Private universities in Turkey
private universities in turkey are today one of the most popular choices for students who want to combine affordable tuition fees with international-quality education. Turkey has around 70 private (foundation) universities spread across its major cities, especially Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. These universities are all officially recognized by the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK), and many of them are included in global rankings. For students coming from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe, the attraction is simple: lower costs compared to the USA or UK, modern campuses, programs taught in English, and flexible admission requirements.
If you are looking for the best private universities in turkey, want to check the list of private universities in turkey, or are interested in the top 10 private universities in turkey, this article will provide all the information you need in 2026. We also include details about private universities in turkey for medicine, cost comparisons, rankings, admission steps, and campus life. Throughout the article, you will also see references to our other resources like Best Private Universities in Turkey and Studying Medicine in Turkey for deeper insights.
How many private universities in Turkey?
A common question is: how many private universities in turkey exist? By 2026, the number is around 70. Most of them are located in Istanbul, which alone hosts more than 65 private universities. Ankara, Izmir, and Bursa are other strong centers. Each university is legally supervised, has its own faculties, and admits international students every year.
Affordable and cheap options
Many students ask about cheap private universities in turkey or the cheapest private universities in turkey for international students. Costs depend on the program and the city, but compared to Europe or North America, tuition fees remain highly affordable. In 2026, annual tuition fees for non-medical programs usually range from $3,000 to $9,000. Programs in business, engineering, and IT are among the most affordable. Medicine and dentistry are more expensive, usually between $11,000 and $34,000 per year. Still, this is less than half of the cost in Western Europe or the US. These numbers make Turkey one of the best destinations for students searching for affordable private universities in turkey.
Medium of instruction
Private universities in Turkey provide programs in Turkish, English, and sometimes French, German, or Arabic. This flexibility is one reason why they are considered the best private universities in turkey for international students. Students who don’t speak Turkish can still study their full program in English, and many universities also provide a one-year language prep class.
Admission process
Another reason international students choose Turkey is the simplified admission system. For most private universities in turkey ranking outside the very top, students don’t need to pass an entrance exam. A high school diploma is enough, with English or Turkish language proof. Only a few universities like Koç, Sabancı, and Bilkent require additional conditions..
Best private universities in Turkey for medicine
Students specifically searching for best private universities in turkey for medicine or private medical universities in turkey will find many options. Istanbul Aydin University, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul Medipol University, and Acibadem University are all well-known for strong medical faculties. They have modern hospitals, simulation labs, and international accreditations. These schools also appear on the list of the best private medical universities in turkey, with graduates eligible for exams like USMLE (USA) or PLAB (UK). For deeper insight, you can also read our full article: Studying Medicine in Turkey.
Top 10 best private universities in Turkey
If you’re searching for the top 10 best private universities in turkey, the names that come up most often include:
Koç University
Sabancı University
Bilkent University
Istanbul Medipol University
Bahçeşehir University
Istanbul Aydin University
Istinye University
Ozyegin University
Yeditepe University
Acibadem University
These universities frequently appear in international rankings and are considered the best private universities in turkey across different disciplines.
University life for international students
Life at universities in turkey for international students is vibrant. Students from more than 150 countries are currently enrolled, and campuses are designed to support international living. Most universities are part of Erasmus+ exchange agreements with European Union universities, as well as Farabi and Mevlana exchange programs. Students can join clubs, sports teams, and cultural events. Dormitory housing is widely available, with many private universities in turkey offering on-campus or nearby residences.
One big advantage is the smaller class size compared to public universities, which gives students more direct interaction with professors. And because many private universities are located in Istanbul and Ankara, students get the benefit of living in modern cities with rich cultural life.
Advantages of studying in private universities in Turkey
Here are some of the main advantages:
Easy admission without heavy testing requirements.
Wide program availability in English and Turkish.
Internationally recognized degrees.
Participation in Erasmus and other exchange programs.
Strong focus on medicine, engineering, and business.
