- The faculty admitted students ranked among the top 3,000 nationwide; all 31 students admitted ranked among the top 10,000

- All students qualified for a TRY 50,000 scholarship

- Students will complete the first three years of their education at Istanbul University’s Faculty of Medicine as special-status students

- The 383-bed Bitlis Eren Training and Research Hospital, currently under construction in Bitlis with a USD 200 million investment by Eren Holding, is scheduled to begin full-capacity operations by the end of 2028

- CoHE President Özvar: “It is extremely valuable for business leaders to support the universities in their provinces”

August 29, 2026

The Faculty of Medicine of Bitlis Eren University has begun its educational activities after admitting its first students. A total of 31 students were admitted to the faculty, including 30 through the general quota and one through the quota reserved for the top student of a high school.

The highest-scoring student admitted to the faculty had a score of 531.78 and an achievement ranking of 2,991, while the lowest-scoring student had a score of 515.76 and an achievement ranking of 9,552. Thus, all students admitted to the program ranked among the top 10,000 nationwide.

Under a protocol signed between Bitlis Eren University and the Eren Foundation, all students admitted to the faculty qualified for a TRY 50,000 scholarship.

Students at the Faculty of Medicine of Bitlis Eren University will receive their basic medical education during the first three years of their studies at Istanbul University’s Faculty of Medicine as special-status students. During this period, they will have access to the academic, physical, and social facilities of Istanbul University’s Faculty of Medicine on an equal basis with its own students.

- “Our students will return to Bitlis at the end of their third year”

Prof. Necmettin Elmastaş, Rector of Bitlis Eren University, said that the faculty had admitted its first students with a strong level of academic achievement, noting, “Our lowest-ranked student was ranked 9,552nd nationwide. So, our students were admitted with a strong level of achievement.”

Elmastaş stated that faculty recruitment had begun to strengthen the faculty’s academic infrastructure and noted that approximately 10 faculty members had already been appointed.

Elmastaş said that the university plans to have the academic staff, hospital, and morphology building in Bitlis ready by the time students complete their three years of basic medical education in Istanbul. He added, “At the end of their third year, our students will return to Bitlis, where the hospital will have been completed. The morphology building will also have been completed, and our students will continue their education and training here with a strong academic staff.”

- USD 200 million investment in healthcare and education in Bitlis

The Bitlis Eren Training and Research Hospital, to be established under Bitlis Eren University, will be one of the major investments aimed at strengthening the region’s healthcare infrastructure.

The project, being carried out under a protocol signed between the Ministry of Health and Eren Holding, will serve not only Bitlis but also neighboring provinces, with a capacity of 383 beds, advanced technological infrastructure, and the status of a tertiary training and research hospital. The project also includes the construction of 70 housing units.

Construction of the Faculty of Medicine’s morphology building, which began at the same time as the hospital, also continues. Once both facilities are completed, the faculty is expected to have modern educational facilities, advanced medical equipment, and comprehensive practical training infrastructure.

Prof. Elmastaş stated that the hospital and morphology building are expected to be completed within two years, adding that the two facilities, equipped with advanced technology and state-of-the-art equipment, will create a modern healthcare and education infrastructure unparalleled in the region.

 - “We have a debt of gratitude to the land where we were born”

Berrak Ayazoğlu, a member of the Board of Directors of the Eren Foundation, said that investments in education and healthcare are among the most valuable legacies that can be left for future generations.

Stating that Eren Holding acts with a “debt of gratitude” toward the land where it was founded, Ayazoğlu said that the company has brought lasting investments to Bitlis in many areas, from agriculture to education and from tourism to healthcare.

Ayazoğlu noted that “Bitlis Eren Training and Research Hospital, with an investment of USD 200 million, is one of the largest donations ever made to the Ministry of Health.” She added that investments in the Faculty of Medicine were also being supported alongside the hospital project and emphasized that the aim was to establish a qualified and sustainable healthcare infrastructure in the region through advanced medical equipment and technology.

 - Özvar expresses gratitude

CoHE President Erol Özvar emphasized that they highly value business leaders supporting the universities in their provinces.

Thanking the Eren family, Özvar said, “The Eren family is not only building a hospital; they are also investing in the future of the region, its young people, and its healthcare infrastructure. This major contribution will provide significant support both to medical education and to our citizens’ access to quality healthcare. It is extremely valuable for our country when philanthropists support our universities and their cities. I hope this exemplary approach will also inspire others.”