Choose Istanbul Medipol if you want a large health-focused university with its own JCI-accredited hospital, Biruni if you prefer one compact campus focused on health and a few engineering programs, and Bahçeşehir (BAU) if you want a wide choice of subjects in a central Bosphorus location. All three are private foundation universities approved by YÖK, and all three teach Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy in English.
Quick comparison table
| Topic | Istanbul Medipol | Biruni | Bahçeşehir (BAU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009, by the TESA foundation | 2014, by the World Education Foundation | 1998, by the Bahçeşehir Uğur Education Foundation |
| Main campus | Kavacık, Beykoz (Asian side) | Zeytinburnu (European side) | Beşiktaş, on the Bosphorus (European side) |
| Faculties | 12 | 7 | 9–10 (sources differ), plus a conservatory |
| Main focus | Health sciences | Health sciences, plus some engineering | Broad: engineering, business, design, health, communication and more |
| Hospitals | Medipol Mega University Hospital (JCI-accredited) | Biruni University Hospital and Dental Hospital | Not named on the sources we checked |
| On-campus housing | Dormitories on the Kavacık campus | Student dormitory (opened 2024) | No on-campus dormitories; affiliated private residence |
| Bachelor’s intake | Fall; ask about other dates | Fall only | Fall only (many master’s also in spring) |
Founding and background
Istanbul Medipol University was established on 7 July 2009 by the Turkey Education, Health and Research Foundation (TESA). It has 12 faculties, including Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Engineering and Natural Sciences, Law, Business and Management Sciences, and Fine Arts, Design and Architecture, plus vocational schools and graduate institutes.
Biruni University is the youngest of the three. It was founded in 2014 by the World Education Foundation and is named after the medieval scholar al-Biruni. It has seven faculties: Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Engineering and Natural Sciences, Education, and Applied Sciences. It also runs Biruni Technopark (2021) and the BAMER research center (2024).
Bahçeşehir University is the oldest. It was founded in 1998 by the Bahçeşehir Uğur Education Foundation, and its first students started in 1999–2000. BAU has faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Engineering and Natural Sciences, Architecture and Design, Communication, Law, Educational Sciences, and Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, as well as a conservatory and an English preparatory school. It belongs to the BAU Global network, with institutions in Berlin, Washington DC, Batumi and Cyprus.
Campus and location
Medipol: Asian side, plus a hospital on the European side
Medipol’s main campuses are the Kavacık North and South Campuses in Beykoz, at the Asian end of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. The university also has the Haliç Campus on the Golden Horn and the Medipol Mega University Hospital in Bağcılar, on the European side. The Kavacık campuses have dormitories on site, four libraries with 24/7 digital access, sports facilities and many student clubs.
Biruni: one central campus
Biruni has one campus, in the Merkezefendi neighbourhood of Zeytinburnu, on the European side. Everything is in one place: a library with a 24/7 reading room, a sports center with a gym and courts, and a student dormitory for female and male students that opened in 2024. If you want a simple daily routine without moving between campuses, this is a strong point.
BAU: a city university on the Bosphorus
BAU’s main campus is on Çırağan Caddesi in Beşiktaş, right on the European shore of the Bosphorus. It also teaches at its Beşiktaş North, Galata, Pera and Göztepe campuses, with free shuttle buses between them. BAU calls itself a city university: there are no on-campus dormitories, and students live in nearby private residences, such as the BAU-affiliated Ortaköy Aparts, about ten minutes from the main campus.
For a wider view of the city, see our guide to private universities in Istanbul for international students.
Academic focus and English-taught programs
All three teach many programs in English. The lists below come from each university’s own international pages.
| Field | Medipol | Biruni | BAU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine | English (also a mainly Turkish version) | English (Turkish option also listed) | English |
| Dentistry | English (also a mainly Turkish version) | English | English |
| Pharmacy | English | English | English |
| Nursing, Physiotherapy | English | English | Check the program table |
| Computer Engineering | English | English | English |
| Other examples | Biomedical Engineering, Psychology, Business Administration, Architecture | Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Speech and Language Therapy | Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Architecture, Business Administration, Psychology |
Medipol is best known for health sciences, and its tuition list for international students shows Medicine (International School of Medicine), Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Nursing and several engineering, psychology and business programs as taught 100% in English.
Biruni keeps a narrow focus. Its English-taught bachelor’s programs are mainly in health and engineering, so it is a good fit if you already know you want a health career.
