Sabancı University: Admission, Fees and the Tuzla Campus
A foundation university in Tuzla, Istanbul, where you pick a faculty first and a major later: the English year, how to apply, fees and getting there.
Table of Contents
Sabancı University is a foundation university in Tuzla, a district on the eastern edge of Istanbul. An applicant enters one of three faculty groups and declares the major by the end of the first or second year: the university has no departments. Faculty studies start after an English year, unless an accepted English result is shown.
In short · checked 26.10.2026
A foundation university in Tuzla, where the major comes later.
- A foundation (vakıf) university, not a state one. A foundation set it up, and YÖK, the Council of Higher Education, says such institutions may not be run for profit (27.05.2023).
- Three faculties, 12 bachelor’s programmes. The applicant picks a faculty group; the major is declared by the end of the first or second year, with no extra exam.
- International tuition for 2026–27: 36,500 USD a year, and a 30 USD application fee. For 2026–27 the window ran from 15.12.2025 to 28.08.2026, 16:00 Turkish time.
- English first: TOEFL iBT 85 or more, at most 2 years old, or another accepted result skips the English year. With less, the English year comes first.
Tool · admission rules checked 26.10.2026
The programme switchboard
Plug an entry group, set an English result and pick a programme. The board shows what the university prints: the quota of the group, whether an English year comes first, and when the major is declared. The plan card copies as plain text, with a question ready for the School of Languages.
1Entry group and quota
- Engineering and Natural Sciences 160Quota 160 for 2026–27, as the international admissions page prints it. Seven programmes belong to this faculty, and every entry group can reach all 12.
- Arts and Social Sciences 120Quota 120 for 2026–27, as the international admissions page prints it. Four programmes belong to this faculty, and every entry group can reach all 12.
- Management Sciences 120Quota 120 for 2026–27, as the international admissions page prints it. The faculty, the Sabancı Business School, has one programme, and every entry group can reach all 12.
2English result
- PTE AcademicMinimum 71, and at least 67 in each part. Valid for 2 years.PTE Academic 71 or more (67 or more in each part), at most 2 years old: no English year.Under 71, or under 67 in a part: the English year first (basic, intermediate or upper-intermediate level).Hello, my PTE Academic score is [score], with at least 67 in each part. Does it exempt me from the Foundation Development Year? Thank you.
- TOEFL iBTMinimum 85; MyBest scores (section scores combined from several test dates) are not accepted. Valid for 2 years.TOEFL iBT 85 or more, at most 2 years old: no English year.Under 85: the English year first (basic, intermediate or upper-intermediate level).Hello, my TOEFL iBT score is [score]. Does it exempt me from the Foundation Development Year? Thank you.
- CAE (Certificate in Advanced English)Minimum grade C. Valid for 3 years.CAE grade C or better, at most 3 years old: no English year.Under C: the English year first (basic, intermediate or upper-intermediate level).Hello, my CAE grade is [grade]. Does it exempt me from the Foundation Development Year? Thank you.
- CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English)Minimum grade C. Valid for 3 years.CPE grade C or better, at most 3 years old: no English year.Under C: the English year first (basic, intermediate or upper-intermediate level).Hello, my CPE grade is [grade]. Does it exempt me from the Foundation Development Year? Thank you.
- YDS (Yabancı Dil Sınavı, the Turkish foreign-language exam)Minimum 90. Valid for 5 years.YDS 90 or more, at most 5 years old: no English year.Under 90: the English year first (basic, intermediate or upper-intermediate level).Hello, my YDS score is [score]. Does it exempt me from the Foundation Development Year? Thank you.
- ELAE stage 2 (the university’s own exam)Minimum 70 %. Valid for 2 years.ELAE stage 2 at 70 % or more, at most 2 years old: no English year.Under 70 %: the English year first (basic, intermediate or upper-intermediate level).Hello, my ELAE stage 2 result is [score] %. Does it exempt me from the Foundation Development Year? Thank you.
