There are many universities in Turkey offering nursing programs to international students. Nursing courses in Turkey are provided in English. Moreover, admissions to nursing programs here are comparatively easy and do not need an entrance test. This availability of English-taught programs has made Turkey an emerging study-abroad destination. As of 2022, there are 260,289 international students, which is likely to grow.
Medical universities in Turkey are aimed at training students as competent nurses. They are trained to perform clinical and non-clinical tasks with independence and authority. If you wish to study nursing in Turkey in English, this post is for you. It gives an overview of nursing programs in Turkey as well as the best nursing universities. You can also learn more about fees and entrance requirements.
Overview of Nursing studies in Turkey
Programs offered | BSc Nursing and MSc Nursing |
Duration of BSc Nursing | 4 years |
Duration of MSc Nursing | 2 years |
Annual fees (BSc Nursing) | 5,000-10,000 USD |
Annual fees (MSc Nursing) | 2,000 USD |
Average salary of nurses in Turkey | 4,374 USD |
Why study Nursing in Turkey?
Since 2010, Turkey’s government has been extensively working towards internationalization. It discontinued the Central Admission system.
Universities can now decide their admission criteria. This has led to several international students showing interest in studying in Turkey.
One of the best reasons to study in Turkey is the Bologna Treaty. Signed in 2002, graduates of Turkish universities can work in over 40 European countries.
Nursing education in Turkey is at par with other developed countries. Even as a developing economy, Turkey has the infrastructure for a global education like the US or the UK. This is true for nursing and all other medical programs in Turkey.
Moreover, students can study at reasonable costs. Turkey’s cost of living is highly affordable. Besides the low cost, the Turkish government offers scholarships to international students.
Nursing courses in Turkey
Nursing courses in Turkey are available as bachelor’s and master’s programs.
Bachelor’s in Nursing (or Bachelor’s in Science (BSc) in Nursing) is a four-year course. It has eight semesters. Turkey offers these courses in English for international students.
The curriculum of a typical undergraduate nursing degree covers the following
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Principles and Practices of Nursing
- Ethics
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Pathology
- Nursing (children’s health, mental health, women’s health, public health, surgical diseases, internal diseases, and infectious diseases)
Universities also provide Turkish language lessons as part of the syllabus. Knowledge of Turkish is essential as practical training is necessary for patient interactions. Internships are a part of nursing courses. Students have the chance to gain practical experience through affiliate hospitals.
A Master’s in Nursing (MSc) in the English language is not available in many universities. Currently, only two universities are offering master’s in nursing. Master’s in nursing is a two-year course.
Best Nursing universities in Turkey
According to the official education website, the following universities offer nursing in English. These universities are ranked per their national ranking. The list features the top 200 nursing schools for undergraduate studies.
UniRank 2022 | University | Nursing Program Offered |
3 | Istanbul Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
6 | Ankara Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
13 | Atatürk Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
38 | Bahçesehir Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
35 | Yeditepe Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
50 | Atilim Üniversity | Nursing Pr (English) |
72 | Istanbul Gelisim Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
88 | Okan Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
69 | Haliç Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
70 | Istanbul Medipol Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
124 | Acibadem Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
138 | Biruni Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
114 | Istinye Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
166 | Demiroglu Bilim Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
169 | Fenerbahçe Üniversitesi | Nursing Pr (English) |
For graduate-level studies in English, students can choose from these two universities.
- Yeditepe Üniversitesi
- KOC University
Nursing in Turkey: Cost for international students
The annual fees for most universities are below USD 5,000. Some have their fees in the USD 5,000-10,000 bracket. The average tuition for nursing in Turkey is USD 5,520. In comparison, tuition fees for undergraduate nursing courses in the US range from USD 40,000-80,000. The tuition fees for other medical courses in Turkey are also comparatively much more affordable.
University | Annual Tuition Fee in USD |
Ankara Üniversitesi | 1,609 |
Bahçesehir Üniversitesi | 5,530 |
Yeditepe Üniversitesi | 8,500 |
Atilim Üniversity | 9,800 |
Istanbul Gelisim Üniversitesi | 4,000 |
Okan Üniversitesi | 4,800 |
Haliç Üniversitesi | 4,000 |
Istanbul Medipol Üniversitesi | 4,500 |
Acibadem Üniversitesi | 8,000 |
Biruni Üniversitesi | 5,400 |
Istinye Üniversitesi | 4,860 |
Fenerbahçe Üniversitesi | 3,000 |
A master’s degree in nursing costs approximately USD 1,950 per year.
