Lokman Hekim University

Why Lokman Hekim University

Lokman Hekim University (LHU) is a private foundation university in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, that has quickly earned a reputation for excellence in medical and health-sciences education. Established in 2017 by the Sevgi Foundation, it stands out for its health-focused programs, modern facilities and a strong commitment to producing skilled healthcare professionals. With over 4,700 students across 5 faculties, 270+ academics and, crucially, 7 affiliated hospitals, and named after Lokman Hekim, a legendary physician of Middle Eastern culture, it blends cutting-edge scientific training with a rich medical heritage, making it a distinctive, popular choice for students who want to study medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or allied health in Turkey.

History & milestones

LHU was officially established in 2017 by the Sevgi Foundation (a philanthropic foundation known for educational support and scholarships) and began teaching in 2018-19 with 11 undergraduate and 2 associate programs in medical and health fields, welcoming its first students in 2019. Crucially, it affiliated early with the Lokman Hekim Health Group, a network of quality hospitals and medical facilities, converting that clinical expertise into a robust academic environment. It has grown rapidly to 5 faculties, a Vocational School of Health Services and a Graduate Institute of Health Sciences, 13+ research and application centers (including a Halal Product Research Center), and over 4,700 students, graduating its first doctors and health professionals, building modern simulation centers, and joining Erasmus+ along the way.

Ankara, the capital advantage

LHU’s main Söğütözü Campus sits in the Çankaya district of Ankara, a central business and hospital area about 8 km from the city centre, well-served by buses and metro. Studying in the capital offers a safe, well-organised, cosmopolitan environment that is more affordable than Istanbul, with ministries, international organisations, cultural institutions, museums, parks (Kuğulu, Gençlik) and malls (Next Level, Armada in Söğütözü) nearby. The campus is integrated into the urban fabric, with the university’s own hospitals and abundant private student housing within easy reach, and Ankara’s status as a capital brings frequent seminars and guest lectures from leading medical professionals and policymakers.

Vision & mission

LHU’s vision is to be an exemplary educational and research institution in health sciences, recognised nationally and internationally and synthesising the knowledge of East and West to pioneer a new model of medical education, “a respected university known and preferred around the world.” Its mission centres on educational excellence (universal knowledge and student-centred teaching), research and innovation to improve quality of life and health, community and economic contribution to the healthcare system, strong ethics and cultural sensitivity (compassionate, culturally competent practitioners), and holistic development promoting healthy living, preparing competent, ethical health professionals who positively impact healthcare worldwide.

Rankings & recognition

As a young, specialised university, LHU is at an early but solid point in its ranking journey. Webometrics 2023 places it around 169th in Turkey (≈9,943rd globally) and uniRank about 182nd nationally, respectable for an institution founded only in 2017 and focused on niche health disciplines, reflecting rising research and online presence. It is not yet in the QS or THE global tables (which favour longer research histories), but its growing output, European programme accreditations and international recognitions point to continued improvement. Locally in Ankara, competing with established medical universities, its rapid progress signals a strengthening reputation in health education.

Academics & language of instruction

LHU offers a focused, health-centred portfolio across 5 faculties, a vocational school and the Institute of Health Sciences, about 11-12 bachelor’s, 10+ associate, 18 thesis (+1 non-thesis) master’s and 8-9 PhD programs. Flagship programs, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, are offered in English (and Turkish) to serve international students, while allied-health and sports programs run in Turkish; English and Turkish preparatory years are available. Learning is hands-on, anchored by simulation centres (clinical-skills, phantom-head dental and science labs) and the 7 affiliated hospitals, with problem-based learning, early clinical exposure, interprofessional education and even double-major/minor options. The curriculum follows the Bologna/ECTS framework.

Faculties & specializations

• Faculty of Medicine, a 6-year MD (English/Turkish) with problem-based learning, early patient contact and clinical rotations in the group’s hospitals; WDOMS/FAIMER-listed for international licensing exams (USMLE, PLAB).
• Faculty of Dentistry, a 5-year DDS (English/Turkish) with simulation/phantom-head labs and the Lokman Hekim Dentistry Hospital for real-patient treatment.
• Faculty of Pharmacy, a 5-year program with a model pharmacy, pharmaceutics/pharmacology labs, hospital rotations and an R&D emphasis (bridging traditional and modern medicine).
• Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Nutrition & Dietetics (accredited), Midwifery, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapy and Audiology, all with clinical practicums.
• Faculty of Sports Sciences, Sports Management and Coaching Education, reflecting a whole-health focus on wellness, athlete health and preventive medicine.
• Vocational School of Health Services, 10+ two-year programs: Anesthesia, First & Emergency Aid, Operating Room, Medical Imaging, Medical Laboratory, Dialysis, Pharmacy Services, Elderly Care and Medical Promotion & Marketing.

