Design, PR and Radio-TV-Cinema; teacher training (incl. Special Education); Nursing and Physiotherapy; and FEDEK-accredited Psychology, Philosophy and the sciences.
• Conservatory, Music (piano, strings, winds), Composition & Conducting and Performing Arts, with concerts and theatre productions.

Tuition & scholarships

Maltepe’s tuition is competitive for a comprehensive private university and fixed in US dollars against currency swings; the figures below are approximate annual guidance, exact current fees appear in the tuition table above:

• Associate (2-year) programs: about $3,000 / year
• Bachelor’s (Turkish-medium): about $3,500 / year (Engineering, Law, Education, Arts, Nursing, Physiotherapy)
• Bachelor’s (English-medium): about $4,500 / year (English Architecture, Computer/Software/Electrical Engineering, etc.)
• Medicine: about $18,000 (Turkish) - 20,000 (English) / year, with scholarships of 30%+ commonly bringing it to roughly $12,000
• Master’s programs: about $3,000 / year (≈$6,000 total for a 2-year thesis program)
• PhD programs: about $6,000 / year

Maltepe is generous with merit and international scholarships of 50%, 75% or 100% for strong applicants, plus cash (upfront) and sibling discounts and acceptance of government Türkiye Scholarships; PhD candidates often receive assistantships or waivers. With these reductions, and a $3,500 engineering fee a fraction of comparable programs elsewhere, Maltepe offers genuine value.

Graduate studies

Maltepe places strong emphasis on graduate education through its Institutes of Social Sciences and Natural Sciences, offering a wide range of master’s (thesis and non-thesis) and PhD programs. Master’s options include the MBA, M.Sc. in Computer/Industrial/Civil Engineering (including a distinctive Earthquake Engineering track), MA in International Relations, Psychology, Educational Administration, Visual Communication Design and Radio-TV-Cinema, LL.M. in Public/Private Law, and M.Sc. in Nursing/Healthcare Management. PhD programs span Business Administration, Computer Engineering, International Relations/Political Science, Educational Sciences, Law (Public Law), Psychology, Sociology and Logistics & Supply Chain Management. Graduate students engage the university’s 15 research and application centres (entrepreneurship, stem-cell, urban policy and more), publish and present at the annual conferences, and frequently serve as teaching or research assistants with tuition support.

Campus & facilities

The Education Village is genuinely full-service, with 188 classrooms and lecture halls (8,000+ seats), 27 laboratories, 41 workshops/studios (media, engineering, fine arts) and 13 sports facilities including an Olympic-size pool, gyms, football, basketball and tennis. Its Library and Information Center, among the largest at Turkish foundation universities, holds 200,000+ print and 300,000+ e-books plus extensive journals and theses. The campus adds an 8,000-seat open-air amphitheater for concerts and ceremonies, exhibition spaces, on-campus dormitories, the Marma Hotel (a living lab for hospitality students), cafés and a health clinic. Clinical training takes place at the Maltepe University Hospital (with simulation, cadaver and research labs), and the Dragos campus serves vocational and graduate study, all with high-speed Wi-Fi and 24/7 security.

Student services & campus life

Maltepe surrounds students with comprehensive support. On-campus dormitories (safe, comfortable, walking distance to class) and housing help make settling in easy, and a campus health clinic plus counseling services look after well-being. A Career Center and the university’s 600+ exchange agreements open internships and study-abroad semesters, while an active International Office assists a growing international community with admissions, visas, residence permits and orientation. With 54 student clubs spanning sports, arts, culture and academics, frequent festivals, the famed annual International Student Conferences, conservatory concerts and theatre, and outstanding sports facilities (Olympic pool, fields, courts), campus life is vibrant, multicultural and well-rounded, all in a green, sea-view setting connected to Istanbul by shuttle.

Accreditations & recognition

Maltepe holds strong national and international credentials. Beyond Turkey’s YÖK, it earned a YÖKAK institutional accreditation (2025, through 2027), and its programs carry respected field accreditations: TEPDAD for Medicine (and its teaching hospital), FEDEK for science and humanities programs (mathematics, psychology, philosophy), and İLEDAK for its communication programs. It is a member of the European University Association (EUA) and the Caucasus University Association, holds the EU Diploma Supplement Label, follows the Bologna/ECTS framework, and runs Erasmus+ with 600+ exchange agreements across 108 countries, among the broadest networks of any Turkish university. Its degrees, accompanied by an English Diploma Supplement, are recognised internationally.

Special highlights & why choose

Maltepe’s appeal is established, comprehensive quality on an extraordinary campus. Its TEPDAD-accredited Medicine, English or Turkish, with daily training in the university’s own hospital, is a flagship, and its English-medium engineering and business programs, İLEDAK communication faculty with professional studios, FEDEK sciences, a full Conservatory and rare programs like Ship & Yacht Design give exceptional breadth. The 100-hectare “Education Village”, pine forest, Marmara Sea views, an Olympic pool, an 8,000-seat amphitheater, a vast library and an on-campus hotel, is among Turkey’s finest. Add an exceptional 600+ partner, 108-country exchange network, annual International Student Conferences, tuition-free double majors, generous scholarships (up to 100%), EU Diploma Supplement recognition and a peaceful yet well-connected Asian-side location, and Maltepe University is a well-rounded, internationally minded and welcoming choice for students who want to study in Turkey.