Istanbul Gelişim University (IGU) — Istanbul

Istanbul Gelişim University (IGU) is a non-profit private university in Istanbul, established by the Gelişim Foundation for Education, Culture, Health, and Social Services.

History: The institution began in 2008 as Gelişim Vocational School. In 2011, it expanded to full university status, growing into one of Turkey's important international education centres with multiple faculties and vocational schools.

Mission: The university aims to contribute to global knowledge by bringing in talented young people who aspire to be future leaders, supported by professional academic staff. IGU's stated goal is to train students to become initiative-takers, researchers, investigators with the highest ethical values — preparing them for civilised and developed societies.

Scale: One of the larger private universities in Istanbul by enrolment, with a wide range of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs across multiple faculties.

Major faculties:

• Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Economic, Administrative and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Applied Sciences (tourism, gastronomy, sports, aviation)
• Faculty of Fine Arts
• Faculty of Dentistry
• Faculty of Pharmacy
• School of Foreign Languages

Language of instruction: Programs are offered in both Turkish and English, with the choice depending on the specific program. An English preparatory year is available for students who need to strengthen their English.

Admission: No YÖS required. A high school diploma with reasonable GPA is sufficient; English-medium programs need TOEFL or IELTS. Online application via the official portal.

Tuition (international students): Approximately $3,500–7,000 per year for most undergraduate programs — one of the more affordable private universities in Istanbul. Dentistry and pharmacy are at the higher end.

Scholarships: Merit-based scholarships available, ranging from 25% to 75% depending on academic record and entrance results. Sibling discounts and installment plans typically available.

Campus: Located on Istanbul's European side with modern facilities, libraries, labs, and student services.

Recognition: YÖK-accredited and recognised across the Arab world through standard equivalency procedures.