Yes, you can study dentistry in Turkey in English. Several private universities in Istanbul and North Cyprus run English-taught dentistry programs that you can join straight after high school. The program usually takes five years, plus an English preparatory year if you need it. Before you apply, check one detail: in some programs you will need Turkish for the clinical years, when you start treating patients.
This guide explains how dentistry studies work in Turkey, which universities teach the program in English, what “English” really means in a dental faculty, and how to apply step by step.
How dentistry studies work in Turkey
In Turkey, dentistry is an undergraduate-entry degree. You apply with your high school diploma. You do not need a bachelor’s degree first, and there is no separate “pre-dental” stage.
Program length
Dental faculties describe the program as five years of full-time study. Several universities, such as Cyprus International University and Istanbul Aydın University, list it at 300 ECTS credits. If your English test score is not high enough, you first spend up to one year in the university’s English preparatory school. This prep year is not counted in the five years. For example, Yeditepe University’s faculty regulation says the normal period is five years “excluding one-year foreign language preparatory class”, with a maximum study period of nine years.
Preclinical and clinical years
Most programs follow the same pattern:
- Preclinical years (usually years 1–2 or 1–3): basic medical sciences such as anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, plus dental theory and lab work on models.
- Clinical years (usually years 3–5 or 4–5): you treat real patients under the supervision of faculty members in the university’s dental hospital or clinic.
The exact split depends on the university. Near East University says the first three years focus on basic medical and dental sciences and the last two on clinical work. Istanbul Medipol University says students start clinical applications in the second year.
What degree you receive
The name of the degree differs between universities. Istanbul Okan University awards the title Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). Eastern Mediterranean University calls its program Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM). Istanbul Aydın University and Near East University describe the degree as a “long first cycle” degree, which they treat as equal to a master’s degree in dentistry. In all cases you graduate as a dentist after five years.
What “taught in English” really means in dentistry
This is the most important part of this guide. “English program” does not always mean that every lesson, every exam and every clinic hour is in English. Read the faculty’s own rules before you choose.
Here is why. Your patients in the clinical years are mostly local people, and they speak Turkish. So some faculties ask international students to learn Turkish before the clinical stage:
- Istanbul Okan University: theory courses and exams stay in English for all five years, but international students must reach at least B2 Turkish (TÖMER) by the start of the third year, because Turkish is used with patients in the clinic.
- Eastern Mediterranean University: its dental medicine program is a joint program with the University of Health Sciences (Turkey). The first two years are in English in Famagusta, and the last three clinical years are in Turkish in Ankara.
- Partly English programs: some faculty regulations describe a mix of languages, for example 30% English and 70% Turkish, with a B2 Turkish certificate needed before the fifth semester.
None of this is bad news. Many students learn Turkish well during the first years, and Turkish makes daily life much easier too. You can read about the Turkish exam in our article on the Ankara University TÖMER exam in Istanbul. But you should know the rules before you pay a deposit, so ask these three questions for every program:
- What percentage of the program is taught in English?
- Are the clinical years in English, in Turkish, or mixed?
- Is there a Turkish language requirement, and by which year?
Universities with English-taught dentistry programs
The table below lists universities whose official pages describe an English-taught dentistry program. Programs and rules can change each year, so always check the latest program details on our program search or on each university page.
| University | Location | What the official page says |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul Medipol University | Istanbul | Five-year English program; English prep year for students who do not pass the proficiency exam; dental hospital on the Golden Horn campus. |
| Yeditepe University | Istanbul | Faculty regulation states the language of teaching is English; five years plus optional prep year. |
| Bahçeşehir University | Istanbul | Five-year program in English; a degree in basic dentistry after the first two years. |
| Biruni University | Istanbul | English-language dentistry program since 2018–2019; clinical training in years 4 and 5. |
| İstinye University | Istanbul | English dentistry program; first students admitted in 2021–2022. |
| Istanbul Okan University | Istanbul | English theory and exams; B2 Turkish needed by year 3 for clinical work. |
| Istanbul Aydın University | Istanbul | English program since 2020–2021; 300 ECTS. |
| Near East University | North Cyprus | Runs dentistry in both English and Turkish; English program approved in 2014. |
| Cyprus International University | North Cyprus | Five-year English dentistry program; clinics in years 4 and 5 at the university’s own centre. |
| Eastern Mediterranean University | North Cyprus and Ankara | Joint program: English in years 1–2, Turkish in clinical years 3–5. |
Not sure whether Istanbul or North Cyprus fits you better? Our guide to studying in North Cyprus explains how universities there work.
