Turkey attracts international students for its academic opportunities and cultural setting. As a country associated with Erasmus+, Turkey can offer access to all Erasmus+ activities, including exchange opportunities.
Some universities in Turkey use English as their language of instruction, while others offer English-taught programs or use both English and Turkish. This can make the transition easier for many international students and allow them to explore the culture while studying. In this article, we will look at universities with English-taught study options in Turkey.
Top Universities for English-taught Programs in Turkey
| University | Undergraduate English-taught options | Graduate English-taught options |
|---|
| Boğaziçi University | English-medium programs include Chemistry, Mathematics, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Computer Education and Educational Technology, Economics, and engineering fields. | English-medium master’s and Ph.D. programs offered through the university’s graduate institutes. The article does not name specific graduate degrees. |
| Middle East Technical University | English-medium undergraduate programs across engineering, architecture, education, arts and sciences, and economic and administrative sciences. | English-medium master’s and Ph.D. programs across science, engineering, social sciences, and specialized fields such as informatics, applied mathematics, and marine sciences. |
| Koç University | English-medium options across sciences, engineering, administrative sciences and economics, and social sciences and humanities. Check the language requirements of the specific professional degree. | English-medium thesis and non-thesis master’s programs and Ph.D. opportunities. The article highlights doctoral research involving wireless communications. |
| Istanbul Technical University | Fully English-taught options include Electrical Engineering and Data Science and Analytics. Other programs use only 30% English instruction and require Turkish proficiency. | Examples include the master’s in Science, Technology and Society and the Ph.D. in Environmental Biotechnology. |
| Ondokuz Mayıs University | Economics and English Language Teaching; also a six-year English-medium Medicine program. Many other degrees are taught in Turkish. | Selected English-language master’s and doctoral programs, including Histology and Embryology. The article also reports English-taught study through a joint master’s in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. |
| Kadir Has University | Fully English-taught options include Computer Engineering, Economics, Psychology, and International Relations. Law and Theatre use 30% English instruction. | Thesis-based master’s in Computer Engineering and the joint master’s in Applied Cybersecurity (CYBERMACS). English-medium Ph.D. options include Computer Engineering, International Relations, Business Administration, and Communication Studies. |
| Marmara University | Selected English-taught programs include Economics, Political Science and International Relations, and Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. Separate language tracks may exist. | English-medium master’s in International Relations and Ph.D. programs in Economics and Computer Engineering. The International Relations doctorate is taught in Turkish. |
| Ankara University | Biomedical Engineering and a separate English-language Medicine program. Other degrees may be taught in Turkish. | English-taught thesis-based master’s programs in Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering. Artificial Intelligence Technology is listed with English-medium master’s and doctoral admissions in the article’s cited intake announcement; confirm current availability. |
| Istanbul Bilgi University | English-medium undergraduate options are available, but the article does not identify specific degree examples. Confirm the exact program’s teaching language, particularly in health-related fields. | English-taught master’s and Ph.D. options are listed. Confirm each program’s language individually; the article’s broader list of graduate and online offerings does not establish that every listed degree is taught in English. |
| TOBB University of Economics and Technology | Mixed-language study: the article describes instruction as 70% Turkish and 30% English. It does not identify a fully English-taught undergraduate degree. | Graduate programs are available, but the article does not identify a fully English-taught master’s or Ph.D. Confirm the language of coursework and research with the relevant program. |
1. Boğaziçi University
Boğaziçi University traces its roots to Robert College, which opened in Istanbul in 1863 as the oldest American college outside the United States. English was chosen as Robert College’s language of instruction. Boğaziçi University was officially established in 1971 on the former Robert College campus and continues that academic tradition.
Boğaziçi University is a public university whose language of instruction is English. It currently offers 34 undergraduate, 72 master’s, and 35 doctoral programs across seven faculties, one school, and eight institutes.
Its undergraduate programs include chemistry, mathematics, molecular biology and genetics, computer education and educational technology, economics, engineering, and other fields. Graduate programs are available through the university’s institutes. Prospective students should review the official program pages for the current options and requirements.
2. Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University (METU) is a state university in Ankara, Turkey, founded in 1956. Its language of instruction is English.
METU has about 25,000 students. Undergraduate and graduate students from many countries may attend for a semester or a full academic year as special or exchange students. METU offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs, follows a two-semester academic year, and has a summer school with regular courses.
METU offers programs across fields such as engineering, architecture, education, arts and sciences, economic and administrative sciences, informatics, applied mathematics, and marine sciences. All 13 undergraduate programs in its Faculty of Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. METU also has 19 international joint-degree programs with European and American universities at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
3. Koç University
Koç University is a nonprofit private university in Istanbul, Turkey. It was founded in 1993. Its language of instruction is English.
