What Tishk International University does

Tishk International University (TIU) is a private higher education institution headquartered in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and operating under the European Bologna Process system. Previously known as Ishik University (founded 2008) and rebranded to Tishk International University in 2015, TIU serves undergraduate and postgraduate students through eight faculties: Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Engineering, Applied Science, Administrative Sciences and Economics, Education, and Law. The institution is ranked #1 among private universities in Kurdistan and Iraq by Webometrics and is recognized in Times Higher Education, QS World University Rankings, and Nature Index, with credentials that travel across European institutions via Bologna compliance and EQAR listing.

TIU's product ecosystem spans academic degree delivery, three peer-reviewed international journals (IJSSES, EAJSE, EJMSS), and web-based academic platforms including a Student Information System (SIS), Professor Information System (PIS), EPrints research repository, and Lecture Notes portal. Supporting units include a Continuing Education Centre, Language Preparatory School, and Career Development Center. The university monetizes primarily through recurring tuition and academic fees; pricing is not publicly disclosed and prospective students are directed to the admissions office. Distribution runs through on-campus programs, online learning systems, and a network of more than 40 international university partnerships enabling student exchange, staff mobility, and joint research.

Operationally, TIU employs approximately 416 staff and pursues international academic standards through ISO 21001 certification, International Association of Universities membership, EFMD membership, and Association of Arab Universities participation. Its go-to-market is sales-led admissions with field recruitment and on-campus enrollment, supplemented by social media and content marketing channels. Recent strategic activity centers on AI-in-education initiatives (HoloMed AI Project, AIESR 2026 conference co-organization), expansion into continuing professional development (TIU-SIERG programmes), and new bilateral engagements (Republic of Korea) layered on top of its established European and Arab partnership footprint.

Name

Tishk International University

Legal name

Tishk International University

Website

https://tiu.edu.iq

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Tishk International University is a private, Bologna-aligned university in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, serving undergraduate and postgraduate students across eight faculties (Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Engineering, Applied Science, Business, Education, Law) and generating tuition revenue through on-campus and online programs supported by 40+ international partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB), Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA), Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL), Dual/Joint Degree Programs (International) (EDAIABAD)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• University degree programs
• Academic research journals
• Professional development training
• International student exchange

Headquarters

HQ city

Erbil

HQ country

Iraq

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Academic Tuition and Fees: The university generates revenue primarily through tuition and academic fees from undergraduate and postgraduate programs across its eight faculties including Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Engineering, Applied Science, Administrative Sciences and Economics, Education, and Law.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tishk International University is a private higher education institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs across eight faculties: Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Engineering, Applied Science, Administrative Sciences and Economics, Education, and Law. The university supplements its degree programs with three peer-reviewed academic journals (IJSSES, EAJSE, EJMSS), a Continuing Education Centre, Language Preparatory School, and Career Development Center, all operating under the European Bologna Process framework.

Product overview

Tishk International University (TIU) operates as a comprehensive private higher education institution in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, previously known as Ishik University. TIU offers a multi-faculty academic portfolio spanning undergraduate and postgraduate programs across eight faculties: Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Engineering, Applied Science, Administrative Sciences and Economics, Education, and Law. The university's product ecosystem includes three peer-reviewed international journals (IJSSES, EAJSE, EJMSS), web-based academic platforms (SIS student portal, PIS faculty system, EPrints research repository, Lecture Notes portal), and professional development units including a Continuing Education Centre, Language Preparatory School, and Career Development Center. TIU's digital infrastructure supports academic administration, research dissemination, and student services through integrated web-based systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IJSSES: International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies
• EAJSE
• EJMSS

