Studying Medicine in Turkey is an entirely new experience for aspiring doctors. Unlike many countries, Turkey does not require students to complete a preparatory school before applying to study Medicine, significantly reducing the study years from ten to six.
Studying Medicine can also be expensive in some countries that students may be forced to give up their dreams to work in the healthcare field. As this is not the case for Turkey, its medical schools start to gain massive popularity among international students.
Fortunately, students can choose from several Turkish universities that offer all-English Medicine programs, although some may require learning the Turkish language during clinical training. Among the many options, prospective students should consider the best medical schools in Turkey to get a globally recognized education.
Can Foreigners Study in Medical Schools in Turkey?
Yes, foreigners can study in medical schools in Turkey. Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine accepts students from foreign countries under its international quotas programs, subject to the academic requirements. The general quota requirements include the GPA score, exam for academics and graduates (ALES) score, foreign language proficiency score, the basic score for Medical Sciences programs, and interview results.
What is the most prestigious medical school in Turkey?
Hacettepe University has the most prestigious medical school in Turkey. While the university ranked between 501st to 600th in Times Higher Education for 2021, it landed between 301st to 400th in clinical and health subject rankings. Meanwhile, its subject ranking is at 320th, with the university landing between 801st to 1000th place in QS World University rankings. It was also the only Turkish university in the top 500 of Academic Ranking of World Universities for Clinical Medicine in 2020.
Best Medical Schools in Turkey
1. Hacettepe University – Faculty of Medicine
Hacettepe University is the best medical school in Turkey. Established in 1967, this medical school aims to train research-minded, enlightened, and scientifically-oriented individuals. Opened in the same year, the Faculty of Medicine focuses on helping individuals become self-motivated and determined while attaining problem-solving skills through knowledge and practical experiments.
The faculty believes that physicians should serve sincerely for the best interest of their nation and humanity. Furthermore, it emphasizes that physicians should promote higher standards of science and service to people.
The Faculty of Medicine currently achieved the best reputation in Turkey, based on statistics from The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), and the first among Turkish universities in internationally cited publications.
The faculty also produces competent graduates with the highest scores in the Turkish Medical Specialty Exam or TUS. It offers Medicine programs in Turkish and English. Besides the Doctor of Medicine degree, students can also apply for dual MD and Ph.D. degrees.
2. Istanbul University – Faculty of Medicine
The Faculty of Medicine of Istanbul University, established in 1827 as the first in the country, works to be the pioneer institution that provides education to qualified scientists and physicians through universal standards, ensuring quality health services and useful information to humanity. Through the university’s over 400 years of history, the faculty continues to develop scientific research and deliver health service through health policies and internationally recognized corporate identity.
Students can study Medicine in either English or Turkish at this top medical school in Turkey. The faculty delivers instruction through lecture halls, and laboratory lessons through groups, with a 10:1 student-teacher ratio.
Students also have the opportunity to pursue research studies from the faculty’s research centers, such as the Aziz Sancar Experimental Medicine Research Institute, Microorganism Culture Collections Research and Application Center, and the Medical Hologram Training Laboratory.
3. Koç University – School of Medicine
While the university was founded in 1993, the university Board of Visitors decided to set up the medical school in 2008 and officially approved by the Board of Higher Education in 2009. This medical school in Turkey prioritizes discovery, service, and research to public health, training physicians to develop global competencies in diagnosis and treatment methods, and become ethically conscious individuals.
The medium of instruction in the School of Medicine is English. Students in their 4th year of study undergo clinical training in Koç University Hospital in Istanbul, with only the bedside education delivered in the Turkish language. The school also conducts research activities at Koç University Translational Medicine Research Center, focusing on fundamental scientific discoveries to patient care and treatment solutions. With its current student body of 331 and over 200 faculty members, Koç University is one of Turkey’s top medical schools.
4. Acıbadem University – School of Medicine
Founded in 2007, the Acıbadem University School of Medicine accepted its first batch of enrollees in 2009 after a two-year curriculum preparation. From a modest campus in Maltepe to a sophisticated Kerem Aydınlar Campus, the school provides world-class education through its Center of Advanced Simulation and Education, or CASE.
Students receive practical training at Acıbadem Atakent and Acıbadem Maslak Education and Research Hospitals. The instruction language is English, with the integrated curriculum divided into three phases: Basic and Clinical Sciences, Clinical Clerkships, and Internships.
With its academically strong staff, this medical school in Turkey ensures that students develop into universal physicians, sensitive to society’s needs, and comprehending the significance of knowledge and academic thought. It also aspires to teach students to become inquisitive and curious, providing them with opportunities to explore research.
Besides CASE, the school has the Rare Disease and Orphan Drugs Application and Research Center and the Organ Transplant Research and Application Center.
5. Marmara University – School of Medicine
Marmara University School of Medicine, one of the top medical schools in Turkey, trains physicians to have a love for humanity, free-thinking, and scientific point of view while keeping high ethical values and following scientific innovations.
It provides medical education with a multidisciplinary approach through specific practices such as introducing clinical practice in the 2nd and 3rd years. Meanwhile, the primary language of instruction for its medicine courses is English, proof of its support to international conventions.
The school also aims to produce researchers, contributing to the universal knowledge and scientific developments. Its well-known Marmara Student Congress, or Masco, allow students to present their work and organize congresses, gaining recognition for individual research.
Students gained further practical skills and experiences through the Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital and the Marmara University Prof. Dr. Asaf Ataseven Hospital.
I hope that this article on the best medical schools in Turkey was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Medical School Category!