BAU is the broadest. It offers more than 160 programs at bachelor’s, master’s and PhD level, many of them in English. Some programs, such as Law and the conservatory programs, are taught in Turkish. Through its Dual-Up program, BAU students can also earn a second diploma from BAU Berlin.
Programs and languages change, so always check the exact program on our program search.
Hospitals and clinical training
If you plan to study Medicine or Dentistry, clinical training matters. Here is what each university states:
- Medipol: clinical training uses Medipol Mega University Hospital in Bağcılar, which is accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI).
- Biruni: Biruni University Hospital opened in 2016 and is linked to the Faculty of Medicine. Biruni University Dental Hospital is linked to the Faculty of Dentistry.
- BAU: the official BAU pages we checked do not name a university hospital. Ask the university, or our advisors, where Medicine and Dentistry students do their clinical training before you decide.
Our guide to studying medicine in Turkey in English compares more health options.
English requirements
- Medipol: students who do not yet meet the English requirement study at the university’s language school first.
- Biruni: scores such as TOEFL iBT 79 or ACT 24 exempt you from the English Preparatory Program. Without one, you take the university’s English Exemption Test, and if you do not pass, you study one preparatory year.
- BAU: after registration, students take BAU’s free English (or Turkish) proficiency exam unless they already have the required score.
A preparatory year adds one year to your studies and to your budget, so plan for it.
Admission and intakes
All three accept international applications based on your high school documents, such as your diploma and transcript. Medipol’s admission page also lists other accepted qualifications, such as YÖS, SAT, ACT, the International Baccalaureate, A levels and the Iranian diploma with Pişdaneşgahi, with higher minimum results for Medicine and Dentistry than for other programs. Biruni gives final-year high school students a conditional acceptance letter before they graduate.
For intakes:
- BAU: bachelor’s programs start only in the fall (September). Many master’s programs also have a spring intake.
- Biruni: the international office lists one intake, in the fall, with applications closing at the end of August.
- Medipol: its international fee list is published for the 2026–2027 academic intake, and its application page does not mention a spring intake. Confirm dates before you apply.
Deadlines and minimum results change every year. Read our guide on how to apply to Turkish universities for the full process.
Fees and scholarships
We do not quote fees here because they change every year. You can see the live fees on each university page and in our program search. On scholarships:
- Medipol lists country-based scholarships for some nationalities, a family members discount, SAT-based scholarships and merit scholarships.
- Biruni does not publish a fixed scholarship scheme on its international pages.
- BAU lists a success scholarship for top students after the second year, a sibling discount, extra scholarships for some departments and a GPA-based scholarship for master’s applicants.
For living costs, see our guide to the cost of studying in Turkey.
Which university should you choose?
- Choose Medipol if you want a large health-focused university, on-campus dormitories and clinical training in its own JCI-accredited hospital.
- Choose Biruni if you want a smaller, single-campus university focused on health, with its own hospital and dental hospital.
- Choose BAU if you want a wide choice of subjects, a central Bosphorus location and international links such as BAU Berlin, and you are happy to live in a private residence.
How Lord Agency can help
Since 2017, Lord Agency has helped international students apply to private universities in Turkey and North Cyprus, including Medipol, Biruni and Bahçeşehir. We can compare the current fees, languages and intakes for your program and help you prepare your documents. Our consultation is free. Request a free consultation or message us on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
Are Medipol, Biruni and Bahçeşehir recognized?
Yes. All three are foundation (private) universities approved by YÖK, the Council of Higher Education of Turkey. Their degrees have the same legal status as degrees from other Turkish universities. For medicine and other regulated professions, also check recognition with your home country.
Which is best for medicine?
All three teach Medicine in English. Medipol and Biruni each have their own university hospital, and Medipol’s hospital is JCI-accredited. For BAU, ask where clinical training takes place. Compare entry requirements and fees for your nationality before you decide.
Which one has dormitories?
Medipol has dormitories on its Kavacık campus, and Biruni opened a student dormitory in 2024. BAU has no on-campus dormitories, but it has an affiliated private residence near the main campus.
Can I start in spring?
Not for most bachelor’s programs. BAU and Biruni start bachelor’s programs in the fall only. Some BAU master’s programs have a spring intake. Ask Medipol or our advisors about current dates.
Which campus is easiest to reach?
It depends on where you live. BAU and Biruni are on the European side, while Medipol’s main campuses are on the Asian side at the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. Choose housing close to your campus to keep commutes short.
