In 2008, the Gelişim Education, Culture, Health, and Social Services Foundation took the initiative to establish a vocational school under the name İstanbul Gelişim Vocational School. With the approval of the Ministry of National Education and the Council of Ministers, the school was officially founded on July 14, 2008, marking the start of its educational journey.

İstanbul Gelişim University (IGU) itself was established under Law No. 6114, enacted on February 17, 2011. Believing that higher education is the most important driver of sustainable development, the University has set its sights on becoming a "world university," growing steadily and purposefully each year to become one of the most sought-after foundation universities in Türkiye.

For the 2025–2026 academic year, IGU serves both national and international students through 7 faculties, 1 school, 2 vocational schools, and its Graduate Education Institute. Its academic offerings include 85 undergraduate programs; 68 daytime and 33 evening associate degree programs; 41 thesis-based and 39 non-thesis master's programs; and 11 doctoral programs.

Internationalization sits at the heart of IGU's mission. The University collaborates with more than 130 universities worldwide and encourages its students at every level, associate, undergraduate, master's, and doctoral, to embrace an international outlook. To date, 40 of its programs have been evaluated and accredited by international bodies, including AQAS and AHPGS in Germany and ABET in the United States, making IGU the university with the highest number of internationally accredited programs in Türkiye.

Located in İstanbul, Türkiye's financial and commercial hub and a major global metropolis, İstanbul Gelişim University gives its students access to an extensive research complex of 150 laboratories, along with 22 research centers and 76 student clubs supporting social, cultural, scientific, and athletic pursuits beyond the classroom.

As the University continues to grow and evolve through its dynamic structure, we would be glad to collaborate with you, our valued external stakeholders.

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