5 Best Law Schools in Turkey

Posted on by

The word “hukuk” is the Turkish word for “law” that you would normally find when looking for Turkish Law Schools. Students who are planning to obtain a law degree in Turkey are expected to finish a four-year Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) and followed by a two-year Master’s Degree (LL.M.) for an additional one to two years, part-time or full-time. After completing a year of internship, one can already hold a license, practice law, and register at a bar association in any province of Turkey. Listed below are some of the top law schools in Turkey.

Best Law Schools in Turkey

1. Istanbul University

  • Law School Link
  • Degrees offered: LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D.
  • Language of Instruction: Turkish

The Law School goes far back in 1839, having Mekteb-i Maarif-i Adliye and Mekteb-i Ulûm-ı Edebiye as the predecessors of the Law School, which eventually established the Faculty of Law in 1924. The Faculty of Law is currently located in the Beyazıt Central Campus with 15 departments in the faculty. Istanbul University Faculty of Law is considered the best law school in Turkey.

They offer an undergraduate degree in law where accepted applicants should have completed primary and secondary education and a required score reached on the Centralized University Entrance Examination. An international double-degree is also available in collaboration with the University of Hamburg, where only 20 students are accepted annually and awarded a Bachelor of Laws diploma from both universities. As for their master’s program, there are seven programs: Private Law, Public Law, Commercial Law, Civil Law, International Private Law, Financial Law, and non-thesis program in Real Estate and Construction Law.

2. Ankara University

  • Law School Link
  • Degrees offered: LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D.
  • Language of Instruction: Turkish, English

Established in 1925 in the Republic Period, Ankara University Faculty of Law is considered to be the first law school in Ankara, Turkey. It was founded by Mahmut Esat Bozkurt, a Minister of Justice at that time, because of the Law Reform proposed by the Republic demanding more law professionals. Today, the school maintains its legacy in the Cebeci Campus of Ankara University. Understanding the importance of mental health, socialization, and the overall well-being of their students, the university provides facilities such as dormitories situated on the campus for convenience and five indoor sports centers and outdoor courts for the student’s physical health.

The Law School’s Bachelor’s Degree in Law is a full-time course taken in either English or Turkish and students completing the course are granted the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Law. The master’s programs are also in English or Turkish with evening programs offered, with or without a thesis such as Public Law, Private Law, Islamic Law, Intellectual Property Laws and, the Sea and Maritime Law. Most of the master’s courses can be further studied in doctorate degrees, where graduates pursue a career in public and private sectors, universities, and religious affairs.

3. Anadolu University

  • Law School Link
  • Degrees offered: LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D.
  • Language of Instruction: Turkish

Th Anadolu University Faculty of Law, another top law school in Turkey, was established in 1993. Today, the Law School has 60 professors, 1742 students and two departments in Public Law and Private Law. Their Law graduates pursue career opportunities in various law fields such as judges, prosecutors, legal advisors, and lawyers in private and public law.

International students are most welcome in their program. To qualify for the program, applicants should pass all program courses and complete at least 240 ECTS credits and a minimum 2.00 GPA. The courses taken in Public Law are international law, criminal law, legal philosophy, legal history, tax law, and constitutional law. For the Private Law Department, it tackles civil law, the law of obligations, commercial business law, partnership law, negotiable instruments law, property law, inheritance law, enforcement-bankruptcy law, and labor law.

4. Bilkent University

  • Law School Link
  • Degrees offered: LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D.
  • Language of Instruction: Turkish, English (some subjects)

In the academic year of 2002, the Faculty of Law was founded in İ.D. Bilkent University with 140 students and has graduated batch 2006, its initial law alumni. As for their postgraduate programs, it opened its doors to students in 2008 with the Law and Economics Master’s Degree, then in 2011, it started the first Ph.D. degrees. Today, it continues its academic excellence producing law professionals in Turkish law and international laws. Moreover, law students have the opportunity to participate in competitions such as The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition where Bilkent University was the first Law School to win an award in Turkey.

The subjects about Turkish Law are taught in Turkish, whereas international law-related subjects are taught in the English curriculum. The master’s degrees offered are LL.M. in Private Law, LL.M. in Public Law, and a non-thesis program LL.M. in Law and Economics. To qualify for the LL.M. programs, applicants require a bachelor’s degree, ALES (Equally Weighted) 55, and proof of English proficiency. There are two Ph.D. programs offered: Ph.D. in Public Law and Ph.D. in Private Law. To qualify for a Ph.D., students must have a bachelor’s and master’s degree, ALES (Equally Weighted) 55, and proof of English proficiency.

5. Hacettepe University

  • Law School Link
  • Degrees offered: LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D.
  • Language of Instruction: Turkish, English

We end our list of best law schools in Turkey with Hacettepe University law school. The establishment of the Faculty of Law was first proposed in 2002, and in the academic year of 2012-2013, the university started its bachelor’s program and graduated its first batch in 2016. It is currently placed in the Beytepe Campus. The Law School is a member of different international organizations such as the International Law Faculties Association and the Legal Framework for the Information Society. Exchange programs are also offered in Turkish and international universities.

The Law School offers a full-time bachelor’s program of 240 ECTS. In order to be awarded the degree, students must complete at least 150 credits and reach a general academic average of 2.00 minimum. There are four master’s programs: Information Law, Economy and Energy Law, Public Law, and Private Law. Students can further their education with the university’s full-time Ph.D. in Public Law and Ph.D. in Private Law, both of which students must complete a minimum of eight courses, pass the doctoral examinations, and complete their thesis.

 

I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Scholarships Page.