BDS in Turkey for Pakistani Students: Fees, PMDC Recognition & Best Universities

Turkey is a leading host for students who want to pursue a dental career. The reasons are affordable tuition, especially compared to Europe and North America, and many courses are in English. The tuition and programs create a quality education to balance costs.

Turkey offers prestigious programs in both public and private dentistry schools. The programs are a part of the Bologna Process and are accredited by YÖK (Yükseköğretim Kurulu), and a large number of dental programs are comprised of the ADEE (Association for Dental Education in Europe). Not only does the WHO recognize the dental programs in Turkey, but they also remain consistent with all of the international medical educational standards.

Turkey has a lot of options to provide its students with a DDS, BDS, or Bachelor of Dental Medicine degree, and the students pay the private school costs in English and also travel to Turkey to obtain the BDS, DDS, or Bachelor of Dental Medicine degree.

This information is for students who want to pursue a career in Dentistry in Turkey and are from other countries. We will provide information on the costs, schools, and provide the requirements and how to complete the Glommi scholarship applications.

Why Study Dentistry (BDS) in Turkey?

There are numerous reasons that students from other countries want to receive a dentistry degree from Turkey. The first is affordability. Universities in Turkey charge a fraction of the tuition fees compared to the UK, USA, or Australia. This affordability does not sacrifice quality, as we provide an internationally recognized education.

The second reason is international recognition. Degree programs in Turkey are recognized by the Bologna Process, paralleled by integration of YÖK, Turkey’s Council of Higher Education.

Another major advantage is the availability of English-medium programs. Both private and public universities offer full dentistry programs in Turkey in the English Language.

Clinical exposure and modern preclinical laboratories are available in Turkey's dental schools. With Turkey's modern dental hospitals, students can have supervised clinical rotations in the latter years of the program, as students begin practical training.

The Erasmus+ program creates a pathway for international students to access European Universities.

Five years is the answer we give when we are asked how long Turkey's dentistry program is. However, a 5+1 structure may happen for some students if a language preparatory year is required.

Program Overview: Duration, Degree Title and Curriculum

The official name of the degree is DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery). However, many students calling their degree BDS in Turkey, or BDS dentistry in Turkey, are referring to the British or South Asian education systems.

Some of the universities among Turkey’s dentistry faculties may use the term Bachelor of Dental Medicine. You may also see the Turkish designation Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi, which directly translates to the Faculty of Dentistry.

Curriculum Construction

The first years center on basic medical science and lab, and the later years of the program center on practical experience and dealing with patients.

Clinical rotations are conducted in university hospitals under the supervision of the faculty members. On completion, graduates can either work as General Dentists or take a further step and explore specialist fields.

Top Universities for Dentistry in Turkey

Students who search for the best 10 dentistry universities in Turkey take into account three criteria: language of study, tuition and establishment name. In Turkey, there are many established public universities as well as focused private universities.

Public Universities

Public universities are more budget-friendly yet very competitive. Most of them require YOS or SAT exam results.

Note: Fees are in TYL and are revised yearly by YÖK. Check Glommi and the university for the latest numbers before submission.

If you want to study in public dental schools, you might be curious about the fees for Ankara University Dentistry and Istanbul University Dentistry, as they are the most popular among students.

Private University

As a result of easier admission, as most Turkish students apply to public schools, almost all private schools provide English options.

Note: Fees are in TYL and are revised yearly by YÖK. Check Glommi and the university for the latest numbers before submission.

Also, the bottom points for students to find Turkish dental schools are budget, preferred language of instruction, and program expectations.

Dentistry in Turkey: Tuition in Public vs. Private Schools

One reason international students pursue dentistry in Turkey for international students is the lower costs compared to Europe and North America. Nonetheless, there is a very large disparity in tuition depending on the type of university and what language is being taught.

