Many foreign students aspire to study at Yildiz Technical University, which is considered the third oldest university in Turkey, due to the wide variety of specializations and departments offered in undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs, as well as the services provided to its students throughout their university journey.
In this article, we will shed light on the most important details you might want to know before enrolling in this university, such as the advantages of studying there and the most important admission requirements, in addition to learning about its main specializations and faculties.
Overview of Yildiz Technical University in Turkey
Yildiz Technical University is considered one of the seven public universities located in Istanbul, Turkey, and it is also one of the oldest Turkish universities, dating back to 1911.
The university comprises 10 faculties, two institutes, a vocational school for higher education, a vocational school for national palaces and historical buildings, in addition to a vocational school for foreign languages, and it has over 30,000 students and 1,380 academic staff members.
Vision
The vision of Yildiz Technical University is to be a leading, preferred, and prestigious international university.
Values
When discussing the values adopted by the university from its early days, the most important ones are:
- Respect for social values
- Achieving knowledge and quality in education and research
- Excellence in continuous improvement and modernization
- Integrity and ethics
- Lifelong learning and professional development
- Collaboration between the public and private sectors and non-governmental organizations
- Responding to stakeholders’ needs according to the principle of profit sharing for all
- Ensuring that management is fair, effective, and transparent
Campus
The history of the central campus, located on a hill overlooking Beşiktaş in Istanbul, dates back to 1877 when Sultan Abdulhamid ascended the throne in Yıldız Palace, which was the fourth palace in which the Ottoman sultans resided permanently in Istanbul.
The campus covers an area of 500,000 square meters, starting from the waterfront and rising to the northwest, covering the entire slope. The Sultan’s office, one of the important structures of this complex, was handed over to the school along with the establishment of the Yıldız Fine Arts School in 1937.
Moreover, the Sultan’s office located on the Yildiz campus has been used for many years as the office of the president of Yildiz Technical University, in addition to Çukur Saray, Single Sultans, Prince's Mansions, the Circumcision Palace, the Grooms’ Office, Agavat, and Kileri-I Hümayun—all of which are among the buildings utilized by Yildiz Technical University.
It is worth mentioning that YTU has transformed both its main campus and its other campus into sustainable living spaces, thereby aiming to create a world and spaces that are more conducive to living in the future.
It should also be noted that the campus contains public facilities that provide various services to university students, as well as various student clubs ranging from cultural, social, sports, to artistic.
What are the Advantages of Studying at Yildiz Technical University in Turkey?
Throughout its history, the university has earned the admiration of thousands of students, especially international ones, as it continuously strives to develop its capabilities and services in line with the latest advances in research and scientific studies. Moreover, the university is distinguished by the following:
Dual Degree Program
The dual degree system allows a student, whether Turkish or foreign, the opportunity to study two different disciplines simultaneously, so that upon graduation they receive a certificate for each field they have studied.
Student Exchange Program
Yildiz Technical University is a member of the Erasmus student exchange program and has numerous partnerships with European universities that enable both Turkish and international students to pursue postgraduate studies there without any restrictions.
Language
The university delivers its academic programs in three languages—Turkish, English, and French—to facilitate students’ learning in the language they are most proficient in, ensuring that all specializations are available regardless of the student’s native language.
What are the Main Specializations Available at Yildiz Technical University?
The university offers its students a diverse range of disciplines from which they can choose and study, including:
- Faculty of Architecture, which includes the following departments:
- Department of Architecture
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which includes:
- Foreign Languages and Literature
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
- Department of Physics
- Statistics
- Department of Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Turkish Language and Literature
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Department of Philosophy
- Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, which includes four departments:
- Department of Computer Engineering
- Department of Electrical Engineering
- Department of Communications and Electronics Engineering
- Department of Control and Automation Engineering
- Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, which includes:
- Department of Economics
- Department of Business Administration
- Department of Political Science and International Relations
- Faculty of Civil Engineering, which includes:
- Department of Civil Engineering
- Department of Geomatics Engineering
- Department of Environmental Engineering
- Faculty of Design and Arts, which includes:
- Department of Design and Communication
- Department of Music and Performing Arts
- Department of Fine Arts
- Department of Video and Photography
- Faculty of Maritime Studies and Shipbuilding, which includes:
- Department of Naval Architecture
- Department of Management Engineering
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy, which includes:
- Department of Bioengineering
- Department of Chemical Engineering
- Department of Mathematical Engineering
- Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
- Department of Food Engineering
- Faculty of Education, which includes:
- Department of Primary Education
- Department of Mathematics Education for Primary School
- Department of Social Studies and Education
- Department of Primary Science and Education
- Preschool Education
- Department of Educational Sciences
- Department of Curriculum and Instruction
- Department of Educational Administration and Supervision
- Counseling and Guidance
- Computer and Educational Technology
- Turkish Education
- Foreign Languages
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, which includes:
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Department of Industrial Engineering
- Faculty of Applied Sciences
What are the Admission Requirements for Yildiz Technical University?
The admission requirements for enrolling in the university are divided into conditions that the student must meet, and official supporting documents that must be submitted to the university so that registration can be completed legally and formally.
Requirements:
- The student must be a foreigner, meaning they do not hold Turkish nationality.
- The student must have completed high school, or be in their final year.
- A YÖS or SAT certificate.
- Those who have recently acquired Turkish citizenship are also eligible to register.
When discussing the YÖS exam, which is one of the basic requirements for admission to the university, it is important to note that the exam lasts 130 minutes during which the student must answer 80 questions—40 questions to assess cognitive and intellectual abilities, in addition to 5 engineering questions. The exam is administered in both English and Turkish.
Enrichment:
Most high school certificates are accepted for university registration; however, a YÖS or SAT certificate is required as an essential condition for registration.
Required Documents
- A copy of the high school diploma translated into Turkish and attested by a notary.
- A copy of the passport or identity card.
- A personal photograph of the student.
- A copy of the YÖS or SAT certificate.
As for the certificates required for admission to this university, they are as follows:
- SAT 1 certificate
- GCE certificate
- ACT certificate
- International Baccalaureate
- Abitur certificate
- French certificate
Are there Research Centers and Educational Institutes at Yildiz Technical University?
The university houses 30 research centers equipped with the latest technologies to meet students’ needs during their academic journey, facilitating the conduction of necessary research and studies.
In addition, the university has a number of educational institutes, which are as follows:
- Institute of Science and Engineering
- Institute of Social Sciences
- School of Foreign Languages
- Institute of Vocational Studies
In conclusion, it should be noted that Yildiz Technical University has dedicated postgraduate programs, including 126 master's programs and 70 doctoral programs, demonstrating the university's commitment to attracting students with its diverse programs and the services it offers throughout their academic journey.
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