Koç University offers undergraduate and graduate study in fields such as sciences, administrative sciences and economics, engineering, social sciences and humanities, law, medicine, and nursing.
Koç University offers 22 undergraduate programs across seven colleges. Undergraduate students can explore double-major, minor, certificate, and track opportunities. Graduate students can choose from thesis and non-thesis master’s programs and Ph.D. programs.
What Current Students / Alumni of Koç University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Muhammad Furqan Zia
Doctoral studies involving wireless communications research | He reports that his graduate programs were conducted in English. Supportive faculty meant his initial lack of Turkish did not hinder his academic or research progress. | Learning Turkish through everyday interactions and academic discussions helped him integrate into the local and academic communities and build professional and personal connections. |
4. Istanbul Technical University
Founded in 1773, Istanbul Technical University is a public university in Istanbul with a long history in engineering and technical education. Its academic offerings extend across engineering, architecture, science, management, and the arts, with English-taught options available at undergraduate and graduate levels.
Undergraduate applicants can choose fully English-taught programs such as Electrical Engineering and Data Science and Analytics. Bachelor’s programs generally require four years of study, excluding any English preparatory education. However, ITU also offers programs with only 30% English instruction. International students entering these mixed-language programs must meet the university’s Turkish-language requirements, so applicants should check the language designation of their specific program.
English-taught graduate options include the master’s program in Science, Technology and Society and the doctoral program in Environmental Biotechnology. These illustrate the university’s opportunities beyond undergraduate engineering, including interdisciplinary study and specialized scientific research. Applicants should consult the relevant graduate program’s admission announcement for academic prerequisites, language requirements, available places, and the expected study period.
What Current Students / Alumni of Istanbul Technical University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Yasmin
Bachelor’s in Architecture | Her program is officially entirely in English, and most professors teach in English. However, she experienced some professors switching to Turkish or delivering lectures in Turkish during her first semester. | She says academic Turkish can be necessary to follow those lectures. Her Turkish preparatory year also helped her adapt to everyday life in Istanbul. |
5. Ondokuz Mayıs University
Established in 1975, Ondokuz Mayıs University is a public university in Samsun, on Turkey’s Black Sea coast. It offers English-language study opportunities within a broader academic environment where many programs are taught in Turkish. Applicants should therefore distinguish between complete English-taught degrees and individual courses available in English.
English-taught undergraduate options include Economics and English Language Teaching. The university also offers a six-year English-medium Medicine program, which combines foundational medical education, clinical training, and a final internship year. English preparatory education may be required depending on the program and the student’s proficiency. Applicants should check the current curriculum and admissions information rather than assuming that every department uses English.
At the graduate level, selected departments offer master’s and doctoral study in English. For example, the Department of Histology and Embryology states that it has accepted international students into English-language master’s and doctorate programs since 2013. Prospective graduate students should contact their intended department to confirm the language of coursework and supervision, current admission availability, and research requirements.
What Current Students / Alumni of Ondokuz Mayıs University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Rabiu Kabo Alhassan
Joint Master’s in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition | He reports that his courses were taught in English, with the language of instruction remaining consistent across the countries in his joint program. | He encountered language barriers outside the academic environment. Language classes, learning apps, practice with locals, and cultural activities helped; he wishes he had learned more Turkish before arriving. |
Adil Zia
MSc in Soil Science, emiSS joint program | He does not specify the language used in his classes at Ondokuz Mayıs University. | He found everyday communication in Samsun difficult because most people spoke Turkish. He used Google Translate, learned basic Turkish phrases, and received help from Pakistani friends studying there. |
6. Kadir Has University
Kadir Has University was established in Istanbul in 1997. Its main campus occupies the restored Cibali tobacco factory near the Golden Horn, combining a historic setting with facilities for higher education and research. The university offers programs across engineering, social sciences, business, communication, art, and design.
Most undergraduate departments teach entirely in English, with options including Computer Engineering, Economics, Psychology, and International Relations. Law and Theatre are important exceptions: these programs offer 30% of their courses in English rather than fully English instruction. Students must also satisfy the university’s English-language requirements, with preparatory study required unless they qualify for an exemption.
Graduate students can pursue English-taught programs such as the thesis-based master’s in Computer Engineering, which covers areas including software engineering, algorithms, computer networks, and parallel programming. English-medium doctoral options include Computer Engineering, International Relations, Business Administration, and Communication Studies. Since the graduate catalogue also contains Turkish-language programs, applicants should verify the teaching language and thesis requirements of their chosen degree.
