8 Best Universities to study in Istanbul

studyfans Date : 18 Apr 24

Istanbul has experienced significant historical events and is considered one of the largest in the world, with many people flocking to visit it due to its prominent location. Istanbul is not just a tourist destination but also a great educational centre in Turkey and Europe. It has many public and private universities and enormous numbers of Arab and international students who are accepted at these universities annually. Each university competes to provide students with the highest quality education and the best amenities. In this article, we will highlight the best universities in Istanbul.

Why Do Students Seek to Pursue their Studies in Istanbul Universities Particularly?

Turkish universities are generally characterized by a high quality of education, advanced infrastructure, and highly qualified academic staff, competing with many European universities. These universities are available around the Turkish provinces. However, Istanbul is considered the most attractive city for students for several reasons, including:

Istanbul is considered the most important city in Turkey, facilitating transportation to any other city or province
Istanbul Universities are located in essential locations of the city, as there is almost no university in Istanbul without a nearby transportation facility such as the metro, Metrobus, and others.
Istanbul's universities are the most attractive universities for international students due to the provided facilities such as speaking with the students in their language or English, providing a place for all cultures to interact mutually and gain experiences.
Istanbul's public and private universities are among the most reputed universities in Turkey in terms of courses, university rankings, and the availability of various cultural, sports, and social activities.
Because of the nature and the charming and attractive places of Istanbul, the students can relax and enjoy visiting various city sites.

Read more about: How to begin studying in Turkey?

Best Universities in Istanbul

1. Istanbul University

It is the oldest and most prestigious university in the city. Moreover, it is among the best public universities in Istanbul and the top 10 universities in Turkey. This university ranked 8 among Turkish public and private universities and 905 globally in 2023. It was established during the reign of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1453 AD. Since then, it has been an important center of education with many graduates who have occupied important positions inside and outside Turkey. The university hosts more than 100,000 Turkish and international students in all academic programs. It is also considered the best university in Istanbul to study medicine.

Istanbul University includes the following faculties located on several campuses:

Faculty of Medicine (Jarrah Pasha),
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Letters
Faculty of Dentistry
Faculty of Economics
Faculty of Business Administration
Faculty of Political Science
Faculty of Communication
Faculty of Aquatic Sciences
Faculty of Theology
Faculty of Transportation and Logistics
Faculty of Architecture
Faculty of Open and Distance Education
Faculty of Computer and Information Technologies

2. Istanbul Technical University

It is also one of Turkey's oldest public universities, established in 1773 AD. It is the second-best university in Turkey and ranked 593th globally according to the latest Turkish university ranking. The university has many achievements and contributions in the technical and artistic fields. It is also well known for its excellence in engineering specialization compared to other universities.

The university has the following faculties on six campuses:

Faculty of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Architecture
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Faculty of Maritime
Faculty of Chemical-Metallurgical Engineering
Faculty of Textile Technologies and Design
Faculty of Mines
Faculty of Naval Architecture and Marine Sciences
Faculty of Computer and Informatics
Faculty of Sciences and Letters

Learn more about: Top 10 Best Public Universities in Turkey

3. Medipol University

Due to its significant advancement in the medical field and the provision of many training opportunities in the various affiliated institutions and hospitals, Medipol University is one of the best universities for medical specializations. The university was founded in 2009 and has been awarded many Turkish and international recognitions. The university includes many faculties, institutes, and hospitals on several campuses.

The available faculties are given as follows:

Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Pharmacy
Faculty of Dentistry
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Management
Faculty of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Education

In 2023, the annual cost of medicine in English is 38,700$, which may vary each academic year. The tuition fee at the Faculty of Pharmacy is 10080$for the Turkish medium of instruction and $19800 for the English medium of instruction. The study of dentistry in English costs up to 30600$.

However, the tuition fees for other programs in different faculties range from $4320 to $6840.

4. Istanbul Bilgi University

Bilgi university is one of Turkey's oldest private universities, established in 1996 and located in the famous Eyüp Sultan tourist area. Due to its diverse programs and excellent educational quality, Istanbul Bilgi University has become among the top 20 universities in Turkey and is ranked 1354th globally. Istanbul Bilgi University is one of the most famous universities among students, with more than 22,000 students from more than 45 countries. The university encourages students to take care of their private lives besides studying due to its belief in this approach for better academic achievement.

The university includes the following faculties on four different campuses:

Faculty of Agriculture
Faculty of Business Administration
Faculty of Communication
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Social Sciences

It also includes the following institutes:

Institute of Graduate Programs
European Institute
Institute of Information Technology Law

The tuition fee for studying at Istanbul Bilgi University ranges from $2000 to $15000.

5. Altinbaş University

Altinbaş University is one of the private universities in Istanbul for medical and engineering specializations with many international students. According to the Times University Rankings, it is among the top 100 universities in Turkey and the top 500 universities worldwide.

The university has the following faculties distributed over three campuses:

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Faculty of Applied Science
Faculty of Business Administration
Faculty of Fine Arts
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Dentistry
Faculty of Pharmacy
Faculty of Health Sciences

The university offers many master's, doctoral, and diploma programs in Turkish and English. The annual tuition fees for pharmacy are $11,000, $16,000 for dentistry, and $21,000 for medicine. The tuition fees for engineering specializations and other programs range from $3500 to $4500.

6. Bahçeşehir University

Bahçeşehir University is one of the best research universities in Istanbul and Turkey, with multiple branches in various countries.

It is distinguished by the offered programs, scientific research centers, and various advanced laboratories. Bahçeşehir University was founded in 1998 and ranked 26nd locally and 1573th globally. The university provides many undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma programs.

It has nine faculties as follows:

Faculty of Pharmacy
Faculty of Communication
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of engineering and materials sciences
Faculty of Architecture and Design
Faculty of Economics, Administrative, and Social Sciences
Faculty of Law

The tuition fees range between $5,740 and $8,200. They vary for medical programs, costing up to $15,000 at the Faculty of Pharmacy and $25,000 at the Faculty of Medicine.

It is among the best universities, if not the best, to study media in Turkey and the only university with a Department of Artificial Intelligence in English.

7. Istanbul Aydın University

Aydin University is the most among Turkish private universities for Arab students and one of the most distinguished universities in Istanbul and Turkey. It shows great interest in students' practical and life aspects, helping them spend the best time and make the most of them through the university stage. It has a high percentage of postgraduate placement, attributed to the student's gained experience during their studies.

The university has the following faculties at three different campuses:

Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Fine Arts
Faculty of Mathematical Sciences
Faculty of Art and Sciences
Faculty of Dentistry
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Architecture and Design
School of Foreign Languages

The tuition fee for undergraduate programs ranges from $3800 to $6000 with an English medium of instruction. However, studying medicine in Turkish|English costs $22000. The study of dentistry costs 20000$ in Turkish|English.

8. Üsküdar University

Üsküdar University is one of the best universities to study medicine or medical specializations due to many training opportunities in the affiliated hospitals and research institutions. It is also among the world's most distinguished universities for research in Neurosciences and Pharmacology.

The faculties of Üsküdar University are as follows:

Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Communication
Faculty of Dentistry
Faculty of Social Sciences
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences

Diploma institutes are:

Institute of Science
Institute of Social Sciences
Institute of Addiction and Forensic Sciences
Institute of Sufi Studies
Institute of Health Sciences

It is among the cheapest private universities in Istanbul. The annual tuition fees of the offered programs range from $3,260 to $5,095 with English or Turkish medium of instruction. However, the prices for studying medicine in Turkish are $16,300 and $22,410 in English. The study of dentistry in Turkish costs up to $15,280.