Piri Reis University (PRU) — Istanbul

Piri Reis University (PRU) is a private maritime-focused university located in Istanbul, founded in 2008 by the Turkish Maritime Education Foundation — which operates under the umbrella of the Turkish Chamber of Maritime Trade.

The name: The university is named after Piri Reis (c. 1465–1553), the famous Turkish naval admiral and cartographer who held a senior Ottoman naval rank. Piri Reis is renowned for his world map — one of the oldest known maps depicting Europe, Africa, and North America together — and his maritime navigation manual Kitab-ı Bahriye.

Maritime specialty — a defining feature: PRU is one of the few Turkish universities with a deep specialty in maritime education. The campus serves as a national hub for naval and marine sciences.

Ranking: Ranked 133 at the Turkish university level and 7,380 in global university rankings. The relatively modest ranking reflects the university's specialised focus rather than weakness — for maritime-focused students, PRU's industry connections matter more than aggregate rankings.

Faculty: The university hosts a large teaching staff with high experience and competence from various countries worldwide — a deliberate international recruitment reflecting maritime industry's global nature.

Notable faculties and departments:

• Faculty of Maritime Studies — Maritime Transportation Management Engineering, Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
• Faculty of Engineering — Mechanical Engineering, Electrical-Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering
• Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
• Faculty of Science and Letters

Admission: YÖS exam is NOT required for entry to the university. Standard requirements: high school diploma with reasonable GPA, English-language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS) for English-medium programs.

Tuition (annual, international students): Approximately $6,000–10,000 per year for most undergraduate programs. Maritime-specific programs may have additional sea-training costs.

Scholarships: Merit-based scholarships available, ranging from 25% to 75% of tuition.

Campus: Located on the Tuzla coast on Istanbul's Asian side — a natural location for a maritime university, near Istanbul's shipyards and the Sea of Marmara.

Why PRU stands out:

• Specialised maritime education — unique among Turkish private universities
• Direct industry connection via the Turkish Maritime Chamber
• International faculty reflecting maritime industry's global nature
• Strong career pathways in shipping, ports, naval engineering, and maritime logistics

Recognition: YÖK-accredited and recognised internationally. PRU's maritime engineering credentials are particularly valued in shipping centres globally.