What Current Students / Alumni of Kadir Has University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Elvis Njoku
Joint Master’s in Applied Cybersecurity, CYBERMACS | He reports that English was the language of instruction in CYBERMACS and that he experienced no major academic language barriers while studying in Turkey. | Turkish presented challenges with local services, public transportation, and administration. Basic phrases, translation apps, and interactions with local students helped him adapt. |
7. Marmara University
Located in Istanbul, Marmara University traces its origins to a commercial college established in 1883. Today, it offers a broad selection of programs across fields such as engineering, economics, political science, health sciences, and the arts. English-taught degrees are available in selected departments rather than throughout the university.
Undergraduate English-taught options include Economics, Political Science and International Relations, and Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. The latter is a four-year program combining scientific foundations, engineering subjects, and practical training. Students who do not meet its English-language standard attend preparatory education before beginning their degree studies. Applicants should check the precise program title because some subjects have separate language tracks.
At the graduate level, English-taught options include master’s study in International Relations and doctoral study in Economics and Computer Engineering. Teaching language can change between degree levels within the same department: for example, International Relations offers an English-medium master’s program but a Turkish-medium doctorate. Prospective students should therefore verify the language of their exact graduate program, alongside its academic prerequisites and research requirements.
What Current Students / Alumni of Marmara University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Nilufar Khalikulova
Joint Master’s in Play, Education, Toys and Languages, PETaL | She reports that PETaL was taught in English, so she did not face major academic language challenges. | Communication in Istanbul was easier because her native language is linguistically close to Turkish. She nevertheless wishes she had begun learning local languages before arriving to improve everyday integration. |
8. Ankara University
Established in 1946, Ankara University is a public university in Turkey’s capital. Its founding faculties included Law, Language and History-Geography, Science, and Medicine. The university now offers a wide range of academic disciplines, with selected English-taught programs available alongside its Turkish-medium degrees.
Undergraduate applicants interested in studying in English can consider Biomedical Engineering, while Medicine also has a separate English-language program. Biomedical Engineering brings together engineering and life sciences, preparing students to develop technologies used in diagnosis, treatment, and healthcare. Applicants should check their chosen program’s language designation and preparatory requirements, since an English-language university webpage does not necessarily indicate an English-taught degree.
English-taught graduate options include thesis-based master’s programs in Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering. The university’s 2025–2026 spring graduate admissions announcement also identifies Artificial Intelligence Technology as a fully English-taught field with master’s and doctoral admission requirements. Graduate applicants should consult the latest intake announcement for available places, accepted academic backgrounds, and language qualifications, as these requirements differ between departments.
What Current Students / Alumni of Ankara University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Lekey Dorji
Master of Laws in Intellectual Property, specializing in Patent Law and Design Law | His classes were conducted in English. He says Turkish was not necessary for academic participation in his program. | He recommends learning basic Turkish expressions for daily life, cultural integration, and communication outside the university. |
Abdul Moiz Uppal
Bachelor’s in Political Science and Public Administration | He does not specify the language of instruction in his Ankara University classes. | He completed a year of intensive Turkish study and says Turkish helped him live and study in Turkey. He wishes he had started learning languages earlier. |
9. Istanbul Bilgi University
Istanbul Bilgi University was established in 1996 and follows the motto “Non scholae, sed vitae discimus,” or “learning not for school but for life.” The university has three campuses: Kuştepe, Dolapdere, and santral istanbul.
The medium of instruction at Istanbul Bilgi University is English, except for the Faculty of Health Sciences. Students whose English proficiency is below the required level must complete the English Preparatory Program before proceeding to departmental studies. Through its International Office, BİLGİ provides information about opportunities such as Erasmus+ and bilateral mobility programs.
BİLGİ offers more than 150 associate, undergraduate, and graduate programs. Its current graduate offerings include online options such as Banking and Finance, Human Resources Management, Management Information Systems, and e-MBA programs. Doctoral options include economics, business administration, communication, public law, private law, and electrical-electronics engineering.
10. TOBB University of Economics and Technology
TOBB University of Economics and Technology (TOBB ETÜ) is based in Ankara, Turkey. It began education and training in Ankara in 2004 after being established by TOBEV with the support of TOBB. TOBB ETÜ Tashkent began its first term in September 2020 with two undergraduate programs.
At TOBB ETÜ, the language of education is 70% Turkish and 30% English. Students take an English proficiency exam. The English preparatory class is compulsory for all programs except Turkish Language and Literature, History, Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, and Visual Communication Design.
TOBB ETÜ offers undergraduate and graduate study through academic units in engineering, medicine, economics and administrative sciences, law, architecture and design, humanities, foreign languages, engineering and science, economics and social sciences, and health sciences.
International students interested in studying in Turkey can use the universities above as a starting point when searching for English-taught programs. Because the language of instruction can vary by university and program, review the official program page before applying. Good luck with your search!
We hope this article on the Best English-taught Schools in Turkey was helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