Tuition & scholarships

LHU’s tuition is competitive for a health-focused private university, with premium pricing for the resource-intensive medical programs; fees are quoted in US dollars, and the figures below are approximate annual guidance, exact current fees appear in the tuition table above:

• Associate (2-year) programs: about $3,500 / year
• Health-science bachelor’s (Nursing, Physiotherapy, Midwifery, Audiology, Sports): about $4,000-4,500 / year
• Pharmacy: about $13,500 / year
• Dentistry: about $18,000 (English) - 20,000 (Turkish) / year
• Medicine: about $20,000 (Turkish) - 22,500 (English) / year
• Master’s / PhD programs: about $6,000 / year

LHU offers a 25% merit scholarship (for strong applicants, including in Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy, e.g. cutting Medicine to $16,875), a 15% full-program prepayment discount, a 10% early-payment discount, country- and partner-specific awards, and acceptance of government Türkiye Scholarships; graduate students may receive assistantships or waivers. English ($8,000) or Turkish (~$3,000) prep years are charged separately when needed. With Ankara’s moderate cost of living, this makes a medical or health degree genuinely attainable.

Graduate studies

LHU’s Institute of Health Sciences runs about 18 thesis master’s (plus a non-thesis option) and 8-9 PhD programs, all in health disciplines and mostly in Turkish (with extensive English-language research literature). Master’s options include Health Management, Pharmaceutical R&D, Nutrition & Dietetics, Nursing specialisations, Medical Biochemistry, Medical Microbiology, Toxicology, Histology & Embryology, Physiotherapy and Public Health. PhD programs span Nutrition & Dietetics, Medical Microbiology, Medical Biochemistry, Obstetrics & Gynaecology Nursing and a distinctive Traditional & Complementary Medicine (phytotherapy, acupuncture integrated with modern medicine), embodying the university’s East-meets-West philosophy. Graduate students work closely with faculty in the 13+ research centres and affiliated hospitals on drug development, public-health and clinical projects, are encouraged to publish and present, and may receive assistantships, stipends or waivers on funded work.

Campus & facilities

LHU’s modern Söğütözü campus (multi-block academic buildings) features smart classrooms and state-of-the-art laboratories for anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology and pharmacology, clinical-skills simulation centres, dental phantom-head labs and pharmacy labs. A large library offers extensive print and digital medical collections, international databases, quiet halls, computer stations and group rooms with extended hours. Most distinctively, the university’s own University Training Hospital and Dentistry Hospital (part of the 7-hospital Lokman Hekim Health Group) serve as extended classrooms for clinical training. Sports facilities (gym, courts, fields) support the Sports Sciences faculty and student wellness, alongside cafeterias, student-club spaces and a fully accessible campus (lifts, ramps, support services).

Student services & campus life

LHU surrounds its close-knit, health-focused community with strong support. Although there are no on-campus dorms, the International Office and student services place students in vetted partner private dormitories (separate for men and women, furnished, with study areas, internet, laundry and security) and help with nearby apartments, with Ankara’s moderate rents an advantage. Counseling, academic advising and tutoring support well-being and success, and career services plus the hospital network arrange internships, clinical placements and jobs. A dedicated International Office handles visas, residence permits, orientation and Turkish-language support for a growing community of students from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. With student clubs (International Students, Medical Research, sports), health seminars, cultural festivals, career days, guest speakers and sports facilities, campus life is purposeful, collegial and genuinely supportive.

Accreditations & recognition

LHU holds an unusually strong accreditation portfolio for its age. Beyond Turkey’s YÖK, it has earned institutional/programme accreditation from three respected European agencies, ACQUIN (Germany), ASIIN (health and STEM programmes) and FIBAA, signalling European-standard quality, plus a national 5-year accreditation for Nutrition & Dietetics. Its Faculty of Medicine is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS/FAIMER) and its dentistry programme is internationally recognised, so graduates can sit licensing exams abroad (e.g. USMLE, PLAB). It follows the Bologna/ECTS framework, runs Erasmus+ (plus Farabi and Mevlana) exchange, and its degrees are officially recognised abroad, including by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education (2024), while its affiliated hospitals meet national (and in cases international, e.g. JCI) healthcare-quality standards.

Special highlights & why choose

LHU’s defining strength is clinically grounded, internationally accredited health education built around its own hospital group. Its English-medium Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy, trained across 7 affiliated hospitals including dedicated University Training and Dentistry hospitals, make it a top choice for international medical students, reinforced by WDOMS listing and European ACQUIN/ASIIN/FIBAA accreditations rarely held by such a young university. Add a distinctive East-meets-West philosophy (with a PhD in Traditional & Complementary Medicine and a Halal Product Research Center), a whole-health vision spanning a Sports Sciences faculty and allied-health professions, modern simulation centres and 13+ research centres, generous merit and payment scholarships, recognition in Saudi Arabia and beyond, and the affordability and capital-city advantages of Ankara, and Lokman Hekim University is a focused, well-supported and globally minded choice for students set on a career in medicine and the health sciences.