{"id":12982,"date":"2026-09-23T19:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T16:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sayainternational.com\/en\/studying-in-izmir\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T19:40:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T16:10:00","slug":"studying-in-izmir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sayainternational.com\/en\/studying-in-izmir\/","title":{"rendered":"Studying in Izmir 2027: Universities, Costs and Student Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ask Turkish students where they would live if money and grades did not matter, and a surprising number say Izmir. The city has the sea, a relaxed pace, cheaper rent than Istanbul and a handful of serious universities. Studying in Izmir<\/strong> suits students who want a big city without the exhausting commute, and for the 2027 intake it is one of the destinations we recommend most often to families who find Istanbul too expensive<\/p>\n

Below we cover the main universities, what programmes are taught in English, realistic monthly costs, the districts students live in and the things that catch newcomers off guard<\/p>\n

At a glance:<\/strong> Turkey’s third-largest city, around 4.5 million people \u2022 State and private universities, several with English-taught degrees \u2022 Living costs usually 20 to 35 percent lower than Istanbul \u2022 Mild winters, very hot summers<\/div>\n

Why Students Choose Izmir<\/h2>\n

Izmir sits on a long bay on the Aegean coast, and the whole city faces the water. The Kordon seafront in Alsancak is where students meet after class, run in the evening and sit on the grass with friends. It feels more open and secular in daily life than many Turkish cities, which international students often mention as a reason they settle in quickly<\/p>\n

Practically, Izmir is easy to live in. The metro, the \u0130ZBAN suburban train, trams in Kar\u015f\u0131yaka and Konak and the ferries across the bay all use the same \u0130zmirim card. A ferry ride across to Kar\u015f\u0131yaka is part of many students’ daily routine and costs about the same as a bus. Adnan Menderes Airport has direct flights to many European and Middle Eastern cities, so going home for holidays is simple<\/p>\n

\"Ege
Ege University in Bornova has one of the largest and greenest campuses in Turkey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Top Universities in Izmir for International Students<\/h2>\n

State universities<\/h3>\n

Ege University<\/strong> in Bornova is the city’s oldest and largest university, founded in 1955. Its medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and agriculture faculties are well known, and its hospital is one of the busiest in the Aegean region. Most undergraduate teaching is in Turkish, so international students usually take a year of Turkish at T\u00d6MER first<\/p>\n

Dokuz Eyl\u00fcl University (DE\u00dc)<\/strong> has campuses in Buca, Bal\u00e7ova and the city centre. Its medical school is highly regarded and offers an English-medium medicine programme, which is competitive for international applicants. DE\u00dc is also strong in engineering, maritime studies and fine arts<\/p>\n

Izmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH)<\/strong> is a smaller research university in Urla, about 40 km from the centre. It teaches mostly in English and focuses on engineering, architecture and the sciences. The campus is beautiful but isolated, so it suits students who want to focus on study rather than nightlife. \u0130zmir Katip \u00c7elebi University and \u0130zmir Bak\u0131r\u00e7ay University are younger state options, particularly in health sciences<\/p>\n

Private (foundation) universities<\/h3>\n

Ya\u015far University<\/strong> in Bornova and Izmir University of Economics (IUE)<\/strong> in Bal\u00e7ova are the two private universities we place students in most often. Both teach many programmes in English, including business, international trade, computer engineering, industrial engineering, architecture and design. Both offer merit-based tuition discounts for international students, often 25 to 50 percent depending on grades and the programme. \u0130zmir T\u0131naztepe University is newer and has a health-sciences focus<\/p>\n

If you are comparing English-medium options across the country, our list of English-taught degree programmes in Turkey<\/a> is a useful starting point<\/p>\n

Tuition Fees for Studying in Izmir<\/h2>\n

State universities set separate fees for international students, and these vary by university and faculty. For most bachelor’s programmes at Ege or DE\u00dc, international fees are generally in the range of a few hundred to a few thousand US dollars a year, with medicine and dentistry costing more. Private universities in Izmir usually charge somewhere between roughly 5,000 and 12,000 USD a year before discounts for most programmes, with medicine and dentistry well above that<\/p>\n

Fees for 2026\u201327 are published on each university’s international admissions page, and they change every year. Our full guide to university tuition fees in Turkey<\/a> explains how state and private fees are structured<\/p>\n

Apply early for private discounts.<\/strong> At Ya\u015far and IUE, scholarship percentages are often decided by application order and grades. Students who apply in spring regularly receive better discounts than those who apply in August<\/div>\n

Cost of Living in Izmir for Students<\/h2>\n

Izmir is not cheap anymore, and rents rose sharply between 2023 and 2026. Still, it remains noticeably more affordable than Istanbul, especially for housing. Here is a realistic monthly budget for a single student in 2026, based on what our students report<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Expense<\/th>\nBudget student (TL \/ month)<\/th>\nComfortable (TL \/ month)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Private dorm or room in shared flat<\/td>\n10,000 to 18,000<\/td>\n20,000 to 35,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Food and groceries<\/td>\n7,000 to 10,000<\/td>\n12,000 to 16,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Transport (\u0130zmirim card)<\/td>\n800 to 1,500<\/td>\n1,500 to 2,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Phone and internet share<\/td>\n500 to 1,000<\/td>\n1,000 to 1,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Social life and extras<\/td>\n2,000 to 4,000<\/td>\n5,000 to 8,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Most students spend somewhere between about 22,000 and 40,000 TL a month in total, depending on housing. Because prices change quickly, treat this as a rough guide and check current listings before you set your budget. For comparison across cities, see the cost of living guide for Turkey<\/a><\/p>\n

Where Students Live in Izmir<\/h2>\n
\"Kordon
The Kordon promenade in Alsancak, where students gather on summer evenings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n