The Program of Civil Aviation and Cabin Services, which was established in the 2016-2017 Academic Year under the Vocational School of Istanbul Kültür University, has been structured with an educational approach aligned with international civil aviation legislation, sectoral needs, and global developments. The curriculum has been designed to comply with all relevant national regulations, particularly the SHT-CCTO Directive published by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Türkiye (DGCA).
The program has also been shaped in line with the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and other international authorities. In this context, the program aims to provide a comprehensive professional formation covering multidimensional competency areas such as flight safety, passenger safety, crisis management, representational skills and intercultural communication.
The civil aviation sector is evaluated not only through technical and operational competence but also through passenger satisfaction, service quality, and people-oriented management processes. Within this framework, the primary aim of the program is to train qualified personnel who can serve as active contributors to flight safety and security, equipped with effective communication skills, representational abilities, and a well-developed sense of professional ethics.
The program supports the theoretical education provided from the first semester onward with practical courses and sectoral experience. In order to enhance students’ professional awareness, technical trips, seminars and talks with expert guests from the industry are integral parts of the program. Through these activities, students have the opportunity to gain insights not only from the academic staff but also directly from industry professionals, helping them develop foresight into professional life.
Students who successfully complete their associate degree are eligible to continue their undergraduate education through the Vertical Transfer Examination (DGS) administered by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM). Graduates may transfer to undergraduate programs such as Aviation Management, Logistics, Logistics Management, Travel Management, Transportation and Logistics, and International Logistics and Transportation. They may also consider bachelor’s degree completion opportunities at universities abroad. The program offers 50% and full scholarship options, along with merit-based achievement scholarships and need-based scholarships.
* Admission to the program will be subject to specific requirements imposed by the aviation industry. The relevant section of the guide should be carefully reviewed before applying.
The Program of Civil Aviation Cabin Services of Istanbul Kültür University is a four-semester associate degree program that aims to train qualified cabin crew members in accordance with the national and international standards of the civil aviation sector. The language of instruction is Turkish.
As part of the training program, various module courses are offered to equip our students with fundamental theoretical knowledge and practical skills in civil aviation. These courses include industry-specific module courses such as:
- Introduction to General Aviation and Terminology
- Flight Theory and Meteorology
- Standard Safety Rules
- Emergency Procedures
- Dangerous Goods and Transportation Rules
- Aviation Medical Practices and First Aid
- Airport and Flight Security
- Crew Resource Management (CRM).
The program also includes elective courses designed to support personal development and enhance industry-specific knowledge and skills. All courses are taught by academic faculty who are experts in their field, have industry experience, and are authorized by the relevant authorities.
Student's Admission to Program
Admission to the program is subject to specific requirements for the cabin crew profession. The relevant sections of the guide should be carefully reviewed during the selection process.
Students who qualify for enrollment in the Program of Civil Aviation Cabin Services based on their scores—primarily in Turkish and Basic Mathematics (TYT)—on the Higher Education Entrance Exam administered by the Evaluation, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), are required to submit their criminal records to the IKU Department of Student Affairs within the specified timeframe to be accepted into the program.
Graduates of the Program Civil Aviation Cabin Services must possess the following qualifications to be eligible to practice their profession as cabin crew members at an airline:
- No Criminal Record or Criminal Record Archive.
- Must be in good health (To be employed by an airline, candidates must obtain a report from a health institution authorized by the SHGM stating that they are fit to fly. According to the official letter from the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) numbered E-75850160-301.01.01-58656, titled "2023 YKS Civil Aviation Cabin Services Program," students are not required to obtain a health report to complete their program registration.)
- Must not have any tattoos, scars, or other visible marks on their body when wearing the cabin crew uniform.
- Be between 160-180 cm tall for women and 170-190 cm tall for men (weight not more than 5 kg more or less than 15 kg less than the last two digits of the height expressed in cm). (The height criterion is a criterion considered as a prerequisite for recruitment by airline companies. It does not impose any restrictions on students' right to education.)
Student's Obligation to Compulsory Attendance
Students enrolled in the Program of Civil Aviation Cabin Services of the IKU Vocational School are required to attend at least 70% of the courses and at least 80% of any practical work outside theoretical courses, if any.
Compulsory Internship
In order for students to graduate from the Program of Civil Aviation Cabin Services, 40 working days of Workplace Practice (Internship) are mandatory.