Options for double major or minor studies.
Modern infrastructure: labs, libraries, hospitals.
Lower student-to-professor ratios.
Affordable tuition compared to Europe or USA.
Universities located in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Bursa.
Wide variety of scholarships and installment payment plans.
These benefits explain why more than 50,000 foreign students are already enrolled at private universities in turkey as of 2026.
Tuition fees compared
Non-medical bachelor programs: $3,200 – $9,000 per year
Medicine: $11,000 to $44,000 per year
Dentistry: $10,000 to $34,000 per year
Pharmacy: $7,000 to $15,000 per year
Master’s programs: $3,000 to $14,000 per year
This clear gap makes Turkey one of the destinations most often searched for affordable private universities in turkey.
By 2026, Turkey has become a global hub for international students. The variety of private universities in turkey ensures that every student can find a program suitable for their goals and budget. Whether you are interested in engineering, law, business, or healthcare, you will find strong programs with modern facilities and supportive environments.
If you are considering medicine or dentistry, make sure to review our article Studying Medicine in Turkey to understand fees, admission, and recognition. And if you want to compare options across Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, check our Best Private Universities in Turkey list for detailed profiles of each institution.
Your future in Turkey can begin with choosing the right private university affordable, internationally recognized, and welcoming for students from all over the world.
The prices of studying in private university in Istanbul range from 2500 to 9500 dollars for most study majors, and the costs of studying vary according to the university and the university specialization, and studying medicine at private universities in Turkey one of the most demanded and most expensive specialties,
many private university scholarships are available in Turkey and companies working in the educational field offer discounts on study prices in universities, you can contact us to learn more about the discounts and scholarships of private universities available, and we at Imtiyaz Company for Educational Services in Turkey register students wishing to study in Turkey in Turkish private universities for free consultation fees in addition to many of the student packages available to us.
Most of the best private universities in Turkey for international students are located in the city of Istanbul , which is one of the high-cost cities for studying and living in Turkey ,due to the dense number of international students in Turkish private universities, these universities have avoided all their disadvantages and disadvantages in the past years, and the high cost of living in Istanbul is one of the disadvantages of private universities in Turkey that continues until now. It is worth mentioning now Find some private Turkish universities that are cheap in Istanbul in addition to other states such as Gaziantep, Mersin, Ankara, Antalya, Cappadocia ... etc
Based on the belief of Turkish private universities in the importance of training in addition to academic education in refining the student's personality and increasing his self-confidence, as well as providing him with the skills required in the labor market, it has been keen to establish research and application centers within its campus in order to provide the necessary support for the scientific and research process in order to improve performance in various sectors.
Among the most important of these centers are centers for economic and social research, centers for cultural and tourism research, applied and industrial research centers, centers for psychology applications and many others.
Most top private universities in Istanbul for international students follow an academic approach based on modern scientific curricula that are aware of the importance of training and the practical application of the theoretical knowledge that students have acquired in academic education, so most universities, if not all, include on their campuses laboratories and laboratories for training equipped with the latest technologies to allow the student to apply what he has learned, which increases the student's self-confidence and pushes him to love learning and acquire more skills and experiences.
In addition, some universities such as Bahçeşehir University, Özygin University and others have cooperation agreements with many international companies that allow their students to train in these companies and gain experience in practical life as well as pursue academic education, which makes their graduates prepared for the global labor market.
It also organizes orientation programs for its students and graduated students through graduated student offices that organize events and training to help them plan for their future.
Turkish private universities pay great attention to student clubs in match with academic education with the aim of creating a balanced educational environment that helps students develop and develop their skills, as this interest is reflected in the various student clubs that are established in these universities, where these clubs vary and differ among themselves in activities, events and interests Where each club focuses on a specific field and organizes various events to support and develop students in this field, and we mention these clubs:
1. Music clubs: It aims to teach students musical arts properly and correctly based on the foundations and rules of these arts, and concerts are organized and celebritiesin this field are invited to attend these concerts.
