Study Transfer from Turkey: from Istanbul and More to a New University

Where do German-speaking students study medicine in Turkey?

• University of Istanbul — the country's most historic medical faculty. To the location article.
• Private universities in Istanbul — including Acıbadem, Yeditepe, Koç and Bahçeşehir, all with English-language medical programmes.
• Other state faculties — in Ankara, Izmir and other cities, predominantly in Turkish.

Admission runs via selection procedures and entrance tests. Tuition fees at private universities are approximately 18,000 to 25,000 EUR per academic year; the programme lasts six years.

Why do students transfer from Turkey to Europe?

Turkish in the clinical phase

Even in English-language programmes, Turkish becomes important in patient contact from the third year onwards. Those who find this hampers their access to clinical work will find better conditions at a university with fully English-language clinical training.

The total bill

18,000 to 25,000 EUR per academic year adds up to a high six-figure sum over six years — plus currency fluctuations that make long-term planning more difficult.

Recognition is regulated

Turkey is not an EU member and therefore remains a third country. Since the March 2026 reform this is no longer a disadvantage: from 1 November 2026 the oral knowledge examination under section 3 of the Bundesärzteordnung applies as the standard route to a Germany-wide licence to practise. Details are in the article Approbation and Recognition.

How does the study transfer from Turkey work?

1. Document review. Transcript of Records with ECTS and grades, plus enrolment certificate. Free and non-binding.
2. Determine target year. Comparison with the target university's curriculum before anything is submitted.
3. Reserve a place. Places in higher years are allocated in order of receipt of complete documents.
4. Recognition procedure. The target university formally credits prior learning; we help prepare translations and certified copies.
5. Enrol and continue studying. Deregistration in Turkey is the final step.

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Where can you transfer to from Turkey?

University of East Sarajevo, Faculty of Medicine Foča (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

One of our core locations, for which we hold representation in the German-speaking region. State faculty with its own university hospital, medicine and dentistry in English, listed in ANABIN, EU-compliant accreditation until 2033. 3,500 EUR per academic year, start in November, practical year optionally completed entirely at a German teaching hospital. Placements here are generally very high — transfers usually enter a high year of study; our internal data also shows a good prognosis for students transferring from Turkey. To the Foča study guide.

MediCampus Europeo, Malta

EU location with English as the official language. Campus in Il-Furjana near Valletta, medicine in English, Maltese MFHEA licence. Transfer from the second year onwards, 14,500 EUR per year with a lump-sum payment, start in October. To the Valletta location article.

University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine (Serbia)

Large state university with its own university hospital, medicine in English, 360 ECTS, MD degree. 1,500 EUR per quarter, i.e. 6,000 EUR per academic year. To the Niš location article.

The full list of all NC-free options can be found in the study transfer article on Bulgaria.

The level of placement depends on the individual case

All pathways mentioned here are designed to achieve the highest possible year placement for you through us — with no or minimal loss of time. However, this only becomes binding after your documents have been reviewed. As a rule of thumb: usually no more than two exams may be outstanding, and their ECTS credits must not exceed a certain threshold, for a transfer into the next higher year to be possible. We clarify what is feasible in your specific case in a free consultation.

What the transfer means financially

Private universities in Turkey charge approximately 18,000 to 25,000 EUR per academic year. Foča costs 3,500 EUR, Niš 6,000 EUR, Malta 14,500 EUR. Transferring in the third year, over four remaining years, that is up to 86,000 EUR less in tuition fees depending on the destination, plus lower living costs of 450 to 500 EUR per month in Foča and Niš. Our placement fee is success-based.

Why you should seek advice as early as possible

• Places are limited and allocated in order of receipt of complete documents.
• Deadlines are running: Foča starts in November, Malta in October, Niš admits each quarter.
• Being enrolled is the better starting position — so book the consultation before the next resit.

Reviewing your documents takes a few days and costs nothing. Book a free study consultation.