About Medicine Education

ISTANBUL NİŞANTAŞI UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF MEDICINE UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION

The Istanbul Nişantaşı University Faculty of Medicine Education Programme has been prepared in line with the vision and mission of our Faculty, based on the Turkish Qualifications Framework (TQF) and the 2020 National Core Education Programme (UÇEP). The programme has an interactive and multidimensional structure that combines theoretical and practical education. In addition to conventional lectures, students are encouraged to participate actively through various educational approaches such as laboratory practices, problem-based learning (PBL), clinical skills training, case-based clinical correlation, clinical research and translational medicine, journal sessions, project-based practices, health informatics and artificial intelligence, virtual generic applications, and bedside practices. The curriculum, which has been prepared in accordance with the content of UÇEP and by taking into consideration the recommendations of national and international accreditation bodies, also supports students in preparing for both national and international examinations.

Duration and Structure of Education

Education at the Faculty of Medicine consists of a total of 6 years:

• Years I, II and III: Preclinical Period
• Years IV and V: Clinical Education (Clerkship) Period
• Year VI: Internship Period

Preclinical Period (Years I, II, III)

Year I (1st Year) consists of 4 committees, Year II (2nd Year) consists of 5 committees, and Year III (3rd Year) consists of 6 committees. These committees, structured through horizontal and vertical integration, have been designed to remain open to change and continuous development. During this preclinical period, students are taught:

• The structures and functions of cells and tissues,
• Molecular, biochemical and metabolic processes,
• Embryological and foetal development,
• Pathogenic characteristics of microorganisms,
• Normal anatomy and physiology of organs and systems,
• The basic mechanisms of common diseases together with the principles of pathology, aetiology and treatment,
• Medical pharmacology and rational use of medicines,
• History of medicine and ethics, communication skills, and basic information technologies and artificial intelligence technologies.

In addition, students acquire skills in taking medical histories, physical examination, patient-physician communication and professional attitudes through theoretical and practical training.

Clinical Period (Years IV, V, VI)

Year IV (4th Year) and Year V (5th Year) are structured in the form of clinical clerkships.

In Year IV, students complete compulsory clerkships in Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Surgery, Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, and Urology, as well as two different elective clerkships.

In Year V, there are 5 clerkship blocks. These are:

• Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Radiology-Nuclear Medicine (Block 1),
• Neurology, Neurosurgery, Mental Health and Diseases (Psychiatry) (Block 2),
• Cardiology, Chest Diseases, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (Block 3),
• Ophthalmology, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dermatology, Otorhinolaryngology (Block 4),
• Forensic Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Emergency Medicine (Block 5), together with 2 elective clerkships placed within different blocks.

In accordance with the diseases and clinical conditions specified in UÇEP-2020, knowledge relating to diagnosis, treatment and emergency intervention is provided both theoreticaly and practicaly. Clinical decision-making and practical skills are developed through case-based learning. In addition to virtual reality applications, integrative sessions in which clinical scenarios are discussed are incorporated into the clinical clerkship periods.

The Internship Period (Year VI) is the final year of medical education and is a practice-oriented educational process in which students assume active clinical responsibilities with the status of an “intern physician”. During this period, students reinforce the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills they have acquired in previous years by applying them at the bedside and actively participating, under supervision, in diagnosis, treatment and patient follow-up processes.

Intern physicians:

• Participate in clinical decision-making processes,
• Gain experience in the assessment and management of emergencies,
• Learn patient management within the framework of ethical principles and professional responsibilities,
• Take part as members of multidisciplinary teams.

This period enables students to develop their professional knowledge, skills and professional attitudes in a holistic manner during their transition to medical practice.

Duration and Structure of Education

The internship training, which lasts a total of 52 weeks, begins with the Clinical Pharmacology and Rational Drug Use Programme conducted at the Maslak 1453 Neotech Campus. This introductory module provides strong preparation for clinical practice by focusing on safe prescribing, evidence-based treatment approaches and rational drug use.

Alongside Public Health rotations, intern physicians actively serve in the following clinical areas:

• Internal Medicine
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• General Surgery
• Paediatrics
• Neurology
• Cardiology
• Emergency Medicine
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Orthopaedics and Traumatology
• Paediatric Surgery
• Urology
• Anaesthesiology and Reanimation

Elective Rotations

In addition to compulsory rotations, intern physicians have the right to undertake internship training in an elective clinical field. Elective rotations are planned in accordance with the student's career plans and areas of interest.

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For the 2025–2026 Academic Year Faculty of Medicine Curriculum, CLICK HERE.