Yaşar University

Why Yaşar University

Founded in 2001 by the Selçuk Yaşar Sports and Education Foundation, Yaşar University has become one of the leading foundation (private) universities of Turkey’s Aegean region. Built on its founder’s principles of “Science, Unity, Success,” it is known for English-medium education, modern facilities and a genuinely student-centered approach.

With students from more than 58 countries and a low 10.6-to-1 student-faculty ratio, Yaşar combines the breadth of a large university with the close mentorship of a smaller one. Its tight links to the Yaşar Group, one of İzmir’s leading industrial conglomerates, give the university a practical, industry-focused character and a clear mission: to merge science and technology with the needs of society.

History & milestones

Yaşar University was approved by the Turkish National Assembly in 2001 and welcomed its first students in 2002-2003 from a temporary campus in İzmir’s Alsancak district. In 2008 it opened the purpose-built Selçuk Yaşar Campus in Bornova, consolidating every faculty in one location.

The university has collected notable firsts. In 2011 its School of Foreign Languages became the first in Turkey accredited by the CEA (Commission on English Language Program Accreditation), and the European Commission twice named it an “Erasmus Success Story” for excellence in student exchange. From a handful of initial programs it has grown into a multidisciplinary, research-active institution with a strong international outlook.

İzmir, the Aegean advantage

Yaşar is based in İzmir, Turkey’s third-largest city, on the Aegean coast. İzmir is warm, historic and cosmopolitan (known in antiquity as Smyrna), and importantly for students, safer and more affordable than Istanbul, with a low cost of living and efficient public transport.

The single integrated campus sits in central Bornova, an education-focused district home to several universities, easily reached by metro and bus and surrounded by shopping centers, cafés, parks and student housing. İzmir’s strategic location also makes travel easy, short flights or ferries connect students to Athens, Istanbul and Cyprus.

Vision & mission

Yaşar’s vision is to be “a university which is innovative and sustainable on a global scale.” Its mission is to contribute to society by providing education and producing research grounded in the principles of science, art and design. In practice this means student-focused teaching, industry collaboration and community outreach, educating well-rounded, innovative graduates who can drive positive change at home and abroad.

Rankings & recognition

Yaşar has steadily climbed the tables, and is regularly counted among Turkey’s higher-tier foundation universities and the leading university of the Aegean region. The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025 place it in the 1001-1200 band globally, and in subject rankings it performs notably better, reaching the 501-600 range worldwide in Business & Economics and ranking strongly in the social sciences. Turkey’s own URAP (University Ranking by Academic Performance) 2023 ranks it 59th nationally (≈2,521st globally), and Webometrics 2023 places it 67th in Turkey (≈2,527th worldwide). Year on year, growing research output and an aggressive internationalisation strategy have lifted its standing, reassuring evidence that a Yaşar degree carries both a strong domestic reputation and globally comparable quality.

Academics & language of instruction

Across 10 faculties and four schools, the School of Applied Sciences, a Vocational School, the Vocational School of Justice and the School of Foreign Languages, Yaşar offers 60+ degree programs: roughly 30 bachelor’s, 13 associate, 23 master’s and 10 doctoral programs.

Most undergraduate programs are taught entirely in English, including all of Engineering and Economics & Administrative Sciences. The main exceptions are the Law (LLB) degree and some Art & Design programs, which are in Turkish. Students who need it complete an English Preparatory Year at the CEA-accredited language school, and electives in German, French, Italian and Japanese are available. Ambitious students can take a double major and graduate with two diplomas, or add a minor from another faculty.

Faculties & specializations

Each faculty offers focused expertise and facilities:

• Engineering, Computer, Software, Industrial, Electrical-Electronics, Energy Systems, Mechanical and Civil Engineering, all in English with project-based, lab-driven learning.
• Economics & Administrative Sciences, Business Administration, International Trade & Finance, Economics, International Logistics and International Relations, taught entirely in English.
• Communication, Public Relations & Advertising, Radio-TV-Cinema, Visual Communication Design and New Media, with hands-on work in the campus Media Center.
• Architecture, Architecture and Interior Architecture & Environmental Design, with design studios and European exchange partnerships.
• Science & Letters, English Language & Literature, Psychology, Mathematics, Statistics and Translation & Interpreting.
• Art & Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Film Design, Music and one of Turkey’s few Cartoon & Animation programs.
• Agricultural Sciences & Technologies, Yaşar was the first in Turkey to teach agriculture in English, with a focus on sustainable agri-food technologies.

