Harran University — Şanlıurfa

Harran University is a public university located in Şanlıurfa in southeastern Turkey — a region with deep historical and cultural ties to the Arab world. Founded in 1992, it ranks 62nd among Turkish universities and uses Turkish as the primary language of instruction across all programs.

Campus and structure: 12 faculties, various vocational schools and institutes, and more than 15 research centres equipped with up-to-date technology. The large campus includes restaurants, cafés, a free swimming pool, and substantial student housing — particularly appealing for international students who need on-campus support from day one.

Notable faculties and programs:

• Faculty of Islamic Sciences — Islamic Sciences, Philosophy of Religion, Islamic Art and History, Islamic Ethics and Culture
• Faculty of Engineering — Electrical, Industrial, Computer, Environmental, Mechanical, Cartography (Geomatics)
• Faculty of Medicine — General Medicine, Surgical Medicine, Internal Medicine
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
• Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Tourism
• Faculty of Economics, Administration, Banking and Finance Management, International Relations
• Faculty of Fine Arts — Painting, Sculpture, Graphic Design, Cinema/Radio/TV, Professional Photography, Ceramic Design, Theatre, Architecture, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Music
• Faculty of Sciences — Chemistry, Physics, Life Sciences, Mathematics
• Faculty of Education and Faculty of Languages — Turkish Literature, Geography, History, Archaeology, Sociology, Art History

Admission: Harran accepts SAT, YÖS, and Tawjihi certificates from international applicants. Apply at obs.harran.edu.tr.

Tuition (international students): Approximately $300–900 per year for most undergraduate programs — among the most affordable in Turkey.

Scholarships: Eligible for Türkiye Bursları full government scholarship.

Accommodation: Large on-campus dormitories and KYK state dorms widely available. Living costs in Şanlıurfa are very low — typical monthly expenses $200–400.

Why Şanlıurfa: A historic city known as the "City of Prophets" with deep ties to Arabic culture and language, large Syrian Arab community, and very affordable cost of living. Particularly popular with Syrian, Iraqi, and Gulf students seeking an authentic regional environment with easy cultural integration.

Recognition: YÖK-accredited and recognised across the Arab world. The Faculty of Islamic Sciences holds particular esteem in Gulf and Levantine countries.