Ozyegin University

Why Özyeğin University

Özyeğin University (OzU) is a prominent private, non-profit university in Istanbul, known for its entrepreneurial ethos and world-class, English-medium education. Founded in 2007 by the Hüsnü M. Özyeğin Foundation, it has risen rapidly into one of Turkey’s most respected modern universities, a ~6,000-student, fully English-taught institution where over 60% of faculty hold degrees from top-100 world universities. Offering programs in engineering, business, social sciences, architecture, law, aviation and more, with its state-of-the-art green Çekmeköy campus, strong industry connections, high graduate-employment rates and exceptionally generous scholarships (85%+ of students receive aid), OzU is a top choice for international students seeking a forward-looking education in Turkey.

History & milestones

Özyeğin University was established on 18 May 2007 by the Hüsnü M. Özyeğin Foundation, after extensive research and stakeholder workshops, with a mission to create a new-model university driving Turkey’s social and economic development. It welcomed its first students in 2008 at a temporary Altunizade campus, then opened its purpose-built Çekmeköy campus in 2011, completing the move by 2013. Founded as an “entrepreneurial research university,” OzU graduated its first class by 2012 and quickly introduced distinctive programs such as Pilot Training and Gastronomy & Culinary Arts alongside Civil Engineering, Architecture and Psychology. It has since topped national student-satisfaction surveys repeatedly (2017, 2018, 2020) and ranked #1 on TÜBİTAK’s Entrepreneurial & Innovative University Index among post-2000 Turkish universities, a remarkable record for such a young institution.

Istanbul, a green campus in a global city

OzU is located in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest metropolis bridging Europe and Asia, a hub for business, culture and opportunity (with abundant internships and networking at multinationals, startups and NGOs). Its main Çekmeköy campus sits on the Asian side, ~30 km from the historical core, a tranquil, master-planned university town of 280,000 m² designed by the renowned firm RMJM and nestled among wooded areas, notable for housing Turkey’s first LEED-certified (sustainable) buildings. Self-contained with cutting-edge labs, a large library, dining, health services, sports and dormitories, it was ranked #1 in Turkey by the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2025. Regular shuttles to metro and city points give students the best of both worlds: a focused, green campus and the energy of Istanbul.

Vision & mission

OzU’s vision is to be a “world-class, entrepreneurial research university”, the first choice of students and a role model for others, creating scientific, social and economic value on a global scale through innovative programs, research and graduates. Its mission is to cultivate graduates who are leaders in their fields and generate global scientific, social and economic impact by producing, sharing and applying high-value, solution-oriented knowledge. Its core values, academic freedom, flexibility, diversity and accessibility, drive a student-centric model with multidisciplinary opportunities and a deep commitment to scholarships, reflecting the founder’s belief that no deserving student should be denied an education for financial reasons.

Rankings & recognition

OzU performs strongly for its age. Times Higher Education 2025 places it in the 801-1000 band worldwide (top 10 in Turkey), the THE Young University Rankings 2024 at 201-250 globally (5th in Turkey among universities under 50), and the THE Asia 2024 at 201-250; QS 2026 lists it in the 1201-1400 band and QS EECA around #200. It is consistently a top-5 foundation university in Turkey, ranks #1 in Turkey for sustainability (UI GreenMetric 2025) and in the global THE Impact Rankings top 201-300, and is a perennial leader on TÜBİTAK’s Entrepreneurial & Innovative University Index, a strong, well-rounded reputation spanning academics, research, entrepreneurship and social impact.

Academics & language of instruction

OzU comprises 7 faculties and 3 graduate schools (plus vocational colleges and a language school), offering about 25 bachelor’s, 36 master’s and 10 doctoral programs, all undergraduate and most graduate programs taught in English (a few, like Law, in Turkish). Offerings span business, engineering, social sciences, aviation and aeronautical science, law, architecture and design, and applied sciences. An EAQUALS-accredited English Preparatory Year (ScOLa) supports those who need it, the curriculum blends theory with hands-on practice (consultancy projects, industry co-taught courses, internships), and supports double majors and minors across faculties, all within the Bologna/ECTS framework and a student-centric, entrepreneurial philosophy with a ~25:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Faculties & specializations

• Faculty of Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical-Electronics, Industrial, Mechanical and Civil Engineering plus AI & Data Engineering; all core programs MÜDEK/EUR-ACE-accredited, with robotics, 5G and energy labs and team design projects.
• Faculty of Business, Business Administration, International Finance, Economics, International Trade, Entrepreneurship and MIS; AACSB-accredited (the top ~6% of business schools worldwide), with the ÖzÜ-X entrepreneurship hub and an MBA/Executive MBA.
• Faculty of Aviation & Aeronautical Sciences, Professional Flight (Pilot Training) and Aviation Management, the only Turkish undergraduate aviation programs with AABI accreditation, using simulators and a partner flight school (AYJET).
• Faculty of Applied Sciences, Gastronomy & Culinary Arts (with an integrated Le Cordon Bleu Diplôme) and Hotel Management (the only ACPHA-accredited program in Turkey).
• Faculties of Architecture & Design, Social Sciences and Law, MİAK-accredited Architecture, Communication and Interior Design; TPD-accredited Psychology, International Relations and Anthropology; and a Turkish LL.B. with a moot court.

