Advantages of Nursing Major in Turkey

The advantages of the nursing specialty in Turkey are numerous, attracting thousands of students every year for this purpose, and it is considered an ideal destination for this specialty. It has been emphasized since ancient times and has received significant attention in the country, which has led to Turkey’s distinction in nursing studies unlike any other. If you are looking to know the advantages, costs, and key information about studying this field in Turkey, here is this fascinating article that we prepared at Skyline Education to serve as a comprehensive guide for every student wishing to study nursing at Turkish universities in 2023.

We wish you an enjoyable read..

Key Information about Studying Nursing in Turkey

Before discussing the advantages of the nursing specialty in Turkey, it is essential to shed light on this field. It is considered a primary support for the medical specialty; both complement each other, and their combined efforts are aimed at maintaining the patient’s safety and complete health. The nursing specialty in the country is supported by legal frameworks that protect its professionals and enhance its status. As for the system of study in Turkish universities, its duration, and its language, we will explain in the following paragraphs:

The Turkish Government’s Emphasis on This Specialty and Its Historical Emergence

The nursing specialty in the Turkish Republic originated in the early nineties, specifically in 1925, and the first nursing college was opened in 1986, thus pioneering the nurturing of such an important specialty as nursing. Over the following years, nursing schools and colleges continued to be established in the country, and today there are 14 nursing colleges and 72 high-level health institutes that are academically equivalent to a college.

Number of Years of Study

The Bachelor’s degree in the nursing specialty in Turkey lasts 4 years, and if a student wishes to continue their studies and specialize at the Master’s level, an additional two years of study are required.

The Nursing Study System and Core Scientific Courses

The nursing program in Turkey is typically structured on a semester system to facilitate the practical component of university education, which is a critical aspect through hospital internships, shifts, and more. The program consists of 8 semesters, each including several mandatory courses such as:

• Anatomy and Histology.
• Physiology.
• History of Nursing Principles.
• Internal Medicine Nursing.
• Pharmacology and Botany.
• Human Pathology.
• Microbiology (Biology).
• Surgical Nursing.
• Epidemiology.
• Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing.
• Biostatistics.
• Pediatric Nursing.
• Psychiatric Nursing.
• Nursing Services Management.

Nursing Study Scholarships in Turkey

There are two study scholarships in Turkey that are classified among the best in the world. Each scholarship covers all costs, includes a preparatory language year, and provides a monthly stipend to the student. These scholarships are called:

1. Ibn Sina Scholarship for Medical University Specialties.
2. The Islamic Bank Scholarship in collaboration with the Turkish Scholarship.

What are the Advantages of Studying Nursing in Turkey?

Studying nursing in Turkey stands out from other countries because it is entirely comprehensive, meeting every aspiration of students wishing to study this field perfectly, and satisfying the needs of international students in terms of the degree’s strength, its wide recognition, and similar aspects. Among the advantages that create qualitative differences in studying nursing in this country, we mention:

• The strength of the degree and its accreditation.
• Strong educational curricula and regular practical applications.
• Lower costs compared to other countries offering this specialty with the same quality.
• Diverse job fields and comprehensive authority in the healthcare sector.
• The option to choose the language of instruction in most Turkish universities.

How to Register for the Nursing Specialty in Turkey 

We now come to the most important question that many students have regarding the registration process for the nursing specialty at Turkish universities and its detailed steps, which we have explained in the following paragraphs:

Required Documents 

A student wishing to study the nursing specialty must submit a set of documents and papers that prove their genuine intention to secure a university seat in Turkey and that they meet the listed requirements. These documents include:

• A copy of the original high school certificate.
• A transcript of high school grades translated into both English and Turkish.
• 5 personal photographs.
• A copy of the passport valid for at least one year.
• A certificate of proficiency in English or Turkish, such as: "TOMER", "TOEFL", "IELTS", "SAT", etc. (If not available, the student must enroll in an additional preparatory year to learn the language).

Admission Requirements for 2023

For a student to be accepted at a Turkish university, they must have passed high school with an average of no less than 70% for public universities and 65% for private universities.

Registration Steps 

First, you must visit the official website of the university you wish to join and review the registration and admission details related to the nursing program. Then, you should contact the university and send your personal information along with your academic documents. In the next step, you must wait for a response confirming provisional admission, and once received, proceed to submit your documents to the Turkish embassy if you are outside the country and pay the registration fees and the tuition fees for the first academic year as required by the university.

Also read:

• Agricultural Engineering Specialty in Turkey
• The Difference Between SAT and YÖS in Turkey

Costs of Studying Nursing in Turkey

The costs of studying the nursing specialty in Turkey vary with differences that may be minor or vast depending on numerous factors such as the university’s location (whether on the Asian or European side), its local and international ranking, the language of instruction, the quality of its curricula and emphasis on the practical component, partial discounts for some students, and many other factors. The approximate costs for 2023 are illustrated in the following table:

Frequently Asked Questions about Studying Nursing in Turkey

Although we have covered most of the information regarding the advantages and costs of studying nursing in Turkey in 2023, there are additional queries and extra questions that we continuously receive about this specialty. We mention some of them below:

What are the Job Opportunities for Nursing College Graduates?

If you think that a nurse’s work is confined solely within the hospital walls, you are completely mistaken, because the future career prospects for graduates of the nursing specialty in Turkey include:

• Working in public and private hospitals.
• Securing a job in rehabilitation and physiotherapy centers.
• Obtaining an administrative position in healthcare institutions.
• Working in clinics and family planning centers.
• Participating in vaccination campaigns.
• Working in school nursing.

What is the Estimated Monthly Salary for Nurses in Turkish Hospitals? 

A nurse’s salary varies greatly depending on experience, specialization, and working hours, but overall, the annual salary for a nurse in Turkey can be estimated between $20,000 and $90,000, including additional incentives and periodic raises.

What are the Best Universities for Studying Nursing in Turkey?

In fact, no Turkish university is far superior to another in the nursing specialty, as all public and private universities follow an integrated and approximately 90% similar curriculum, and none is less important than the others. Generally, Turkish public universities such as Ankara University, Yildirim Beyazit University, Aksaray University, Akdeniz University, Agri Ibrahim University, and Adiman University are ranked higher, while among the private universities, Istanbul Medipol, Okan University, and Bahcesehir University are noteworthy, among others.

What Qualities Should a Nursing Student Possess?

There are personal traits and essential skills that any student aspiring to pursue nursing must possess, including:

• Effective communication skills and the ability to build good relationships.
• A spirit of teamwork to facilitate fruitful collaboration with the medical team.
• The ability to work under difficult conditions and chronic pressure.
• Patience and calmness in the face of hardships and the reactions of patients’ companions during moments of anger.
• Maintaining a good physique and perfect health, as nursing work demands continuous effort and long, exhausting night shifts.

Thus, we reach the conclusion of our article in which we have explored the most prominent advantages, costs, and requirements of the nursing specialty in Turkey, as well as answered all the questions that come to mind for every student considering this enjoyable specialty that combines medical sciences with humanitarian values in its most elegant form. We hope you have gained the desired benefit, and if you have any further inquiries, you can contact the Skyline Education team to receive answers and take advantage of the range of premium services available on our website. Stay well.

Also read:

• Criteria for Choosing a University Major
• Student Document in Turkey

This article was prepared by the editorial team at Skyline Holding, which is affiliated with Skyline Education