Ankara Medipol University

Why Ankara Medipol University

Ankara Medipol University is a young, fast-rising private university in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, founded in 2018 and already known for its strength in medical and health-sciences education. It carries the respected Medipol name, its founding foundation also created the well-established Istanbul Medipol University, and occupies a striking restored 1928 landmark in the heart of the city. With many programs taught in English, a full health cluster (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and allied health) and competitive tuition with generous discounts, it draws students from across the Middle East, Africa and Asia who want a modern, globally minded education in Turkey.

History & milestones

Ankara Medipol was established on 5 May 2018 by the Turkish Education, Health, Science and Research Foundation, the same foundation behind Istanbul Medipol University, extending the Medipol brand to the capital. Its main building has a history of its own: originally built in 1928 as the headquarters of the state railway administration, this early-Republican architectural icon was renovated in 2018 into a modern educational home, bridging Turkey’s heritage and its future. The university opened with a handful of faculties (Medicine, Dentistry, Political Science) and expanded quickly into engineering, law, health sciences, communication and business, adding vocational schools and graduate institutes. By 2023-24 it was educating nearly 10,000 students, having already graduated its first classes of doctors and engineers and launched research centres and international partnerships.

Ankara, a historic central campus

The university sits in the very centre of Ankara, on the Anafartalar Campus in the Altındağ (Hacı Bayram) district. It actually runs two adjacent campuses that form one integrated complex around the landmark 1928 building, now home to classrooms, lecture halls and offices alongside modern laboratories and a fully equipped Dental Hospital (Oral & Dental Health Practice and Research Center). The location is exceptionally well-connected, close to train and bus stations and Esenboğa airport, and within walking distance of Ankara’s museums, theatres, parks and government institutions. As the nation’s capital and a hub of diplomacy, Ankara puts embassies, ministries, international organisations and NGOs on the doorstep, a real advantage for internships and networking, especially in political science, law and international relations.

Vision & mission

Ankara Medipol’s mission is to achieve excellence in research, education and public service by fostering creative and critical thinking, innovation and leadership, combining theory with hands-on skills so graduates can solve real-world problems and contribute to society. Its vision is to become a pioneering international university that transforms its region and contributes to the world for the benefit of humanity. Core values include tolerance, diversity, integrity, academic honesty, environmental consciousness and community engagement, an academic culture that is rigorous yet liberal and cross-culturally respectful.

Rankings & recognition

As an emerging institution, Ankara Medipol has begun to appear in international rankings. Webometrics (2023) places it around 181st in Turkey (~10,828 globally), and uniRank (2024) around 199th nationally (~16,727 worldwide); it also participates in the THE Impact Rankings (assessing performance against the UN Sustainable Development Goals), where it sits in the 1000+ band. For a university only founded in 2018, ranking inside Turkey’s top ~200, among 200+ institutions, is a solid early showing, and its position is expected to rise as research output and international reach grow.

Academics & language of instruction

Ankara Medipol offers programs at every level, associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral, across 10 faculties, three vocational schools and a School of Foreign Languages. Many flagship programs are taught in English (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, International Trade & Finance, Political Science & IR, Psychology, Management Information Systems, engineering and Culinary Arts), while others are in Turkish with language support. A preparatory year is available for students who need to build English or Turkish before starting, and all programs follow the European ECTS framework.

Faculties & specializations

• Faculty of Medicine, a 6-year MD in English or Turkish, with small-group tutorials, anatomy labs, clinical rotations in affiliated hospitals and early research opportunities for top students; TEPDAD-accredited and listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
• Faculty of Dentistry, a 5-year DDS (English/Turkish) covering orthodontics, periodontology and prosthodontics, with clinical practice from year three in the on-campus, JCI-standard dental hospital.
• Faculty of Pharmacy, a 5-year English program in medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics and clinical practice, with industrial and clinical training via the Medipol network; ECZAKDER-accredited.
• Faculty of Engineering & Natural Sciences, Computer Engineering and Electrical-Electronics Engineering in English (with a growing cybersecurity track), taught in small cohorts with modern labs; further programs are planned.
• Faculty of Law, a Turkish-medium LLB with international and comparative-law courses, moot court, and developing strengths in Health Law, leveraging Ankara’s parliament and high courts.
• Faculty of Political Sciences, Political Science & International Relations (English), a favourite among international students, with Model UN, think-tank and government internships, and specialisations in Turkish politics, Middle Eastern studies, diplomacy and global security.
• Faculty of Economics, Administrative & Social Sciences, International Trade & Finance, Management Information Systems (FIBAA-accredited business education), Psychology and the distinctive Gastronomy & Culinary Arts program with its own professional culinary lab.
• Faculty of Communication, Public Relations & Advertising, with a campus media centre for video production and campaign work.
• Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing (HEPDAK-accredited), Nutrition & Dietetics, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Midwifery, Speech & Language Therapy and Ergotherapy (SABAK-accredited), sharing clinical facilities with Medicine and Dentistry.
• Vocational Schools, Justice, a general technical school and a robust School of Health Services offering ~19 two-year programs (Anaesthesia, Dialysis, First & Emergency Aid, Medical Imaging, Medical Laboratory, Opticianry, Dental Prosthesis Technology and more).

