Enka Schools is one of the named IB options that families weigh when they arrive in the city, listed on our Istanbul city hub and featured on the shortlist in our guide to the best international schools in Istanbul. Founded in 1996 and run by the Enka Foundation, it was among the first schools in Turkey to weave the International Baccalaureate framework together with the national Turkish curriculum, which is why it draws both Turkish families and a smaller international cohort.
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At a glance
Curriculum and academics
Enka teaches a dual programme that pairs the Turkish national curriculum with the International Baccalaureate across the whole school. Younger pupils follow the IB Primary Years Programme, the middle school runs the Middle Years Programme, and the senior years lead to the IB Diploma taken beside the Turkish Lise diploma. Instruction runs in Turkish and English, and every student takes a third language, choosing French, German or Spanish from Grade 5 onward.
The blend suits families who want their child to keep a foot in the Turkish system while gaining the internationally recognised IB Diploma. Parents comparing routes can read our IB Diploma guide to see how the qualification is treated by universities in the UK, the United States and across Europe, and can weigh it against the wholly English medium schools elsewhere in the city.
Weighing Enka Schools against other Istanbul schools?
Line Enka Schools up beside other Istanbul schools on curriculum, stages and fee band before you shortlist.
Enka Schools Istanbul fees
Enka Schools prices tuition in Turkish lira rather than US dollars, which sets it apart from the dollar denominated IB schools that serve the shorter term expatriate market. For the 2025/26 year the school published annual tuition from about 549,389 TL in the lower school, rising stage by stage to about 1,022,923 TL in the senior grades. Our guide to the best international schools in Istanbul notes that lira pricing can read as more affordable for families paid in lira while moving with the currency for those paid in foreign money.
Tuition is only part of the bill. Budget separately for registration and any deposit, transport across the European side, meals, uniform where required, and in the senior years the external IB examination entry fees. Confirm the full current schedule directly with the school and use our Istanbul secondary fees reference to frame the wider market.
Admissions
Enka admits mainly for an autumn start and reviews applications through the year where places remain in a given grade. Entry draws on prior school records and an age appropriate assessment, with readiness in Turkish and English weighed in the older year groups given the dual language programme. Places in the most sought after grades fill early.
Families relocating to Istanbul should apply well ahead for the year they need, confirm availability in their child exact grade, and ask how the bilingual pathway and the third language choice are structured for the cohort they are joining.
Location and who goes there
The campus stands on the Sadi Gulcelik Sports Site near Istinye, on the European side of Istanbul and within reach of the Levent and Maslak business districts where many professional families live and work. The European side concentrates much of the city international schooling, and the green campus offers generous sports facilities that are part of the school appeal.
For the wider picture of where families settle across the city and how the IB, British, German and French options compare, see the Istanbul city hub and our guide to the best international schools in Istanbul.
Reviews
We do not yet hold verified parent reviews for Enka Schools Istanbul. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish reviews only once we can confirm they come from real families. If your child attends or has attended the school, share your experience through the school reviews hub.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Enka Schools Istanbul fees?
Enka prices tuition in Turkish lira. For 2025/26 the school published annual tuition from about 549,389 TL in the lower school rising to about 1,022,923 TL in the senior grades. Confirm the full current schedule with the school and budget separately for registration, transport and examination fees.
What curriculum does Enka Schools follow?
Enka blends the Turkish national curriculum with the International Baccalaureate, running the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes in Turkish and English, with a third language from Grade 5.
Is Enka Schools a good school?
Enka is an established IB World School founded in 1996 and one of the first in Turkey to combine the IB with the national curriculum. Whether it suits depends on your child, and we do not publish a rating without verified reviews.
Where is Enka Schools located?
The campus is on the Sadi Gulcelik Sports Site near Istinye, on the European side of Istanbul close to the Levent and Maslak districts.
When do Enka Schools applications open?
The school admits mainly for an autumn start and reviews applications through the year where places remain. Entry uses prior records and an assessment, so apply early and confirm availability in your child grade.