Tuition & scholarships

Yaşar’s tuition is competitive for an English-medium private university and is quoted in US dollars; the figures below are approximate annual guidance, exact current fees appear in the tuition table above:

• Associate (2-year) programs: about $4,000 / year
• Bachelor’s programs: about $8,000 / year (most majors; the published “sticker” price before scholarships)
• Master’s programs: about $7,200 / year (some non-thesis tracks priced ~$11,000 for the whole program)
• PhD programs: about $16,000 / year, though most doctoral students receive waivers or assistantships

Crucially, few students pay the full sticker price. Yaşar is generous with financial aid: international merit scholarships of 25%, 50%, 75% or up to 100% for strong applicants, academic-achievement scholarships that reward GPA each year, a 15% sibling discount, a ~10% alumni discount for returning graduates, a ~10% partner-university discount, occasional cash-payment discounts, plus sports and need-based awards. Government Türkiye Scholarships are also accepted. Combined with İzmir’s low cost of living, this makes a quality English-taught degree genuinely affordable compared with Europe or North America.

Campus & facilities

The Selçuk Yaşar Campus is a compact, walkable, full-service campus. Technical students have access to 14 laboratories with 500 computers and 8+ research centers spanning robotics, energy, communications and more. The central library offers 50,000+ e-books and 19,000 e-journals across 25 databases, with 24/7 digital access and quiet and group study areas.

For life beyond the classroom there’s a Sports Center (gym, courts and a dance studio), multiple cafeterias serving affordable meals (halal and international options), a campus Health Center, and a thriving scene of 50+ student clubs running concerts, exhibitions and tournaments year-round.

Graduate studies

Yaşar’s Graduate School runs with-thesis and non-thesis master’s tracks and around 10 PhD programs. Popular master’s include the English-taught MBA, International Logistics Management, Communication, and M.Sc. degrees in Computer, Industrial and Electrical-Electronics Engineering; doctoral programs span Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, Communication Sciences and Law. Many PhD students work as research or teaching assistants with stipends and tuition remission, and the university actively supports conference participation and international research collaboration.

Student services & support

Yaşar supports students end to end: secure on-campus dormitories (single, double and triple rooms), a dedicated International Office that helps with visas, residence permits, airport pickup and orientation, academic advising, free counseling, a career center that places students into internships, and accessibility support for students with disabilities. İzmir’s relaxed, hospitable Aegean lifestyle makes settling in easy.

Why students choose Yaşar

• English-medium education without leaving a fascinating non-English-speaking culture.
• International exposure through Erasmus+, Farabi and global exchange, 228 partners in 27 European countries.
• Double majors & minors that let you tailor your degree and graduate with two diplomas.
• Strong industry links via the YU-COOP cooperative-education model and required internships.
• Great value, moderate tuition, generous scholarships and a low cost of living in İzmir.

Accreditations & global recognition

Yaşar is fully accredited by Turkey’s Higher Education Council (YÖK), so its degrees carry the same standing as any public university’s and are reviewed regularly for quality. As a Bologna Process participant it uses the ECTS credit system, and its degrees are officially recognised across the European Union and many other countries. Program-level credentials reinforce this: in 2011 its School of Foreign Languages became the first in Turkey accredited by the CEA (Commission on English Language Program Accreditation), re-accredited for ten years in 2016; many engineering programs are MÜDEK-accredited (a Washington Accord signatory, giving international equivalence); and the Faculty of Business holds AACSB membership on the path to international business accreditation. The university is a member of the European University Association (EUA) and the International Association of Universities (IAU), runs Erasmus+, Farabi, ISEP and a Global Exchange Program, holds cooperation agreements with 260+ universities worldwide (including in the UK, USA and Australia), and was twice honoured with the European Commission’s “Erasmus Success Story” award, so Yaşar graduates can study or work abroad with confidence in their credentials.

Special highlights

Engineering is a flagship strength, with MUDEK-accredited programs, 14 modern labs and award-winning teams in national competitions like TEKNOFEST. Business & Economics benefits from İzmir’s commercial significance, an Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center and an AACSB-track curriculum. Arts, Design & Communication are unusually strong for the region, the Media Center was the first in Turkey to offer HD broadcasting on a university campus. One note for applicants: Yaşar currently has no Faculty of Medicine, so students seeking medical degrees should look elsewhere.

Career outcomes & your future

Roughly 70% of graduates find employment soon after graduating, and alumni now work at companies such as Google, Microsoft and HSBC or continue at top graduate schools abroad. Through YU-COOP and 260+ international partnerships, Yaşar students build real work experience and a global network before they even graduate. As the motto promises, Science, Unity, Success, a degree from Yaşar is respected both in Turkey and internationally, and your years in İzmir will be as enriching socially as they are academically.