Istanbul University (İstanbul Üniversitesi): Admission and Fees for International Students

Istanbul University (İstanbul Üniversitesi) is a large public university in Istanbul's historic centre and one of the oldest in Turkey. It admits international students through a separate quota and only with SAT, ACT, TR-YÖS or a short list of diplomas (IB, Abitur, Austrian Matura, French Baccalauréat); national school-leaving exams such as Russia's EGE or Kazakhstan's UNT are not accepted. Most programmes are taught in Turkish, and 2026/27 tuition ranges from about $1,940 a year in the Faculty of Letters to $9,710 in medicine. Since 2018 the Cerrahpaşa medical faculty and several others form a separate university, Istanbul University–Cerrahpaşa, with its own admission.

Istanbul University, Cerrahpaşa and private "Istanbul" universities

Mixing these up costs money and a year, so it is worth sorting out first.

An agency offer for "Istanbul University" at $5,000–8,000 for any programme with admission "on the school certificate" almost certainly refers to a private university.

Who Istanbul University suits

Applicants with EGE results rather than SAT scores should look at METU or Istanbul Technical University. Another public option in Istanbul with Turkish and English programmes is Marmara University, which also requires TR-YÖS. For the wider picture, see our guide to public universities in Turkey and the full list of profiles on our Study in Turkey page.

Accepted exams and minimum scores

You may apply with only one result. Minimums depend on the faculty group:

The SAT reading/writing and math scores must come from the same sitting; superscores are rejected. TR-YÖS results from the 2024/2 to 2026/1 sittings were accepted for 2026, which means scores stay valid for two years. The IB Diploma needs 36.33 out of 42 across six subjects for medicine, with two HL subjects (one maths, one science); for medicine the Abitur must be 2.0 or better, with lower thresholds elsewhere, down to 4.0 for the Faculty of Open and Distance Education. Only French Baccalauréat diplomas issued by the French Ministry of Education count. A-levels are accepted only from citizens of Northern Cyprus.

For most applicants from Russia and Kazakhstan, the SAT or TR-YÖS is the practical route. The 2026 autumn TR-YÖS takes place on 11 October 2026 (registration closed on 3 August); for 2027 entry you can use that sitting or the spring 2027 one. Our guides to the YÖS exam and to exams for Turkish universities compare them.

Quotas and programmes for 2026

Places are scarce, so check the quota list before choosing your exam. Examples from the 2026 quotas:

Citizens of any one country may take no more than 20% of a programme's places, and younger applicants win ties. The university decides admission based on score, order of preference and these limits.

Language of instruction and preparatory year

English-taught programmes include a compulsory English year for anyone who has not proved their level with an accepted certificate or the university's exam. That year does not count towards the degree length but is charged at the programme's rate. Programmes with 30% English also check language level at registration.

For Turkish-taught programmes the university runs its own Turkish proficiency exam; in 2026 it was held on 22 September, and the foreign-language preparatory exam on 24 September. You cannot start a Turkish programme without passing, so for most international students the real timeline is a year longer. How long you may spend learning Turkish is set by university regulations; confirm it with the international office before you register.

How to apply

1. Create an account at isad.istanbul.edu.tr, verify your email with the code and complete the six sections: personal details, education, address and exam.
2. Pay the TRY 950 or $20 fee online. It is not refunded, even if the application is cancelled for incorrect data.
3. Wait for an adviser to check the file; the programme choice section then opens.
4. Choose up to three programmes in order of preference.

2026 dates: applications and choices 13–20 July, results 17 August, admission letters 19–20 August, registration 7–11 September (in person or online). At registration you need originals, an apostilled diploma, a certificate of equivalence (denklik) and a declaration that you can cover your living costs (Geçim Güvencesi Beyan Formu). See our denklik guide.

Tuition in 2026/27

International fees are set in Turkish lira under Presidential Decision No. 11625 and paid in two halves, autumn and spring.

Preparatory-year students pay their faculty's rate. A 25% sibling discount applies to families whose parents and children hold Turkish residence permits and who have two or more children at public universities. There are no other discounts for international students; the government's Türkiye Scholarships (applications 10 January – 20 February) can cover tuition in full, see our Türkiye Scholarships guide.

The lira has been losing value, so the dollar amount on the payment date may differ from this estimate. Add housing, food, transport, insurance and the residence card: see our pages on the cost of living, student accommodation and studying in Istanbul. Students paying from Russia can find legal routes in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

Medicine at Istanbul University

The İstanbul Tıp (Çapa) medical faculty is the most expensive and most competitive route here: 14 international places in 2026 and the university's highest minimum scores. The Turkish and English tracks cost the same, because the fee is set per faculty. Study lasts six years plus a language year. If your scores fall short, compare this route with private medical universities on our medicine in Turkey page.

