Everything you need to know about our Turkish language courses in Istanbul, Izmir & online
Courses
We offer four main Turkish course types: Standard (15 lessons/week, €150/week), Intensive (20 lessons/week, €200/week), Private Tuition (1-on-1, from €50/lesson), and Online Turkish Courses (group €99/week or private from €140). All courses run Monday to Friday and are available for all levels from complete beginner (A1) to advanced (C1). New group courses start every Monday.
Each lesson is 45 minutes long. In face-to-face programs, lessons are scheduled in blocks with a 10-minute break between sessions. The Standard program runs either morning (09:00–11:35) or afternoon (13:30–16:05). The Intensive program covers both slots. Online lessons follow the same 45-minute format via Zoom.
Our group classes are limited to a maximum of 8 students. This small class size ensures every student gets personal attention, plenty of speaking practice, and a tailored learning experience. Students come from different countries, making classes internationally diverse. For even more focused learning, we offer private 1-on-1 lessons both in-person and online.
We teach all levels from complete beginner to advanced: A1 (Beginner), A2 (Elementary), B1 (Intermediate), B2 (Upper-Intermediate), C1 (Advanced). Before your course begins, you take a free placement test so we assign you to the correct level. You can also take our online level test now to get an idea of your Turkish before you enrol. All levels follow the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) standards defined by the Council of Europe. See what you can do at each level →
Classes run Monday to Friday, five days a week. Turkish public holidays are communicated in advance. Private lessons can include some weekend slots by arrangement. Online group courses also run Mon–Fri.
Yes. All students receive a certificate of attendance specifying the course type, level, duration, and lessons completed. As an MEB-accredited and Ascentis Approved Centre, our certificates are officially recognised. For Bildungsurlaub students, we issue the documentation required by German state authorities.
Turkish is phonetic — you pronounce every letter as written, so reading is easier than in English. However, Turkish grammar differs greatly from European languages: vowel harmony, agglutination, and subject-object-verb order take some getting used to. With daily immersion in Turkey, most students hold basic conversations within 2–4 weeks. Our teachers use communicative methods to make learning practical and enjoyable. Read our full honest guide →
All course fees include printed and digital teaching materials: workbooks, grammar references, and vocabulary lists aligned with CEFR levels. We use our own in-house materials alongside leading Turkish language textbooks such as the Yeni Hitit and Istanbul series. You will not need to purchase any additional textbooks. Online students receive digital versions of all materials via email before their first lesson.
The minimum enrollment for face-to-face group courses is one week (5 days, Mon–Fri). For private lessons, you can book as few as a single lesson. Online group courses start weekly with no fixed minimum beyond the first week. Most students stay between 2 and 8 weeks. For Bildungsurlaub programs, the standard duration is one week.
Yes. We offer tailored private tuition programs for business professionals, diplomats, and academics requiring Turkish for specific professional contexts. Business Turkish lessons focus on workplace vocabulary, formal communication, negotiations, and industry-specific terminology. Available as private lessons (in-person or online) structured around your schedule. Contact us to discuss a custom program.
Online
All online Turkish lessons are delivered live via Zoom. You will need a free Zoom account and a stable internet connection. No other software is required. You will receive a Zoom meeting link before your first lesson.
Yes. Our online Turkish courses are available for all levels from complete beginner (A1) to advanced (C1). If you have never studied Turkish before, you will be placed directly in an A1 beginners group or assigned to a private teacher who will start from scratch. No prior knowledge of Turkish is required.
Online group courses (€99/week) have up to 8 students, run Monday to Friday with 10 lessons per week, and follow a structured curriculum starting every Monday. Online private lessons are fully personalised 1-on-1 sessions starting from €140 for 5 lessons. Private lessons can be scheduled any day at times that suit you and focus on your specific goals.
Yes. Online group lessons are recorded and the recording is shared with enrolled students so you can review the session at any time. Private lessons are not recorded by default, but you can request recording with your teacher's agreement.
You only need Zoom, which is free to download at zoom.us. A webcam and microphone are recommended for speaking practice. No other software is required. Teaching materials are sent digitally via email before your first lesson.
Online group courses start every Monday — book by Friday and you can begin the following Monday. Online private lessons can start with as little as 24 hours' notice, subject to teacher availability. Simply complete the booking form and we will confirm your place and schedule within 24 hours.
Yes. Online students receive the same MEB-accredited certificate of attendance as in-person students, specifying the course type, level, duration, and number of lessons completed. Our certificates are officially recognised internationally.
Schedule
The Standard program (15 lessons/week, Mon–Fri) offers two daily time slots: Morning: 09:00–11:35 or Afternoon: 13:30–16:05. Each session has three 45-minute lessons with short breaks. The Intensive program (20 lessons/week) uses both morning and afternoon slots. Private lesson times are arranged directly with your teacher.
Group courses start every Monday throughout the year — no need to wait for a fixed semester. Online group courses also start every Monday. Private lessons can begin any day with as little as 24 hours' notice. Simply fill in the booking form and choose your preferred start date.
For group courses, teachers provide catch-up materials so you can stay on track. Online group sessions are recorded and shared with enrolled students. For private lessons, you can reschedule with at least 24 hours' notice without penalty. We recommend attending all sessions, especially in intensive programs where the pace is fast.
