Istinye University (ISÜ) — Istanbul

Istinye University (ISÜ) is a private university located in Istanbul on the European side, founded in 2015. Although relatively young, it has rapidly established itself as one of Turkey's stronger universities for medical and health sciences education.

Academic philosophy: ISÜ positions itself as a research-driven institution focused on producing knowledge through scientific research while continuously modernising its higher-education system to keep pace with economic, social, cultural, political, scientific, and technological developments. The university places strong emphasis on flexible teaching methods and on bridging the gap between academic curricula and real-world professional demands.

Medical specialisation — the university's defining strength: ISÜ excels in medical training. Beyond research, the university provides students with extensive hands-on clinical training in affiliated hospitals — including partnerships with three of Turkey's largest hospitals for clinical rotations.

Faculties and programs:

• Faculty of Medicine (English and Turkish tracks)
• Faculty of Dentistry
• Faculty of Pharmacy
• Faculty of Health Sciences — Nursing, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Nutrition and Dietetics, Audiology
• Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
• Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Communication, Faculty of Arts and Design

Admission: No YÖS required. A high school diploma with reasonable GPA is sufficient; English-medium programs need TOEFL or IELTS. Apply at istinye.edu.tr/en.

Tuition (annual, international students):

• Medicine (English): approximately $18,000–22,000
• Dentistry: approximately $15,000–18,000
• Pharmacy, Engineering: approximately $5,000–8,000
• Other undergraduate programs: approximately $3,500–6,000

Scholarships: Merit-based scholarships ranging from 25% to 75% of tuition for international applicants.

Campus and student life: Modern campus on Istanbul's European side, with research labs, libraries, sports facilities, and active student clubs. The university operates English preparatory programs for students requiring language strengthening.

Recognition: ISÜ is YÖK-accredited, and its diplomas — particularly in medicine and health sciences — are recognised across the Arab world through standard equivalency procedures.