- Three years at a high school in an English-speaking countryExempt if the last three years were spent at a school that the citizens of that country attend, for example in the USA, Canada or England.Three years at such a school: no English year.Hello, I spent the last three years of high school in an English-speaking country at a school that its own citizens attend. Does that exempt me from the Foundation Development Year? Thank you.
- No exam result yetNo result to show. The university’s own exam, the ELAE, can be taken in registration week; a pass skips the English year.No accepted result yet: the English year first (basic, intermediate or upper-intermediate level), unless the ELAE is passed.Hello, I have no English exam result yet. May I take the ELAE during registration week? Thank you.
3Programme (the major)
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences. Any entry group can reach it: the major is declared by the end of the first or second year, with no extra exam.
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Data Science and Analytics
- Electronics Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Materials Science and Nano Engineering
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Any entry group can reach it: the major is declared by the end of the first or second year, with no extra exam.
- Economics
- Political Science and International Relations
- Psychology
- Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design
Faculty of Management Sciences (Sabancı Business School)
Faculty of Management Sciences, the Sabancı Business School. Any entry group can reach it: the major is declared by the end of the first or second year, with no extra exam.
- Management
- Entry groupEngineering and Natural Sciences · quota 160
- EnglishTOEFL iBT 85 or more, at most 2 years old: no English year.
- First yearUniversity Courses, the first-year courses listed further down.
- MajorNot chosen yet: any of the 12 programmes, by the end of the first or second year.
Hello, my TOEFL iBT score is 85. Does it exempt me from the Foundation Development Year? Thank you.
Nothing you tap is stored or sent. Minimums and quotas are those printed for 2026–27; the plan is a draft to check with the university.
A foundation university: what that means and who set it up
In Türkiye a vakıf üniversitesi, a foundation university, is set up by a foundation, not by the state. It belongs to the same national system as the state universities, and YÖK (Yükseköğretim Kurulu), the Council of Higher Education, keeps a department of its own for foundation institutions.
What YÖK says
In a letter of 27.05.2023 to the foundation institutions, YÖK recalled that they may not be run for profit and that their boards of trustees (mütevelli heyeti) set the tuition. At Sabancı the board of trustees sets tuition, dormitory fees and scholarships every year, with cost rises, the year’s budget and the rules of the regulating bodies in view.
YÖK news item of 27.05.2023 · Sabancı University fee page · checked 27.10.2026 · YÖK · fee page
From a decision to the first students
- 1994The Sabancı Group decides to found a «world university», led by the Sabancı Foundation.
- Summer 1995A search conference brings together 50 academics from 22 countries, with students and people from the private sector, to design the new university.
- 1999The first students enrol.
Sabancı University, About page · checked 26.10.2026 · page
Programmes · checked 26.10.2026
3 faculties, 12 bachelor’s programmes.
On top of the bachelor’s level come 52 master’s and 17 doctoral programmes.
The three faculties are Engineering and Natural Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, and Management Sciences, which is the Sabancı Business School.
Ranking lines, one per body
- Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026: band 351–400.
- Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2026: rank 404.
- YÖK Performance Ranking of Research Universities 2025: rank 2. The university joined YÖK’s Research-Focused Mission Differentiation Program in 2021 and is one of three foundation universities in it.
Lines as the university’s rankings page prints them, checked 26.10.2026 · rankings page
The Tuzla campus: address, shuttles and the road
Tuzla is a district (ilçe) of Istanbul province, on the Asian side, with a municipality (belediye) of its own. The campus stands in Orta Mahalle, the Middle Neighbourhood, on Üniversite Caddesi, University Street.
The campus address
- Address
- Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Caddesi No:27, 34956 Tuzla, İstanbul
- Switchboard
- +90 216 483 90 00
- International Relations Office
- +90 216 483 91 00 · [email protected]
How the lines of a Turkish address read: Turkish address format. Checked 26.10.2026 · contact page
How do you reach the campus?
- The service
- The university runs shuttles between the campus and listed points in the city. A ring bus around the campus is free.
- The points
- Six stops are on the table of the current term: the 4. Levent bus stop on Büyükdere Street, Kadıköy, Kurtköy metro station, Viaport, İçmeler (Marmaray, the rail line under the Bosphorus) and Çekmeköy.
