Faculty Overview

The Educational Journey: Bridging Theory and Clinical Mastery

The Faculty of Dentistry at Lokman Hekim University offers a prestigious undergraduate program designed to empower the next generation of dental surgeons with the skills to protect, diagnose, and treat oral health conditions through evidence-based practice. Our curriculum is structured as an integrated learning journey, in which students progress from rigorous theoretical foundations to advanced pre-clinical simulations, culminating in a hands-on clinical residency at our university hospital.

This multi-staged educational model is designed to build professional competence step by step. As global demand for aesthetic dentistry, preventative care, and health tourism continues to rise, our graduates emerge as highly sought-after professionals. By fostering a culture of independent clinical judgment and surgical precision, we prepare our students for a rewarding career dedicated to both individual patient care and broader community well-being.

Why Lokman Hekim? Academic Excellence and Clinical Superiority

Lokman Hekim University stands at the forefront of dental education by cultivating innovative, research-driven, and ethically grounded practitioners. Our curriculum is meticulously mapped to the international standards defined by the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE), ensuring global compatibility. Students benefit from a seamless transition from basic medical sciences to high-fidelity phantom-lab training, culminating in practice at the Lokman Hekim University Dental Hospital.

A cornerstone of our clinical strategy is our state-of-the-art Simulation Laboratories, where students perfect their hand-eye coordination on phantom heads using the latest dental technologies. To enhance the learning experience, live demonstrations by our expert faculty are broadcast simultaneously to student workstations, ensuring every detail is mastered.

The faculty’s simulation laboratories are equipped with up-to-date healthcare technologies, allowing students to safely develop fundamental clinical skills using manikins and simulated patients. Live demonstrations performed by academic staff can be viewed simultaneously on screens, supporting one-to-one learning and enhancing the quality of practical training.

The university also has fully equipped dental prosthetics laboratories. In these laboratories, students learn prosthetic procedures in detail during the preclinical period, including model preparation, casting, pressing, and other laboratory procedures. Lokman Hekim University provides the necessary consumables free of charge to ensure that the practical training process continues uninterrupted and that students can focus on developing their clinical skills.

Career Trajectories: A Roadmap for Professional Success

Graduates of our faculty earn the title of "Doctor of Dental Medicine" (DMD/DDS) and are equipped to lead in various sectors of healthcare. From endodontics and implant surgery to orthodontics and aesthetic restorative dentistry, the scope of practice is vast. Our alums are prepared to excel in:

• Working as a dentist in public hospitals and public oral and dental health centers,

• Opening their own private practice or working in private clinics and hospitals,

• Providing dental services to domestic and international patients within the rapidly developing field of health tourism in Türkiye,

• Pursuing an academic career as a research assistant or faculty member at universities.

Graduates may also choose to specialize through the Dentistry Specialization Examination (DUS) and receive further training in fields such as endodontics, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry (pedodontics), periodontology, and oral and maxillofacial surgery. Additionally, they can pursue postgraduate studies at institutes of health sciences and advance academically through master’s and doctoral programs.

Graduates of Lokman Hekim University Faculty of Dentistry enter professional life with strong clinical experience, solid academic training, and comprehensive practical preparation. This background significantly enhances their employability and preference in both clinical and academic fields.

Specialization: The DUS Pathway and Advanced Expertise

Upon completing their fundamental education, our graduates have the opportunity to specialize through the Dental Specialization Examination (DUS). This pathway allows for deep clinical immersion in fields such as:

• Orthodontics: Correcting dentofacial irregularities.

• Endodontics: Specialized root canal therapy and pulp conservation.

• Pedodontics: Comprehensive oral health for children (ages 0–13).

• Periodontology: Advanced treatment of supporting tooth structures and gum diseases.

• Prosthodontics: Restoration and replacement of teeth with fixed or removable prostheses.

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Complex extractions, cyst operations, and implantology.

Erasmus+ and International Mobility

At Lokman Hekim University, we believe that world-class dentistry requires a global mindset. Through the Erasmus+ Program and bilateral institutional agreements, our students are encouraged to spend one or two semesters at leading European dental faculties. These exchanges provide invaluable exposure to diverse healthcare systems, enhance professional English proficiency, and build an international network of colleagues. Our International Relations Office provides dedicated mentorship throughout the application and scholarship processes, ensuring that global mobility is attainable for every student.

Overseas Language Education Opportunities

The university also offers students the opportunity to attend summer language courses and language schools in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. These programs contribute to the development of both academic and professional foreign language competencies.

Clinical Education: Internship and Practical Training Opportunities for Dentistry Students

Lokman Hekim University Faculty of Dentistry provides students with a comprehensive and practice-oriented dental education. The preclinical and clinical training processes are designed to transform theoretical knowledge into practical skills gradually.

