Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University is considered one of the prominent foundation academic institutions in Turkey, offering an educational environment that combines scientific rigor with practical application. Located in Istanbul, the university is distinguished by providing diverse study programs including engineering, health, and administrative sciences, with a special pioneering role in the fields of economics and Islamic sciences. Thanks to its reliance on three languages of instruction (Turkish, English, and Arabic), the university attracts international students from all over the world.
In this article, we provide you with a comprehensive guide reviewing the university’s majors, costs, admission requirements, and the nature of university life, to serve as a complete reference for students.
About Sabahattin Zaim University
Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University (İZÜ) is one of the prominent foundation academic institutions in Turkey, combining the heritage of a historical campus with the diversity of modern educational programs, to provide an integrated study environment for local and international students.
Establishment of the University
Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University was established in 2010 by the “Ilim Yayma Foundation” (İlim Yayma Vakfı). It was named in memory of the prominent Turkish academic and economist, Professor Sabahattin Zaim, and is classified among the foundation universities in Turkey.
Location and Campus
The main university campus is located in the Halkali area on the European side of Istanbul. The campus features a historical building extending within vast green spaces, providing a calm academic environment suitable for educational achievement.
Academic Orientation and Languages of Instruction
The university primarily focuses on social and human sciences, Islamic sciences, and Islamic economics. It also includes other faculties comprising engineering, health sciences, education, and law. The university adopts a multilingual approach to education, offering its academic programs for Bachelor’s and postgraduate levels in Turkish, English, and Arabic.
Student Diversity and Statistics
The university has over 11,000 male and female students distributed across various faculties and Bachelor’s and postgraduate programs. It features a diverse academic environment, attracting a wide segment of international students from various countries around the world, which enhances cultural exchange within the campus.
Advantages of Sabahattin Zaim University
Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University offers an integrated educational environment that attracts international students, thanks to the diversity of its academic tracks and its provision of study conditions that meet their scientific and practical needs. Below are the most prominent advantages of studying there:
1. Focus on Islamic and Historical Sciences:
The university pays increasing academic attention to the fields of human sciences, history, Islamic economics, and Islamic sciences. This orientation makes it a specialized institution for students and researchers wishing to delve deeper into these fields.
2. Study Programs in Arabic:
The university offers a competitive advantage by presenting several academic majors (at the Bachelor’s and postgraduate levels) entirely in Arabic, which facilitates educational achievement for Arabic-speaking students without the need to pass preparatory years for other languages.
3. The Prestigious Central Library:
The campus includes a massive historical library considered one of the most prominent facilities supporting scientific research. The library contains thousands of references, sources, and academic publications, providing spacious and quiet reading areas serving students around the clock.
4. Reasonable Tuition Fees:
The tuition costs at the university are moderate and appropriate when compared to many other private or foundation universities in Istanbul, presenting students with an option that strikes a balance between the quality of the academic environment and a well-calculated financial cost.
Accreditations of Sabahattin Zaim University 2026
Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University holds the following official academic accreditations, which fully document the compliance of its programs with higher education quality standards:
Full Institutional Accreditation (YÖKAK):
A comprehensive accreditation from the Turkish Higher Education Quality Council, proving the university’s competency in education and administration, valid until 2028.
Faculty of Education Accreditation (EPDAD):
Covers all teacher preparation programs in the faculty, which are: English Language Teaching, Preschool Teaching, Primary Mathematics Teaching (valid until 2029), Special Education, Psychological Counseling and Guidance, Turkish Language Teaching, Arabic Language Teaching, and Classroom Teaching.
Administrative and Social Sciences Accreditation (STAR):
Includes the accredited programs in the faculty, which are: Islamic Economics and Finance, International Trade and Finance, Business Administration, and Economics (in both Turkish and English tracks).
Turkish Qualifications Framework (TYÇ):
An official logo granted to the degree certificates of graduates from all the accredited programs mentioned above, documenting the quality of educational outcomes and enhancing their recognition in the job market locally and internationally.