Tuition & scholarships

Tuition is competitive and varies by field; the figures below are approximate annual guidance, exact current fees appear in the tuition table above:

• Associate (2-year) programs: ~$2,350 / year (mostly Turkish-taught, many with hospital/industry internships)
• Most bachelor’s (engineering, business, social & health sciences): ~$4,000-5,000 / year, e.g. International Trade & Finance and Political Science ~$4,000, Nursing ~$4,500, Management Information Systems ~$4,760, Computer Engineering and Psychology ~$5,000
• Pharmacy: ~$9,500 / year
• Medicine & Dentistry: ~$20,000 / year

Discounts include a cash / single-payment discount (~5-10%), a sibling discount (~10%), a 25% discount on the preparatory year, and a 10% discount for students with disabilities, alongside merit- and need-based scholarships and acceptance of government Türkiye Scholarships. Preparatory-year fees run roughly $3,000 (English), ~$7,000 (intensive medical English) and ~$1,600 (Turkish). With these discounts, an effective $4,000 fee can drop to around $3,600.

Graduate studies

Through its Institutes of Health Sciences, Social Sciences and Science & Engineering, Ankara Medipol offers about 17 master’s programs and 2 PhD programs, growing quickly. Representative master’s include Management Information Systems, LL.M. in Private Law, Public Law and Health Law, Clinical Psychology (MA), Cyber Security (M.Sc.), and health-science master’s such as Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Nutrition & Dietetics, Anatomy and Speech & Language Therapy. Thesis and non-thesis tracks are available, top medical students can begin graduate coursework early, and graduate students make use of the university’s research centres and clinical facilities.

Campus & facilities

The campus blends historic grandeur with modern infrastructure. The restored 1928 building offers smart classrooms, computer labs and seminar halls under high classical ceilings, while purpose-built facilities support practical training: the on-campus Dental Hospital with simulation labs and surgery/radiology units, medical and nursing simulation clinics, anatomy labs, engineering and an emerging cybersecurity lab, and a professional-grade Culinary Arts lab. There is a multi-floor main library, numerous cafeterias and cafés, and a Student Center with lounges and club rooms. Campus-wide high-speed Wi-Fi and 24/7 security round out a compact, interdisciplinary environment in which students from every faculty mix in shared spaces.

Student services & campus life

Student life is vibrant for a city-centre campus. Around 50 student clubs, cultural, artistic, academic and sports, host performances, seminars and events; an International Office supports admissions, visas, residence permits and housing. Although the university doesn’t run large on-campus dorms, it provides an official affiliated dormitory nearby (with dining, laundry and study areas) plus help finding private housing. A gym and partnerships with local sports centres (basketball, swimming) cover recreation, and nearby parks such as Gençlik Park offer outdoor space. Counselling and career support, plus Ankara’s wealth of ministries, embassies and companies, help students find internships and build networks.

Accreditations & global recognition

Ankara Medipol is fully accredited by Turkey’s YÖK, and holds an unusually strong set of program-specific accreditations: TEPDAD (medical education), HEPDAK (nursing), ECZAKDER (pharmacy), SABAK (health sciences) and FIBAA (business). Its affiliated health facilities carry JCI accreditation (international hospital quality), its medical degree is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, and it participates in Erasmus+ and Mevlana exchange. Its diplomas are recognised by education ministries in countries including Iraq, Jordan and Pakistan, with further accreditations (e.g. ABET for engineering) pursued as the university matures, so students can be confident their degree is respected at home and abroad.

Special highlights & why choose

Ankara Medipol’s clearest strength is health sciences, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and allied health, taught with real clinical facilities including a JCI-standard dental hospital and modern simulation labs, backed by the Medipol healthcare network. Beyond health, it offers English-taught Political Science & IR (perfectly placed in the diplomatic capital), a FIBAA-accredited business education, and a distinctive Gastronomy & Culinary Arts program. Combine that with a one-of-a-kind historic 1928 campus, central-Ankara connectivity, competitive tuition with multiple discounts, and a rapidly growing international community, and Ankara Medipol is a compelling choice for students who want quality, value and a capital-city experience in Turkey.

