Study in Istanbul: Detailed Report

Studying in Istanbul and Turkey is a dream for many Arab and foreign students, distinguished from other European countries.

Studying in Istanbul and Turkey in general is considered a dream pursued by many Arab and foreign students, as it stands out from other European countries by offering students numerous privileges that affect all aspects of living.

In this article, we will mention the levels of studying in Turkey and the requirements for allowing foreign students to study there, in addition to listing the best Turkish universities located in the Istanbul province.

Skyline Education wishes you a pleasant read and fruitful insights.

What are the Levels of Study in Istanbul?

The levels of study in Turkey in general do not differ much from those in Istanbul, and are arranged as follows:

Nursery: This is the stage of educating children up to the age of 68 months, and it includes nurseries and care centers that operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services.
Primary Level: This is the elementary stage and lasts for 4 years (first, second, third, and fourth grades).
Secondary Level: This is the preparatory stage and also lasts for 4 years (fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades). It includes preparatory schools that are under the responsibility of the General Directorate of Basic Education of the Ministry of Education, as well as Imam Khatib Preparatory Schools, which fall under the responsibility of the General Directorate of Religious Education of the Ministry of National Education.
High School Level: This consists of 4 years of high school, and includes Anatolian High Schools, high schools offering vocational and technical programs, Anatolian Imam Khatib High Schools, Fine Arts High Schools, Sports High Schools, and Social Sciences High Schools, which are under the responsibility of the General Directorate of Secondary Education in the Ministry of Education, the General Directorate of Vocational and Technical Education, and the General Directorate of Religious Education.

This pertains to the school stages that precede the commencement of undergraduate studies in Turkish universities, which typically last 4 years for most disciplines.

What are the Requirements for Studying in Istanbul Universities?

Whether your goal is to study in Istanbul or at one of Turkey's universities, you will be required to meet a set of conditions for acceptance into your desired field of study, which are as follows:

1- Providing Legal Documents and Their Translation

This refers to a set of documents translated into Turkish and certified by a notary, which prove that the student has completed high school with the required grades, in addition to the student visa obtained from the Turkish consulate, the residence permit issued by the Directorate of Migration, along with health insurance and other documents that vary depending on the university you wish to study at.

2- Passing the YÖS Exam

Often, a document proving that you have passed the YÖS Exam is required in faculties of Medicine, Law, Psychology, Architecture, Pharmacy, and other specialties.

To give a simple explanation of what this exam entails, it is an exam consisting of 80 questions, divided into 45 questions related to comprehension and general knowledge, and 35 questions related to the university you wish to enroll in and the specialty you desire to study.

3- Proficiency in Turkish

The majority of Turkish universities require that the student be proficient in Turkish through the SAT exam, or by compensating with a preparatory year aimed at learning Turkish, bearing in mind that they also allow most specialties to be studied in English.

What are the Most Famous Universities in Istanbul?

Istanbul is considered the most developed province in Turkey in every aspect, especially in providing all necessary services. Therefore, if you want to study in Istanbul, you will find a long list of the best universities with an excellent reputation distributed across all areas of Istanbul, among which the most important are:

1- Istanbul University (Governmental)

It is one of the most prestigious universities and one of the top 10 universities in Turkey. It was established during the reign of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1453, and since then has been considered an important center for education, with many of its graduates holding significant positions both inside and outside Turkey.

The university enrolls more than 100,000 Turkish and international students in various academic programs taught in its faculties distributed across several campuses, namely: the Faculty of Medicine "Cerrahpaşa", the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Dentistry, and the Faculty of Economics.

2- Istanbul Technical University

This university was founded in 1773, and is therefore also considered one of Turkey's venerable institutions.

Throughout its history, this university has achieved numerous accomplishments in technical and artistic fields, which has made it the second-best Turkish university according to the latest university rankings, and it has also secured the 567th position worldwide.

Istanbul Technical University is distinguished by its engineering specialties compared to other universities, as it includes the Faculty of Civil Engineering, the Faculty of Architecture, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, among others.

3- Altınbaş University

This university might be the right place if your aim is to study in Istanbul, as it is one of the institutions that attracts the most international students from various parts of the world. It is also among the top 100 Turkish universities, and one of the top 500 universities worldwide according to the Times ranking.

The university comprises many faculties spread over 3 campuses, the most important of which are the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Applied Sciences, the Faculty of Business Administration, the Faculty of Fine Arts, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Dentistry, the Faculty of Pharmacy, and the Faculty of Health Sciences.

4- Bahçeşehir University

This university was established in 1998, and it ranked 32nd nationally and 1573rd globally.

It is a global university on Turkish soil, with several branches in different countries around the world, and it is distinguished by its educational programs, research centers, and various laboratories.

Bahçeşehir University comprises 9 faculties, the most important of which are the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Faculty of Communication, and the Faculty of Health Sciences.

5- Medipol University (Private)

Medipol University (Private) was established in 2009, and it has received numerous recognitions both nationally and internationally. It is one of the universities that attracts the most students for studying medical specialties, as it is renowned for its exceptional excellence in this field and for providing training opportunities in its affiliated institutions and hospitals.

Furthermore, the university includes a group of faculties and academic institutes, the most important of which are the faculties of Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Law, Health Sciences, and Engineering.

What are the Advantages of Studying in the City of Istanbul?

The following are the most important advantages of studying in Istanbul universities in particular, and the advantages of studying in all Turkish universities in general, as they all share the following features:

The quality of the educational curricula, which makes Turkish university degrees recognized in all European countries.
The provision of practical training, as Turkey collaborates with many training and education companies, such as the famous Erasmus program.
Foreign students are granted a residence permit that is renewed annually.
The cost of studying at a Turkish university is low compared to its European counterparts.
The living costs in Turkey are also inexpensive when compared to those in Arab countries.
Turkish universities are known for offering scholarships to help students complete their higher education free of charge.