Recognitions of Sabahattin Zaim University
Academic recognition is strong evidence of the quality of education provided by Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, and it is one of the most important factors attracting the international student.
Recognition in European and North American Countries
Sabahattin Zaim University is recognized in European Union countries, thanks to its commitment to the international standards stipulated by the Bologna Process, a system aiming to unify higher education standards among participating countries. The university grants its graduates the European “Diploma Supplement,” which facilitates the academic and professional recognition of its degrees.
Recognition in the United States of America and Canada
Degrees from Sabahattin Zaim University are recognized and eligible for academic evaluation in the United States of America and Canada through international degree evaluation and equivalency institutions (such as WES), based on the university’s full recognition by the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK).
Recognition in Arab Countries
The university features widespread recognition across many Arab Ministries of Higher Education. Among the most prominent Arab countries recognizing the Sabahattin Zaim University degree are:
- Egypt.
- Palestine.
- Sudan.
- Yemen.
- Libya.
- Morocco.
- Tunisia.
- Algeria.
Note: Recognition lists in Arab countries are updated annually, so it is always preferable to verify the university’s recognitions from the official website of the Ministry of Higher Education in your country.
Faculties and Majors of Sabahattin Zaim University
Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University offers a wide range of academic programs for the Bachelor’s level, distributed across specialized faculties including scientific, engineering, humanities, and health fields. Below is the structural distribution of available majors within the university’s faculties:
Faculty of Business and Management Sciences
- Economics (English).
- Islamic Economics and Finance (English).
- Islamic Economics and Finance (Turkish).
- Business Administration (English).
- International Trade and Finance (English).
- International Trade and Finance (Turkish).
Faculty of Education
- Psychological Counseling and Guidance (Turkish).
- Primary Mathematics Teaching (Turkish).
- Special Education Teaching (Turkish).
- Preschool Teaching (Turkish).
- Classroom Teaching (Turkish).
- Turkish Language Teaching (Turkish).
- English Language Teaching (Turkish).
- Arabic Language Teaching (Arabic).
- Music Teaching (Turkish).
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
- Computer Engineering (Turkish).
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering (70% Turkish + 30% English).
- Industrial Engineering (70% Turkish + 30% English).
- Food Engineering (70% Turkish + 30% English).
- Software Engineering (English).
- Molecular Biology and Genetics (70% Turkish + 30% English).
Faculty of Architecture and Design
- Architecture (Turkish).
- Interior Architecture and Environmental Design (Turkish).
- Visual Communication Design (Turkish).
Faculty of Health Sciences
- Nutrition and Dietetics (Turkish).
- Nursing (Turkish).
- Health Management (Turkish).
- Social Work (Turkish).
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Psychology (English).
- Psychology (Turkish).
- Political Science and International Relations (English).
- Sociology (70% Turkish + 30% English).
- History (Turkish).
- Turkish Language and Literature (Turkish).
Faculty of Islamic Sciences
- Islamic Sciences (Turkish).
- Islamic Sciences (Arabic).
Faculty of Law
- Law (Turkish).
Graduate Studies at Sabahattin Zaim University
Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University places great importance on scientific research and advanced studies, providing a wide and comprehensive range of postgraduate programs across various disciplines. These programs aim to prepare qualified researchers and academics to meet the needs of the academic and professional community, while offering study options in multiple languages (Turkish, English, and Arabic). Below is a breakdown of the available majors for the Master’s and PhD levels:
Master’s Programs
The university offers Master’s programs with both options (with thesis and without thesis) to suit students’ academic and professional orientations, including the following majors:
- Computer Science and Engineering (English, Turkish).
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering (English).
- Architecture (Turkish).
- Food Engineering (Turkish).
- Nutrition and Dietetics (Turkish).
- Health Management (Turkish).
- Occupational Health and Safety (Turkish).
- Nursing (Women’s Health and Obstetrics, Internal Medicine) (Turkish).
