FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Research strength differs a great deal between universities in Turkey. Five private universities run research centers or project-based programs that go beyond the usual classroom degree: Bilkent, Özyeğin, TOBB ETÜ, Istanbul Medipol and Kadir Has.
If you are aiming at innovation, technology, medicine or advanced sciences, look at laboratories and project work before you look at the brand name.
Key takeaways
- Research capacity differs between universities, so compare them one by one.
- Ask about laboratory access.
- Some universities let students join real projects early: Bilkent undergraduates take part in research, and Kadir Has students work on industry projects from the first year.
- Patents and startups are one sign of applied research.
- Check the research output of the department you want, because the university's name says little about it.
Bilkent University: fundamental science
Bilkent University is in Ankara. Its research centers include:
- UNAM, the National Nanotechnology Research Center. It houses over 60 specialized laboratories and works as a user facility for physics, materials science and molecular biology.
- UMRAM, the Magnetic Resonance Research Center, which works on brain research and high-resolution diagnostic imaging.
Bilkent lets undergraduate students take part in this research.
Özyeğin University: applied innovation
Özyeğin University in Istanbul focuses on entrepreneurship and applied innovation. It is one of the few private universities that YÖK has designated a Candidate Research University.
- The ÖzÜ-X platform, a multidisciplinary hub where designers, engineers and business experts work together on real industry problems.
- Robotics and AI laboratories focused on autonomous vehicles and human-robot interaction.
Özyeğin also concentrates on technology transfer. It helps students and faculty secure patents and launch tech startups.
The table below lists these five universities and Ankara Medipol University.
🔄 Updated: Oct 22, 2026 14:06
TOBB ETÜ: research with industry
TOBB ETÜ is in Ankara, home to a large part of Turkey's defense and aerospace industry, and its research is tied closely to the business world.
- A cooperative education model: students spend a full year of their degree working in the R&D departments of companies such as ASELSAN, TUSAŞ and ROKETSAN.
- Research projects in quantum computing, cryptology and advanced materials for the defense sector.
Graduates leave with applied research experience as well as a diploma.
Istanbul Medipol University: biotech and medicine
For students interested in medicine and life sciences, Medipol follows a bench-to-bedside model, which aims to carry lab discoveries to patients.
- SABİTA, the Health Sciences and Technologies Research Institute, a lab complex focused on cancer therapy, drug development and genomics.
- REMER, the Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Center, which works on stem cell research and tissue engineering.
Medipol has its own hospital network, which gives researchers a clinical setting for testing new medical devices and treatments.
Kadir Has University: project-based learning
Kadir Has uses what it calls a New Education Model, which moves away from traditional exams toward research-based project work. Students work on industry-sponsored projects from their first year, guided by an academic mentor and a professional from the sector.
That gives students an early chance to take part in academic publications and to build professional networks.
How to choose between them
Compare research at the level of the department you want, since the university's name says little about it. Ask about laboratory access, whether undergraduates can join projects, and how applied work is built into the program.
Check the teaching language too. Bilkent and Kadir Has list only English-taught programs on StudyLeo, while Özyeğin, TOBB ETÜ and Istanbul Medipol also list programs taught in Turkish.
