Istanbul Kültür University that is a foundation university established by Law No. 4281 adopted on July 9, 1997 in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, is a university established by the Kultur College Education Foundation (KEV), and subject to the provisions of the Law No. 2547 on foundation higher education institutions it has a public legal personality. State of the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish nation's achieving the constant goal in the way of "exceeding the level of modern civilization" can only be achieved by providing the youth a qualified education at any stage. That's why, in this context, the main purpose of Istanbul Kültür University is to provide high quality education. In 1997-1998 academic year, Istanbul Kültür University has started its educational activities in higher education with 157 students and 32 academic staff. 

  In the academic year of 1997-1998 in three faculties: Faculty of Science and Letters (Mathematics-Computer Department), Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (Department of Business Administration), Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (Civil Engineering and Computer Engineering Departments); and in the fields of Business Administration Program and Computer Programming, and Vocational Schools of Business and Technical Sciences (MYO), IKÜ has started educational activities with 157 students and 32 academic staff. On the highways of E5 and TEM, IKU serves on four separate campuses on a total area of 127966 square meters that 70216 m2 of them is closed and 57.750 m2 is open area. Faculty of Science and Letters, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Design, Institute of Graduate Studies provides educational services at Ataköy Campus; Faculty of Law, Vocational School of Justice, Department of Foreign Languages and Faculty of Health Sciences are at Sirinevler Campus; IKÜ Vocational Schools provides education at Incirli Campus. Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and Faculty of Education provides education at Basin Ekspres Campus opened in 2018-2019 academic year. 

  Ataköy campus, which is used as the main campus, also includes the Rectorate and affiliated administrative units. As all the campuses of Istanbul Kültür University are located at the intersection of rail system transportation to land, air and sea transportation, it is easily accessible, and it is a city university in terms of dense population in its vicinity. Our University, which has a strong corporate culture, as of 2019-20 academic year, it provides graduate education in 8 faculties: Faculty of Education, Faculty of Science and Letters, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Design, Faculty of Health Sciences; provides undergraduate education in 2 vocational schools: IKÜ Vocational School and Vocational School of Justice; provides graduate and PhD education in Institute of Graduate Studies. Our university has such a strong academic staff that they are experienced and prominent in their fields. Distribution of full-time faculty members goes like 58 Professors, 25 Associate Professor, 141 Assistant Professor totally 224. Instructors are 106; research assistants are 135. And with 344 class hours paid instructors who are expert in their fields our total academic staff are 809. 

  In administrative units there are 293 personnel work as full time. In the 2019-20 academic year, our faculties provide 11 English undergraduate programs and 23 Turkish undergraduate programs in 31 departments. With the merger of Vocational School of Justice and Vocational School of Business Administration and Vocational School of Technical Sciences in 2019, IKU Vocational School, which has been opened with the approval of YÖK, continues its associate education in a total of 31 programs as 28 formal education and 3 secondary education. In the Department of Institute of Graduate Studies, graduate education is provided in which there are 30 master’s degree with thesis and 29 master’s degree without thesis (totally 59) in 20 M.S programs and 11 PhD programs. 35% of undergraduate programs teach in English. English preparatory education at IKU is carried out by the Department of Foreign Languages. The Department of Foreign Languages, which provides English preparatory education, has been accredited in international English teaching by Pearson Assured as of July 6, 2018. Pearson Assured Accreditation is of great importance for the students of the University. Students who successfully complete the English Preparatory Class can obtain a “Pearson Assured Accreditation Certificate” Quality assurance studies in language teaching in the English Preparatory Class by the Department of Foreign Languages are carried out in the context of the criteria in the English Preparatory Schools External Assessment Pilot Program of YÖKAK as well as Pearson Assured Accreditation. 

  Since the beginning of education and training, İstanbul Kültür University has carried out important studies to improve the quality processes in education. The primary activities are the activities carried out for the accreditation of the programs. Undergraduate programs in the Faculty of Architecture (from 2008), Faculty of Engineering (from 2012) and Faculty of Science and Letters (from 2011) have been evaluated by national accreditation agencies, as well as undergraduate programs that have completed external evaluation processes, new application targets are planned. Faculty of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Program of English Language and Literature, Undergraduate Program of Mathematics-Computer, Undergraduate Program of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Undergraduate Program of Psychology and Undergraduate Program of Turkish Language and Literature accredited by FEDEK; Faculty of Architecture Undergraduate Program of Architecture accredited by MİAK; Engineering Faculty Undergraduate Program of Computer Engineering, Undergraduate Program of Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Undergraduate Program of Industrial Engineering and Undergraduate Program of Civil Engineering have been subjected to external evaluation process and received their accreditation certificates. Our Department of Foreign Languages has been accredited by “Pearson Assured” as of July 06, 2018. IKU went through the YÖKAK Institutional External Evaluation process in 2018. As of December 2019-20 academic year, total number of students in associate programs is 3650; in undergraduate programs 10850; in graduate programs 983, and in PhD programs 161; general total is 15644. Double major and minor programs are among the successful practices of Istanbul Kültür University. 

