The language of instruction at Lokman Hekim University is Turkish. Therefore, international students are required to have a sufficient level of Turkish language proficiency in order to follow and understand the courses.

Students who are admitted to the University are obliged to document their Turkish language proficiency. Students who fail to submit an acceptable Turkish proficiency certificate cannot begin their academic studies and are placed in the Turkish Language Preparatory Program.

Accepted Turkish Language Proficiency Certificates

• Turkish Proficiency Level Test administered by Lokman Hekim University
• Turkish Language Proficiency Certificates issued by the Yunus Emre Institute

Evaluation of Turkish Language Proficiency Levels

• C1 Level:
  Turkish language proficiency is sufficient. The student may directly begin their undergraduate education.
• B2 – B1 Level:
  Turkish language proficiency is considered developable. Students are required to improve their Turkish proficiency to C1 level within the granted period. If C1 level is not achieved within the specified time, the student’s registration is temporarily suspended until this requirement is fulfilled.
• A2 – A1 Level:
  Turkish language proficiency is insufficient. Students are required to attend the Turkish Language Preparatory Program and reach C1 level.

Turkish language proficiency levels are evaluated based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

) International students who are enrolled in programs that require Turkish language proficiency may be exempt from the compulsory Turkish language preparatory program if they meet at least one of the following exemption criteria:

1. a) Achieving a minimum score of 70 in the Turkish Language Exemption Exam administered by the Lokman Hekim University Language Teaching, Application and Research Center (DİLMER) at the beginning of each academic year.
2. b) Successfully completing the Turkish language preparatory program conducted by Lokman Hekim University DİLMER with a minimum score of 70.
3. c) Holding a valid Turkish Proficiency Certificate obtained from the Turkish Proficiency Exam (TYS) organized by the Yunus Emre Institute, certifying a Turkish language level of at least C1.
4. d) Having completed at least the final three years of secondary education at an institution where the language of instruction is Turkish (high schools in Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as well as high schools abroad affiliated with the Turkish Ministry of National Education), or having graduated from an associate, undergraduate, or graduate program at a university where the language of instruction is Turkish, and being able to document this.

All relevant documents must be submitted to the DİLMER Directorate by the end of the course add–drop period specified in the academic calendar and must be approved by the Directorate.

In the English-medium programs of Lokman Hekim University, namely the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy, the language of instruction is 100% English. Students enrolled in these programs, or those who voluntarily choose to receive English language education, are expected to have a sufficient level of English proficiency to follow academic coursework.

Students whose English proficiency is not sufficient are placed in the English Language Preparatory Program.

Program Structure

• The program is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
• Education is conducted through a modular (level-based) system.
• Each academic year consists of four levels, each lasting 8 weeks.
• The standard duration of the preparatory program is 1 academic year, and the maximum duration is 2 academic years.

Levels

• A1 (Beginner)
• A2 (Pre-Intermediate)
• B1 (Intermediate)
• B1+, B2, B2+ (Upper-Intermediate)

Attendance Requirement

• Attendance is mandatory.
• Students must attend at least 80% of classes and practical sessions.

Assessment and Exemption

• English proficiency is determined through a Placement Test and a Proficiency (Exemption) Exam.
• Students who score at least 65 points on the proficiency exam are exempt from the English Preparatory Program.
• Students who do not meet the required score begin preparatory education at the appropriate level.

Pursuant to Article 10, Paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Regulation on English Preparatory Education, Instruction, and Examinations of Lokman Hekim University;

(5) The following students are exempt from the English language placement and proficiency (exemption) examinations:

1. a) Students who have completed at least the last three years of their secondary education in secondary education institutions where the language of instruction is English, located in a country where English is spoken as a native language, and attended by citizens of that country,
2. b) Students who have obtained the minimum required scores specified below from national or international foreign language examinations whose equivalency is recognized by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), as shown in Table 1,

shall be considered exempt from the English Preparatory Program.

Table 1 – Equivalency Table

• LHU English Proficiency Exam (LHU-EPT): minimum 65 out of 100
• TOEFL iBT: minimum 80 out of 120
• PTE Academic: minimum 60 out of 90
• FCE (Band Scale): Grade C or above
• CAE (Band Scale): Grade C or above
• CPE (Band Scale): Grade C or above

(6)

The results of nationally or internationally recognized language examinations must have been obtained within the last two years. These documents must be submitted to and approved by the DILMER Directorate by the end of the course add–drop period specified in the academic calendar.

• Passport
• Diploma 
• Transcript

Applications Dates →

Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Dentistry Programs: 

15/03/2026 – 30/09/2026

Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Science, Faculty of Sport Science, Vocational School of Health Programs: 

15/03/2026 – 30/10/2026

Students graduating from secondary schools abroad are required to certify that their diplomas are equivalent to those of Turkish secondary schools.

Equivalency procedures are carried out in provincial education directorates in metropolitan districts with populations over 250,000 in Turkey, or at educational counselor offices or attachés abroad.

Students graduating from schools established abroad by the Republic of Turkey or from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are exempt from the equivalency process.

The equivalency process is conducted through the e-Denklik system with the original diploma.

For more information and application details, please visit:

https://edenklik.meb.gov.tr/