Istanbul Arel University

What Istanbul Arel University does

Istanbul Arel University is a private foundation university (vakıf üniversitesi) established in 2007 and headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey. The institution operates three campuses—Sefaköy, Tepekent Kemal Gözüçkara, and Cevizlibağ Health—delivering higher education across 8 faculties (Medicine, Engineering, Communication, Fine Arts, Architecture, Health Sciences, Economics and Administrative Sciences, and Letters), 2 schools, and 1 graduate institute. The university is Bologna Process-compliant, ensuring European Higher Education Area recognition of its degrees, and holds MÜDEK accreditation for its engineering programs. It serves domestic Turkish students, graduate degree candidates, and international students recruited from America, Canada, Africa, the Middle East, Japan, and China through a dedicated International Students Office operational since 2009.

The university's technology infrastructure includes a Student Information System (OBS), the UZEM Distance Learning Center, 360-degree virtual campus tours, mobile applications (Arelim for Android and i-Stanbul Arel Üniversitesi for iOS), and digital payment services (Arel Nakit). Research and commercialization functions are supported through Arel BAP (Scientific Research Projects), Arel TTO (Technology Transfer Office), Arel MED-I (Medical research), and Arel USAM (Application and Research Center). Continuing education is delivered via Arel SEM. The institution also operates accessibility services through Erişilebilir Arel and complies with Turkey's KVKK personal data protection law.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees for domestic and international students, supplemented by scientific research project funding and continuing education program fees. The university distributes educational services directly through on-campus programs, distance learning via UZEM, and international student recruitment channels. Student-facing operations are supported by multiple administrative offices covering admissions, IT, budget, human resources, student affairs, and health/accommodation services.

Name

Istanbul Arel University

Legal name

İstanbul Arel Üniversitesi

Website

https://arel.edu.tr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Istanbul Arel University is a private foundation university in Istanbul, Turkey, established in 2007. It serves domestic and international students across 8 faculties, 2 schools, and 1 graduate institute, operating three campuses with Bologna Process-compliant degree programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Junior Colleges (6112)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Distance learning platforms
• Continuing education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Education Fees: Revenue generated from undergraduate and graduate tuition fees for domestic and international students.
2. Research Projects (BAP): Funding from scientific research projects through Arel BAP (Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri) commission.
3. Continuing Education (Arel SEM): Revenue from professional development and continuing education programs offered through Arel SEM.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Istanbul Arel University is a private foundation university that delivers higher education services through undergraduate and graduate degree programs across eight faculties, supported by distance learning, continuing education, and research programs. The university operates three Istanbul campuses and admits both domestic and international students, with degrees compliant with the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area.

Product overview

Istanbul Arel University operates as a comprehensive higher education institution offering a diverse portfolio of academic programs across multiple faculties including Medicine, Engineering, Health Sciences, Communication, Architecture, and Applied Sciences. The university's technology ecosystem includes a Student Information System (Öğrenci Bilgi Sistemi - OBS), mobile applications for students (Arelim and i-Stanbul Arel), distance education platform (Arel UZEM), digital payment services (Arel Nakit), and virtual tour capabilities. Research infrastructure includes the Scientific Research Projects unit (Arel BAP) and Technology Transfer Office (Arel TTO). The university also provides accessibility services through Erişilebilir Arel and continuing education via Arel SEM.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arel SEM: Continuing Education Center providing professional development and lifelong learning programs
• Arel BAP
• Arel UZEM
• Arel TTO
• Arel MED-I
• Arel USAM
• Arelim

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Full-time undergraduate bachelor's degree programs across eight faculties for Turkish and international students, with Bologna Process compliance for European Higher Education Area recognition.
• Graduate Degree Programs Master's and doctoral degree programs offered through the Institute of Graduate Studies for students seeking advanced academic qualifications and research opportunities.
• International Student Programs Degree programs and exchange opportunities for international students through the International Students Office, including Erasmus and bilateral university agreements.
• Arel UZEM Distance Learning Online and distance education programs providing flexible learning options for students who cannot attend on-campus classes, with learning management system and virtual classroom capabilities.
• Arel SEM Continuing Education Professional development and continuing education programs offering certificate courses and lifelong learning opportunities through the Arel SEM Continuing Education Center.
• Arel BAP Research Programs Scientific research project funding and management services through the Arel BAP commission for faculty and graduate research projects.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered regional and core.

• Küçükçekmece MunicipalityregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Strategic cooperation between Istanbul Arel University and Küçükçekmece Municipality for community development and mutual benefit programs.
• Yeşilay (Turkish Green Crescent)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Strategic cooperation between Istanbul Arel University and Yeşilay (Turkish Green Crescent) to combat addiction. The partnership aims to raise awareness and provide education on addiction prevention among students and the broader community.
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Global cooperation between Istanbul Arel University and ACCA providing international career opportunities for graduates. The partnership enables students to gain globally recognized accounting and finance qualifications.
• International Partner UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Bilateral cooperation with universities in America, Canada, Africa, Middle East, Japan, and China for student exchange and academic collaboration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Koç University: Top-tier Istanbul private research university backed by the Koç Foundation. Represents the upper bound of the private Istanbul university segment that Arel competes against for premium applicants and international students.
• Özyeğin University: Well-capitalized private Istanbul foundation university with a strong English-medium and international focus. Competes with Arel for international students and English-track programs.
• Anadolu University: Public Turkish university and the country's largest open/distance education provider. Sets the competitive baseline for Arel's UZEM distance-learning offering and represents the dominant scale player in distance higher education.

Direct peers

• Doğuş University: Private Istanbul foundation university with similar multi-faculty programs and an international student focus. Direct competitor in the Istanbul private higher-education segment.
• Istanbul Bilgi University: Private Istanbul foundation university backed by a major Turkish foundation, offering similar multi-faculty programs including communication, law, and health sciences. Comparable target market and program breadth.
• İstinye University: Istanbul-based private foundation university with a strong health sciences emphasis including a medical faculty. Comparable foundation status, multi-campus structure, and Istanbul market.
• MEF University: Istanbul-based private foundation university with engineering, business, and architecture faculties. Comparable program mix, scale, and target student segments.
• Bahçeşehir University: Private Istanbul foundation university with a strong international focus, multiple campuses, and broad faculty portfolio similar to Arel. Direct competition for international and domestic students in the same Istanbul market.
• Haliç University: Private Istanbul foundation university with similar faculties including engineering, medicine, and fine arts. Closely comparable scale, location, and tuition-driven foundation-university structure.

Regional players

• Gediz University (closed) / İzmir Economy: Private Turkish foundation university outside Istanbul operating in the same foundation-university category with comparable international recruitment strategies. Comparable business model but geographically distant.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/areledu

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Istanbul Arel University