International medical students in Türkiye: a cross-sectional study on their reasons for choosing Türkiye and their demographic and socioeconomic characteristics

The aim of this study is to investigate the reasons why international medical students choose Türkiye, which has one of the largest higher education capacities in Europe and is also among the top 10 most preferred countries in the world by international students, and their demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. The data of this cross-sectional study were collected through an online survey that included questions such as students’ gender, age, ethnicity, monthly income, pre-school education, parental education level and professions, number of siblings, rural status of the region where they grew up, and reasons for choosing Türkiye. 482 students at various grade levels from 30 medical schools participated in the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and ANOVA tests. The results revealed that there are significant differences in the participants’ parents’ education levels, occupations and economic levels according to their ethnicity. Besides, the participants’ reasons to choose Türkiye significantly differ according to their ethnicity while the value of medical education offered in Turkish higher education institutions is emphasized.