Students wanting to study dentistry in Turkey must be aware that there are additional costs that are dentistry-specific, including the following:

• Dental instrumentation and tools

• Uniforms and white coats

• Residency and insurance

• Clinical laboratory materials

Living Costs in Turkey

Living costs for students vary greatly depending on the city they choose to live in:

Istanbul's cost of living is higher than that of any other city in Turkey, and it boasts the most universities in Turkey for dentistry for international students.

Admission Requirements

Pakistani students that are interested to study bachelor in dentist surgery in Turkey should understand that admission requirements differ between public and private universities.

Public Universities:

Public universities in Turkey require a lot more for students to be eligible than most private universities.

• High school diploma or an HSSC equivalent

• Proof of strong science grades

• Proof of their YOS or a YOS equivalent (this will be discussed below)

• Their own passport copy

• Their own academic transcripts

• Proof of language proficiency, if needed

• Proof of Proficiency in Secondary, if needed

A YOS is a Yükseköğretim Kurumları Sınavı, and is a Turkish test for determining the qualification of an international student.

Private Universities:

Private universities offer more flexibility in terms of admission criteria. A number of them can accept students with:

• A relatively high school diploma

• Basic level science grades

• A passport

• An interview or an internal assessment

Additionally, most private universities do not place an emphasis on the YOS.

Studying Dentistry in Turkey in English

There is a high demand for students wishing to study the Bachelor's in Dental Surgery in Turkey in English.

The majority of the English-medium courses are found in private universities, and some of the public universities may offer some limited English tracks.

Even if students don’t have the IELTS or TOEFL tests, they may still qualify for these courses by taking the internal English proficiency test at the university. If students are unsuccessful in the language assessment, they usually have to undertake a language prep year prior to the start of the dentistry program.

The English-based programs are usually more expensive than the Turkish-based programs; however, they are more convenient for international students.

Regarding the NEB, Licensing, and PMDC Recognition Pathway for Pakistani Students

This is particularly important for students from Pakistan who will attend BDS programs in Turkey. Thorough knowledge of PMDC (Pakistan Medical and Dental Council) recognition will help the students to apply to the right foreign universities.

We strongly recommend that Pakistani students check the recognition of the universities they are applying to with the PMDC (Pakistan Medical and Dental Council) before joining a foreign program, as this can pose serious problems with licenses after they have graduated from the program.

Eligibility Requirements Regarding PMDC

There are some minimum requirements that you must meet in order to study dentistry (BDS) in Turkey, and you must also pass a more in-depth assessment of compliance with the PMDC (Pakistan Medical and Dental Council)requirements.

Minimum Requirement

PDCM (Pakistan Medical and Dental Council) requires the students to obtain a NOC (No Objection Certificate) in order to enroll in dental programs abroad. The NOC states that the students meet the minimum eligibility criteria to enroll in the foreign medical or dental programs.

Document Attestation Summary

Pakistani applicants for Turkish universities must have their documents verified and/or attested accordingly.

For education, documents must go through major attestation as follows:

HRDC: Higher Education and Research Development Center

HCC: Higher Education Commission

WDEP: World Education and Development Programs (recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

WFME and WDOMS: World Federation for Medical Education and World Director of Medical School

NRE: National Recognition Examination and NE (National Examination for Professionals)

PMDC now more frequently recognizes International Medical and Dental qualifications through engagements in WFME than through WDOMS.

Pakistani applicants to Turkish universities are encouraged to check that the universities are listed as part of these validation systems.

Why you Should Consider Recognition when Choosing a University

Most students take into consideration just the cost when choosing universities when going abroad for dentistry, but recognition is far more important than cost. Before students apply to a Turkish university, they should consider the followed:

• PMDC Recognition

• WFME Accreditation

• WDOMS Listing

At Glommi, we verify recognition, admission, and PMDC requirements, along with the documentation and licensing pathways for students before pre-application.

Scholarships for Dentistry in Turkey

While students are researching the study bachelor in dentistry in Turkey fees and study bachelor in dentistry in Turkey cost, they also have to research study bachelor in dentistry in Turkey scholarships.