Admission requirements for international students
According to Study in Türkiye, the official government portal, the principles for admitting students from abroad are set by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). Within these rules, each university decides which exams and documents it accepts. Exams such as TR-YÖS, YÖS, SAT, IB and Abitur are listed as examples. Many private universities also admit international students based on their high school results.
Because dentistry is a popular and competitive program, each university has a limited number of places for international students. In general, you should prepare:
- Your high school diploma (or expected graduation letter) and transcript, with a translation if needed
- Your passport
- An English test score accepted by the university, or you can take the university’s own proficiency exam on arrival
- An exam score (for example SAT or TR-YÖS) if the university asks for one
- A passport-size photo
Science subjects such as biology and chemistry matter a lot for dentistry, so strong grades in these subjects help. If your English score is lower than the university needs, you can usually still be admitted and start with the prep year.
Check recognition at home first. If you plan to work as a dentist in your home country, ask your national dental or medical council how it treats foreign dental degrees before you apply. Rules differ by country and can change.
How to apply, step by step
- Shortlist programs. Use the program search to see English dentistry programs and current fees.
- Check the language rules. Ask the three language questions above for each program.
- Prepare your documents. Scan your diploma, transcript, passport and test scores.
- Apply. Most private universities accept online applications. Our guide on how to apply to Turkish universities explains the process.
- Receive your acceptance letter and pay the deposit to confirm your place, if the university asks for one.
- Apply for your student visa at the Turkish embassy or consulate in your country. See our Turkey student visa guide.
- Arrive and register. After you arrive, you complete registration and apply for your student residence permit.
Students from Pakistan can also read our page on studying in Turkey from Pakistan.
Costs and fees
Dentistry is one of the more expensive programs at private universities, and fees change every year. Some universities also offer discounts for international students. We do not list fixed numbers here because they change often. You can see current dentistry fees on each university page and in our program search, and our article on the cost of studying in Turkey explains living costs and other expenses.
Remember to plan for more than tuition: housing, food, transport, health insurance and your residence permit. Ask the university whether students need to buy any dental instruments or materials themselves.
Dentistry or medicine?
Many students compare the two. Dentistry takes five years, while medicine in Turkey takes six. Dentistry is more hands-on with fine motor work from early on, and you focus on the mouth, teeth and jaw. If you are still deciding, read our guide to studying medicine in Turkey in English.
Life as a dental student
Dental studies are intensive. Faculty rules usually set strict attendance for clinical and practical work. For example, the faculty regulations of Yeditepe University and Altınbaş University say that students who miss more than 20% of clinical studies cannot take the exam for that course. You also need to complete a set number of practical cases each term. Plan your time well, and do not take on too much part-time work.
After graduation, you can work as a general dentist or continue to a specialty. Biruni University notes that its graduates can take DUS, Turkey’s dental specialty exam, if they want to specialize in Turkey.
How Lord Agency can help
Lord Agency has guided international students since 2017, with offices in Istanbul and Tabriz. We work with more than 70 private universities in Turkey and North Cyprus. We can help you:
- Compare English dentistry programs, including the language rules for the clinical years
- Check your documents before you apply
- Submit applications and follow up with the universities
- Prepare for your student visa and arrival
Our consultation is free. You can request a free consultation or message us on WhatsApp at +90 552 653 76 77.
Frequently asked questions
How many years is dentistry in Turkey?
Dentistry in Turkey is a five-year program. If you need to improve your English, you first study up to one year in the English preparatory school, which is not counted in the five years.
Do I need to speak Turkish to study dentistry in English?
Not at the start. But some faculties ask international students to reach B2 Turkish before the clinical years, because patients speak Turkish. Check the rules of each program before you apply.
Can I study dentistry in Turkey without IELTS?
Often yes. Many universities let you take their own English proficiency exam. If you do not pass it, you join the English prep year before starting dentistry.
Do I need an entrance exam for dentistry in Turkey?
It depends on the university. YÖK sets the general principles, and each university chooses which exams it accepts, such as TR-YÖS, YÖS or SAT. Many private universities admit international students with their high school results.
Is a dentistry degree from Turkey valid in my country?
Recognition is decided by the authority in your own country, not by the Turkish university. Ask your national dental or medical council about its rules before you apply.
Can I study dentistry in North Cyprus in English?
Yes. Near East University and Cyprus International University offer English dentistry programs. Eastern Mediterranean University’s joint program starts in English and continues in Turkish in Ankara for the clinical years.