- The times
- The table is dynamic: it changes with the season and with how full the routes are. Times are on the university’s shuttle page.
- İETT lines
- İETT is the Istanbul city bus operator. The university lists 133Ü (Gazi Bulvarı and Orhanlı to Pendik metro and Pendik), 132B (Akfırat Evleri to Kartal metro) and KM18 (Sabancı and Medeniyet universities to Pendik metro and Kartal).
- Fares and cards
- The Istanbulkart and fares are in Istanbul public transport.
- Metro and Marmaray
- The lines are in Istanbul metro and Marmaray.
- The roads
- The university’s car page gives maps on TEM roads (the Trans-European Motorway) from Istanbul, from Gebze, from Orhanlı and from Sabiha Gökçen Airport.
- The airport
- Sabiha Gökçen is the airport on the Asian side of Istanbul, and the page has a map from it to the campus.
Transport pages of the university, checked 26.10.2026 · services · İETT lines · by car
Around the campus
- On the grounds. A lake, the dormitory blocks and a dining hall are on the campus.
- A second address exists. The university also lists a Digital Campus at Küçük Çamlıca Mahallesi (a neighbourhood), Altunizade, in the Üsküdar district.
Three faculties, no departments
An applicant chooses a faculty group, not a department. The university gives its reason: the usual department system keeps subjects apart and narrows the studies too early.
Engineering and Natural Sciences
Computer Science and Engineering, Data Science and Analytics, Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science and Nano Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, and Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering.
Arts and Social Sciences
Economics, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology, and Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design.
Management Sciences
Management. The faculty is the Sabancı Business School.
How the major is declared
- By the end of the first or second year. The student continues in one of the 12 programmes without any additional exam.
- Across faculties. A student may move between the engineering and natural sciences, the arts and social sciences, and the management programmes.
- In 2026–27. The Major Fest, an information event on the diploma programmes, runs 02–13.11.2026. The spring declaration or change window runs 30.11–11.12.2026.
Sabancı University, Freedom to Declare Major, Starting Out and academic calendar pages · checked 26.10.2026 · declaring a major · all programmes · calendar
The first two years: English year, University Courses, declaring
Every student goes through the Foundations Development Program: the English year if needed, then the University Courses that all students take whatever their major.
- Foundation Development Year (FDY)An English preparatory year run by the School of Languages. It starts at basic, intermediate or upper-intermediate level. A student with an accepted English result skips it and starts as a freshman.
- University Courses, first yearThe thirteen freshman courses listed below are put in the schedule automatically.
- University Courses, laterMajor Works courses (one for engineering and natural sciences students, two for the others, for entrants since 2015), the PROJ 201 project course (for entrants since 2017–18) and SPS 303 Law and Ethics (everyone).
- Declaring the majorBy the end of the first or second year.
The freshman courses
A credit is a unit of course work. SU credits count towards this university’s degree; ECTS is the European credit system used to compare courses between universities.
- AL 102 · Academic Literacies
- 3 SU credits · 5 ECTS
- HIST 191, 192 · Principles of Atatürk and the History of the Turkish Revolution I, II
- 2 SU credits · 3 ECTS each
- IF 100 · Computational Approaches to Problem Solving
- 3 SU credits · 5 ECTS
- MATH 101, 102 · Calculus I, II
- 3 SU credits · 6 ECTS each
- NS 101, 102 · Science of Nature I, II
- 4 SU credits · 6 ECTS each
- SPS 101, 102 · Humanity and Society I, II
- 3 SU credits · 6 ECTS each
- TLL 101, 102 · Turkish Language and Literature I, II
- 2 SU credits · 3 ECTS each
- CIP 101N · Civic Involvement Projects I
- 0 SU credits · 1 ECTS
Later courses: nine Major Works courses in literature, art and philosophy (HUM 201, 202, 207, 311, 312, 317, 321, 322, 371; 3 SU credits and 5 ECTS each), PROJ 201 (1 and 1) and SPS 303 (3 and 5). Sabancı University, Foundations Development Program page · checked 26.10.2026 · page
The English exam and exemption: who skips the English year
Faculty studies start after the English year unless one of the results below is shown. Each has a minimum score and a validity.
