5 Best Business Schools in Turkey

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Turkey, a transcontinental country, has most of its territory in Western Asia, and a small part lies in Southeastern Europe. It is known for bridging the two continents in early times while different civilizations occupied its large land area. Historically rich and culturally diverse, Turkey is also famous for its unique fusion of oriental and European influences.

While tourism is one of Turkey’s contributor to national wealth, its economy is also one of the world’s largest, landing the 19th place. Some of the industries involved in this increased wealth are automotive, shipyards for oil tankers and megayachts, and consumer electronics. Banking, textiles, construction, food, and mining industries are also key players in the Turkish economy.

Education plays a vital role in Turkey’s economic progress. Universities are highly selective as secondary students must take the national Student Selection and Placement System examination, which determines their destination university according to their scores. The system guarantees that the top schools in the country deliver consistently high performance and global competitiveness. Meanwhile, graduate schools are less selective. Thus professionals looking to study business to advance their careers can still consider Turkey’s top business schools.

Best Business School in Turkey

1. Koç University

  • Business School Link
  • Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
  • Language of Instruction: English

Koc University is the best business school in Turkey. It focuses on research, targeting scientific developments, and aims to produce internationally qualified graduates. The school received multiple accreditations including from AMBA (Association of MBAs), AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), and EQUIS (EMFD Quality Improvement System). Its triple crown status from the three prestigious accreditation institutions made it the best choice for business education.

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration is available along with related fields such as Economics and International Relations. Its graduate school offers full-time MBA and other master’s degree programs like Master of Science in International Management. Also, the Graduate School of Business has part-time MBA programs for professionals looking to study while excelling in their careers. Executive education is also available for professionals since the programs are conducted online, and companies can even request a customized program for their employees. Meanwhile, individuals looking to explore business research can only select a Ph.D. in Business as a full-time program.

2. Istanbul University School of Business

  • Business School Link
  • Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D.
  • Language of Instruction: Bachelor’s (English), Master’s and Ph.D. (English or Turkish)

While Istanbul University was established in 1453, its School of Business instituted in 1968, making it the country’s first business school. The school looks toward becoming one of the most preferable among its competition while creating a difference in education and making an extraordinary impact on the international business scene. It has received accreditation from AACSB, becoming one of top business schools in Turkey.

The school offers a bachelor’s degree taught primarily in English. Its master’s degree programs come in varied specializations, with some taught in Turkish and few in English. However, students can choose either a complete English or Turkish track for their MBA program. In collaboration with the Institute of Social Sciences, doctorate programs are available in several business-related areas such as Quantitative Methods, HR Management and Marketing. But, only the Ph.D. in Management mainly uses English as the language of instruction.

3. Sabanci University- Sabanci School of Management

  • Business School Link
  • Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D.
  • Language of Instruction: English

Sabanci University officially opened in 1999, and among its first program offerings are the MBA, Executive MBA, and Ph.D. programs. The school started offering a bachelor’s degree program four years later. Since there was nothing but an upward trend to the school’s progress, it eventually received its AACSB accreditation in 2011. It started its affiliation with other globally renowned business schools, first with MIT Sloan School of Management that lasted for five years, then with Columbia Business School.

While Sabanci offers the same undergraduate programs as other business schools in Turkey, the difference is that students are required to take less number of management courses. This way, they can choose more non-management courses that are nonetheless essential in their career aspirations. Another unique program in Sabanci is its Professional MBA, which is different from the Executive MBA. While the Executive MBA requires more than seven years of career experience, the Professional MBA only requires two to six years of work experience, making it preferable for business practitioners relatively new to the industry.

4. Bilkent University – Faculty of Business Administration

  • Business School Link
  • Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
  • Language of Instruction: English

Bilkent University, one of the best business schools in Turkey, opened in 1984 though preparations for Turkey’s first private university started in 1967. It started offering MBA programs through its Faculty of Business Administration in 1986. Since then, the school has committed to providing pioneering, intellectually challenging, and empowering education. The accreditation from AACSB in 2016 confirmed Bilkent’s global reach of its commitment.

Undergraduate and graduate programs are available in various specializations. Aspiring MBA degree holders can even choose a double degree program. In this option, students can take their MBA in Turkey and a Master of Science degree at Tilburg University in the Netherlands.

5. Galatasaray University- Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences

  • Business School Link
  • Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D.
  • Language of Instruction: French, English, or Turkish

We end our list of best business schools in Turkey with Galatasaray Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. Established in 1994, the Galatasaray Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences placed great emphasis on language learning. It requires students to complete preparatory courses in French and mastery in Turkish and English before taking undergraduate courses. It is an excellent move to produce future global leaders, critical thinkers, and ethically principled professionals, as these characters succeed through effective communication.

Aside from degree programs similarly offered in other business schools, Galatasaray also offers dual degree programs where upon completion, graduates will receive a bachelor’s degree in Turkey and another from its French affiliate school, Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne University. Meanwhile, the master’s program offers two options depending on the career goals of the student. While a non-thesis master’s degree provides the necessary courses for advanced management education, a thesis master’s degree allows the student to pursue a Ph.D. degree.

 

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