With the Standard course (15 lessons/week), most students reach A2–B1 within 4–8 weeks of full-time study. Reaching B2 typically takes 3–6 months of consistent study. Turkish is classified as a Category IV language by the US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) — among the hardest for English speakers — but daily immersion in Turkey accelerates progress significantly compared to home study. See our full level-by-level timeline →
Yes. You can extend your course at any time during your stay, subject to availability in your level group. Many students arrive planning to stay 2 weeks and end up staying for a month or more. Simply let our team know and we will arrange everything. Extensions are priced at the same weekly rate as your original booking.
For basic daily tasks — shopping, ordering food, using public transport, and simple conversations — A2 level is sufficient. At B1, you can handle most everyday situations independently. B2 is the threshold for comfortable social integration, understanding news, and working in Turkish. Most students aiming to live or work in Turkey target B1–B2, achievable in 4–12 weeks of full-time study with us.
Payment
Registration fee: €50 (one-time). Face-to-face: Standard €150/week, Intensive €200/week. Private: from €50/lesson or €600/month (60 lessons). Online group: €99/week. Online private packs: €140 (5 lessons), €250 (10 lessons), €460 (20 lessons), €1,000 (50 lessons). All prices include teaching materials. See full details at prices.html.
We accept Credit/Debit Card via Iyzico, PayPal, and Bank Transfer. Card and PayPal payments provide instant confirmation. Bank transfer details are provided after booking. All payments are processed in Euros.
Accommodation
Yes. We offer two options: Host Family from €325/week (breakfast) or €350/week (half board), and Private Studio apartments from €630/week. All accommodation is close to our school buildings. Airport transfer on arrival is available for €75. See full details on our Course + Accommodation packages page.
You live with a vetted Turkish family — an excellent way to practise Turkish outside the classroom and experience daily life in Turkey. You get a private room and meals as agreed. All host families are in safe, accessible neighbourhoods close to the school. It is our most popular accommodation option for cultural immersion.
Host family placements are typically within 20–40 minutes of the school by public transport. Private studio apartments are often within a 10–20 minute walk or short metro ride. Istanbul has excellent public transport (metro, tram, ferry) making commuting easy and affordable. In Izmir, our school is centrally located in Alsancak and most accommodation options are within easy reach.
Yes. Our online Turkish courses are live lessons via Zoom with the same MEB-certified teachers as our in-person programs. Group courses start every Monday (€99/week, max 8 students). Private online lessons start any day (from €140 for 5 lessons). Sessions are recorded for review. You can learn from anywhere in the world.
Our Istanbul school is in Beyoğlu (Mete Cad. No:14A), near Taksim Square. Our Izmir school is in Alsancak (Kıbrıs Şehitleri Cad. No:91), by the waterfront promenade. Both locations have excellent transport links and are ideal for exploring Turkey while you study.
Yes. We provide official enrollment letters and course documentation accepted by Turkish embassies for student visa applications. See our Visa Support page for nationality-specific requirements. Contact us before booking if you need visa support so we can advise on the right course duration and documentation.
Bildungsurlaub is a legal entitlement in most German states allowing employees to take 5–10 days of paid educational leave per year. Royal Turkish Schools is officially recognised as a Bildungsurlaub provider. German residents can apply to their employer for paid leave to attend our intensive Turkish courses in Istanbul or Izmir. We provide all required documentation. See our Bildungsurlaub page for details.
All our Turkish teachers are certified native speakers with university degrees in Turkish language education or linguistics, accredited by the Turkish Ministry of National Education (MEB). They have extensive experience teaching Turkish to international students and are trained in communicative language teaching methods. All instructors are permanent members of our academic team — we do not use freelance teachers — ensuring consistency and quality throughout your course.
Our students come from over 50 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. Common nationalities include Germans, Americans, British, French, Dutch, Italians, Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic speakers. This international mix makes classes lively and enriching. Group courses are conducted in English, so a working knowledge of English is helpful.
We organise optional cultural activities and excursions: guided tours of Istanbul's historic sites (Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Grand Bazaar), Bosphorus boat trips, Turkish cooking classes, traditional music and arts workshops, and day trips to nearby destinations. In Izmir, activities include Ephesus tours, Agora visits, and cultural walks through Alsancak and Konak. A great way to practise Turkish in real-life situations. See Cultural Activities for details.
Cancellations 14+ days before your start date receive a full refund minus the €50 registration fee. Cancellations 7–13 days before receive a 50% refund of tuition fees. Cancellations within 7 days are non-refundable. Course transfers (changing dates or course type) are free with at least 14 days' notice. Full details at refund-policy.html.
Yes. If you start online and later decide to join us in person in Istanbul or Izmir — or vice versa — we can transfer your remaining lessons to the new format. Any price difference will be calculated at the time of transfer. Ideal for students who want to try online learning first before committing to travel, or those who need to return home before their course ends.
Fill in the booking form, selecting your course type, start date, level, and accommodation preferences. Our team will confirm your place within 24 hours and arrange your free placement test. Once payment is received, you get a confirmation with all arrival or online lesson details.