- Business Administration (English, Turkish).
- Political Science and International Relations (English, Turkish).
- Islamic Economics and Finance (English, Turkish).
- International Finance and Banking (Turkish).
- Islamic Economics and Law (Arabic).
- Islamic Studies (Arabic, Turkish).
- Islamic History and Arts (Turkish).
- Philosophy and Religious Sciences (Turkish).
- History and Civilization Studies (Turkish).
- Public and Private Law (Turkish).
- Clinical Psychology (Turkish).
- Sociology (Turkish).
- Social Work (Turkish).
- Educational Administration (Turkish).
- Family Counseling and Education (Turkish).
- Psychological Counseling and Guidance (Turkish).
- Spiritual Counseling and Guidance (Turkish).
- Communication in Religious Services (Turkish).
- English Language Teaching (English).
- Mathematics Teaching (Turkish).
- Urban Studies and Management (Turkish).
PhD Programs
The PhD programs at the university focus on deepening specialized scientific research, and the list includes the following majors:
- Computer Science and Engineering (English).
- Architecture (Turkish).
- Food Engineering (Turkish).
- Urban Renewal (Turkish).
- Business Administration (Turkish).
- Islamic Economics and Finance (English, Turkish).
- Islamic Economics and Law (Arabic).
- Political Science and International Relations (English, Turkish).
- Public and Private Law (Turkish).
- Clinical Psychology (Turkish).
- Sociology (Turkish).
- Social Work (Turkish).
- Islamic Studies (Turkish).
- Philosophy and Religious Studies (Turkish).
- History and Civilization Studies (Turkish).
- Educational Administration (Turkish).
- English Language and Literature (English).
- Internal Medicine Nursing (Turkish).
Cost of Studying at Sabahattin Zaim University
Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University offers its academic programs with tuition fees that vary based on the degree and the nature of the major. Below is a breakdown of the basic tuition fee range (without discounts) for the various stages:
Bachelor’s Level Costs
The basic tuition fees for Bachelor’s programs range between $7,000 and $8,000 annually. The fees are $7,000 for most administrative, educational, humanities, and health majors, while they rise to reach $8,000 in some engineering majors such as Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Food Engineering.
Master’s Level Costs
The basic total cost for the full Master’s programs ranges between $8,000 and $14,000. The cost for most non-thesis programs is $8,000, while the cost for thesis programs is $9,000, with the exception of the Clinical Psychology major, which costs $14,000.
PhD Level Costs
The basic total cost for the full PhD programs ranges between $12,000 and $16,000. The fees for the vast majority of majors settle at $12,000, while the fees rise to reach $16,000 in the Clinical Psychology major.
Note: To view all available majors and their detailed fees accurately, please click the button below to browse the university’s programs and prices schedule for 2026.
Practical Life for Students of Sabahattin Zaim University
Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University works to connect the academic side with practical application to qualify students to enter the job market, by providing infrastructure and programs supporting the professional path. Below are the most prominent aspects supporting the practical life of the university’s students:
1. Career and Professional Development Center
The campus features a specialized professional development center aiming to provide direct consultations to students. The center organizes periodic workshops on how to write academic and professional CVs and techniques for passing personal interviews. The center also oversees the organization of annual career fairs bringing students together with representatives of local companies and institutions to learn about available work and training opportunities.
2. Field Training and Professional Partnerships
Many university programs require mandatory field training before graduation, particularly in the faculties of education, health sciences, and engineering. Given the university’s strong focus on Islamic economics and finance majors, it has actual partnerships with a number of financing institutions, participatory (Islamic) banks, and businessmen associations in Turkey, which opens direct communication channels for business administration students to obtain practical training in the finance and business sector.
3. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support (İZÜ TEKMER)
The university hosts a technology development center and a business incubator to support students’ technical and entrepreneurial projects. The center offers dedicated workspaces and administrative and legal consultations for students who have startup ideas to help them transform their academic ideas into viable commercial projects.
