İstinye Üniversitesi

History and Mission

İstinye University (İSÜ) was founded in 2015 by the 21st Century Anatolian Foundation as a unique academic project born from over 30 years of experience of the MLP Care Group — one of Turkey's largest healthcare holdings, which unites three powerful hospital brands: Medical Park, VM Medical Park, and Liv Hospital. The decision to establish a university was a logical continuation of MLP Care Group's strategy to integrate cutting-edge medical practice with academic science. The core idea was to build an educational institution capable of training the next generation of professionals directly within the environment of world-class operating clinics. Academic activities commenced in the 2016–2017 academic year, when the first students began their studies in the faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, and Engineering. In September 2017, the Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences was launched, significantly broadening the university's profile beyond its exclusively medical focus. Today, İstinye University comprises nine faculties — Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Engineering and Natural Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Fine Arts, Design and Architecture, Health Sciences, Communication, and Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences — two vocational schools, and a graduate school. The university offers over 100 undergraduate and associate degree programs, more than 50 master's programs, and 15 doctoral programs, and hosts 19 dedicated research centers. The university operates across two modern campuses in Istanbul. The Vadi Istanbul Campus, located in the Sarıyer district, is integrated into the renowned Vadi Istanbul residential and commercial complex, providing students with access to world-class infrastructure. It houses the main ateliers, teaching and research laboratories of the faculties, an extensive library, and spacious areas for independent study. The Topkapı Campus, spanning 50,000 square meters, serves as the hub for health sciences programs and is equipped with 37 classrooms and 47 laboratories designed to accommodate up to 4,000 students, along with a student center and dining hall. The two campuses are connected by a free continuous shuttle service. Clinical training takes place at two university-affiliated hospitals — İstinye University Hospital Medical Park Gaziosmanpaşa and İstinye University Hospital Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir. The latter was opened in December 2016 and represents the culmination of MLP Care's quarter-century of expertise in healthcare. Thanks to this unique 'university-hospital' model, medical students gain access to a real clinical environment from their very first years, working side by side with the country's leading practicing physicians. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, İstinye University placed in the 1001–1200 band globally and ranked 16th among 109 Turkish universities. In the 'International Outlook' category, İSÜ achieved the highest score among Turkish universities, placing within the global top 400. In the URAP 2024–2025 rankings, the university rose to 7th place among private universities in Turkey. İSÜ holds accreditations from WDOMS, SABAK, ECTS, PEARSON, and MÜDEK, confirming that its programs meet the highest international standards.

Campus Features

The mission of İstinye University is to take its place among Turkey's and the world's most prestigious universities by contributing to the production of new knowledge through excellence in education and research. The university strives to prepare professionals who possess not only deep specialized knowledge but also leadership skills, well-developed critical thinking, digital transformation competencies, and a commitment to humanitarian and ethical values. İSÜ places particular emphasis on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of medicine, engineering, and information technology — research that has the power to transform the future of healthcare and society. Through its integration with MLP Care Group clinics, the university provides a unique educational model in which theoretical training is inseparably linked with clinical practice. Through Erasmus+ programs and bilateral agreements with universities across more than 30 European countries, İSÜ fosters an international academic environment where over 14,000 students study, approximately 2,500 of whom are international citizens. The university sees its ultimate goal in producing graduates who believe in the power of science, closely follow global trends, and are prepared to make meaningful contributions to the development of their countries and the global community.

Advantages for International Students