Studying medicine in Turkey

Turkey ranks fifth in terms of the number of medical colleges in it, with 111 colleges spread across all of Turkish lands, trailing only the state of India, which ranks first in terms of the number of medical colleges, which totals 271, and America with 147 medical colleges. Medical colleges in Turkey are distinguished by a great global position, as they are located in the twelfth rank in the medical ranking of universities at the global level. Several students from around the world are considering studying medicine in Turkey due to its excellent rating and the sheer number of Turkish universities.

But what are the conditions for medical school in Turkey? And how much does it cost? We’ll cover all of that in this article, as well as how to apply to study at a Turkish university.

Table of Contents:

1. An overview of studying medicine in Turkey
2. Faculties to study medicine in Turkey
3. The language of studying medicine in Turkey
4. Conditions for studying medicine in Turkey
5. Methods of applying to Turkish universities
6. The costs of studying medicine in Turkey
7. The number of years of studying medicine in Turkey
8. The teaching system in Turkish universities
9. Years of specialization after graduation
10. Study medicine in Turkey for free

A glimpse of studying medicine in Turkey

Many Arab and foreign students began to go to Turkey in recent years for the purpose of studying medicine, due to the high quality of education and the great interest that the Turkish state attaches to medical colleges by providing huge educational capabilities and modern technological means to keep up with everything new in the world of medicine.

The fact that Turkey accepts a sizable number of international students each year and the cultural similarities between Turkey and the Middle Eastern nations, which make it easier for the student to integrate into a completely new culture during his study years, are other factors contributing to the growing interest of Arab students in attending Turkish universities.

Medical colleges in Turkey

The educational framework in Turkish universities is similar to that in European universities, with the same criteria being followed.

In Turkey, there are two different kinds of universities: state universities and private universities. Out of a total of 111 universities, 74 are public universities and the rest are private.

With 25 medical colleges spread over 5 public institutions and 20 private universities, Istanbul is home to some of the most renowned and distinguished medical schools in the entire globe.

Izmir has 8 medical colleges, of which 6 are governmental and 2 are private, compared to Ankara’s 12 medical colleges, 5 of which are governmental and the rest private universities.

With 2,900 students attending colleges in Istanbul alone each year, there are more than 16,000 medical seats available in Turkey for both domestic and international students each year.

The language of studying medicine in Turkey

Depending on the type of university, Turkish universities teach human medicine in either the Turkish or the English language; however, in universities that use English as the primary language of instruction, Turkish is taught as a fundamental subject to ensure that the doctor can communicate with patients during practical exams.

The best way to study medicine is in English because it allows you to work anywhere in the world after graduation without having to change your certificate, which is especially useful if you don’t intend to settle in Turkey. Most international students prefer to study in English because it is a widely used international language and the student won’t have to learn a new language.

Conditions for studying medicine in Turkey

In public universities:

1- Secondary certificate (Tawjihi or Sixth Preparation), with a 90% average

2- Passing one of the two general abilities exams—the YOS or the SAT—offered by the institution, which include questions on mathematics and general intelligence.

Together with the comparatively modest number of seats reserved for international students, public institutions in Turkey use Turkish as their major language of instruction, which could harm your chances of getting accepted.

Some nationalities have a worse probability of admission than others because most Turkish colleges reserve a certain number of seats for each nation, whether they publicly proclaim it or not.

In private universities:

The enrollment requirements are somewhat lenient and do not typically exceed 70–80%, although it is recommended that you register as soon as registration is open by reserving your seat. The majority of private institutions also use English as the main medium of instruction.

Contact us at the number to learn more about how The Education Gateway Foundation can assist you in enrolling in the university of your choice.

Methods of applying to Turkish universities

• Apply directly through the university website after taking the required exams
• Through the Turkish government scholarship that is announced according to a date specified by the Turkish government
• Through comparison of vacancies where the admission conditions are easier, the comparison of vacancies is announced after the completion of the general comparison and the registration of all accepted students is confirmed. In the event that there are some empty vacancies, the university announces them and facilitates some of the applications for admission.

But it should be noted that this type of trade-off is rare in colleges that are in high demand such as medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy.

The Cost of studying medicine in Turkey

The costs of studying medicine at public universities are various and cannot be covered in a single article. They change annually in accordance with each university’s policy, just as the tuition at public universities can be either extremely inexpensive or extremely exorbitant.

For instance, Istanbul Cerrah Pasha University’s annual tuition for 2021 was about 25 thousand Turkish Liras, or about 3500–4000 dollars, which is a significant sum for a public university.

As for studying medicine in private private universities, it depends on several factors, which are the language of study and the university, but in general, studying human medicine in English ranges between 25-28 thousand dollars per year. Partial discount grants can be obtained that can reduce the amount up to 17 thousand dollars, but if you choose Studying in Turkish, university fees may drop to $11,000 annually.

The number of years of studying medicine in Turkey

The duration of medical school in Turkey is six years, not including the year spent studying the language, but what makes it special is that there is no need for an internship year or a national exam after graduation because, after completing six years, you can get a license to practice general medicine right away.

Teaching system in Turkish universities

The majority of Turkish colleges use a quantitative approach to teaching medicine, one that focuses on thoroughly studying each bodily part. For instance, in the chapter on studying the neck region, students undertake a practical anatomy of the neck before studying its traits and any issues linked to them, then thoroughly examine diseases that may affect it along with their symptoms and treatments. General examinations are performed after finishing this chapter’s study, and then it is essential to go on to another bodily area, and so on.

Specialization years after graduation

In public universities, specialization occurs after graduation. Turkish citizens and international students take a medical specialty exam, which is administered in Turkish. Based on the results of this exam, all students are sorted into different specialties and given the names of the cities where they will practice medicine.

For doctors who spend years of specialization in Europe, the remuneration during the period of specialization is about $700–800 per month, which is a negligibly little sum. While European colleges provide greater resources than Turkish institutions, the majority of students want to concentrate in one of these nations.

Studying medicine in Turkey for free

Getting a scholarship from the Turkish government, which includes the Turkish scholarship, is the only method to study medicine in Turkey for free., as it includes :

• University admission for the student in one of the private or public Turkish universities
• A monthly salary that covers his expenses
• Food and drink allowance
• Health insurance
• Free accommodation

Obtaining a Turkish scholarship is somewhat difficult, as some conditions must be met, including a high school average of 90% or more, in addition to proving your knowledge of the language of study (Turkish or English), and passing some general exams.

The documentation needed from the applicant to study medicine in Turkey.

• A copy of the passport
• A copy of the high school diploma that has been translated only into English or Turkish (if it hasn’t been issued yet, it will initially suffice to show grades from secondary school for the first semester of grade 12 as long as it has been translated into English or Turkish).
• Personal Photograph
• E-mail address

There are just a few easy steps remaining for you to start achieving your long-awaited dream now that you are aware of the prerequisites, cost, and time of studying in Turkey.

Why should you choose the Education Gate to help you apply to study medicine in Turkey?

• Our services are 100% free, as we do not charge any fees from students, as we are official agents for private universities in Turkey
• We will provide you with discounts on tuition fees that may reach up to 60%
• Securing a transportation card for students, which will provide you with a reduction in public transportation expenses of more than 60%
• Providing many housing options and dormitories at different prices to suit all categories of students.
• Providing all guidance and support to complete the legal procedures related to amending the secondary certificate, residency procedures and health insurance.
• We accompany you in completing the registration processes and during your university life with full support to reach stability.

 

To register and inquire about studying medicine in private universities in Turkey, and to obtain the best available discounts on education fees, contact us through WhatsApp or e-mail.