Ankara Medipol University is a young, fast-rising private university in Ankara, the capital, and the Medipol brand’s arrival in the city was a notable moment in Turkish higher education. Founded in 2018, it has already built a strong reputation in medical and health-sciences education, with many programs taught in English and a genuinely international student body from across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its most distinctive feature is its home: a beautifully restored 1928 landmark in the heart of Ankara, where classic architecture meets a modern learning environment.

History & milestones

The university was established on 5 May 2018 by the Turkish Education, Health, Science and Research Foundation, the same foundation behind the well-known Istanbul Medipol University. Its main building has a story of its own: originally built in 1928 as headquarters for the state railway administration, this icon of early-Republican Ankara was carefully transformed into the university’s home, symbolizing a bridge between Turkey’s heritage and its future. Opening with Medicine, Dentistry and Political Science, Ankara Medipol grew quickly, adding engineering, law, health sciences, communication and business fields, to nearly 10,000 students by 2023-24.

Ankara, the capital advantage

The compact, integrated campus sits in central Altındağ (Hacı Bayram), minutes from Ankara’s main train and bus hubs and well-connected to the whole city. As the seat of government, Ankara offers students proximity to ministries, embassies, international organizations and think-tanks, a real advantage for law, political science and international-relations students seeking internships and networking. It is also safe, culturally rich and more affordable than Istanbul, with museums, parks and historic sites just beyond the campus gates.

Vision & mission

Ankara Medipol’s mission is to achieve excellence in research, education and public service by fostering creative and critical thinking, innovation and leadership. Its vision is to be a pioneering international university that transforms its region and contributes to humanity. The institution combines a modern, practical curriculum with strong values, tolerance, diversity, integrity and social responsibility, to produce highly skilled, globally minded graduates.

Academics & language of instruction

The university offers programs at every level, roughly 21 bachelor’s degrees, 19 associate programs, plus master’s and a growing set of doctoral programs through its graduate institutes. Many flagship programs run in English, including Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Political Science & International Relations, International Trade & Finance, Management Information Systems, Psychology and Gastronomy & Culinary Arts; others are in Turkish, with language support and a one-year English/Turkish preparatory option available. A School of Foreign Languages supports students who need it.

Faculties & specializations

Ankara Medipol is built around health, with a broadening base in social sciences and engineering:

• Medicine, a 6-year MD (English or Turkish), with early research opportunities and clinical rotations in affiliated hospitals.
• Dentistry, a 5-year DDS with clinical practice from the third year in the on-campus dental hospital.
• Pharmacy, an English-taught, ECZAKDER-accredited program spanning industrial and clinical pharmacy.
• Health Sciences, Nursing, Nutrition & Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Midwifery, Speech Therapy and Ergotherapy.
• Political Sciences, English-taught PSIR with Model UN, diplomacy and Middle East studies.
• Economics, Administrative & Social Sciences, International Trade & Finance, MIS (FIBAA-accredited) and Psychology.
• Engineering & Natural Sciences, Computer and Electrical-Electronics Engineering in English, expanding into AI and cybersecurity.

Campus & facilities

Behind its historic façade, the campus is thoroughly modern. Health students train in an on-campus dental hospital, medical simulation clinics, anatomy and nursing skills labs; engineering students use electronics, programming and cybersecurity labs; and gastronomy students cook in a professional culinary arts lab. A multi-floor main library, campus-wide Wi-Fi, cafeterias, lounges and around 50 student clubs round out daily life. While there are no large dorm blocks on campus, the university runs an affiliated dormitory nearby and helps international students find housing.

Accreditations & recognition

Beyond YÖK recognition, Ankara Medipol holds an unusually strong set of program accreditations for its age: TEPDAD (medical education), HEPDAK (nursing), ECZAKDER (pharmacy), SABAK (health sciences) and FIBAA (business), with its affiliated health center holding JCI accreditation. Its medical degree is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, and it runs Erasmus+ and Mevlana exchanges, so degrees are recognized widely abroad.

Scholarships & value

Tuition is competitive, most programs sit around $4,000-$5,000/year, with Pharmacy and Medicine higher given their resource demands, and several discounts lower the effective cost: a cash/single-payment discount (5-10%), a 10% sibling discount, a 25% preparatory-year discount, a 10% disability discount, plus merit and need-based scholarships and acceptance of government Türkiye Scholarships.

Why students choose Ankara Medipol

A trusted health-sciences brand with English-taught medicine, dentistry and pharmacy; a striking, central historic campus in the capital; hands-on training in an on-campus dental hospital and simulation labs; strong external accreditations; and an affordable, well-supported path for international students. For students drawn to medicine and health in particular, Ankara Medipol offers a focused, modern education in the heart of Turkey’s capital.