Turkey is a country between Asia and Europe and serves as a barrier as well as a bridge between the two continents. The language of communication in the country is mostly Turkish, with a minority who speak Kurdish and Arabic. It is a secular country with no official religion attached to its name. However, the majority of its population belongs to the Islamic faith.
Turkey has recently made a name in international education due to it being a popular destination among international students. This can be attributed to the increasing number of universities that offer English-taught programs and their unique geographical location. Among the courses that are getting increasingly popular in the country is nursing education which started as a six-month training back in 1912. The program was converted to a bachelor’s degree in 1955, with a Master’s education introduced in 1968, followed by a doctorate in nursing in 1972.
Listed below are some of the best nursing schools in Turkey.
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in Turkey
1. Istanbul Gelisim University
The Istanbul Gelisim University offers its nursing program under the Faculty of Health Sciences. It is a world university that has established three schools of varying discipline, graduate institutes, and two vocational schools. The university is the only one in Turkey that has received the most international accreditations including German, British, and US accrediting agencies.
The Faculty of Health Sciences was formed in 2012, followed by the foundation of the nursing department in 2014. The nursing program is offered in Turkish and English as the language of instruction. With Istanbul Gelisim University being one of the best nursing schools in Turkey, practical exposure is integrated into the curriculum from the first year of education to the fourth year. The University also provides its students a space to practice and enhance their skills through its facilities, such as the semi-simulated training lab. It has various partners internationally that allow for clinical placement and exchange programs for its students in the course of their education.
The average tuition per year is US$7,000.
2. Istanbul Medipol University
The Istanbul Medipol University is another top nursing school in Turkey. It offers its nursing program under the School of Health Sciences. The University has campuses in Haliç and Kavacık in Istanbul, with Health Sciences students honing their practical skills at the University Hospital in Bağcılar – the largest private hospital in the country. The university is highly ranked in multiple university rankings both in Turkey and the world.
The School of Health Sciences commits to lifelong learning and improvement, with its programs continuously being updated and reformed, equipped with facilities that cater to the practical skills needed by its students. It has partnered with various universities in the country and abroad for joint education and exchange programs.
The nursing program is offered in 2 Languages of instruction: English and Turkish. The tuition fee per year depends on the language of instruction, with an average of US$5,556 for the Turkish-taught program, and US$6,250 for an English-taught program per year.
3. Istinye University
The Istinye University was established in 2015 by the MLP Care Group for the continuation of its knowledge and experience in various fields. Research is deeply embedded in its curriculum and is renowned for its contribution to research and as an excellent education provider. Its graduates can also easily find jobs among the institutions that are under the MLP Care Group: Liv Hospital, Medical Park, and VM Medical Park. it has campuses in Topkapi and Vadi and has established vocational schools, institutes, and various programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The nursing program is offered under the Faculty of Health Sciences, with Turkish and English as its language of instruction. Students in the nursing program can apply for a double major/ minor in their third year of nursing school. The university is also equipped with the proper facilities to help the growth of its students. The average tuition is US$5,000 per year.
4. Atilim University
Atilim University offers its nursing program under the School of Health Sciences. The university was founded in 1997 and has grown to be ranked high among Turkish Universities for quality education and programs in Physical Sciences. The University is also well-invested in research, ranking 21st in the country.
The School of Health Science is the first and only university in Ankara to offer its programs in English. The nursing program was opened in 2018, and students enrolled in the program are granted free clinical placements at Ankara Medicana International Hospital, all healthcare institutions under the Ministry of Health, or the newly-founded Healthy Life Practice and Research Center at Atılım University.
For the undergraduate program, the tuition is US$9,800 per year. The fee for a master’s is not listed on the University website and may be provided upon request to their website.
5. Biruni University
Among the best nursing schools in Turkey, Biruni University was founded in 2014, and was named after Biruni, a Turkish man who was declared by UNESCO as a ‘universal genius’. It was founded to establish a health-based university in the country. The university is renowned for its contribution to research and its advancement in technology, ranking first among other foundation universities in the country for its research contributions.
The nursing program was offered in 2014 under the Faculty of Health Sciences. The average tuition per year is US$6,000.
Higher education in Turkey typically consists of four years in an undergraduate program, two years in a Master’s program, and a doctorate for three to five years. International students are required to have a high school diploma before admission to any tertiary education institution in the country.
We hope this article on the best nursing schools in Turkey was helpful. Feel free to check out the Study in Turkey and Available Programs for International Students pages and learn more about studying abroad.
