Best Universities in Turkey - LATEST 2026

Which university in Turkey is best depends on the program you want, the language you can study in, the city and your budget. The universities below are all private. Each one accepts applications through StudyLeo and has a dormitory.

If an older university matters to you, Haliç University and Bahçeşehir University are the earliest in the list, both founded in 1998. Istanbul Aydin University followed in 2007, and Altinbas University and Istanbul Gelisim University in 2008. Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul Topkapi University and Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil University all opened in 2009.

Newer options include Uskudar University (2011), İstanbul Esenyurt University (2013), Biruni University (2014) and Istinye University (2015). Ankara Medipol University, founded in 2018, is the youngest and the only one outside Istanbul.

Student numbers vary just as much. The biggest are Istanbul Aydin University with 50,000 students and Istanbul Medipol University with 46,488. Istanbul Gedik University is the smallest, with 6,254. Compare the programs and fees on each university's page before you make a shortlist.