Visa and residence permit

Russia's Foreign Ministry says the 60-day visa-free regime does not cover travel for study, and Turkey's Foreign Ministry limits it to tourist and business trips, so Russian citizens apply for a student visa at a Turkish consulate with the admission letter. Kazakh citizens enter visa-free for 90 days in any 180; ask the consulate about study documents in advance. Other nationalities should check Turkey's visa list.

After registration you apply for a residence permit at e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr. The card cost TRY 964 (about $20) in 2026, and health insurance is required. The consulate decides on the visa and the migration authority on the permit. See our student visa guide.

Degree recognition

Turkish universities are not on Russia's list of foreign universities whose degrees are recognised automatically. Graduates file for recognition through the Glavexpertcentre and Rosobrnadzor decides; doctors then also need a licence to practise. In Kazakhstan recognition goes through ENIC-Kazakhstan.

Common mistakes

• Applying to Cerrahpaşa while thinking it is Istanbul University, or the other way round. They are different universities with different quotas.
• Expecting to apply with the EGE. It is not on the list; you need the SAT or TR-YÖS.
• Combining SAT section scores from two sittings. Reading and math must come from one test.
• Submitting several results. The university considers only one exam type.
• Arriving without time for Turkish. A Turkish-taught programme does not start until you pass the language exam.
• Missing the window: in 2026 it lasted only eight days.

Timeline for autumn 2027 entry

1. Autumn 2026: pick a programme from the quota table and take the SAT, or register for the spring 2027 TR-YÖS.
2. Winter–spring 2027: apostille your diploma, prepare translations, start Turkish.
3. July 2027: apply in the window the university announces (13–20 July in 2026).
4. August 2027: receive the admission letter, get a student visa and denklik.
5. September 2027: register, sit the Turkish and English exams, apply for the residence permit.

FAQ

Can I apply to Istanbul University with the EGE?

No. The 2026 list covered international tests (SAT, ACT, TR-YÖS) and a few diplomas such as the IB, Abitur and French Baccalauréat, but no national exams from Russia or Kazakhstan. Applicants from Russia need SAT scores of 1120–1440 or TR-YÖS scores of 200–300 depending on the faculty.

How much does Istanbul University cost in 2026/27?

Letters and Theology cost TRY 95,220 (about $1,940) a year, Law TRY 190,440 (about $3,890) and Medicine TRY 476,100 (about $9,710). Fees are set in lira and paid in two instalments, so the dollar cost depends on the exchange rate at payment.

How is Istanbul University different from Cerrahpaşa?

Since 2018 they have been two separate public universities. Istanbul University kept the İstanbul Tıp (Çapa) medical faculty, while the Cerrahpaşa medical faculty belongs to İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa, which has its own portal, quotas and score requirements.

Are there English-taught programmes?

Yes, but only a handful: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, computer engineering, economics, business, political science and international relations and a few more. Each starts with a compulsory English year for students without a recognised test score or a pass in the university's own exam.

Do I need Turkish before applying?

Not to apply. Before a Turkish-taught programme starts you sit the university's Turkish exam (22 September in 2026). If you do not pass, you study Turkish and start later, so plan for an extra year.

How many international students are admitted to medicine?

For 2026 the İstanbul Tıp quota was 10 places in Turkish and 4 in English. The university decides admission by score, order of preference and the 20% per-country limit, and its medicine minimums are the highest of all faculties.

How can StudyU help?

You submit the Istanbul University application yourself at isad.istanbul.edu.tr: StudyU does not handle applications to Turkish public universities. We can compare this route with METU, İTÜ and private universities and plan your SAT or TR-YÖS. The university decides on admission, and a Turkish consulate on the visa.

Sources

• İstanbul Üniversitesi: 2026 international application guide (PDF, Turkish), 2026 quotas (PDF), 2026/27 tuition (PDF), application portal
• Law No. 7141, Resmî Gazete of 18 May 2018 (creation of İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa)
• Presidential Decision No. 11625 on 2026/27 tuition (PDF)
• YÖK principles for admitting students from abroad, version of 31 July 2026 (PDF)
• Turkish Embassy education counsellor in Moscow: TR-YÖS/2 on 11 October 2026
• Türkiye Scholarships calendar
• Russian Foreign Ministry: Turkey, Turkish Foreign Ministry: visa information
• METU: student residence permit procedure and 2026 card fee
• Times Higher Education: Istanbul University
• Russian National Information Centre, ENIC-Kazakhstan

Lira amounts are converted at the ECB reference rates of 30 September 2026 (€1 = $1.1355 = TRY 55.6596, so $1 ≈ TRY 49.02) and rounded to $10. Information checked on 1 October 2026. The International Baccalaureate Organization has been declared an undesirable organisation in Russia; the IB is listed here only because the university accepts it.

If you want to find out which exam is realistic for you and whether to apply to private universities in parallel, send a request: route comparison and exam planning are provided under an agreement with StudyU, you submit the university application yourself, and the university makes the admission decision.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.