Studying law in Turkey can give students broad exposure to Turkish legal education and the Turkish legal system. Students can build knowledge of core legal concepts, strengthen analytical reasoning, and develop professional skills through focused academic programs and training.
Here are three established law faculties in Turkey to consider. These universities can be a useful starting point for students who want to compare law programs, teaching languages, and graduate study options.
Top Law Schools in Turkey
1. Istanbul University
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Laws / Hukuk Lisansı, LL.M., Ph.D. | Medium of Instruction: primarily Turkish; German and Turkish in the Hamburg-Istanbul joint program
One of Turkey’s long-established law schools, the Faculty of Law at Istanbul University, has played an important role in legal education in the country. The faculty dates back to 1880 and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate study options in law.
The Faculty of Law also participates in the Hamburg-Istanbul joint undergraduate law program with the University of Hamburg. The program is an integrated double-degree law program. Students study first at the University of Hamburg and then at Istanbul University, with German and Turkish used in the program. Successful students receive both a Bachelor of Laws and the Turkish Hukuk Lisansı degree after completing the program.
Istanbul University also offers several graduate programs in law. Current graduate options include Turkish-taught thesis-based and doctoral programs such as Private Law and Public Law, as well as specialized programs such as International Private Law. Students interested in non-thesis graduate study can also review the Real Estate and Construction Law program.
2. Ankara University
The Faculty of Law at Ankara University traces its roots to Ankara Law School, which was inaugurated in 1925. The school was established to train highly educated legal professionals and to support the country’s legal reforms. It remains one of Turkey’s historic public law faculties.
The university offers law-related study options at associate, undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Programs connected with the Vocational School of Justice include Justice, Penal Execution and Security Services, and Law Office Management and Secretarial Program, with Turkish as the medium of instruction. Ankara University also offers a Turkish-taught undergraduate law program and an English-taught law program. Graduate options include areas such as Private Law, Public Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Sea and Maritime Law, with the language of instruction varying by program.
3. Bilkent University
- Study Program
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Laws / Hukuk Lisansı, LL.M., Ph.D. | Medium of Instruction: Turkish and English, depending on the course and program
The Faculty of Law at Bilkent University is a comparatively young law faculty in Turkey. It was established in the 2002-2003 academic year and began education with 140 students. The faculty has developed undergraduate and graduate programs that combine Turkish legal education with international and comparative perspectives.
The undergraduate program provides students with the foundations of law. Courses related to Turkish law are taught in Turkish, while several international and comparative courses are taught in English. The curriculum also includes elective courses that allow students to explore areas of interest.
Bilkent University’s graduate offerings currently include thesis-based LL.M. programs in Private Law and Public Law, as well as Ph.D. programs in Private Law and Public Law. The faculty also has a history of graduate education beginning with the Law and Economics master’s program in 2008. Applicants to the LL.M. and Ph.D. programs should review the current application requirements, including English proficiency and ALES requirements where applicable.
As an international student with dreams of becoming a lawyer, Turkey can be a good country to consider when selecting where to study. The three universities mentioned above are a helpful research starting point for comparing program structure, teaching language, and graduate options. We wish you all the best in your pursuit!
We hope this article on the best law universities in Turkey was helpful. If you are interested, feel free to check out the Study in Turkey and Available Programs for International Students!
