Earn your PhD Degree in Istanbul at Sabancı University

Sabancı University is one of the most diverse, pioneering, and highly ranked universities in the region. Since 1999, with its world-class faculty, Sabancı University provides a globally ranked education, fully in English, at affordable tuition fees compared to similarly ranked universities in the world. This is supported further by the comprehensive financial aid systems that are available to students of all nations and across all education levels and fields, guaranteeing high quality, accessible education for all.

Research is also a big focus at Sabancı University. The university boasts a large number of laboratories and research centers, including the most advanced Nanotechnology Research and Application Center in the region, and has been named the most innovative university in Turkey several years in a row.

Graduates of Sabancı University are highly valued across all sectors and many countries. 86% of our graduates find employment within a year of their graduation, and our over 15,000 alumni go on to start their careers or do their postgraduates studies at some of the best companies and universities in the world.

Selected Rankings

Scholarship Opportunities

All PhD programs at Sabancı University are offered with a 100% tuition fee waiver scholarship with possible additional benefits. Please visit our website to find out more.

How to Apply

Sabancı University opens online applications for graduate applications in February and close in May, for most departments. Only graduate programs in the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences have a spring intake, the applications for which generally open in September and close in late November. Please visit the deadlines page for more information. Since PhD students comprise the backbone of research conducted at Sabancı University, our faculty are always on the lookout for competent applicants. All you must do to apply to the university is fill in the online application form on the website and add any necessary documents to the online system.

Required Documents

• Completed online application form
• Undergraduate and graduate degree (if applicable)
• Official transcript showing university courses and grades
• Copy of language proficiency exam score TOEFL
• Result for Graduate Program Entrance Exam (GRE, GMAT, etc.)
• Two letters of recommendations
• Statement of purpose
• One passport-sized photograph

For program specific requirements, please visit our website.

Application Deadlines

Deadlines are announced on our website.

Program list:

• Computer Science & Engineering
• Cyber Security
• Economics
• Electronics Engineering
• Experimental Psychology
• Gender Studies
• History
• Industrial Engineering
• Management
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Materials Science and Nano Engineering
• Mathematics
• Mechatronics Engineering
• Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering
• Physics
• Political Science
• Social Psychology