4. International Practical Training (Erasmus+)
The “Erasmus+” program at the university is not limited to academic study exchange only; it also includes an “Internship Mobility” track. This track allows students the opportunity to travel to conduct professional training in companies or institutions within the European Union countries for a period ranging from 2 to 12 months, which enhances the student’s CV and gives them experience interacting with international work environments.
Facilities and Campuses of Sabahattin Zaim University
Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University features an integrated infrastructure designed to serve the educational and practical needs of students, and its academic activities and facilities are distributed as follows:
University Campuses
The university’s academic activities are distributed across two main campuses:
- Halkali Campus: The main campus on the European side. It is distinguished by its vast green spaces and historical character, housing faculties, laboratories, and the central library, and is primarily dedicated to Bachelor’s degree students.
- Altunizade Campus: Located on the Asian side and characterized by a central, easily accessible location. This campus is primarily dedicated to hosting postgraduate programs, research centers, and language centers.
The Central Library
The university’s central library is considered one of its most prominent academic facilities and is classified among the largest university libraries in Istanbul. The library provides an integrated study and research environment, housing hundreds of thousands of printed references and books, in addition to extensive access to scientific databases and electronic references, with a special focus on humanities, Islamic, historical, and economic sources.
Teknopark (TEKMER)
The university hosts a specialized technology zone (Teknopark) and a technology development center and business incubator (TEKMER). These facilities aim to support Research and Development (R&D) activities and provide an integrated work environment for startups and innovative student projects, contributing to bridging academic knowledge with practical application and facilitating students’ entry into the tech job market.
Applied and Research Laboratories
To meet the practical training requirements in scientific majors, the university provides a set of equipped laboratories, including:
- Engineering and Natural Sciences Laboratories: Comprising specialized labs for computer, software, and electrical and electronics engineering students.
- Food Engineering and Genetics Laboratories: Facilities dedicated to food analysis applications, molecular biology, and genetics.
- Health Sciences Laboratories: Including clinical simulation and practical training rooms for nursing students, and applied clinics for nutrition and dietetics students.
Sports and Social Facilities
The campus contains infrastructure dedicated to extracurricular activities to support university life, including:
- Integrated sports facilities including open and indoor courts for football, basketball, and volleyball, in addition to a fitness gym.
- Massive conference halls and auditoriums used to host academic events, seminars, and conferences.
- Over 50 student clubs in the fields of culture, arts, and science.
Services of Sabahattin Zaim University
Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University offers a set of supporting services aimed at providing a stable study and living environment for students, including the following:
University Housing
The university provides student dormitories (for males and females) near the main campus in Halkali. These dorms are equipped with suitable rooms, round-the-clock security services, internet, and cleaning facilities, to ensure the stability of students, especially those coming from outside Istanbul or international students.
Food Services
The campus includes main dining halls (Yemekhane) offering healthy daily meals at subsidized prices for students. Additionally, several cafes and cafeterias are distributed across the various faculties to meet daily needs and provide rest areas for students.
Health Services and Psychological Counseling
The university contains a medical clinic to provide first aid and basic healthcare. Alongside this, a psychological counseling and guidance center is available offering free support sessions for students to help them deal with academic challenges and personal pressures.
International Student Office
This is a department dedicated to supporting foreign students, working to facilitate their integration into university life, and providing them with assistance and guidance in administrative and legal procedures, such as obtaining a student residence permit, degree equivalency, and facilitating registration steps.
Internal Transport Services
Given the very large area of the campus in Halkali, the university provides free internal shuttle buses (Ring) operating throughout the day to facilitate students’ comfortable and quick movement between main gates, faculty buildings, and various facilities within the campus.
Documents and Admission Requirements for Sabahattin Zaim University
One of the advantages of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University is its reliance on clear and direct academic criteria for accepting international students, which facilitates the registration process for qualified students away from administrative complications.
