List of 63 Best Schools in Harbiye Mahallesi, Istanbul (2026 Fees)

Istanbul is Turkey’s most popular city which has a dynamic population of young and active local and international students. In the recent years, Turkey has been investing on educational innovation for all its cities. Twenty-two percent of the national budget goes to the education sector in Turkey.

A historic and cosmopolitan city connecting Europe and Asia, schools in Istanbul cater to different nationalities and offer a wide variety of international curriculum options and foreign-language instructions. In addition to its globally renowned universities, Istanbul also has top-ranked primary and secondary schools for its 38,000 foreign enrollees in schools and universities. Istanbul is an ideal learning environment because of its friendly English-speaking locals and rich history and culture.

Related Articles:

Table of Contents

Facts about Schools in Istanbul

  • From 6 years old, primary and secondary education in Istanbul are compulsory for all children.
  • The age range for primary school is between the age of 6 and 14, focusing on basic information, Turkish language, mathematics, social sciences, art and music.
  • Kindergarten is optional for children aged 5 onwards.
  • Primary education in Istanbul is free even for international students.
  • The language of instruction among public schools in Istanbul is Turkish.
  • Private schools, on the other hand, add more extracurricular activities such as swimming and language lessons.
  • Students take an exam at the end of the eighth grade and are then placed in various high schools according to their test scores.
  • Students are required to wear school uniforms.
  • The school year in Istanbul begins in September and ends in June of the following year.
  • Schools in Istanbul observes Muslim feast holidays and a three-month summer vacation.

What is education like in Istanbul?

  • Education is Istanbul follows the national education structure for Turkey. It is primarily concentrated on producing skilled professionals for the future workforce of the country. Schools in Istanbul use the Turkish language as the medium of instruction. Moreover, they provide opportunities for international students to learn all about Turkish culture.
  • After completing the mandatory years for primary and secondary education, students in Istanbul can either hunt for a job or pursue tertiary education in one of the top-ranked universities in Turkey. For students who wish to continue to the university, their test scores in the High School Finishing Exam and the Öğrenci Seçme Sınavı (ÖSS) or the student selection examination will determine their opportunities for the next step in their educational path.

Which are the types of school in Istanbul?

There are various types of school in Istanbul for primary and secondary students. Secondary schools are called lyceum or “lise”.

Public Schools

Public schools in Istanbul provide free education for students. Usually, students in public schools attend six classes a day.

Private Schools

Private schools charge different tuition and admission fees. They also offer language instructions in English, German, or French taught by native speakers. Moreover, students in private schools attend school for longer hours as compared to those enrolled in public schools.

Anatolian High Schools

Anatolian high schools are schools that provide public education to those students who have reached a particular score in the nationwide standard exam in Turkey. There are also the Anatolia Teacher Training High Schools and Anatolia Fine Arts High Schools that focus on teacher training and fine arts courses, respectively.

Vocational and Technical Schools

Vocational and technical schools are institutions that prepare their students for manpower and professional areas. There are vocational schools for tourism, trade, religion, and health education.

What are the types of curriculum in Istanbul?

Istanbul follows a variety of curricula for all types of students. In fact, some schools have a special curriculum to allow for international student-enrollees. The following are the types of curriculum taught among schools in Istanbul:

  • English National Curriculum
  • Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)
  • International Baccalaureate
  • American Curriculum
  • British Curriculum’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
  • Canadian Prince Edward Island (PEI) Curriculum
  • Check out each school for the type of curriculum they offer. Some schools even have two or three types of curriculum in their education system.

Quick Facts about Istanbul

  • Istanbul was once called “Constantinople”.
  • It is one of the world’s biggest cities with about 15 million residents.
  • Through the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul connects the Asian and European continents.
  • Like Rome, Istanbul was founded on Seven Hills.
  • Istanbul has the largest number of mosques in the whole of Turkey. Overall, the city has 3,113 mosques including the historical Sultanahmet Mosque and the Süleymaniye Mosque.
  • Previously, Istanbul is the world’s most crowded city.
  • Hagia Sophia, the most famous church with a grand architectural and historical design, was the world’s largest church for 900 years.
  • Tulips actually originated in Istanbul. They were only sent to the Netherlands for where it is recently known.
  • Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is considered as the world’s biggest covered bazaar.

Schools in Istanbul can be your stepping stone to internationally-recognized education. Don’t miss your chance to explore study opportunities in Istanbul!

Below is a comprehensive list of all schools in Istanbul. Edarabia strives to offer parents the latest updates, helping you find the best schools in Istanbul, including details, tuition fees, videos, photos, location map and community reviews.

Edarabia showcases all private schools in Istanbul through which parents can filter by tuition fees, curriculum, rankings & ratings. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students.

Depending on the level of education; kindergartens (pre-schools), primary, secondary and high schools will all have varying tuition fees. Most K-12 schools offer different curriculums and extra-curricular activities to support the intellectual and physical wellbeing of students. Admissions for the top international schools in Istanbul tend to have waiting lists so it is recommended that parents apply well in advance to secure a spot for their children. Additionally, each school has ratings based on parent reviews and are ranked below accordingly.

For more details, please click here

AED 5,000

AED 95,000

Özel Işık İlköğretim Okulu
  • Address: Teşvikiye Cad. No:6 Nişantaşı
  • Founded: 1885
2026-04-01T00:01:01+04:00