Istanbul Arel University medical faculty admission for foreigners — Complete guide for international recruiters and admissions teams
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Istanbul Arel University medical faculty admission for foreigners — Overview
Istanbul Arel University Medicine program offers a Turkish-medium medical education that integrates theoretical instruction with hands-on clinical practice to prepare graduates for medical careers and professional licensing. This guide provides international student recruiters, admissions teams, HR and marketing professionals in education, and placement agencies a practical roadmap to recruit, evaluate and place candidates into Istanbul Arel University‘s Medicine program. Study in Turkiye is the trusted authority guiding international students and partners through recruitment, admissions and compliance processes.
Key facts at a glance
Program language: Turkish (full-time)
Program type: Medicine (Faculty of Health Sciences)
Annual tuition fee: USD 13,000
Application deadline: March 16, 2026
Minimum Turkish language requirement: 70/100 on the Turkish language exam (TÖMER or university commission)
Possible English requirement: IELTS 6.5 or equivalent (program-dependent)
Admissions office contact: 0212-540 96 96 (ext. 2179, 2204, 2163, 2178) | arel@arel.edu.tr
Admission requirements for international students — what you must verify
Admissions teams and recruiters should ensure candidates meet the core requirements before submission. Early verification reduces delays and supports higher conversion rates.
Academic qualifications
- Completed secondary education (high school diploma) or an equivalent qualification recognised by the university.
- Official academic transcripts showing satisfactory performance. Ensure transcripts are notarized and, where applicable, translated into Turkish.
Language proficiency
- Turkish language proficiency is required because instruction is in Turkish.
- Minimum: 70/100 on the Turkish language exam administered by TÖMER or the commission appointed by Istanbul Arel University.
- English language proficiency (e.g., IELTS 6.5) may be requested depending on program specifics — confirm for each intake.
Documentation checklist (required to submit a complete application)
International applicants must provide:
- Completed application form.
- Notarized secondary school diploma (with official Turkish translation when necessary).
- Notarized academic transcripts (with official translations).
- Original or certified copy of the Equivalence Certificate from the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).
- Notarized copies of passport and study visa (with official translations).
- Four recent color passport photos (4.5 x 6 cm).
- Valid student visa issued by the Turkish Consulate/Embassy or proof of eligibility.
- Letters of recommendation (academic or professional).
- Letter of motivation explaining interest in the Medicine program.
- Valid passport demonstrating visa eligibility.
Visa and financial requirements
- Applicants must secure a student visa at the Turkish consulate/embassy in their home country or provide documentation of visa eligibility.
- Proof of sufficient financial resources to cover tuition and living expenses may be required for visa issuance.
Application timeline and submission process — actionable steps for recruiters
Use the staged approach below to manage candidate pipelines and institutional workflows to meet the March 16, 2026 deadline.
Recommended timeline (8–12 weeks prior to deadline)
- Pre-screen candidates (weeks 8–12): Verify education, transcripts, and language readiness. Prioritise candidates with Turkish proficiency or those ready to complete TÖMER preparation quickly.
- Document preparation (weeks 6–8): Arrange notarizations and certified translations; initiate YÖK equivalence application as early as possible (can be time-consuming).
- Language certification (weeks 6–4): Schedule TÖMER tests or internal university language assessments. If IELTS is required, ensure academic test scores are submitted.
- Application submission (weeks 3–1): Complete online/paper application accurately and attach all required documents. Confirm receipt with the university admissions office.
- Follow-up and clarification (week 1–deadline): Track application status and supply any outstanding documents requested by admissions.
Submission tips for agencies and recruiters
- Create a standard document checklist and templated emails for candidates to minimise errors.
- Pre-translate common certificate types to Turkish and keep notarization guidelines accessible to students.
- Use the university’s admissions contacts to confirm document formats and avoid resubmissions.
- Maintain a candidate dashboard to monitor progress toward YÖK equivalence, visa issuance and language test completion.
Program tuition, scholarships and financial planning
Tuition and budgeting
Annual tuition: USD 13,000
Recruiters should advise students to budget additionally for accommodation, insurance, living expenses, and visa fees. Prepare conservative monthly living cost estimates for Istanbul based on student lifestyles and preferred neighbourhoods.