Undergraduate Transfer and Course Exemptions
Undergraduate transfers and course exemptions are carried out in accordance with the principles set out in Article 8 of the Istanbul Kültür University Associate and Undergraduate Education and Education Regulation, under the title "Registration through Undergraduate and External Transfer, Initial Registration and Adaptation."
In order to be exempt from any of the module courses within the training program, the university or vocational school where the student previously studied must be authorized by the SHGM with the Approved Cabin Crew Basic Training Organization Authorization Certificate, and the training program must be approved by the SHGM.
Today, the civil aviation sector is one of the fastest-growing and most rapidly transforming sectors globally, driven by both technological advancements and increasing passenger demand. A significant increase in both passenger numbers and destinations is observed within the scope of national and international air transportation. This growth directly impacts not only the technical infrastructure but also the need for qualified human resources. In this context, cabin services have become a fundamental element of the passenger experience, emerging as a strategic area that directly affects passenger satisfaction, flight safety and security, and corporate reputation.
As the Program of Civil Aviation Cabin Services of Istanbul Kültür University, our goal is to train professionals who are competent in international standards, have strong operational knowledge, and possess industry-specific awareness to meet the evolving needs of airlines. Our educational process goes beyond simply providing professional technical skills; it also aims to develop competencies in areas such as interpersonal relations, crisis management, representation, and intercultural communication. Our top priority is for graduates of our program to take a strong step toward a competitive career, not only in the national market but also in the international aviation industry.
We welcome all young people who want to make a strong start in the professional world of aviation and take part in this privileged journey to join our program.
Lecturer Oğuz Sönmezoğlu
Program Head
The Civil Aviation Cabin Services associate degree program at IKU offers an educational process designed with the dynamic structure of the aviation industry in mind and stands out with its curriculum aligned with international standards. The program aims to equip students not only for cabin crew roles but also with the skills and competencies needed to take on diverse positions across various levels of the aviation industry.
The education provided within the scope of the program is shaped around multidimensional content such as passenger relations management, flight safety, emergency procedures, aviation security, basic health knowledge, service psychology, aviation legislation, and intercultural communication. The training criteria and safety requirements set by institutions such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) serve as key reference points in the development of the program. In this respect, the program equips its graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate into both national and international aviation systems.
Our graduates can work as members of airline cabin crews in the future and also have employment opportunities in a wide range of sectors such as airport terminal services, passenger services, ticketing and reservations, VIP passenger coordination, ground services management, airline call centres, air transportation, and ground operations departments. In particular, it is also possible to work in customer relations and in-cabin quality departments at the operational centres of multinational airline companies. Additionally, with industry experience, graduates may transition into specialized roles such as in-cabin training, quality auditing, and operations planning.
Currently, aviation has evolved beyond being a field based solely on technical knowledge, requiring holistic approaches in terms of service quality, operational safety, and customer satisfaction. As defined in key documents such as ICAO’s “Annex 1 – Personnel Licensing” and EASA’s “Cabin Crew Regulation” (EU No. 1178/2011), the responsibilities of cabin crew are no longer limited to in-flight service but have expanded to include active contributions to flight safety and security. In this context, the training provided aims to cultivate individuals with strong representational skills to respond to sectoral expectations, the ability to remain calm in crisis situations, a solid command of safety and security procedures, and high intercultural communication competence.
In Türkiye, factors such as the increased operational capacity of airports, the establishment of new airlines, and the intensification of existing air traffic are steadily raising the demand for a well-trained workforce. According to projections by international aviation organizations, hundreds of thousand new cabin crew members will be needed worldwide over the next decade. This indicates that graduates of cabin services programs are not only in demand today but will also have strong career prospects in a sector with high employment potential well into the future.
In conclusion, graduates of the IKU Civil Aviation Cabin Services Associate Degree Program can contribute to the aviation sector not only as in-flight service personnel, but also as versatile professionals with strong communication skills and a high capacity for representation, capable of working across various branches of the industry. The knowledge and skills acquired throughout their education prepare them not only for employment, but also for a career that is competitive on an international scale.
| Head of Program | Instructor Oğuz Sönmezoğlu |
| o.sonmezoglu@iku.edu.tr | |
| Tel | (0212) 498 *** |
| Fax | (0212) 543 69 70 |
