ITU-FIT FASHION DESIGN PROGRAM
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT BOTH INSTITUTIONS
The textile and apparel industry, which has made significant contributions to Türkiye’s industrial development, employment opportunities, and trade, has become one of the country’s most advanced and modern industries thanks to technological innovation, technical expertise, and accumulated experience. However, for the Turkish textile and apparel industry to maintain its competitive position in a globalized world, it is essential to further improve its capabilities in original design, quality, productivity, marketing, and distribution, while focusing on high-end fashion and branded products. In this context, educating designers who possess the ability to create fashion and brands has become a necessity.
For this reason, the Fashion Design Program was established in 2004 through a collaboration between two prestigious institutions: Istanbul Technical University and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Ranked among the top three fashion schools in the world, FIT provides academic support to many educational institutions in the field of fashion. However, among all the universities and institutes it collaborates with worldwide, the ITU–FIT Fashion Design Program is the only four-year undergraduate program through which FIT awards a joint degree.
Students admitted to the department complete five semesters of their education at ITU in Istanbul (1st year fall and spring semesters, 2nd year fall semester, and 3rd year fall and spring semesters), and four semesters at FIT in New York (2nd year spring and summer semesters, and 4th year fall and spring semesters). Upon graduation, students receive diplomas from both institutions.
The department admits 30 students each year, and the language of instruction is English. Graduates are also eligible for one year of work authorization in the United States.
The Fashion Design Program includes courses directly related to garment design such as draping, sewing techniques, pattern making, and computer-aided pattern preparation, as well as courses in computer-aided design software (such as Photoshop and Illustrator), collection costing, and art-related subjects. In this way, students gain comprehensive knowledge of all elements that must be considered in garment design for any intended purpose.
In summary, throughout the four-year education, students personally complete every stage of their designs, from sketching to draping, pattern preparation, and sewing. As a result, graduates develop the ability to evaluate the producibility and marketability of every garment they design — in other words, whether their designs can create value in a competitive market.
* Applicant Student Handbook
* Current Student Handbook
The program is an international dual degree undergraduate program jointly conducted by ITU and SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology.
The program has been admitting students since the 2004–2005 academic year.
The language of instruction is English.
Students who do not meet the language proficiency requirement are required to attend the ITU English Preparatory School for one year.
Students who score 180 or above on the TYT exam and are interested in the program may submit a preliminary application together with their portfolio.
Applicants are required to prepare and submit their portfolios during the preliminary application process. Portfolio details will be announced on the website of the ITU Registrar’s Office.
The total student quota for the program is 40 students: 30 Turkish citizens and 10 international students.
Upon successful completion of the program, students are entitled to receive diplomas from both universities.
Students admitted to the program attend their ITU courses at the ITU Gümüşsuyu Campus.
For tuition fees, please refer to the tuition fee table available in "Tuitions" page. Payments for the years studied at ITU are made in Turkish Lira (TL), while payments for the years studied in the United States are made in U.S. Dollars (USD). Tuition fees are paid in two installments during registration weeks at the beginning of each semester.
IMPORTANT: Applications for the 2026–2027 Academic Year will take place in August 2026. Further information regarding applications and other details will be announced on Registrar's Office Website.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
1. Students enrolled in the ITU–FIT Fashion Design Program will attend FIT during the spring and summer semesters of the 2nd year as “visiting students.” In order to register for courses at FIT, students are required to submit proof of English proficiency (TOEFL iBT score of 80 or above, or PTE score of 53) and demonstrate successful completion of the required prerequisite courses. Additionally, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 at ITU.
2. Third-year students in the ITU–FIT Fashion Design Program who plan to spend their fourth year at FIT must, in addition to submitting the required TOEFL (iBT 80 or above, or PTE 53) score and proof of successful completion of prerequisite courses, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and prepare and submit a design portfolio that meets FIT Fashion Design Department standards. Students who fail to meet these requirements will not be admitted to FIT for the fourth year.