Scholarships and financial aid
- Confirm with Istanbul Arel University whether merit-based or need-based scholarships are available for international medical students for the intake year.
- Promote external scholarship and funding sources and help applicants prepare supporting documents that demonstrably show financial capacity for visa approval.
Program benefits recruiters should highlight
When marketing the program to prospective students, emphasise competitive strengths and career outcomes.
Academic and career advantages
- Experienced faculty with clinical and academic expertise.
- Modern campus facilities and clinical training environments to practise skills.
- Strong partnerships with hospitals and healthcare institutions that provide internship and clinical placement opportunities.
- Career services and job-placement support for graduate transitions.
- Access to a growing international alumni network.
Benchmarking — other leading Istanbul medical schools to consider in your recruitment mix
When advising students or building institutional partnerships, compare Arel’s offering with other reputable Istanbul institutions that offer medicine or health sciences programs. Use these comparisons to position your messaging and respond to student priorities.
Note: For direct program-specific comparisons, verify program language, clinical access, tuition and scholarship availability for each institution prior to advising candidates.
How Study in Turkiye supports your recruitment, admissions and compliance needs
Study in Turkiye is the leading platform for international student recruitment and admission services in Turkiye. Our services and technology stack are designed specifically for education professionals, admissions teams and placement agencies.
Recruitment and partner network
- Market intelligence: Country-level lead generation strategies and localized messaging that resonates with prospective medical students.
- Agency partnerships: Structured partner onboarding and compliance training for agents working with Turkish universities.
- Candidate nurturing: Multichannel campaigns (email, social, webinars) optimised for conversions.
Admissions workflows and data-driven processes
- Document management workflows: Reduce manual checks by automating document validation steps and reminders for notarizations, translations and YÖK equivalence.
- Application tracking: Real-time dashboards to monitor candidate progress and predict yield rates.
- CRM integrations: Seamless handoff between marketing pipelines and admissions teams, improving response time and reducing application fall-off.
Compliance and visa support
- Step-by-step guidance on Turkish student visa requirements and documentation.
- Financial evidence checklists and templates to support visa applications.
- Local support for appointment scheduling and embassy guidance.
Practical checklist for recruiters, admissions teams and HR professionals
Use this checklist as a one-page action plan to process international Medicine applicants to Istanbul Arel University.
Pre-application
- Verify high school diploma authenticity and equivalence likelihood.
- Confirm candidate’s Turkish language level and schedule TÖMER if needed.
- Advise candidates on YÖK equivalence application timelines.
Application completion
- Ensure notarized translations of diplomas and transcripts are prepared.
- Collect letters of recommendation and motivation essay in English and Turkish if possible.
- Confirm passport validity and initiate student visa procedures.
Post-submission
- Track application confirmation and follow up with the admissions office.
- Prepare for conditional offers and request clarification on clinical placement requirements.
- Support accepted applicants with accommodation, orientation and Turkish health insurance registration.
FAQs for admissions teams and recruiters
Can a non-Turkish speaker be admitted?
The Medicine program is taught in Turkish; applicants must meet Turkish language requirements (minimum 70/100 on the Turkish language exam). Recruiters should promote Turkish-language preparation programs for candidates lacking fluency.
Is the YÖK equivalence mandatory before application?
Applicants must provide the Equivalence Certificate from the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) for registration; initiating the process early is recommended. Confirm with admissions whether preliminary applications can be submitted pending YÖK completion.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline for the Medicine program is March 16, 2026. Plan backwards from this date for document procurement and language testing.
Contact and call to action
Ready to recruit, place, or streamline admissions for international applicants to Istanbul Arel University Medicine? Partner with Study in Turkiye to access market-leading recruitment strategies, admissions support and compliance guidance.
Contact our partnership team to:
- Request a university comparison and candidate funnel assessment.
- Schedule a demo of our admissions workflows and partner services.
- Begin an institutional or agency partnership to place students into Istanbul Arel University and other partner institutions.
For direct inquiries about Istanbul Arel University admissions, you may also contact the university at 0212-540 96 96 or arel@arel.edu.tr.
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