Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University (RTEÜ) — Rize

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University (RTEÜ) — known in Turkish as Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi — is a public university in Rize, on Turkey's eastern Black Sea coast. Founded in 2006 as Rize University, the institution was renamed on 11 April 2012 after Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has strong family ties to Rize.

Ranking: RTEÜ holds approximately the 59th rank among Turkish public universities — a strong mid-tier placement.

Language of instruction: Turkish is the official language across all programs. International students typically complete TÖMER Turkish preparation before joining their main degree.

Structure: The university operates 13 faculties.

Notable faculties and programs:

• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Dentistry
• Faculty of Engineering — computer, electrical-electronic, civil, mechanical engineering, marine transport engineering, aquaculture engineering, bioengineering
• Faculty of Maritime Sciences — taking advantage of Rize's Black Sea coastal location
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Letters and Sciences — chemistry, mathematics, history, Turkish language, English language, biology, physics, Georgian language (a distinctive offering, given Rize's proximity to the Georgian border)
• Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences — economics, business administration, finance, banking, international relations, international trade and logistics, political sciences
• Faculty of Theology
• Faculty of Education — classroom teaching, psychological counselling
• Faculty of Tourism
• Faculty of Health Sciences — nursing, physical therapy and rehabilitation, culinary arts
• Faculty of Agriculture — horticulture (well-positioned given Rize's role in tea production — Rize produces the bulk of Turkey's tea)
• Faculty of Fine Arts — landscape, music

Admission: RTEÜ accepts SAT, YÖS, and high-school diplomas with adequate GPA. Apply at uosy.erdogan.edu.tr.

Tuition (international students): Approximately $500–1,500 per year for most undergraduate programs; medicine and dentistry are higher (~$2,500–4,500).

Scholarships: Türkiye Bursları (full government scholarship) is the main pathway for fully funded international study.

Living in Rize: Rize is a coastal city on Turkey's eastern Black Sea coast, famous as Turkey's tea capital (the region produces the bulk of Turkey's tea). The climate is mild and very humid year-round, the green tea-covered hillsides are dramatic, and cost of living is below Istanbul — student rent typically $150–300/month. The city is reachable from Trabzon (~1 hour), and Trabzon airport provides domestic flight connections to Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya.

Recognition: Diplomas are accredited by Turkey's YÖK (Higher Education Council) and recognised across the Arab world. RTEÜ is particularly attractive to students who want a top-60 public university on the Black Sea coast with strong medical and maritime programs.

Verify current English-medium availability and admission paths for medical programs directly with the university before applying.