Istanbul Medipol University: Fees, Medicine and Admission for International Students
A private Istanbul university with its own hospitals and English-taught Medicine: real fees, entry rules and the catches to know first.
Istanbul Medipol University is a private foundation university founded in 2009 and best known for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy. It has campuses on both sides of Istanbul, trains medical students in Medipol hospitals and lists 27 bachelor's programs taught fully in English. Fees are in US dollars, and a six-year Medicine degree is a serious financial commitment.
Medipol suits applicants who want a clear entry route based on school grades, not an entrance exam, and who can fund the full degree. It is a weaker fit if you need the cheapest path to a medical degree or expect every clinical year to be in English.
| Key facts | Details |
|---|---|
Founded | 2009 |
Type | Private foundation (vakıf) university |
Campuses | Kavacık North and South (Asian side); Haliç (European side) |
Faculties | 12, including two medical faculties |
English-taught bachelor's programs | 27 (current fee list) |
Medical accreditation | TEPDAD, both medical faculties |
THE World University Rankings | 801–1000 |
Intake | Fall only |
Medipol University tuition fees
Fees below are per year in US dollars, from the university's current list for international students. You get 10% off if you pay the whole year at once or before the deadline in your offer letter. The table covers Medipol University medicine fees, dentistry fees and popular English-taught programs.
| Program | Current fee | With 10% lump-sum discount |
|---|---|---|
Medicine, 100% English | $40,000 | $36,000 |
Medicine, 30% English / 70% Turkish | $34,000 | $30,600 |
Dentistry, 100% English | $36,000 | $32,400 |
Dentistry, 30% English / 70% Turkish | $33,000 | $29,700 |
Pharmacy, 100% English / Turkish | $18,000 / $12,000 | $16,200 / $10,800 |
Physiotherapy / Nursing, English | $9,000 / $6,000 | $8,100 / $5,400 |
Computer or Biomedical Engineering, English | $6,500 | $5,850 |
Civil / Industrial Engineering, English | $5,000 / $4,750 | $4,500 / $4,275 |
Business Administration / Psychology, English | $5,500 | $4,950 |
Architecture, English | $5,000 | $4,500 |
English prep year, Medicine and Dentistry | $17,000 | — |
For other programs, the English prep year costs the same as a year of the program. Medipol has two medical faculties. The School of Medicine teaches mainly in Turkish, with at least 30% of courses in English, and it now also lists a 100% English track. The International School of Medicine is a separate English-taught faculty, but it is not on the current fee list for international students, so ask whether it accepts international applicants for the next intake.
Next year's fees are published closer to the intake. The university sets tuition every year, so treat these Medipol University fees as a reference, not a quote.
What a year at Medipol costs
USD per year, current fees for international students, before discounts
- Medicine, 100% English$40,000
- Dentistry, 100% English$36,000
- Medicine, 30% English$34,000
- Pharmacy, 100% English$18,000
- Physiotherapy$9,000
- Computer or Biomedical Engineering$6,500
- Business Administration / Psychology$5,500
- Architecture$5,000
Studying Medicine and Dentistry at Medipol
Medicine takes six years and Dentistry five, plus an English prep year if you do not pass the exemption requirement. Dentistry comes in 100% English and 30% English versions, with clinical training in the dental hospital on the Haliç campus.
The language changes during the degree. At the International School of Medicine, Years I–III are fully in English. In Years IV–VI, lectures and theory exams stay in English, but clinical practice and clinical exams are in Turkish. For the new 100% English track, the university has not published the clinical-year language, so get the answer in writing.
At the International School of Medicine, international students must reach C1 Turkish to work with patients. You can meet this through Turkish prep, compulsory courses Türkçe I–V (A1 in Year I to C1 in Year III) or a university exam. It must be done before Year IV, and it is a condition for starting clinical years. A specific TÖMER certificate is not required. The 30% English track also requires a Turkish test or a Turkish prep year.
According to the university, Medipol Mega University Hospital is accredited by Joint Commission International, and medical, dental and nursing students train in the Mega Hospitals complex. Public sources place it in Bağcılar on the European side, while the dorms are in Kavacık, so plan for the commute.
If you are comparing MBBS in Turkey options, check first with your national medical council (PMDC, NMC or MDCN) how it treats clinical training delivered in Turkish. To study medicine in Turkey privately in English, expect roughly $30,000–60,000 a year; our Study in Turkey guide compares the options.
Let's review your case in a free consultation
We will match a country, university and programme to your documents and budget, and explain deadlines and the visa.
or message us
Admission requirements for international students
Medipol University admission requirements start with your school certificate. The threshold is 60% for most countries, including Pakistan, India, Egypt, Nigeria (WAEC), the Gulf states and Kazakhstan; for Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan it is an average of 3 out of 5. Seats in each program are limited.