Türkiye Burslari Scholarship

The Türkiye Burslari is a sponsored scholarship program by the Turkish Government. Below are the typical scholarship packages:

• Full tuition fees

• Accommodation

• A monthly allowance

• Health insurance

• A flight ticket for the return home

The applications are available annually, in the run-up to the beginning of the university year, between January and February.

Dental surgery is a very competitive degree, and applicants who are successful in getting this scholarship have an excellent academic record.

University Scholarships

The majority of private universities offer a partial scholarship for international students on the basis of their academic performance. These scholarships greatly reduce the tuition cost for them.

Equally, self-funded students may be eligible for semester installment plans, which break tuition payments into two installments.

Step-by-Step Application Process for BDS in Turkey for Pakistani Students

Requirements for dentistry programs in Turkey for international applicants differ by university, and so careful considerations are necessary while applying.

Step 1: Choose University Type

You may choose between a public and a private university. Public universities have lower fees, but more competition. An easier path may be attending a private university with a program in English.

Step 2: Compile Application Documents

The following documents are usually required:

• High school diploma or higher academic degree

• Transcripts

• Passport

• Passport-sized photos

• Any language certificates

Step 3: Know the Language Requirements

Requirements for English programs may be IELTS, TOEFL, or other English Language Proficiency tests. If there are Turkish programs, a Turkish Language test may be required.

Step 4: Application Submission

Students usually submit their applications for admissions scholarships on the university website or via partner consultants.

Step 5: Acceptance and Visa Offer Letter

Admission offer, tuition details, and instructions on how to apply for a visa to Turkey are usually sent by the university.

Step 6: Apply for a Student Visa

Once you get an admission confirmation, you can start your Turkish student visa process and arrange your accommodation.

Career Opportunities After Graduation

International students who complete their studies in dentistry in Turkey will be presented with several opportunities based on local licensing laws.

Turkish dental programs incorporate the Bologna Process, and consequently, graduates may easily pursue postgraduate programs or the process of licensure in Europe and beyond.

PMDC Licensing for Pakistani Students

Pakistani students who return after they obtain a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) Degree must go through the PMDC process. The Turkish PMDC also regards the dental universities' DDS to be equivalent to the Bachelor of Dental Surgery for the purposes of Registration.

Step-by-Step PMDC Licensing Process

Step 1: Graduate from Dentistry from a Turkish University

Step 2: NEB Assessment Application

Step 3: NEB Examination

Step 4: NRE Step I Examination

Step 5: NRE Step II Examination

Step 6: PMDC registration and RMP status granted

What is NEB?

NEB (National Equivalence Board) is the first major job assessment for people coming back to Pakistan after graduating from dentistry abroad. It evaluates the standard of foreign dental qualifications in equivalence to major Pakistani educational qualifications. Those graduating from unrecognized foreign universities may have a hard time going through this process.

According to the current schedule:

Students should always check examination schedules directly through PMDC, as this is subject to change.

What is NRE?

Once candidates clear NEB, the next step is to clear NRE. The NRE has 2 major components:

• NRE Step I

• NRE Step II

These exams define a student's theoretical and clinical capabilities. After graduates clear both, they get entry to RMP (registered medical practitioner).

Why Choose to Apply for Dentistry with Glommi.co

Application to dentistry universities in Turkey for International students can be a hectic process due to the different requirements, deadlines, language and fee structures of different universities. This is where Glommi steps in.

With Glommi, students can find assistance for:

• Choosing universities

• Assessing eligibility

• Preparation of the application

• Guidance on scholarships

• Required documents for admission

• Visa assistance

• Accommodation services

• Guidance on pre-departure

Public universities and private institutions may offer English programs, but Glommi focuses on student academic preferences, budget, and career goal planning to help students choose the right pathway in dentistry.

If you are planning dentistry in Turkey, consulting a professional company can improve your chances of a successful admission in 2026 and help you save time and effort. Start your journey with Glommi and gain access to your application process.