Istanbul Medipol University

Istanbul Medipol University was founded on 7 July 2009 by the Türkiye Eğitim Sağlık ve Araştırma Vakfı (Turkey Education, Health and Research Foundation), established by Dr. Fahrettin Koca, head of Medipol Group — one of the country's largest private healthcare holdings. The first classes were held in 2010 on a campus on the shores of the Golden Horn (Haliç), at the heart of Istanbul's historic peninsula. In just a few years, the university grew from a compact medical school into a large multidisciplinary center comprising 12 faculties, 5 institutes, 1 higher school and 4 vocational schools. In 2012, Medipol Mega University Hospital was opened — Turkey's largest private medical complex, located in the Bağcılar district. The hospital has 810 beds, including 215 intensive-care beds, and has received Academic Medical Center accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI), confirming compliance with global quality standards. Today the university operates on three campuses: Kavacık North and Kavacık South on the Asian side of Istanbul, at the foot of the Sultan Mehmed Fatih Bridge in the green Beykoz district, and the Haliç campus on the European side. Research activity is concentrated in cutting-edge centers: the SABITA institute, recognized as one of the most technologically advanced in Europe, includes laboratories for biomedical engineering, neuroscience, pharmaceutical chemistry, electrophysiology and optogenetics, while the REMER center specializes in regenerative medicine. The university has signed bilateral agreements with 88 universities in 22 countries, actively participates in the Erasmus+ program and cooperates with companies such as Siemens, Samsung and Microsoft. In international rankings, Medipol consistently improves its position: it appears in the 701–850 band of the QS World University Rankings by subject and in the THE World University Rankings. Today the university serves more than 49,000 students, including over 12,000 international students from around the world, with a teaching staff of more than 1,500.

The mission of Istanbul Medipol University is to train world-class specialists capable of addressing global challenges in healthcare, science and technology. The university aims to combine high-quality theoretical education with intensive clinical and practical training, giving students access to its own Medipol Mega university hospital and advanced research centers from their first years of study. A key principle is the development of innovative thinking: from biomedical research at the SABITA institute to engineering and social projects, students are involved in real scientific work with practical impact. Medipol places strong emphasis on international cooperation, providing academic exchange with 88 partner universities worldwide and participation in Erasmus+, allowing students to gain intercultural experience and a global view of their profession. The university strives to nurture not only highly qualified professionals but also responsible citizens committed to ethical values, social responsibility and lifelong learning. The ultimate goal is to become a leading research university on a global scale that makes a meaningful contribution to medicine, engineering, the humanities and society as a whole.