- PTE Academic
- 71, with at least 67 in each part. Valid 2 years.
- TOEFL iBT
- 85; MyBest scores (section scores combined from several test dates) are not accepted. Valid 2 years.
- CAE and CPE
- Grade C. Valid 3 years each.
- YDS
- 90. Valid 5 years.
- ELAE stage 2
- 70 %. Valid 2 years. The ELAE is the university’s own exam.
- High school in an English-speaking country
- Exempt after the last three years at a school that the country’s own citizens attend, for example in the USA, Canada or England.
Rules that go with the results
- Home editions and online versions are not accepted for bachelor’s students.
- A test taken in Türkiye must be taken in a building owned by a state university. This follows the equivalence instruction of ÖSYM, the national Measuring, Selection and Placement Centre.
- Reports go to the School of Languages. Original score reports are sent by e-mail to [email protected]. In 2026 the window for sending outside results ran 29.06–14.09.2026.
Exemption page and academic calendar of the university · checked 26.10.2026 · exemption page · calendar
The ELAE, the university’s own exam, in 2026
ELAE stands for English Language Assessment Exam. It has two stages and is graded in letters.
- Stage 1 · 21.09.202610:00 to 11:30, for new international students. A satisfactory result (SL) opens stage 2. An unsatisfactory result (UL) or no show (NA) leads to the English year.
- Stage 2 · 22.09.2026Writing and listening 10:00 to 12:30, reading 14:00 to 15:30. At 70 % or more the student starts faculty studies; under 70 % means the English year.
- The resultsLetters, never numbers: A-SL, B-SL and C-SL satisfactory; D-UL, E-UL and F-UL unsatisfactory; EL exempt; NA no show, counted as UL. Nothing is given by phone, and there is no make-up exam.
- In the hallA photo identity document is checked (passport, identity card or driving licence), half an hour before the start. Pencil and eraser come with the candidate.
Sabancı University ELAE announcements · checked 26.10.2026 · announcements
Applying from abroad: requirements, steps and quotas
International applicants apply online, by uploading scans. The International Relations Office reads the applications. Who counts as an international applicant follows YÖK’s rule for the year.
Who may apply?
- Final year or graduate
- In the final year of high school or already graduated, and in one of these groups:
- International students
- Not enrolled in, and not graduates of, a high school in Türkiye. Embassy schools, international private schools in the MOBIS system and students brought to Türkiye under a Ministry of National Education project are excepted.
- Former Turkish citizens
- Citizens by birth who renounced Turkish citizenship, and their children under 18 named in the renunciation document, if not enrolled in or graduates of a high school in Türkiye or in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
- Other citizens
- People who gained Turkish citizenship later or hold dual citizenship, on the same school condition.
- Schooling abroad
- Turkish citizens who completed all of high school in another country, apart from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, including a Turkish high school abroad run under the Ministry of National Education.
- Northern Cyprus
- Citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus who live there and finished a GCE A-level secondary education, and those who did so abroad between 2005 and 2010.
- Turkish citizens
- Citizens of the Republic of Türkiye who completed secondary education in Türkiye or in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
- Dual citizens
- Dual nationals whose first nationality by birth is Turkish, unless they completed all of high school abroad.
- Embassy and foreign schools
- Turkish or dual citizens (Turkish by birth) who completed secondary education at embassy schools or other foreign institutions in Türkiye.
- Students in Türkiye
- Holders of the Blue Card (Mavi Kart, the card for former Turkish citizens), former Turkish citizens and international students who are enrolled in or graduates of a high school in Türkiye or in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with the exceptions listed under «May apply».
- Northern Cyprus
- Citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, except the groups named under «May apply».
As the international admissions page words it · checked 26.10.2026 · application requirements
Accepted exams and diplomas, and their minimums
One valid result is needed. The SAT is not mandatory. The university’s list also has about 150 country rows for local diplomas and exams.
