What subjects are taught in Turkish medical school? Years 1 to 6 explained
In Turkish medical schools, years 1–3 are basic sciences, years 4–5 clinical rotations and year 6 internship. Subjects by year and when TUS prep starts.
Short answer
Medical school in Turkey lasts 6 years. The first three years (dönem 1–3) cover basic and pre-clinical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, histology, microbiology, pathology and pharmacology; years four and five are clinical rotations in medical and surgical departments; and the sixth year is the internship (intörnlük), with supervised patient care. Many faculties teach subjects in integrated blocks organised by organ system.
Subjects by year
| Year (dönem) | Main subjects |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Cell biology, basic biochemistry, introduction to anatomy, medical biology and genetics, introduction to histology |
| Year 2 | Anatomy by system, physiology, biochemistry, histology and embryology |
| Year 3 | Microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, introduction to clinical sciences |
| Year 4 | Major rotations such as internal medicine, general surgery, paediatrics, and obstetrics and gynaecology |
| Year 5 | Shorter rotations such as neurology, psychiatry, ophthalmology, ENT, dermatology and orthopaedics |
| Year 6 | Internship (intörnlük) |
The order of subjects may vary from faculty to faculty.
When does TUS preparation start?
Most students focus on preparing for TUS (the medical specialty exam) in years 5–6 or after graduation. Learning the basic sciences well in the first three years is a big advantage in the basic medical sciences part of TUS.
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Frequently asked questions
When does TUS preparation start?
Most students focus on preparing for TUS (the medical specialty exam) in years 5–6 or after graduation. Learning the basic sciences well in the first three years is a big advantage in the basic medical sciences part of TUS.
How many years is medical school in Turkey?
Medical school in Turkey lasts 6 years; some universities add a 1-year foreign language preparatory year. Some universities also offer English-medium medical programmes, which may interest international students.
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