Admission requirements for Nursing in Turkey
Most universities follow some or all of the below guidelines. Students will have to take a few examinations for admission. These include SAT/ACT/TOEFL/YOS, etc. Students can choose to go for a university-conducted English test instead of TOEFL.
- Higher secondary certificate
- Academic transcripts
- YOS exam score of at least 60 on 100 (required by some universities)
- SAT scores (required by some universities)
- TOEFL (iBT 72) scores or university conducted proficiency test
- Turkish language proficiency certificate up to B2 (required by some universities)
- Motivation letter
- Letter of recommendation
- Passport copy
- Passport size photographs
YOS entrance exam is conducted by state universities only as a mandate for admissions to various programs including nursing. Each university has its own YOS exam, however results can be used to apply for quotas at other Turkish state or private universities. Private universities accept scores of variety of international exams like SAT, ACT, IB, etc.
The acceptance rates for most medical universities are moderate to high. But the application process may feel a bit lengthy for international students. Read more about the admissions procedure to Turkish medical colleges.
Scholarships for international students in Turkey
International students can enjoy scholarships available from the government and universities. A few of them are listed below.
Full-time scholarships sponsored by the government cover a wide range of fees:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation charges
- Insurance fees
- Flight tickets
- One year of Turkish language lessons
- Monthly stipend
Turkiye Burslari
Turkiye Burslari is open to students from all nationalities. Students who wish to enroll for bachelor’s or master’s can apply. The scholarship program lays down a few rules to be eligible.
Minimum academic achievement:
- For undergraduate candidates: 70%
- For graduate candidates: 75%
- For candidates in Health Sciences (medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy): 90%
The scholars’ applications are assessed based on their academic records, social activities, and motivation to study.
Success Scholarship Program
Success scholarships are open to a limited number of international students. It is a short-term scholarship program. These scholarships cover students’ tuition fees during the months of study.
Eligibility criteria include
- Students must be foreign nationals.
- Students must currently be residing in Turkey.
- Undergraduate students in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy must have at least a 2.50 (out of 4) GPA
- Students must not have applied for any other scholarship
University scholarships
Apart from the state-funded ones, students can apply to universities as well. Several medical universities in Turkey offer scholarships to international students. The criteria for most university scholarships is merit. Therefore, students with excellent academic records will be eligible.
The university scholarships may cover the total tuition fees or pay a monthly stipend toward living expenses. Students should check their preferred university website for the latest scholarship updates.
Career scope of Nursing in Turkey
As mentioned earlier, Turkish degrees are valid in all the countries following Bologna Treaty. This includes a list of more than 40 countries. Some of the major countries on the list are
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Nursing students in Turkey undergo an intensive training process. They are trained to work in a variety of roles across various workplaces. Some common employers are
- Public and private hospitals
- Family and community health centers
- Rehabilitation centers
- Occupational health and safety departments
- Nursing homes
- Universities and secondary schools
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Airline companies
- R&D organizations
The national average salary of nurses in Turkey is TRY 76,000 or USD 4,077* (Salary explorer). For higher salaries, graduates can choose to work in other high-paying countries.
*Amount in Turkish Lira is converted to USD at 1 TRY = 0.054 USD. Please note that exchange rates are subject to change periodically.
International students can study nursing in Turkey at both undergraduate and graduate levels. There are many options to study nursing at the undergraduate level as many universities offer bachelor’s in nursing in English. However, only two universities offer master’s in nursing in English. The bachelor’ in nursing fees range from 5,000 to 10,000 USD per year. Master’s nursing costs ~2,000 USD per year.
You can study nursing in Turkey in English at either a public or private university. The admission process for private institutions is relatively simple because they do not organize entrance examinations and can accept scores from numerous entrance exams used around the world such as SAT, ACT, IB, and so on. Students attending public universities must pass the YOS entrance exam. For more information, contact Gyanberry.