- SAT Reasoning
- 1,100 out of 1,600. Valid 2 years, no Superscore; the university’s SAT code is 7100.
- A level (GCE)
- Two C passes.
- IB diploma
- 28 out of 45.
- ACT
- 23 out of 36 (Composite).
- AP
- 3 out of 5 in at least two subjects.
- BTEC Level 3
- DMM (Extended Diploma) or DM (Diploma).
- French Baccalaureate
- 12 out of 20.
- Abitur
- A score between 1 and 3.
- Turkish high school diploma
- 70 %, from a school in Türkiye or abroad, schools of the Türkiye Maarif Foundation, the state’s foundation for Turkish schools abroad, included.
- TR-YÖS
- 350 out of 500 (70 %). YÖS (Yabancı Öğrenci Sınavı) is Türkiye’s exam for foreign students.
- Matura, Attestat and similar certificates
- 70 %.
- American high school diploma
- 70 % or 2.8 out of 4.
- WAEC or WASSCE
- Grade C4 in at least 3 subjects. The school-leaving exams of the West African Examinations Council.
- International Science Olympiads
- Gold, silver or bronze medal at an olympiad recognised or joined by TÜBİTAK, the national research council.
Required exam and diploma list · checked 26.10.2026 · list
The documents
- Required. A copy of the exam or diploma result; the high school diploma if already graduated; the transcript of all high school courses and grades, signed and stamped by the school or e-signed and verifiable online. Applications without a transcript are not evaluated.
- If taken. An accepted English exam result. Optional: a letter of motivation, a letter of recommendation and certificates such as olympiad medals.
- Soft copies only now. The originals are brought to registration after admission.
The four steps
- 1 · PrepareCheck the exam list and scan the documents.
- 2 · Apply onlineFill in the form, upload the documents and pay the 30 USD application fee by Visa or Mastercard card. The fee is paid once a year and is not refundable; an application without it is not evaluated.
- 3 · EvaluationThe International Relations Office answers by e-mail within 2–3 weeks. The offer e-mail carries the offer letter (with the scholarship percentage, if there is one), a deadline and bank details for a 2,000 USD pre-payment.
- 4 · DepositThe 2,000 USD pre-payment is not refundable and secures the place for registration. After it is credited, an acceptance letter comes through the application portal; it can be used for a visa application. A missed offer deadline can pass a scholarship to another student.
How to apply page · checked 26.10.2026 · page
Dates for 2026–27
For 2026–27 the window ran from 15.12.2025 to 28.08.2026, 16:00 Turkish time.
Checked 26.10.2026 · application requirements
Quotas, as the international admissions page prints them
- Engineering and Natural Sciences programmes
- 160
- Arts and Social Sciences programmes
- 120
- Management programmes
- 120
An applicant may choose one or more of the three programme groups within these quotas. The quotas are subject to change by decisions of YÖK. Questions go to the International Relations Office: [email protected].
Applying with the national exam: YKS and e-registration
Students who enter through the national exam take the YKS (Yükseköğretim Kurumları Sınavı, the Higher Education Institutions Exam) of ÖSYM (Ölçme, Seçme ve Yerleştirme Merkezi, the Measuring, Selection and Placement Centre). The system is explained in the Turkish higher education system.
- YKS · 20–21.06.2026The TYT (basic proficiency test) on 20.06.2026; the AYT (field proficiency tests) and YDT (foreign-language test) on 21.06.2026. Applications ran 06.02–02.03.2026.
- e-registrationThrough e-Devlet, the state’s online services portal: the option «Üniversite E-Kayıt» under YÖK. An e-Devlet password is needed. In the 2026 supplementary placement round this ran 02–04.10.2026.
- Documents onlineCreate the university account, then upload the documents in the Student Information System: 02–09.10.2026 in that round.
- TuitionPay the tuition: 02–08.10.2026 in that round. Registration is online; nobody has to come to the campus.
