Founded in 2007, Özyeğin University is a non-profit foundation university located on the Asian side of Istanbul. Considered one of the leading private universities in Istanbul after Koç and Sabancı, Özyeğin ranks among the top institutions in terms of student satisfaction, according to surveys conducted in 2017 and 2018.

The university defines itself as a financially accessible and entrepreneurial research university, with nearly 90% of undergraduate students receiving some form of financial support. Placing great emphasis on freedom, flexibility, and accessibility, Özyeğin University enforces a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination and is committed to advancing gender equality.

The university cites Cambridge and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as its long-term models. Currently, international students make up 8% of its population, and the female-to-male ratio is 44:56.