During the 4th and 5th years of the program, students participate in clinical rotations within different departments (divisions) of dentistry and gain experience through observation and hands-on treatment of real patients. Lokman Hekim Dental Hospital actively serves as the main clinical training environment in this process. Its modern technological infrastructure and diverse patient profile significantly contribute to the development of students’ clinical competencies.

In addition, through the Erasmus+ program, students can complete clinical internships at leading universities and healthcare institutions across Europe. These international experiences support both professional and cultural development and enable students to become acquainted with diverse health systems worldwide.

Lokman Hekim University Faculty of Dentistry aims to educate dentists who are competent at national and international levels, adhere to ethical values, and possess strong clinical and practical skills.

Laboratory Infrastructure: Environments for Applied Excellence

Lokman Hekim University Faculty of Dentistry offers a modern and comprehensive educational experience supported by advanced laboratory and clinical infrastructure. The educational process is structured to ensure that theoretical knowledge is systematically transformed into practical skills. Within this framework, students benefit from a range of laboratory facilities throughout both the preclinical and clinical phases.

Laboratory Facilities

• Basic Medical Sciences Laboratories:
  Multidisciplinary laboratories where courses such as physiology, histology, and biochemistry are taught through practical applications. These laboratories are designed to strengthen students’ foundational knowledge in the basic sciences that support dental education.

• Simulation and Preclinical Laboratories:
  Students perform dental procedures on models and phantom heads in these laboratories, laying the groundwork for their clinical skills. Using simulation systems and phantom models, procedures that will later be performed on real patients are taught in an environment that closely resembles clinical conditions.

• Clinical Training Areas:
  In the advanced years of the program, students progress to diagnostic and therapeutic clinical training in specialties such as orthodontics, periodontology, endodontics, and prosthodontics. These theoretical and practical courses are carried out in modern clinical settings equipped with up-to-date dental technology.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The field of dentistry is not limited to clinical practice; it also offers significant opportunities in health entrepreneurship. Graduates of the Faculty of Dentistry may open their own private clinics and work independently, or they may take part in developing innovative health services and solutions.

Lokman Hekim University Faculty of Dentistry aims to equip students not only with clinical skills but also with an entrepreneurial mindset and innovative thinking. In this context, the university’s Health, Pharmaceutical, and Technology Center (LHUSTEK) provides students and graduates with opportunities to develop technology-based health solutions.

Research and development projects, innovation initiatives in health technologies, and entrepreneurship support programs at LHUSTEK enable graduates to develop products and services that add value to the health sector. The university offers mentoring, business idea development, and commercialization support to help students and graduates take informed, well-prepared steps toward starting their own clinics or ventures.

Dentistry graduates are not limited to opening traditional practices; they may also pursue roles in oral health technologies, digital dentistry applications, teledentistry, mobile clinic solutions, and innovative treatment models. These opportunities help individuals succeed and support the digital transformation and broader advancement of the health sector.

Scholarships and Financial Commitment

For many students who dream of becoming dentists, financial support is as important as the quality of education. Lokman Hekim University Faculty of Dentistry offers various scholarship opportunities that provide both academic and financial support, helping students build a strong future.

Full Scholarship Opportunities in the Faculty of Dentistry

Lokman Hekim University offers scholarships at the rates of 100%, 50%, and 25% to candidates who achieve high scores in the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS). These scholarships are determined based on the student’s national ranking and remain valid throughout the standard duration of study.

The most concise answer to the question “How can I study dentistry on a scholarship?” is: include Lokman Hekim University in your preference list and achieve the required score and ranking.

Additional Scholarships that Promote Success

Students of the Faculty of Dentistry can benefit from a variety of academic and social support scholarships offered by the university:

• Academic Achievement Scholarship: Additional financial support provided based on year-end grade point average.

• Need-Based Scholarship: Financial assistance for students with limited family income.

• Sibling Discount, Martyr–Veteran Family Scholarships, and Scholarships for Students with Disabilities: Special scholarship categories subject to specific conditions.

These scholarship schemes aim to reduce the financial burden students may face during their education and support their academic success.

2025–2026 Admissions Data and Program Overview

Placement Rankings

• Turkish Program (100% Scholarship): 26,936 – 27,930

• Turkish Program (25% Scholarship): 35,378 – 51,556

• English Program (100% Scholarship): 28,156 – 28,652

• English Program (50% Scholarship): 29,514 – 44,775

Faculty of Dentistry Tuition Fees

Turkish Program

• 25% Scholarship: ₺ 1,008,000

English Program

• 50% Scholarship: ₺ 720,000

Key Information

• Score Type: SAY (Numerical)

• Duration: 5 Years (Full-time)

• Location: Söğütözü Campus, Block B, Ankara.