Four files
The high school diploma in the Ministry of National Education (MEB) format, or a graduate certificate verifiable on e-Devlet; a diploma from abroad needs the equivalence certificate from the provincial directorate of national education, and a notarised Turkish translation if it is not in English. A colour photo, 4.5 × 6 cm. The ÖSYM placement document and the ÖSYM result document, each with a QR code or verification code.
Fees, scholarships and the dormitory: as printed for 2026–27
Who is asking?
- Annual tuition
- 36,500 USD for 2026–27.
- Application fee
- 30 USD, once a year, by card, not refundable.
- After an offer
- A 2,000 USD pre-payment, not refundable; it secures the place for registration.
- Scholarships
- Tuition waivers of 25, 40, 50, 60 or 75 %, and accommodation scholarships that cover a three- or four-person room. Checked 26.10.2026
- Tuition 2026–27
- 2,170,000 TL (Turkish lira) a year when paid up front, 10 % VAT included. Instalments are possible. Meals, dormitory and transport are not included. Checked 27.10.2026
- Who sets it
- The board of trustees sets tuition, dormitory fees and scholarships each year.
- Scholarship places
- Full (100 %) and half (50 %) scholarships follow the quota in which ÖSYM places a candidate.
How the international scholarship is decided
- Everyone who meets the requirements is considered automatically, and the number of places is limited.
- A Scholarship Committee weighs academic background, reference letters, exam results, transcripts, interview results and awards.
- It holds for the regular period of study. Further scholarships can follow after at least two semesters of study.
- Students on scholarships from the governments of Azerbaijan, Iraq, Oman, Libya, Pakistan (graduate level) and Qatar can study here.
The Turkish state scholarship programme is in Türkiye Scholarships. Scholarships page · checked 26.10.2026 · page
Dormitory fees for undergraduates, 2026–27
- Room for 2
- 380,950 TL a year per person
- Room for 3
- 267,500 TL
- Room for 4
- 305,300 TL
- Study room for 4
- 229,650 TL
VAT included, per person, in two equal semester payments. Fall fees were due 15–22.09.2026. A deposit of 34,000 TL is refunded on leaving, and dormitory-scholarship holders pay none. Dormitory site · checked 26.10.2026 · fees
The rooms
- Shared rooms for 2, 3 or 4 students, and rooms with disabled access. Each has a private shower and toilet, a wardrobe, a telephone and internet.
- Study rooms with internet are on every floor. International students have priority for on-campus rooms.
- Off campus, rents and contracts are in renting in Istanbul.
After the offer: registration, equivalence and papers
Registration has two stages. In the first, every document is uploaded online and the forms are filled in. In the second, the originals, or notarised wet-signed and stamped copies, go in person to the Student Resources Directorate, which returns the originals after copying them. Whoever does not hand in everything on the registration dates loses the right to enrol.
The registration list
- Exam result and diploma
- The original test score or its notarised copy (for the SAT, sent through College Board to code 7100), with the high school diploma, original or notarised copy. A notarised translation if it is not in Turkish or English.
- Equivalence certificate
- The high school diploma equivalence certificate from the Turkish Ministry of Education or from the education attaché at a Turkish embassy.
- Transcript and passport
- The original or notarised transcript. The passport page with the photo. The passport visa page with the Turkish entry stamp.
- Residence permit
- Both sides of the residence permit (ikamet izni, issued by the Immigration Office), if one was taken before.
- Photo
- One 4.5 × 6 cm photo, uploaded online only.
- English exemption
- The language certificate for those who ask to skip the English year.
- Under 18
- A notarised consent letter from both parents. If both parents are present at registration, a written authorisation is enough.
- Student Information Form
- Filled in online, after creating the university account; the steps arrive by e-mail before registration.
The university may ask for further documents. Application requirements page, section 7 · checked 26.10.2026 · page
Denklik, the equivalence certificate
The university’s list states that meeting the admission minimums does not mean meeting the equivalence rules: the certificate is brought to registration. In Türkiye denklik means the recognition of a foreign school diploma as equal to a Turkish one. MEB, the Ministry of National Education (Millî Eğitim Bakanlığı), takes applications for foreign high school diplomas in its e-Denklik module, in use since 11.10.2022. Foreign documents often need legalising first: legalising foreign documents in Türkiye.
