Turkey is a country that spans Asia and Europe and acts as both a bridge and a crossroads between the two regions. Turkish is the official language, while Kurdish and Arabic are among the languages spoken by minority communities. Turkey is constitutionally secular and has no official state religion, although most of its population is Muslim.
Turkey has made a name in international education as a destination for international students. This can be attributed to the growing number of universities that offer English-taught programs and the country’s unique geographical location. Nursing education in Turkey began in 1912 as a six-month training course. The first bachelor’s program in nursing opened in 1955, followed by a master’s program in 1968 and the first 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
Istanbul Gelisim University offers its undergraduate nursing program through the Faculty of Health Sciences. The faculty includes Nursing among its departments and reports that its programs are offered in Turkish or English, supported by advanced laboratories and international accreditation certificates.
The Faculty of Health Sciences began as the School of Health Sciences in the 2012-2013 academic year, with Nursing among its first departments. English-language versions of several health sciences departments, including Nursing, were added in the 2014-2015 academic year. Nursing is available in Turkish and English, and practical skills training is supported by faculty laboratories and other facilities.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, annual international tuition was US$4,000 for Nursing (English) and US$3,500 for Nursing (Turkish).
2. Istanbul Medipol University
- Study Program
- Degree/s Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D. in Pediatric Nursing
Istanbul Medipol University is another strong option for nursing studies in Turkey. It offers Nursing and Nursing (English) under the School of Health Sciences. The university has campuses in Haliç and Kavacık in Istanbul, and students complete internships and some applied classes at Medipol University Hospital in Bağcılar, which Medipol describes as one of the biggest private hospitals in Turkey.
The School of Health Sciences emphasizes lifelong learning and improvement, with programs and facilities designed to support the practical skills needed by health sciences students. The university also maintains local and international academic partnerships and exchange opportunities.
The undergraduate Nursing program is offered in Turkish, while Medipol also lists a Nursing (English) undergraduate program. The Turkish Nursing program page states that the program lasts four years and includes an internship in the final year. At the graduate level, Medipol offers a Nursing master’s program, and its doctoral listings include Pediatric Nursing.
For the 2026-2027 academic intake, the international tuition list shows a list tuition fee of US$6,000 for Nursing (100% English) and US$8,750 for Nursing (Turkish), before any listed advance-payment discount.
3. Istinye University
Istinye University was established in 2015 by the 21st Century Anatolian Foundation as a continuation of the knowledge and experience of MLP Care Group. MLP Care brings Liv Hospital, Medical Park, and VM Medical Park under one roof, giving health sciences students a close connection to the healthcare sector. The university has campuses including Topkapı and Vadi Istanbul and offers undergraduate and graduate programs.
The nursing program is offered under the Faculty of Health Sciences, with Turkish and English undergraduate tracks. The university’s graduate listings include nursing-related master’s programs such as Surgical Diseases Nursing and Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, as well as a Ph.D. in Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, international undergraduate tuition for Nursing is listed at US$8,000 per year for both the Turkish and English tracks.
4. Atilim University
- Study Program
- Degree/s Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s in Nursing for Gynecology and Obstetrics
Atilim University offers its nursing program under the School of Health Sciences. The university was founded in 1997 and offers 100% English education in several health sciences departments, including Nursing. The School of Health Sciences reports that students have internship opportunities at state hospitals, contracted private hospitals, and other professional institutions and organizations.
The Department of Nursing opened in 2018. Atılım states that the department is among the few 100% English nursing programs in Turkey and the first and only one in Ankara in this respect. The university signed an affiliation protocol with Medicana International Ankara Hospital in 2018 to support academic and clinical integration. Graduate nursing study is listed in the Graduate School of Health Sciences as Nursing for Gynecology and Obstetrics.
For undergraduate international admissions, Atılım lists the School of Health Sciences tuition fee as US$14,500 per year for all programs, including Nursing.
5. Biruni University
- Study Program
- Degree/s Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D. in Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing
Among the best nursing schools in Turkey, Biruni University was founded in 2014 and named after Al-Biruni, a major medieval scholar. It is a health-oriented university with faculties such as Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Health Sciences. Biruni also highlights its research activity; in January 2026, it reported ranking first among foundation universities in Turkey under TÜBİTAK’s 2209-A University Students Research Projects Support Program, with 183 projects accepted in the 2024/1 period.
Biruni offers nursing programs through the Faculty of Health Sciences and has both Turkish- and English-medium Nursing departments. The Graduate School lists a thesis-based Nursing master’s program, and it also lists an Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing doctoral program. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the international tuition guideline lists Nursing (English) at US$5,000 per year, with US$4,500 shown in the discounted-fee column; Nursing (Turkish) is listed at US$5,000.
Higher education in Turkey typically consists of four years for most bachelor’s programs, about two years for a master’s program, and about four years for a doctoral program. International students usually need to show completion of secondary or high school education before admission to an undergraduate program.
We hope this article on the best nursing schools in Turkey was helpful. You can also check out the Study in Turkey and Available Programs for International Students!
