MBBS in Turkey for Indian Students: Fees and Licence Risks

Should Indian Students Consider MBBS in Turkey?

Turkey sits at the literal crossroads of Europe and Asia, and its medical education system reflects both influences. Turkish medical universities have a long and distinguished history, Istanbul University's Faculty of Medicine dates back to 1827, making it one of the oldest modern medical schools in the region. Turkey promotes study for international students through its Study in Türkiye site, and some universities teach medicine in English.

For an Indian citizen who wants to practise in India, Turkey carries a serious risk that families should understand first. The FMGL Regulations 2021 require a licence to practise in the country of study at par with its citizens. A statement on the website of Türkiye's Ministry of Health, made by the then minister, says one of the conditions for practising medicine in Türkiye is that the person is a citizen. Medicine is also taught in Turkish at many universities, and a Turkish-taught degree does not meet the FMGL English condition. The NBEMS FMGE report for 2025 has no row for Turkey in either session. We cannot confirm that a degree from Turkey meets these conditions.

Universities Often Named for Medicine in Turkey

Hacettepe University, Ankara

Hacettepe University in Ankara has a large Faculty of Medicine and a university hospital. We could not open its current fee page, so ask the international office which programme is open to you, in which language, and what it costs.

Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa

Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine is part of Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa. We could not open its current international fee, so ask the university for it in writing, along with the language of each year of teaching.

Ankara University Faculty of Medicine

For students registering in 2026-27, Ankara University lists USD 9,900 a year for Medicine and USD 14,850 a year for Medicine (English), about Rs 9.5 lakh and Rs 14.2 lakh. Both are 6-year programmes. The Turkish-taught programme does not meet the FMGL English condition.

Private Foundation Universities

Turkey also has private foundation universities that advertise medicine in English, including Koc University, Baskent University, Yeditepe University and Bahcesehir University. Fees differ widely and we could not confirm them on university pages, so get each year's fee in writing. A private university does not solve the licence question above.

Fees

Ankara University is the only university in this guide whose 2026-27 fees we could confirm on its own page. Do not rely on a fee range from an agent or a listing site. Rupee figures use about Rs 95.5 per US dollar.

YOS Exam: Gateway to Turkish Public Universities

YOS is the usual name for entrance exams for international students applying to Turkish universities. It does not replace NEET-UG: an Indian citizen must still qualify NEET-UG for a primary medical qualification abroad.

The Study in Türkiye site lists TR-YOS, a central exam for international candidates, including a 2026 session (2026-TR-YOS/1). Universities set their own rules on which exam scores they accept, so check the current guide of the university you want before you register. The sections and format differ by exam.

Cost of Living in Turkey

Lira prices go out of date quickly, so we do not list them here. Ask the university and current students for recent figures. The ECB rate on 30 October 2026 was about TRY 55.8 per euro.

Turkiye Burslari: Full Government Scholarship

The Turkish Government Scholarship (Turkiye Burslari) covers tuition, a monthly stipend of TL 6,500 at bachelor's level, accommodation, health insurance, a one-year Turkish language course and a one-time flight ticket. It is competitive. The general application period runs from 10 January to 20 February at turkiyeburslari.gov.tr. Check whether Medicine is open to you for that cycle. A scholarship does not change the licence risk described above.

Curriculum and Clinical Training

Turkish medical education follows a 6-year programme. The first three years cover basic medical sciences (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology) through a combination of lectures, labs, and problem-based learning. The final three years are clinical rotations at university-affiliated hospitals.

Turkey has large modern hospitals, but what a student gains depends on the teaching hospital. Ask what English-taught students do during rotations, in what language, and whether the final year counts as the 12-month internship at the same institution that the FMGL Regulations require.

Visa Process

Indian students need a student visa (ogrenci vizesi) to study in Turkey. Confirm the current documents, fee and processing time with the Turkish mission for your state. After arrival, you must apply for a student residence permit (ikamet), so ask your university for the deadline.

Advantages of MBBS in Turkey

• Published public university fees such as Ankara's USD 9,900 to USD 14,850 a year
• Large modern hospitals
• Turkiye Burslari scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, health insurance, a stipend and a one-time flight ticket
• Strategic location, easy travel to Europe, Middle East, and Central Asia

Challenges

• Many public university programmes are primarily in Turkish, language learning required
• Fully English programmes can be expensive, and fees differ widely
• Currency volatility (Turkish lira) can affect budgeting unpredictably
• Check the latest advisories from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian mission before you travel
• Licence risk: a Ministry of Health statement says citizenship is a condition for practising medicine in Türkiye, and we cannot confirm that a Turkish degree meets the FMGL Regulations

Final Verdict

Turkey has strong hospitals and a generous government scholarship, but it is a poor fit for a student who plans to practise in India unless the licence and language questions are answered first. A WDOMS listing alone does not settle them. Get the university's written answer and the NMC's position before you pay, and be firmest on the licence and the medium of instruction.

English-Medium Medical Programmes in Turkey

Some Turkish universities teach medicine in English. Ankara University, for example, lists Medicine (English) as a 6-year programme. Ask whether all six years are in English, or only part of the course, and what language is used with patients. The FMGL Regulations require English as the medium of instruction.

Clinical Training

Turkey has expanded its hospital system in recent years, including large city hospitals. Do not assume a student will train at any one of them. Ask each university to name its teaching hospitals, and confirm that the whole course and internship take place in the institution's own system.

Returning to India: FMGL, FMGE and NExT

If you are an Indian citizen or OCI holder, two sets of rules decide whether a foreign degree can lead to practice in India. First, you must qualify NEET-UG before you go. Second, if you were admitted on or after 18 November 2021, the FMGL Regulations 2021 apply: a course of at least 54 months, taught in English, a 12-month internship at the same foreign institution, and a licence to practise in that country at par with its citizens. No part of the training may be done in India. You must then pass FMGE, the live screening test, and complete a further 12-month internship in India. The course must be finished within 10 years of joining. The National Medical Commission (NMC) says it does not endorse any list of foreign institutions, and a WDOMS listing alone does not make a degree acceptable.

We cannot confirm that a degree from Turkey meets these conditions. If you still want to go, FMGE is the live test and NExT has not started. Across all countries, 6,709 of 36,037 candidates passed in June 2025 and 10,264 of 42,868 in December 2025, and the report gives no separate figure for Turkey. Do not plan on a career in Turkey either until you have checked the citizenship point with the Ministry of Health.

Student Life and Cultural Adaptation for Indian Students

Student life in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir is international, and halal food is widely available. Vegetarians should plan ahead and expect to cook. Ask current students about recent living costs and flights, because both change quickly.

The Türkiye Scholarships programme (Türkiye Bursları) covers tuition, accommodation, health insurance and a monthly stipend. The general application period runs from 10 January to 20 February at turkiyeburslari.gov.tr, results come in early August, and grantees travel to Türkiye in September.

Questions to Ask a Turkish University

Ask each university for its cohort size, the hospitals it uses, whether clinical supervisors teach in English, and how many international students are in the programme. These points directly affect your clinical training.

If you are considering research or residency in the US or UK, ask what research and exam support is available. Do not rely on any partnership or ranking until you have seen it on the university's own page.