Istanbul Medipol

Where is Istanbul Medipol University?

Istanbul Medipol University has more than one teaching site. The Kavacık South and Kavacık North campuses are on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, in Beykoz, near the Kavacık junction of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. The Haliç Campus is on the European side, inside the historic peninsula on the shore of the Golden Horn.

Practical courses and internships in health programs are also supported at Medipol Mega University Hospital in Bağcılar. This multi-campus structure means that the day-to-day location of a student depends on the faculty and program. The university publishes campus pages and maps for each site.

History of Istanbul Medipol University

Istanbul Medipol University was founded on 7 July 2009 by the Turkey Education, Health and Research Foundation (TESA). From the start it has been closely associated with health education and with the Medipol hospital group.

Over the following years the university expanded beyond medicine into dentistry, pharmacy, health sciences, engineering, law, business, education, communication and the arts. It also opened an International School of Medicine alongside the Faculty of Medicine. Research units such as the Health Sciences and Technologies Research Institute (SABITA) are part of the university’s public research profile.

Is Medipol University public or private?

Istanbul Medipol University is a private foundation university (vakıf university). It was established by TESA and operates under Turkey’s higher education system and the regulations of YÖK.

Admission, tuition and language rules are set by the university within that framework. International students should check the current requirements for their program rather than assuming that one set of rules applies to every faculty.

Why is Istanbul Medipol University popular among international students?

Medipol is frequently considered by applicants who want to study medicine or another health field in Istanbul and who are looking for a university with its own large teaching hospital. The official site reports about 45,000 students, including about 13,000 international students, and lists English-taught as well as Turkish-taught programs.

The university also publishes Times Higher Education ranking results on its official statistics pages. Rankings change by year and subject, so they should be read on the university’s own site rather than treated as a fixed number.

Programs at Istanbul Medipol University

Official academic units include faculties and schools in:

• Medicine, including an International School of Medicine
• Dentistry
• Pharmacy
• Health Sciences
• Engineering and Natural Sciences
• Law
• Business and Management Sciences
• Education
• Communication
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Fine Arts, Design and Architecture
• Vocational schools, including health services, social sciences and justice
• Graduate schools in health, natural, social and forensic sciences

The language of instruction varies. Many programs are in Turkish; a substantial number, especially in medicine and some engineering and business fields, are offered in English.

Studying medicine and health sciences at Medipol

Medicine is the field most associated with Medipol. The university has both a Faculty of Medicine and an International School of Medicine, and it uses Medipol Mega University Hospital in Bağcılar as a major site for practical training.

Dentistry, pharmacy and a wide range of health-sciences and vocational health programs are also part of the academic structure. Clinical placement rules, hospital sites and language of instruction differ by program and should be confirmed with the university.

Educational and research facilities

Medipol presents itself as a research-active health university. Public research and innovation units include SABITA, the Medical Research Unit (MEDİTAM), the Genetic Diseases Center (MEDİGEN), a technology transfer office and a technology development center (TEKMER). The university also lists a library, career center and student-support offices.

Campus life is split across Kavacık and Haliç, so facilities are not all on one site. Prospective students should check which campus hosts their faculty.

Applied education and the Mega Hospital

The university states that students complete practical courses and internships at Medipol Mega University Hospital in Bağcılar. This hospital complex is one of the main reasons applicants look at Medipol for clinical fields.

Non-clinical programs use laboratories, studios and internships instead of the hospital. The hospital link is therefore most relevant for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and other health programs.

Student facilities and campus life

Kavacık campuses are on the Anatolian side and are reachable by public transport via the FSM Bridge area. The Haliç campus is more central and sits in a historic part of the European side. The university lists student clubs, sports, psychological counselling, disability services and a career center among student services.

International students should plan commuting time between housing, campus and, for health programs, the hospital.

Medipol and international programs

The university has an international student office (MIO) and participates in Erasmus and other exchange arrangements. English-taught medicine and other English programs are part of its international offer. Exact partner lists and quotas change by year.

Language of instruction

Medipol teaches in Turkish and English, depending on the program. Preparatory language study may be required. Applicants should confirm the official language of the exact program they want, not only the faculty name.

Admission to Istanbul Medipol University

International admission follows the university’s published rules for each level and field. Documents, language scores and deadlines differ. Because Medipol is competitive in some health programs, applicants should also compare listed fees and language options with other Istanbul universities on this site.

Tuition fees at Istanbul Medipol University

Tuition varies by program, language and year. Health programs are generally more expensive than many other fields. The figures on this page are listed fees for the programs published here and should be rechecked for the intended academic year.

Accreditation and international structure

Medipol is a YÖK-recognized foundation university and publishes quality-assurance and ranking information on its official site. Subject-level accreditations and ranking bands should be verified there, because they are updated over time.

Advantages and features of Istanbul Medipol University

• Founded in 2009 by TESA
• Strong public identity in medicine and health sciences
• Kavacık campuses in Beykoz and a Haliç campus on the Golden Horn
• Medipol Mega University Hospital in Bağcılar for practical training
• International School of Medicine alongside the Faculty of Medicine
• Large international student community according to official figures
• English-taught as well as Turkish-taught programs
• Research institutes such as SABITA
• Erasmus and an international student office
• Wide range of associate, bachelor’s and graduate programs

Summary: Is Medipol University a good place to study?

Istanbul Medipol University is a foundation university with a clear health-education profile, multiple Istanbul campuses and a large teaching hospital. It is often a serious option for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and other health programs, and it also offers engineering, law, business and social-science fields.

Whether it is the right fit depends on the program, campus, language and budget. Comparing listed fees and teaching languages with other universities on this site is recommended before applying.

Istanbul Medipol University quick facts