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Bachelor's degree programs delivered across eight faculties (Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Engineering, Applied Science, Administrative Sciences and Economics, Education, Law) for prospective undergraduate students in Kurdistan and Iraq, taught under the European Bologna Process system for international degree recognition.
• Postgraduate Degree Programs Master's degree and postgraduate research programs offered across TIU's faculties for students seeking advanced academic credentials and research opportunities.
• IJSSES - International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCSI Bahrain delegation visited TIU to discuss strategic academic collaboration including student exchange programs (2-3 weeks short elective programs), staff exchange for academic mobility, joint research projects in nursing and medical areas, and collaborative workshops and conferences. A joint conference is planned for October 2026 to mark RCSI Bahrain's School of Nursing and Midwifery 20th anniversary.
• Association of Arab Universities (AARU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTIU is an active member of the Association of Arab Universities. Dr. Hiwa Banna and Dr. Dara Abdullah participated in online meetings discussing future plans, academic collaboration, joint projects, student and staff exchange programs, and partnerships in health and medical sciences.
• International Burch UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration partnership for student exchange and research cooperation.
• Stirling EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational collaboration and academic partnership.
• Stirling SchoolsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChannel partnership for educational services distribution.
• SAPcoreTechnology or IntegrationSAP University Alliance member providing technology resources and training for students and faculty.
• EFMD GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network membership in management and leadership education for business programs.
• International Association of Universities (IAU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network membership connecting TIU to international higher education community.
• Salahaddin UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with local Kurdish university for research and student exchange.
• University of BaghdadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with major Iraqi university for research cooperation.
• University of KufaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with Iraqi university for research and educational exchange.
• Jagiellonian UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership with Poland's oldest university.
• Kazan Federal UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration with major Russian university.
• Universiti Teknologi MalaysiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Malaysian technological university for research and exchange.
• Chitkara UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration with Indian university.
• Lovely Professional UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Indian private university.
• Sapienza University of RomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic collaboration with major Italian university.
• TU Bergakademie FreibergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical university partnership for engineering collaboration.
• Brandenburg University of Applied SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman university partnership for applied sciences collaboration.
• Haval CompanyminorOthersCollaborated with Faculty of Nursing on Breast Cancer Awareness International Workshop 2025 for community health initiatives.
• Kurdistan FoundationminorOthersJoint humanitarian project '10 Problems, 10 Solutions' supporting children with disabilities.
• Ishik Brayaty SchoolminorOthersCommunity partnership for school development and wellness project in conjunction with nursing department.
• Raparin Teaching HospitalminorOthersClinical training partnership for nursing students; joint community health projects including first aid education.
• Hawler Medical UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative workshop on Cervical Cancer Awareness with College of Nursing at Hawler Medical University.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Koya University: Public university in Koya, Kurdistan Region offering engineering, science, and social science faculties. Comparable academic portfolio and operates in the same regional student market as TIU.
• Salahaddin University: Major public research university in Erbil with comprehensive faculties including engineering, law, and medicine. A local academic partner and indirect competitor for student enrollment in Kurdistan.
• Hawler Medical University: Public medical university in Erbil focused on health sciences faculties. Directly comparable to TIU's nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry programs and a frequent research collaborator.

Direct peers

• University of Kurdistan Hewlêr: Private, English-medium university headquartered in Erbil offering multi-faculty undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Direct competitor to TIU for fee-paying students in Kurdistan Region Iraq.
• American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS): Private, American-style liberal arts university in the Kurdistan Region offering undergraduate and graduate programs in English. Competes with TIU for internationally-oriented Iraqi students and faculty.
• International Burch University: Private, English-medium university in Sarajevo offering multi-faculty programs with a partnership explicitly listed for TIU. Similar private international positioning and student exchange model.

Others

• Sapienza University of Rome: Major Italian public research university and a listed academic partner of TIU. Comparable in offering European-recognized multi-faculty programs and provides a benchmark for Bologna-aligned degree structures.

Broad incumbents

• Lebanese American University (LAU): Established American-style private university in Lebanon offering multi-disciplinary undergraduate and graduate programs. Comparable private international positioning and serves as a regional reference point for accreditation quality.
• American University of Beirut (AUB): Premier private research university in the Arab world with comprehensive faculties. Comparable to TIU's aspiration in international accreditation and serves as a quality benchmark for private higher education in the region.
• American University of Sharjah (AUS): Leading private, English-medium university in the Gulf offering engineering, business, sciences, and design programs. Comparable to TIU in private multi-disciplinary model and emphasis on international accreditation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TIU_university
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQRKNIvqcvKLa7DLbWVvR7Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/Tishkuniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tiu-erbil
• Instagraminstagram.com/tishk.international.university

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 Tishk International University