Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Vice Rector for Promotion and Institutional Communication Prof. Dr. Ali Öztüren made statements regarding the University’s international identity, promotional activities carried out over the past year, the increase in student numbers, and the diversity of its student profile. In his statement, Prof. Dr. Öztüren said:
“Established in 1979 as a state university, EMU has evolved into a truly international university, with nearly 16,000 students from more than 100 countries, over 1,000 academic staff members from 35 countries, international accreditations held by the majority of its programs, collaborations with more than 130 academic institutions across 36 countries, and over 80,000 graduates spanning more than 110 countries. This international profile makes EMU a multicultural global campus in the heart of the Mediterranean.
A Robust Growth in the 2025-2026 Academic Year
EMU recorded strong growth in new student enrollments during the 2025–2026 Academic Year, with a significant share of this growth driven by international student mobility. The number of international students increased by 20.9%, while the number of students from the Republic of Türkiye rose by 7.9%. As a result, the share of international students among total new enrollments increased from approximately 19% to 25%, while the share of students from the Republic of Türkiye rose from 51% to 52%.
Student Societies from over 100 Countries
In the 2025–2026 Fall Semester, our student population reached 15,890, including students from the TRNC and the Republic of Türkiye. Our diverse student body represents more than 100 countries from around the world.
Increase in International Visits and Engagements
The scope and intensity of our international promotional activities continue to grow year on year. During the 2024–2025 Academic Year, a total of 28 international visits were undertaken, encompassing participation in education fairs and events, school visits, and meetings with official representatives. This figure increased to 32 during the 2025–2026 Academic Year.
Since December 2025, our visits to and ongoing engagement with Kenya, Turkmenistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Syria, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tunisia, Qatar, Iran, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, and many other countries have contributed to a marked increase in interest in EMU among prospective students from these countries, while further strengthening educational cooperation between our respective countries.
As part of our international promotion and marketing strategy, we have expanded the number of our target countries to more than 60. In addition to conducting digital campaigns in four languages—English, French, Russian, and Arabic—we have broadened our outreach through new field visits across Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf region, as well as China, India, and various countries across the African continent.
These engagements have not only contributed to growth in student numbers but have also paved the way for new institutional partnerships. EMU continues to strengthen its visibility and recognition across the regions in which it operates. In countries where we have conducted visits and promotional activities, numerous agreements have been signed with schools, government authorities, and educational institutions, while groundwork has also been laid for the development of joint academic programs.
Global Partnerships
Today, EMU maintains active collaborations with more than 130 academic institutions across 36 countries on 5 continents. These partnerships include 78 memoranda of understanding, 29 international student exchange agreements, 8 international academic staff exchange agreements, 10 international joint degree agreements, and 5 international dual degree agreements.
This extensive network clearly demonstrates that EMU has earned its place not only among the leading universities in the region but also among respected higher education institutions worldwide. The concrete steps we continue to take through our international outreach, steadily expanding the geographical reach of our student body already representing more than 100 countries, further shows EMU’s standing as a trusted higher education institution on the global stage.”
