Haliç University — Istanbul

Haliç University (named after Istanbul's Golden Horn — Haliç in Turkish) is a private university headquartered in Istanbul. The university was founded on 15 January 1998 by the Children's Leukaemia Foundation — an unusual and meaningful founding by a children's health charity, with the educational institution serving as a long-term funding mechanism for the foundation's mission.

Scale and structure:

• 5 faculties
• 3 institutes
• 3 higher-education institutes
• 1 National Music Centre — uncommon among private universities
• 1 vocational institute
• ~10,000 students

Foundation governance: Like other Turkish foundation universities, Haliç is managed by a Board of Trustees. The current president is Prof. Dr. Ramzi Çetin, with Prof. Dr. Eyup Sabri Kayalı as deputy president.

Vision: The university aims to become the most developed educational institution in Turkey, creating all suitable conditions that foster:

• Success
• Scientific, industrial, and technical discoveries
• Monitoring and applying all digital developments in the world

Notable faculties:

• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Dentistry
• Faculty of Engineering — Computer, Electrical-Electronic, Industrial, Civil, Architectural
• Faculty of Business Administration
• Faculty of Arts and Sciences
• Conservatory (Music Centre) — a distinguishing feature

Languages of instruction: Both Turkish and English options across most programs.

Admission: No YÖS required. Standard requirements: high school diploma with reasonable GPA, English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS) for English-medium programs.

Tuition (annual, international students):

• Medicine (English): approximately $18,000–24,000
• Dentistry: approximately $15,000–19,000
• Other undergraduate programs: approximately $5,000–8,000

Scholarships: Merit-based scholarships available, ranging from 25% to 75% based on academic record.

Campus: Located in Istanbul with multiple sites across the city, including a presence near the Golden Horn area.

Recognition: YÖK-accredited and recognised across the Arab world. The unique conservatory makes Haliç particularly attractive for students interested in music alongside academic study.