  Students in the undergraduate programs of all departments in our university can participate in the Double Major Program and Minor Program in other undergraduate programs. The programs of Double Major and Minor are prepared by the relevant departments and come into force after the approval of Senate. The number of students attending Double Major Programs is 451, of which 21 are Vocational High School students. Number of students who are in the Minor Program is 133. 9% of the total number of students is international students. Of which 1169 in associate degree and undergraduate degree, and 200 in graduate degree we totally have 1369 foreign students. Eighty-eight percent of our quotas are devoted to scholarship programs in the 2019 Measuring, Selection and Placement Center placement YKS guide. Istanbul Kültür University provides continuous education for 7 years in the scholarships of 100% - 75% - 50% and 25% in undergraduate departments; for 4 years in the scholarships of 100% - 75% - 50% and 25% in associate programs. According to the results of ÖSYS, among the candidates who entered the top 1000 in the TS score type and the first 3000 from the other types of scores (except LANGUAGE scores), students who were placed in a 100% scholarship undergraduate program at IKU were given a scholarship for need, and cash computer-book- CD scholarship, and also free accommodation was provided in IKU dormitories. 

  In addition, scholarships for needs that every students can benefit such as, Sportsmen Scholarships, Board of Trustees and Cultural Education Foundation (KEV) scholarships were provided Within the scope of İstanbul Kültür University mission and vision, the student is expected to be active in every field. The programs carry out different activities in order to gain students research competence in line with their own goals. Within the scope of the course, activities such as interactive homework, projects and presentations, presentations at their symposiums and / or congresses related to their programs, taking part in projects, carrying out a graduation project with the advisor are supported. In addition, technical trips, career days, seminars, and platforms for the follow-up of cultural and artistic events are created by the units. İstanbul Kültür University graduates students who know contemporary technologies at associate, undergraduate and graduate levels; who are equipped with the knowledge and experience to meet the needs in the fields of production, application and management; who can work in the international business world; and who have a professional ethics philosophy, teamwork skills and an entrepreneurial spirit. IKU graduated its first associate degree in 1999 from Business Administration and Technical Sciences Vocational School programs.It graduates its first undergraduate graduates (38 graduates) and first graduate graduates (10 graduates) in 2001. In 2019, 633 students from associate degree programs, 1760 from undergraduate programs, 160 from graduate programs and 18 from PhD programs, total of 2613 students graduated from Istanbul Kültür University. 

  Between 1999 and 2019, the total number of graduates of IKU reached twenty four thousand four hundred and seventy eight (24478). Istanbul Kültür University maintains its relations with its graduates under the umbrella of the Student Life, Career and Alumni Advisory Unit (KÜLTÜR POINT), and bring its graduates, students, academic, administrative staff together under the network of https://ikum.network/. Institutional research and development strategies at Istanbul Kültür University started with the establishment of the R&D Center in 1997, the university's founding year. Research activities at Istanbul Kultur University are carried out within the departments and programs of eight faculties and two vocational schools. In these units, mathematics, physics, chemistry, molecular biology and genetics, materials, nanotechnology, computer engineering, electronic engineering, industrial engineering, civil engineering, business, economics, law, international relations, entrepreneurship and project management, fine arts, distance education, R&D activities are carried out in different disciplines, especially in recent history, social sciences and foreign languages. In addition, there are 20 units and 52 laboratories established to conduct direct research and development (R&D). 

  Research centers and units operating in the institution are: Family Businesses and Entrepreneurship UAM (AGMER), R&D and Project Consultancy UAM (AR-GE), Atatürk's Principles and Revolution History UAM (ATAMER), Criminal Law UAM (CEHAMER), Distance Education UAM (UZEMER), Intellectual Property UAM (FİHAMER), Geomatic UAM (GEOMER), Global Political Trends Unit-Global Political Trends Unit (GPoT), Fine Arts UAM (GSUAM), İstanbul Kültür University Women and Social Research Unit (KAD), Guidance and Psychological Counseling UAM (RPDMER), Continuing Education UAM (İKÜSEM), Technology and Project Support Unit (TPDB), Turkish and Foreign Language Teaching UAM (TÜMER). Our university carries out improvement studies by making its own self-assessment within the scope of Strategic Plan monitoring studies. Istanbul Kültür University has substantially completed the basic legislative work aimed at improving the quality processes. In this direction, the University Quality Commission established under the Presidency of the Rector, the Quality Coordinator working under the Rector, the Quality Commissions of all academic and administrative units in the fields of education-training, research-development, social contribution and Internationalization, plan-implement-control-take-action (PUKÖ) cycles regularly. It continues its efforts to increase the quality gradually.

  Our mission is to provide a qualified teaching that nurtures the skills that will shape the future and to increase scientific, artistic and cultural activities.

• - To adhere to Atatürk's principles
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• - To be modern and universal
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• - To be human oriented and respecting human rights
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• - To have social and social responsibility awareness
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• - To give importance to the development and abilities of individuals 
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• - Having respect for nature and environmental awareness
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• - Adhering to the principles of universal knowledge, scientific thinking, ethics, common mind and participatory management
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• - To be versatile and productive
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• - Being student-centered in education
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• - To be process and result oriented
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• - Looking for continuous improvement and innovation
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• - Being Respectful to thoughts and beliefs
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• - To have the awareness of being innovative, creative, sharing, reliable, transparent and accountable.