Required exam and diploma list · MEB Londra education counsellorship page of 11.10.2022 · checked 27.10.2026 · MEB page
The 2026–27 dates for new international undergraduates
- 01.07–25.09.2026Tuition payment and registration. Registration itself, online and in person, runs 14–25.09.2026.
- 21–22.09.2026ELAE stage 1 and stage 2.
- 24–25.09.2026Orientation.
- 28.09.2026First day of classes.
Academic calendar 2026–27 · checked 26.10.2026 · calendar
Legalising foreign documents
What a foreign certificate needs before it is used in Türkiye.
Registering a phone
How a phone brought from abroad is registered in Türkiye.
The health system
How healthcare works in Türkiye.
Higher education in Türkiye
State and foundation universities, YÖK and the exams.
Istanbul transport
The Istanbulkart, buses, metro and ferries.
Quick answers in a few lines
Is it a state university?
No. It is a foundation (vakıf) university, set up by the Sabancı Foundation. YÖK says foundation higher-education institutions may not be run for profit (27.05.2023).
How many programmes are there?
12 bachelor’s programmes in three faculties, with 52 master’s and 17 doctoral programmes.
When is the major chosen?
By the end of the first or second year, from the 12 programmes, with no extra exam.
Is the SAT required?
No. It is one of the accepted exams, with a minimum of 1,100 out of 1,600 and the university code 7100.
What skips the English year?
An accepted result within its validity: TOEFL iBT 85, PTE Academic 71, CAE or CPE grade C, YDS 90, ELAE stage 2 at 70 %, or three years at a high school in an English-speaking country.
What does it cost?
International students, 2026–27: 36,500 USD a year, a 30 USD application fee and a 2,000 USD pre-payment after an offer. Dormitory fees run from 229,650 to 380,950 TL a year per person, by room type.
How do I reach the campus?
By the university shuttle from six points in the city, by İETT bus lines 133Ü, 132B or KM18 to the Pendik and Kartal metro, or by car on the TEM roads. The address is Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Caddesi No:27, Tuzla, İstanbul.
What was the 2026–27 deadline?
The window ran until 28.08.2026, 16:00 Turkish time.
Sources and limits
Show the pages checked
- About Sabancı University: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- Freedom to Declare Major: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- Starting Out: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- All Programs: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- The Foundations Development Program: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- University Rankings: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- Academic calendar 2026–27: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- ELAE exam announcements: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- Lisans Öğrencileri, YKS kayıt: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- Phone and addresses: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- Transportation services: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- Campus shuttle schedule: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- İETT bus schedule: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- Transportation to campus by car: Sabancı University, checked 26.10.2026
- Application requirements: International Relations Office, checked 26.10.2026
- How to apply: International Relations Office, checked 26.10.2026
- Required exam and diploma list: International Relations Office, checked 26.10.2026
- Exemption from the Foundation Development Year: International Relations Office, checked 26.10.2026
- Tuition fee: International Relations Office, checked 26.10.2026
- Scholarships: International Relations Office, checked 26.10.2026
- Student accommodation: International Relations Office, checked 26.10.2026
- Dormitory fees: Sabancı University dormitories, checked 26.10.2026
- Lisans programları burs ve ücretleri: Sabancı University, checked 27.10.2026
- Yükseköğretim Kurulundan vakıf üniversitelerine ücret uyarısı (27.05.2023): YÖK, checked 27.10.2026
- 2026-YKS: Başvuruların Alınması (06.02.2026): ÖSYM, checked 27.10.2026
- E-denklik başvuru işlemleri hakkında (11.10.2022): MEB, Londra education counsellorship, checked 27.10.2026
- Tuzla Belediyesi: Tuzla Municipality, checked 27.10.2026
Photos and the logo are from Wikimedia Commons, each with its author, date, licence and file page in the caption. Pictures marked «Illustration» are drawn for this guide.
Dates, quotas and fees are those printed for 2026–27 on the dates shown.