Tuition & scholarships

OzU is a premium English-medium university; tuition is quoted in US dollars, and the figures below are approximate annual guidance, exact current fees appear in the tuition table above:

• Bachelor’s (most programs): about $22,000 / year (engineering, business, architecture, social sciences, etc.)
• Professional Flight (Pilot Training): about $14,300 / year base tuition (flight hours billed separately by the partner flight school)
• Law (Turkish): effectively about $13,000 / year after a large automatic scholarship
• Master’s programs: roughly $18,000-20,000 for the program (e.g. the MBA ~$20,000 total)
• PhD programs: ~$18,000/year list, but full-time doctoral students typically receive a 100% waiver plus a stipend

Crucially, the great majority of students don’t pay the sticker price: 85%+ of undergraduates receive scholarships, with automatic merit awards of 25-100% (a 50% award halves a $22,000 fee to $11,000), renewable each year on GPA, plus sports and need-based aid. Government Türkiye Scholarships are accepted, and graduate thesis/PhD students commonly get full waivers and assistantships, making OzU’s quality genuinely accessible.

Graduate studies

OzU’s three graduate schools (Engineering & Science, Business, Social Sciences) run about 36 master’s and 10 PhD programs, mostly in English. Master’s highlights include a top-ranked MBA and Executive MBA (the EMBA in the QS top 180 globally), M.Sc. in Finance/Financial Engineering, Data Science, Cybersecurity and the core engineering fields, plus LL.M. and MA in Psychology, with evening/weekend options for professionals. PhD programs span Business Administration, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science and Psychology, research-intensive and tied to OzU’s labs and centres (AI, energy, manufacturing). A defining advantage is the full-scholarship model: full-time PhD (and many thesis-master’s) students receive a 100% tuition waiver, a monthly stipend and assistantship for up to four years, plus conference funding, supporting a fast-growing research culture (patents, high-ranking publications, TÜBİTAK and EU Horizon projects).

Campus & facilities

The Çekmeköy campus is a self-contained academic village. The three-floor library (~2,270 m²) holds 45,000+ print books, 370,000+ e-books and ~80,000 journals, with 24/7 exam-period access; faculty buildings add cutting-edge labs and studios (robotics, electronics/5G, materials, 3D-printing and design studios, a mock courtroom, aviation simulators, and Le Cordon Bleu professional kitchens). On-campus dormitories house 2,700+ students (singles to quads, en-suite, with lounges, kitchens, 24/7 security and an on-site health centre and ambulance). A 15,000 m² Athletic Center offers a 1,500-seat gym, a semi-Olympic pool, squash and fitness halls, with outdoor tennis, football and basketball; plus multiple cafeterias (halal and vegetarian), a mini-market, bank and post office. LEED-certified buildings and solar panels underline its sustainability leadership, and free shuttles connect to the city.

Student services & campus life

OzU surrounds students with strong support. Modern on-campus dormitories and dining make settling easy, campus health services and an ambulance cover well-being, and an IT ecosystem (free Microsoft Office, campus-wide Wi-Fi, an LMS) keeps everyone connected. A well-regarded Career Development Center leverages OzU’s 100+ industry partners for internships, projects and recruiting, driving high graduate employability at firms like PwC, Microsoft and Ford Otosan, while counseling and academic advising support each student. An International Office assists the ~10% international community (from dozens of countries) with admissions, visas, residence permits and orientation, and exchange agreements with 100+ universities open Erasmus+ semesters abroad. With a lively clubs scene, the ÖzÜ-X entrepreneurship centre, sports leagues and a green, safe campus, student life is vibrant, multicultural and genuinely entrepreneurial.

Accreditations & recognition

OzU holds an exceptional accreditation portfolio for its age. Beyond Turkey’s YÖK, its Business school is AACSB-accredited (the global gold standard, top ~6% of business schools), its engineering programs MÜDEK/EUR-ACE-accredited, its aviation programs (Professional Flight and Aviation Management) AABI-accredited (the only ones in Turkey), and its Hotel Management program ACPHA-accredited (also the only one in Turkey, with an integrated Le Cordon Bleu culinary credential). Add MİAK for Architecture, TPD for Psychology and EAQUALS for its English prep, a rare breadth of international program accreditation. It is a member of the European University Association (EUA), follows the Bologna Process (ECTS, Diploma Supplement), and runs Erasmus+ with 100+ partner universities, so an OzU degree is internationally benchmarked and widely recognised.

Special highlights & why choose

OzU’s signature is being a young, world-class entrepreneurial research university with a uniquely accredited, English-medium program set. Its AACSB business school, MÜDEK engineering with AI & Data Engineering, AABI-accredited aviation (the only university pilot-training and management programs of their kind in Turkey) and Le Cordon Bleu gastronomy / ACPHA hospitality are standouts found together at no other Turkish university. Add a #1-in-Turkey green, LEED-certified campus with 2,700+ dorm beds and a 15,000 m² athletic centre, faculty from top-100 world universities, top national student-satisfaction and entrepreneurship rankings, 85%+ scholarship coverage (and full-ride PhDs), 100+ exchange partners and high graduate employability in the heart of Istanbul, and Özyeğin University is among Turkey’s most rewarding, internationally recognised and career-focused choices.