2. Math Clubs: Attracts talented and interested students in this field and organizes competitions that will motivate students to develop their skills.
3.Scientific Clubs: Focuses on the participation of students in organizing conferences and attending events for various disciplines such as medical clubs, engineering college clubs, computer technology clubs and many more...
1- Turkey private universities are characterized by good global ranking and recognition worldwide, so do not hesitate and search for the university you want to register on.
2- Registration in private universities in Turkey is completely free , accredited educational companies cannot charge any fee for this service .
3- After choosing your university major and the university you want to study at, contact the accredited educational companies in Turkey.
4- You can use the search engine on our site to find your specialization in Turkish universities.
5- Upload your documents and fill in all the data correctly.
6- Wait for the acceptance letter from the university.
7- Make sure that your personal information, study program and language of study are correct in the acceptance letter before paying the university tuition.
8- If all the information is correct, pay to the bank account in the official acceptance letter and tell the bank to write your full name and passport number or national ID on the official receipt, do not pay the brokers to avoid being deceived.
9- send the receipt to the company through which you registered.
10- The university will send the final acceptance letter shortly after you pay the fees.
11- If you are enrolled in English language programs, prepare for the placement test at the university (you can review the language level requirements for each university via our website).
12- When you come to Turkey, complete the university registration procedures at the university (it takes several hours).
13- After completing the university registration procedures, submit an application for study residency, the delay in applying for residence exposes you to violations and deportation.
14- Stop violating the laws and read about the customs of the Turkish people and the laws regulating foreigners in Turkey.
1- Are Private Universities in Turkey Good?
Yes, most of Turkish private universities are good.
2- What is the ranking of private universities in Turkey globally?
The ranking of Turkish private universities varies according to the university , as there are a number of them among the top 500 universities in the world .
3- Are private universities in Turkey recognized?
Yes, all private universities of Turkey are affiliated with the presidency of the Higher Education Council and are similarly controlled by laws and legislations
4- What are the prices of private universities in Turkey?
The prices of Turkish private universities range annually from 2500 to 9500 dollars for bachelor's degrees, from 15000 to 28000 for the specialties of medicine and dentistry, from 1500 to 4000 for master's degrees.
5- What are the cheapest private universities in Turkey to study medicine?
There are a number of universities with appropriate tuition fees for the study of medicine in the states outside Istanbul.
6- What are the private universities that teach pharmacy in Turkey?
Pharmacy specialization is available in most Turkish universities, you can use the search engine to see the available universities and study costs.
7- What is the difference between private universities and the public universities in Turkey?
In the beginning, tuition fees vary between private and public universities in Turkey, in addition to that, the method of accepting international students varies, private universities do not require any tests to accept international students in them, where students wishing to study in Turkish public universities are subject to tests such as YOS and SAT.
8- Is it possible to study in English in Turkish private universities?
Yes, most study programs are available in English in Turkish at top private universities in Turkey.
9- What are the conditions for admission to private universities in Turkey?
Most of Turkish private universities do not have any conditions for accepting international students from outside Turkey
10- I have Turkish citizenship, can I be registered in Turkish private universities?
Yes, if you have a nationality other than Turkish citizenship as well, you can register at the university (there are some conditions to be accepted)
11- What is the number of international students in Turkish private institutions?
More than 50,000 students register annually to private universities.
Private universities in Istanbul have international recognition and high global ranking, the prices of private universities vary according to the university and the study program, search for university and academic specialization, and you can also use the services of educational companies in Turkey in this matter in order to find the best private universities in Turkey at the lowest costs and benefit from private university scholarships,
Always remember that registering at a private university in Istanbul completely free . After registration ,do not send the university tuition to any office or educational company, but pay the university fees yourself or through one of your trusted friends or relatives. Then start the residence procedures as soon as you arrive in Turkey, stay away from violating the laws in Turkey and read about the laws of foreigners in Turkey. Try to make lots of friends and form a network of relationships around the world.
