Istanbul, in Turkey, is the former capital of many past empires and the only city which stretches on two continents. Its rich cultural history makes it a natural destination for so many creative energies, especially young students from around the globe. It has a bustling economy, mainly fuelled by its historical and geographic advantages. One of the largest tourist destinations in the world, Istanbul is also the educational engine of Turkey and it offers a competitive mix of Europe and Asia, with a clear pragmatic approach to international education. It is the ideal destination for people who haven’t yet decided on their professional aim, as Istanbul’s universities have plenty of options to study for a chosen career path. Its affordable prices and majestic scenery entice even the most reluctant foreign student.
Istanbul has a strong and diverse economy, with tourism being the largest sector, with thousands of hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions gathering employees with degrees in business or tourism and hospitality management. The rest of the services sector completes the job market alongside finance and the local industries. The largest employer for finance and business majors is the Istanbul Stock Exchange, alongside the Big4 audit giants. Logistic jobs are also in high demand to cater to the city’s two airports and the official port authority which handles transport and freight. For IT and computer science graduates, potential job destinations include companies like Siemens, Huawei, Vodafone, Philips or IBM, which have important headquarters in the city.
Istanbul’s long history as the capital of empires has left it with a rich collection of monuments and landmarks, that are world renown tourist attractions:
Istanbul is a great place for sightseeing, with numerous pedestrian walkways, squares and parks, as well as docks and bridges from where to admire the scenery. There are several options for ferries and boats which offer trips through the Bosphorus Strait, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.
Istanbul also has a rich sports life, with many valuable soccer teams, as well as world-renown basketball teams. As a bustling tourist attraction, Istanbul also has a rich nightlife with numerous clubs and bars catering to the demands of foreigners interested in music and parties.
Istanbul is a very cosmopolitan city, especially given its position between Europe and Asia. It is a bustling centre of trade, research and culture, gathering tourists, expats and international students from all across the world. Besides Turkish, English is widely spoken, as well as Arabic, Russian and Greek. Istanbul has quite a tolerant community, with various faiths coexisting peacefully. Thanks to its large student community, the majority of the city is very young and dynamic.
The weather in Istanbul fluctuates greatly due to its geographic position, however, generally, it is very humid, with abundant fog. Winters are cold, with average January temperatures of about 4 °C (39 °F) and unpredictable snowfall. Average annual precipitation are around 810 millimetres (31.9 in). Summers are mild, with little or no rainfall and average temperatures in July of 29 °C (84 °F).
There are plenty of affordable housing options in Istanbul:
Istanbul is a reasonably affordable city, with living costs ranging between 400 and 497 EUR/month, excluding accommodation. The budget for food reaches 147 EUR/month, while utilities cost around 82 EUR/month. A local transport monthly pass is 50 EUR, while a one-way ticket costs 0.64 EUR.
Kadir Has University was founded in 1997, in Istanbul. Civilization city with its campus located in the heart of Istanbul. A colorful university with individual development and training opportunities offered for all ages.
As a research university, Özyeğin University always opens new horizons and presents new opportunities to students to enable them to discover their true competencies.
ISIK University, along with the kindergartens, elementary and primary schools of Nisantasi, Ayazaga, Erenköy and Ispartakule, has been added to the chain of education of the Feyziye Schools Foundation, and continues its educational mission with campuses on both the Asian and European sides of Istanbul - in Sile and Maslak respectively.
Sabanci University is one of the most diverse, pioneering, and highly ranked universities in the region. Since 1999, with its world-class faculty, Sabanci University provides a globally ranked education, fully in English, with variety of funding opportunities for domestic and international students. Sabanci University boasts a large number of laboratories and research centers, including the most advanced Nanotechnology Research and Application Center in the region, and has been named the most innovative university in Turkey several years in a row.
“Towards a Bright Future” being the slogan of the Istanbul Aydin University, it is not surprising to come across our graduate students in the most successful place in their career. Istanbul Aydin University in our country and the world has gained fame with its scientific studies, experienced academic staff and with campuses located in the center of Istanbul, it is a perfect city campus university.
Our vision is to become a world-class university which contributes to the betterment of the nation and its business life by providing education of the highest standards and thereby preparing its students to enter the modern business world, ensuring that they are open to domestic and foreign competition, and instilling them with social responsibility and environmental consciousness.
İstanbul Bilgi University undertakes to contribute to science, artistic production, and the development of technology; to educate individuals whose research and problem solving skills have developed in an atmosphere of free thought and an awareness of social responsibility and whose competencies meet international standards.
The university’s faculty consists of Turkey's most established senior researchers and PhD’s from elite research institutions worldwide. Most of our full-time faculty members have doctoral degrees from top-tier universities in the world.
Bahçeşehir University expects to be the leading force regionally and nationally in the enhancement of knowledge. Bahceşehir University aims to educate students who are committed to promoting respect for the rights of others, who are considerate and appreciative of human differences, and of the constructive expression of ideas.
The University’s mission is to work towards designing the future; along with the 2013-2017 Strategic Plan, Marmara University is working towards determining the position it will occupy in the future.
Maltepe University was founded in 1997 and today it has become an internationally recognized global university providing educational services with 9 faculties, 3 graduate schools, 2 schools.The primary goal of universities is to provide students with “critical thinking skills” and to present scientific thought as contemporary point of view.
İstanbul Şehir University (ŞEHİR) is a non-profit, state recognized higher education institution established by the Foundation for Sciences and Arts (BSV) in 2008. Its founder BSV is a renowned NGO functioning for more than 25 years in the field of social sciences, organizing many international and national academic activities and free seminars in related areas.
Bezmialem Vakif University (BVU) vision is to be a leading university in the fields of medical sciences and education, which is taken as a local and global reference point with its education, research and services and members proud of being a part of it.
Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University was established by qualified scholars to provide quality education with the aim of contributing the development of society and humankind. IZU aims to be one of the world's prominent and comprehensive universities. Its strengths lie mainly in the area of social sciences and humanities as well as having great engineering and architecture departments.
As Altinbas University, we set an example as a center of excellence by making a difference in education with our top quality academic staff and state-of-the-art facilities. Learn more about why Altinbas is the best choice for you.
Yildiz Technical University is one of the seven public universities situated in Istanbul besides being the 3rd oldest university of Turkey with its history dating back to 1911.
VATEL Istanbul, which aims at contributing to the production and dissemination of hospitality management education welcomed its first students in 2013/2014 academic year with its unique, participatory perspective and flourishing team. VATEL Istanbul today, continues its activities in Kadir Has University – Cibali Campus which is located in the center of Istanbul.
Our University, which was named number one among the foundation universities among Turkey by the 2017 and 2018 reviews of Green Metric, an international platform about sustainability and environmental awareness and determines the greenest universities around the world, is also and only University in Turkey that produces its own energy by the solar panels on the rooftops within the campus.
The mission of Bogazici University is to generate knowledge at global scale, to expand the scientific horizons of Turkiye and to educate individuals who will ensure the dominance of contemporary science and technology in the development of the society.
Istanbul Commerce University, running on with the motto “think globally”, is a non-profit private university established by Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, one of the most important chambers of Istanbul.
MEF University is a non-profit, endowment-supported university in Istanbul, Turkey, established with the mission to graduate internationally competitive forward-thinking students and to bring together leading research-oriented scholars, who will make globally-significant contributions to their professions, to science, and to technology.