Requirements and Documents for Bachelor’s Study
The fundamental requirement for admission is possessing a high school diploma or its equivalent issued by an accredited institution. The required averages roughly differ depending on the faculty:
- Engineering Majors: Usually require a high school diploma with an average of no less than 65% to 75%.
- Other Majors (Educational, Administrative, Humanities, and Islamic Sciences): A minimum admission average ranging between 60% and 65% is sufficient.
Required Documents for Application:
- A copy of the high school diploma translated into Turkish or English and notarized.
- A copy of the transcripts with a translated and notarized copy.
- A copy of a valid passport.
- A personal photo.
- A language proficiency certificate (if available).
Language Requirements
The language certificate is not a mandatory condition to obtain preliminary admission, meaning the student can register without it, but they will not be able to start academic courses before proving their language proficiency.
- English Language: TOEFL certificate with a score of no less than 75 – 79 (varies slightly by program).
- Turkish Language: TÖMER certificate with a level of no less than B2.
- Arabic Language: Presenting proof of proficiency or passing the university’s exam for programs taught entirely in Arabic.
Note: In the absence of an accredited language certificate, the student undergoes a placement test at the university. If they do not pass, they are obligated to study a preparatory year at the university’s language school.
Requirements and Documents for Graduate Studies (Master’s and PhD)
The university adopts almost standardized criteria for admission into postgraduate programs for international students, and does not require additional international certificates like (GRE) or (GMAT).
- For the Master’s Level: It is required to submit the Bachelor’s graduation document with a good cumulative GPA (usually no less than 65% or 2.5 out of 4).
- For the PhD Level: It is required to successfully complete the Master’s level. Unlike the Bachelor’s, proficiency in the program’s language is often a fundamental and indispensable requirement to begin the PhD phase.
Required Documents for Application:
- A copy of the graduation certificate and transcripts for the Bachelor’s level (for Master’s applicants).
- A copy of the Master’s degree and transcripts (for PhD applicants).
- A copy of a valid passport.
- A personal photo.
- An accredited language proficiency certificate (TOEFL for English, or TÖMER for Turkish).
How Can I Register at Sabahattin Zaim University?
The registration procedures at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University are characterized by clarity, and can be summarized in the following steps:
1. Choosing the Major
The first step begins by communicating with the “Intilaqa” team to evaluate the high school diploma and average, and determine the most appropriate major based on the student’s academic goals and available budget.
2. Preparing and Sending Documents
The core documents (high school diploma, transcripts, and passport) are prepared, translated, and duly notarized, so the “Intilaqa” team can upload them electronically and submit the official enrollment application to the university administration.
3. Obtaining Initial Acceptance
The university issues the initial acceptance letter within a short period after reviewing and evaluating the documents. This letter clarifies the major the student is accepted into, the annual fees, and the required first installment amount.
4. Paying the First Installment and Confirming the Seat
To convert the initial acceptance into a final one, the student is asked to transfer the first installment directly to the university’s official bank account to confirm the seat reservation.
5. Obtaining the Study Visa
The final acceptance letter issued by the university is used as a primary document to apply for a student visa from the Turkish embassy or consulate in the country of residence.
6. Arrival and Completing Final Registration
After arriving in Turkey, the student heads personally to the student affairs office on campus to submit the original and notarized copies of their documents and complete the final registration procedures.
7. Starting the Study or Preparatory Year
The student begins their academic study directly if they possess an accredited language proficiency certificate. In its absence, they undergo a placement test, and based on the result, they may be obligated to study the preparatory year at the university’s language school.
How Does the Intilaqa Team Help You?
The Intilaqa Educational Team works to assist you step-by-step to choose the most appropriate major and university for you in Turkey, according to your academic interests and study budget.
We offer you a comprehensive free consultation that includes:
- Recommending the best Turkish universities that teach your major.
- Clarifying available costs and scholarships.
- Full follow-up in the registration process until final acceptance.
Whether you plan to study at Sabahattin Zaim University or any other university, you can start by learning about the details of Studying in Turkey via our complete guide:
