Altınbaş University Master’s Programs: Fees, MBA and Admission

Contents

1. What master’s programs does Altınbaş University offer?

2. Which Altınbaş master’s programs are taught in English?

3. How is the Altınbaş MBA structured?

4. What do international applicants need to submit?

5. Thesis or non-thesis: how do the two tracks compare?

6. How are master’s fees structured at Altınbaş?

7. Do you need ALES, GRE or GMAT to apply?

8. When should you apply, and what comes next?

9. Real-World Examples

10. Frequently Asked Questions

11. References

12. Legal Notice

Introduction

Altınbaş University, a foundation university in Istanbul, lists 22 master’s programs for the Fall 2026 intake in its 2026–2027 graduate brochure: 20 offer a thesis track and 19 a non-thesis track. Its MBA is the Business Administration master’s, taught in Turkish and English. International applicants apply online, and Article 12 of the university’s 2024 graduate regulation removes the ALES requirement for non-thesis programs.

The name is often typed as “Altinbas University” without Turkish characters; both spellings refer to the same institution. According to the university’s About Us page, it was founded in 2008 as İstanbul Kemerburgaz University and took the name Altınbaş University in 2017. In the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) monitoring scorecard for 2023, 6,139 of its students, or 47.50 percent, were international students.

This guide draws on the Graduate Education Institute’s brochure and academic calendar, the Altınbaş University Graduate Education and Training Regulation published in the Official Gazette on 26 February 2024, the university’s 2025 directive on international student admission, and YÖK statistics. Program lists, application windows and fee packages are set for each academic year, so some details may change before the Spring 2027 intake.

What master’s programs does Altınbaş University offer?

Altınbaş University offers 22 master’s programs for the Fall 2026 intake, according to the Graduate Education Institute’s 2026–2027 brochure. They cover business, finance, law, psychology, politics, design, engineering, architecture, data analytics, biomedical sciences and aesthetic dentistry. A single graduate school, the Graduate Education Institute, administers all 22 programs and handles applications and enrollment for every one of them.

A graduate school is the academic unit within a Turkish university that runs graduate education and manages application and enrolment procedures. Altınbaş University has no single fixed English name for its graduate school. The institute’s English FAQ page calls it the Graduate Education Institute, while an International Office brochure uses Institute of Graduate Studies.

Altınbaş University was founded in 2008 as İstanbul Kemerburgaz University and adopted its present name in 2017, according to its About Us page. Teaching takes place on three Istanbul campuses: a main technology campus in Mahmutbey, a social sciences campus in Gayrettepe and a health campus in Bakırköy.

Program counts differ between university pages. The About Us page reports 60 master’s and 13 doctoral programs, while the 2026–2027 brochure lists 22 master’s fields, with thesis, non-thesis and language options shown for each field. The About Us page does not explain how its figure is counted. This guide follows the brochure, because it is the dated document issued for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Some older pages also need care. An undated International Office brochure lists several dental specialty master’s programs that the 2026–2027 brochure does not include. The institute’s English website menu shows only 14 master’s programs. As of October 2026, the Turkish program menu and the 2026–2027 brochure agree on all 22 programs and are the most complete official lists.

Which Altınbaş master’s programs are taught in English?

Twelve of Altınbaş University’s 22 master’s programs offer English instruction, according to the Graduate Education Institute’s 2026–2027 brochure. Eight run in both Turkish and English, including Business Administration, Data Analytics and Industrial Engineering. Four are taught only in English: Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture and Aesthetic Dentistry. The remaining ten programs are listed as Turkish-medium programs for the Fall 2026 intake.

Table 1. Altınbaş University master’s programs by track and language of instruction, Fall 2026 (Graduate Education Institute, 2026–2027 brochure)

The brochure shows languages by program, not by track. It does not confirm, for example, whether the non-thesis Business Administration track runs in English as well as in Turkish. Applicants who need a specific combination of track and language should confirm it in writing with the Graduate Education Institute before applying.

Language of instruction also shapes the documents an applicant prepares. Under Article 4 of the Altınbaş University Graduate Education and Training Regulation, teaching is delivered in Turkish or English. The university’s English exemption directive sets out the accepted English tests for the twelve English-taught programs. Applicants considering one of the ten Turkish-medium programs should ask the institute which proof of Turkish proficiency it accepts, since the official documents reviewed for this guide focus on English proficiency.

The English-taught options are concentrated in engineering, architecture and technology. Six of the twelve programs offering English instruction are Information Technologies, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Architecture. In business and social sciences, English instruction is listed for Business Administration, International Taxation and Politics and International Relations. Law and psychology programs are listed as Turkish-medium only.

How is the Altınbaş MBA structured?

The Altınbaş MBA is the Business Administration master’s program, offered with or without a thesis and taught in Turkish and English. Classes run on weekdays from 19:00 to 22:00 at the Gayrettepe Campus, according to the program’s English page. The thesis track requires seven courses, a seminar and a thesis; the non-thesis track requires ten courses and a project assignment.

The Master of Business Administration program aims to train individuals who can cope with the complexity of the business world and are equipped with global dynamics, business processes, organizational management, data analysis, financial analysis and strategic decision making techniques.
— Altınbaş University Graduate Education Institute, Business Administration Master Program page, accessed 13 October 2026

The same page lists ten subject areas: management, marketing, finance, accounting, leadership, human resources, entrepreneurship, operations management, data analysis and strategic decision making. The International Office website labels the thesis track “Business Administration (MBA) - Masters (With Thesis)”. The Graduate Education Institute’s own English page uses the title Business Administration Master Program.

The official documents reviewed for this guide show no separate Executive MBA, online MBA or distance-learning MBA at Altınbaş University as of October 2026. The weekday evening schedule is the format offered to working professionals.

Program length comes from the regulation, not the program page. Under Article 27 of the Altınbaş University Graduate Education and Training Regulation (Official Gazette, 26 February 2024), the thesis track lasts four semesters and must be completed within six. Article 23 sets a length of two to three semesters for the non-thesis track.

The maximum period of study is the longest duration set out in regulation within which a graduate program must be completed before the right to enrolment ends. For the Altınbaş Business Administration master’s, that ceiling is six semesters on the thesis track and three on the non-thesis track. Under Article 7 of the national Regulation on Graduate Education and Training, time spent in a scientific preparatory program is excluded from that period. A scientific preparatory program is a set of completion courses that a student admitted to a graduate program from a different field must complete before beginning the main program.

What do international applicants need to submit?

International applicants to Altınbaş master’s programs submit a bachelor’s diploma or proof of final-year status, a transcript, a passport or ID page, a photograph and, where used, a language certificate. Article 9 of the university’s 2025 directive on international student admission sets this list. Documents in a language other than Turkish or English need a certified translation, and programs may post extra requirements online.

An international student is a person who is not a citizen of the Republic of Turkey and who is admitted to a higher education institution under international student status. The Altınbaş directive on the application, admission and registration of international students was approved by the University Senate on 3 June 2025 and by the Board of Trustees on 23 June 2025. It covers doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s and associate programs.

Recognition is checked at the start. Under Article 9 of the directive, the International Office verifies whether the applicant’s university appears on YÖK’s list of recognized institutions. If it does not, Altınbaş University asks YÖK in writing before the application moves forward. Article 10 of the same directive also sets minimum undergraduate grade averages for master’s applicants, published in the directive itself.

Registration asks for more. Article 11 lists the original documents, attestation by the relevant ministry or embassy, a visa or Turkish entry stamp, and two photographs. Applicants who hold a Blue Card, or who have renounced Turkish citizenship, add proof of that status.

The directive and the institute’s FAQ page do not list a CV, a statement of purpose or reference letters for master’s applicants; the FAQ lists a CV for doctoral applicants only. Individual programs may still request such documents through their program-specific requirements.

• Confirm that your university appears on YÖK’s list of recognized institutions

• Request your diploma and transcript, or a letter confirming final-year enrollment

• Arrange certified translations for documents not in Turkish or English

• Read the program page for any program-specific documents

• Book an accepted English test if you choose an English-taught program

• Plan ministry or embassy attestation of your originals before registration

Thesis or non-thesis: how do the two tracks compare?

The thesis and non-thesis tracks of an Altınbaş master’s differ in length, workload, admission testing and final output. Under the university’s 2024 graduate regulation, the thesis track takes four semesters and at least 120 credits in the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). The non-thesis track takes two to three semesters and at least 60 ECTS. Only the thesis track asks for an ALES score.

A master’s with thesis is a graduate program completed through coursework and the preparation of a thesis. A master’s without thesis is a coursework-focused graduate program completed with a term project instead of a thesis. A term project is the supervised written assignment that completes a master’s without thesis in place of a thesis.

Table 2. Thesis and non-thesis master’s tracks under the Altınbaş University Graduate Education and Training Regulation (Official Gazette, 26 February 2024)

These rules follow the national Regulation on Graduate Education and Training (Official Gazette, 20 April 2016, No. 29690). Its Article 6 sets the same floor of seven courses, 21 credits and 120 ECTS for thesis programs. Article 12 of the national regulation sets two to three semesters for non-thesis programs, and Article 11, as amended on 1 March 2017, sets a floor of ten courses and 60 ECTS.

The thesis track adds a seminar and a supervised thesis across four semesters, which suits applicants who want research in their degree. The non-thesis track can be completed in two semesters, which suits professionals who want a shorter, course-based qualification.

The choice also affects admission. A thesis applicant prepares an ALES score or an accepted equivalent, while a non-thesis applicant does not need one under Article 12 of the Altınbaş regulation. For the Business Administration master’s, the program page gives a single weekday evening schedule at the Gayrettepe Campus, so the track decision rests mainly on workload and goals.

How are master’s fees structured at Altınbaş?

Altınbaş University sets master’s fees as a program package, published in the Graduate Education Institute’s 2026–2027 brochure. The institute’s English FAQ describes fees as “determined as a package and annually”. A thesis package covers seven courses, the seminar and the thesis once; a non-thesis package covers ten courses and the project once. Fees vary by program and academic year.

Courses outside the package carry an additional charge, according to the same FAQ. This applies to courses repeated after a failing or withdrawal grade and to courses taken beyond the curriculum.

The institute’s Payment Options page lists four payment routes. Students can pay by bank transfer, by a single credit-card payment, or in credit-card installments that carry a surcharge. A fourth route spreads payment over monthly installments through a partner bank’s overdraft account, also with a surcharge. The page states that cash payments are not accepted.

Discounts are published on the institute’s Scholarship Opportunities page. Only one discount applies at a time, and the most favorable category is the one used. As of October 2026, none of the official pages reviewed for this guide shows a separate graduate fee schedule or a scholarship reserved for international students. An undated International Office brochure mentions merit scholarships, but its program list is out of date, so international applicants should confirm any scholarship in writing.

Mezun Kampüsü does not publish fee amounts, because they are revised for each academic year. The 2026–2027 brochure, uploaded by the Graduate Education Institute in August 2026, is the document that carries the package fees for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 intakes.

Do you need ALES, GRE or GMAT to apply?

ALES is needed only for Altınbaş thesis master’s programs. Article 12 of the university’s 2024 graduate regulation states that the ALES requirement is not sought for non-thesis programs, and the Graduate Education Institute’s FAQ confirms this. GRE and GMAT are not separate requirements; they serve as ALES equivalents through the equivalence table of the Student Selection and Placement Centre (ÖSYM).

ALES is the centralised examination administered by the Student Selection and Placement Centre (ÖSYM) and used in applications to graduate programs and in academic staff recruitment in Turkey. For thesis applicants, Article 12 sets a minimum ALES standard score, which the regulation and the FAQ publish. According to the institute’s FAQ, an international applicant without an ALES result can present a GRE or GMAT score converted through the ÖSYM table.

Article 12 also allows a written scientific assessment, an interview, or both, alongside ALES. A scientific assessment is a written or oral evaluation of subject knowledge administered by a university as part of its graduate admissions; it is not a centralised examination and its scope varies by program. The 2025 international directive, in its Article 9, adds that an interview may be held where the relevant unit considers it necessary.

English tests cause the most confusion. Article 11 of the Altınbaş School of Foreign Languages exemption directive, last amended by the Board of Trustees on 20 January 2025, lists the tests accepted for English-taught master’s programs. They include the university’s own proficiency exam, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge CAE and CPE, and ÖSYM’s YDS and YÖKDİL foreign-language exams. Results must be no older than two years, and TOEFL Home Edition is not accepted.

IELTS does not appear in that list, although many applicants expect it to be accepted. An applicant holding an IELTS result should ask the Graduate Education Institute before relying on it. Older International Office pages that mention TOEFL and FCE, or a Spring 2019 deadline, predate the 2025 directive. Under Article 12 of the graduate regulation, admitted students who cannot prove English proficiency are placed in the English preparatory program.

When should you apply, and what comes next?

The next Altınbaş master’s application window runs from 7 December 2026 to 26 February 2027 for the Spring 2027 intake, according to the Graduate Education Institute’s 2026–2027 academic calendar. The Fall 2026 window ran from 1 June to 9 October 2026. Applications go through the university’s online candidate portal, linked from the institute’s graduate application form page.

The same calendar sets Spring 2027 course registration for 18 to 29 January 2027 and classes from 25 January to 30 April 2027. It lists no separate deadline for international applicants and no dates for interviews or results. Applying early in the window leaves time for the YÖK recognition check and for attestation of documents before registration.

1. Choose the program, track and language of instruction from the 2026–2027 brochure.

2. Confirm that your university appears on YÖK’s list of recognized institutions.

3. Prepare an ALES score or a GRE or GMAT equivalent if you choose a thesis track.

4. Take an accepted English test if you choose an English-taught program.

5. Submit the online application between 7 December 2026 and 26 February 2027.

6. Attend any interview or scientific assessment the program schedules.

7. Register with original documents, attestation and a visa or entry stamp.

Translations, attestation by a ministry or embassy, and English test results each need their own preparation, so starting them before the window opens reduces pressure in February 2027.

Altınbaş sits within a large national system. YÖK’s Higher Education Statistics bulletin of 27 March 2026 counts 208 higher education institutions and 330,464 master’s students in Turkey for 2025–2026.

Program lists, calendars and fee packages are issued for each academic year. The 2026–2027 brochure dates from August 2026, so a 2027–2028 edition may change tracks, languages or dates. Check the Graduate Education Institute’s pages again shortly before you apply.

Real-World Examples

The examples in this section are illustrative scenarios created to explain situations applicants may encounter.

Amina wants an English-taught MBA

Amina has an undergraduate degree in economics and an IELTS result from spring 2026. She plans to apply to the Altınbaş Business Administration master’s in English for the Spring 2027 intake. She reads the School of Foreign Languages exemption directive and sees that IELTS is not on its list of accepted tests. She emails the Graduate Education Institute to ask whether her result can be considered. She also books the university’s own proficiency exam as a backup, so she has an accepted result before the window closes on 26 February 2027.

Karim needs an evening program without ALES

Karim works full time in sales in Istanbul and wants a business degree alongside his job. He has never taken ALES. Reading Article 12 of the Altınbaş graduate regulation, he learns that the non-thesis track does not seek an ALES score, and the program page confirms weekday evening classes at the Gayrettepe Campus. He chooses the non-thesis Business Administration track, which runs two to three semesters. Before applying, he asks the institute whether the non-thesis track he wants is offered in English or in Turkish, because the brochure lists languages by program rather than by track.

Lina plans a research career

Lina, an engineering graduate, wants to move into data-driven research and is considering a doctorate later. She compares the thesis and non-thesis tracks of the Data Analytics master’s and chooses the thesis track for its seminar and supervised thesis. Since she has a GRE score rather than ALES, she checks the ÖSYM equivalence table to see how it converts. She also prepares for a possible interview, since Article 12 of the regulation allows one. She plans to submit early in the Spring 2027 window.

Daniel’s university is not on the recognition list

Daniel graduated from a newer private university and cannot find it on YÖK’s list of recognized institutions. He reads Article 9 of the Altınbaş international student directive and learns that the International Office writes to YÖK in such cases before the application proceeds. He submits his application in the first week of the Spring 2027 window to give that inquiry time. Meanwhile, he starts translations and attestation, so his file is ready if YÖK confirms his university and he is admitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Mezun Kampüsü
Mezun Kampüsü is a platform that brings together the graduate programs, application calendars and academic announcements of universities in Turkey. Applicants weighing Altınbaş University’s master’s programs can compare Business Administration and other programs through Atlas, follow application windows such as the Spring 2027 period, track announcements from universities, and start a free application for a chosen program through the Universities section.

Legal Notice

This article provides general information about master’s programs at Altınbaş University and is not personal academic, legal or financial advice. Regulations and university practice can change over time, and program lists, application windows, admission conditions and fee packages are set for each academic period. Applicants should confirm every detail with Altınbaş University’s Graduate Education Institute and, for recognition questions, with the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) before applying or making commitments. The article refers to the Altınbaş University Graduate Education and Training Regulation (Official Gazette, 26 February 2024, No. 32472), the national Regulation on Graduate Education and Training (Official Gazette, 20 April 2016, No. 29690) and the university’s 2025 directive on international student admission.