How to apply, step by step
1
Check your grades — 60% for most countries. The university also lists SAT (1000+) and ACT (22+ for Medicine and Dentistry). YÖS is not required.
2
Prepare English proof — IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 84 or PTE Academic 71 (online and home versions not accepted), or pass Medipol's exemption exam with 75.
3
Apply online — one application per semester, programs ranked by priority. Upload your certificate, transcript and passport. Review takes up to one week.
4
Pay the deposit — after the Conditional Acceptance Letter, pay the advance tuition deposit by the deadline. It counts toward tuition but is non-refundable.
5
Get the Official Acceptance Letter — use it to apply for a student visa at the Turkish consulate.
6
Legalize documents — apostille for Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh; consular legalization for Nigeria, the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan.
7
Register in Istanbul — bring originals with Turkish translations and the equivalence certificate (Denklik) for your school diploma, requested via e-Denklik or a Turkish consulate.
The university publishes dates for each intake closer to the start.
What to know before you apply
We walk every Medipol applicant through these points before they pay anything. Each one needs a plan, not a panic.
The honest checklist
- Total cost. Six years at $40,000 add up to $240,000 before discounts, plus $17,000 if you need prep. Fees change yearly, so we build your budget with a margin.
- Turkish for clinical years. The International School of Medicine requires C1 before Year IV. Start Turkish in Year I.
- English prep year. Without IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, you add a year, and at the International School of Medicine up to two. Take the test before applying.
- Student visa. Pakistani, Indian, Nigerian and Egyptian citizens need a visa, and the e-Visa is officially for tourism and business. We help you prepare the consulate file.
- Non-refundable deposit. Pay it only when your budget and visa plan are ready.
- Living costs. Budget roughly $700–1,300 a month in Istanbul.
Find your programme in 2 minutes
Medipol University ranking and recognition
Medipol is in the 801–1000 band of the THE World University Rankings, up from 1501+ a year earlier, and 9th of 109 Turkish universities. It is not in the overall QS World University Rankings, but appears in QS by Subject (701–850) and QS Europe (601–650).
For future doctors, accreditation matters more. TEPDAD accredits the School of Medicine until 2031 and the International School of Medicine until 2030, and TEPDAD is recognized by WFME until July 2033. That is relevant for the USMLE route, as ECFMG has required WFME-recognized accreditation since 2024; confirm current rules with ECFMG.
Student visa, residence permit and living costs
Citizens of Pakistan, India, Nigeria and Egypt need a visa. Saudi and UAE citizens enter visa-free for 90 days in 180, but the Turkish foreign ministry recommends a student visa for study. Some universities accept permit applications after entry on an e-Visa or visa-free, so confirm this with Medipol first.
After enrollment you apply for a student residence permit on e-ikamet and submit the file through the university. The card costs 964 TL, students pay no permit fee, and processing takes up to 90 days. Register for state insurance (GSS) within three months of enrollment, or buy a private policy. Bachelor's students can work part-time from the second year with a work permit.
Medipol has about 2,400 dorm beds in Kavacık; international students register in person with the International Office, which quotes current prices. More on visas in our Study in Turkey hub.
Scholarships and discounts
Each Medipol University scholarship is a tuition discount. The university does not say whether discounts combine, so count them separately until your offer letter shows the total.
Discounts for the current intake
- Special Country Scholarship — 15% for citizens of about 60 countries, including Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Egypt, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Gulf states are not listed.
- SAT — 10% for 1400+ in Medicine, Dentistry and English Pharmacy; 5–15% for 1100+ in other programs.
- Lump-sum payment — 10%.
- Family — 10% each when relatives study together; partner schools — 5%.
- Merit from Year 2 — top three students with GPA 2.91+ get 100%, 50% or 25% off.
Discounts may work differently in the prep year. For full funding, the government's Türkiye Bursları scholarship needs 90% grades for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy, with applications from 10 January to 20 February; see our Türkiye Bursları guide.
Other options in Turkey
To compare private universities, see Bahçeşehir University and Altınbaş University. With strong SAT or YÖS results, consider state universities such as METU or Istanbul University: METU charges international bachelor's students about $1,600–2,400 a year, but entry is harder and it does not accept IELTS taken since late 2022.
14 questions to ask before you pay the deposit
Deposits are almost never refundable. Ask these by email before paying — and keep the university's answer on record.
- What to ask about the programme, accreditation and the degree
- What tuition does not include and when a deposit is refunded
- Who files the visa application — you or the university
- Five red flags that mean you should not pay
Other universities in Turkey
Compare the terms: fees, language of instruction and entry requirements differ.
Bahcesehir University in Istanbul
Istanbul University
Middle East Technical University
Considering Medipol for Medicine or Dentistry? Book a free consultation with AcademGo. We will check your grades and English against the requirements, compare Medipol with two or three alternatives, and map the visa route for your country. Message us on WhatsApp or Telegram, or use the contact form.