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Uskudar American Academy

Turkey, Istanbul

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Turkish
Fees TRY 866,569 - 1,732,590
Ages Not listed
Type Co-educational
Opened 1876
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), Pearson Edexcel IGCSE, British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, BTEC Qualification, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IMYC (International Middle Years Curriculum), Australian Curriculum, American Curriculum, Canadian Curriculum, Chinese National Curriculum, CBSE Curriculum, Finnish Curriculum, French Curriculum, German Curriculum, Indian Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum, Montessori Curriculum, Reggio Emilia Approach, SEN focussed, Singapore Curriculum, Swiss Curriculum, Taiwan 108 Curriculum, Thai Curriculum, Vietnamese Curriculum, Waldorf Steiner Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, Catholic Curriculum, Christian Curriculum, Islamic Curriculum, Dutch Curriculum, Jordanian Curriculum, Korean Curriculum, Malaysian Curriculum, Myanmar Curriculum
Taught languages Turkish, English, French, German
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional
Stages Secondary School, High School
Introduction

Üsküdar American Academy is a private high school in Istanbul affiliated with SEV, Health and Education Foundation. Founded in 1876, the school operates a lycee-model with English-language science and math and a Turkish diploma path. The IB Diploma Programme is offered for Grades 10–12, with six subjects across groups, Higher and Standard Level options, and core requirements: Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Activity, Service. In Grades 11–12, students may pursue the Turkish diploma path with Honors and AP options. All science and math courses are taught in English; German or French is offered as a second language. Facilities include Özdemir Sabanci Sports Hall, outdoor courts, an artificial turf field, two computer labs, and a Learning Resource Center with 22,000+ volumes. Classrooms have interactive smart boards and wireless internet; every full-time teacher has a laptop. Extracurriculars include drama and music productions, Student Council, CALP, and a Social Entrepreneurship Club.

www.uaa.k12.tr
The Essentials

Uskudar American Academy has instruction in English, Turkish.

Location

Vakıf Sokak No:1 Bağlarbaşı, 34664 Üsküdar, Istanbul, Turkey. The campus is in the Bağlarbaşı neighborhood of the Üsküdar district on Istanbul's Asian side. The contact address is published as Vakıf Sokak No:1 Bağlarbaşı 34664 Üsküdar/İstanbul.

Stages

Prep to 12th Grade; a 5-year high school education with Prep year compulsory.

Type

High school (private); there are no boarding facilities on-site.

Pupil Nationality Mix

85% local; 15% from outside Istanbul.

Additional learning support

Psychological counseling and guidance service is provided.

Country affiliation

Affiliated American schools; Üsküdar American Academy was founded in 1876 as part of American education in Turkey; today it is governed by the Health and Education Foundation (SEV) and is described as an affiliated American school alongside other SEV American schools in Istanbul, Izmir and Tarsus.

School day structure

School schedule: Monday 08:00–15:55; Tuesday–Thursday 08:00–15:05 with clubs 15:05–16:20; Friday 08:00–15:00 with clubs 15:25–16:20.

Fees

Annual tuition at Uskudar American Academy ranges from TRY 866,569 to TRY 1,732,590 for 2026/27.

Application fees
- No separate small ‘application' or separate one-off application fee is published on the school's registration pages; the school publishes registration / annual tuition amounts and payment schedules for enrolment.

Tuition fees (annual) — Üsküdar American Academy (grades shown) for the 2026–2027 academic year
- The school publishes annual tuition amounts that vary by grade, by registration period (early to late registration windows) and by payment method. All amounts shown below are the annual school fee amounts and include 10% VAT as indicated.

- 9th Grade (annual):
- Bank transfer (Havale/EFT) single-payment amounts by registration period:
- 24–31 March: TRY 1,431,270
- 1–30 April: TRY 1,467,052
- 1–31 May: TRY 1,502,834
- 1–30 June: TRY 1,538,615
- 1–31 July: TRY 1,574,397
- 1–31 August: TRY 1,610,179
- 1–4 September: TRY 1,645,961
- Credit-card single-payment amounts by registration period:
- 24–31 March: TRY 1,461,402
- 1–30 April: TRY 1,497,937
- 1–31 May: TRY 1,534,472
- 1–30 June: TRY 1,571,007
- 1–31 July: TRY 1,607,542
- 1–31 August: TRY 1,644,077
- 1–4 September: TRY 1,680,612
- Installment-plan (taksitli) annual amounts by registration period:
- 24–31 March: TRY 1,506,600
- 1–30 April: TRY 1,544,265
- 1–31 May: TRY 1,581,930
- 1–30 June: TRY 1,619,595
- 1–31 July: TRY 1,657,260
- 1–31 August: TRY 1,694,925
- 1–4 September: TRY 1,732,590

- 10th Grade (annual):
- Bank transfer (Havale/EFT) single-payment amounts by registration period:
- 24–31 March: TRY 1,431,270
- 1–30 April: TRY 1,467,052
- 1–31 May: TRY 1,502,834
- 1–30 June: TRY 1,538,615
- 1–31 July: TRY 1,574,397
- 1–31 August: TRY 1,610,179
- 1–4 September: TRY 1,645,961
- Credit-card single-payment amounts by registration period:
- 24–31 March: TRY 1,461,402
- 1–30 April: TRY 1,497,937
- 1–31 May: TRY 1,534,472
- 1–30 June: TRY 1,571,007
- 1–31 July: TRY 1,607,542
- 1–31 August: TRY 1,644,077
- 1–4 September: TRY 1,680,612
- Installment-plan (taksitli) annual amounts by registration period:
- 24–31 March: TRY 1,506,600
- 1–30 April: TRY 1,544,265
- 1–31 May: TRY 1,581,930
- 1–30 June: TRY 1,619,595
- 1–31 July: TRY 1,657,260
- 1–31 August: TRY 1,694,925
- 1–4 September: TRY 1,732,590

- 11th Grade (annual):
- Bank transfer (Havale/EFT) single-payment amounts by registration period:
- 24–31 March: TRY 1,131,612
- 1–30 April: TRY 1,159,903
- 1–31 May: TRY 1,188,193
- 1–30 June: TRY 1,216,484
- 1–31 July: TRY 1,244,774
- 1–31 August: TRY 1,273,064
- 1–4 September: TRY 1,301,354
- Credit-card single-payment amounts by registration period:
- 24–31 March: TRY 1,155,436
- 1–30 April: TRY 1,184,322
- 1–31 May: TRY 1,213,207
- 1–30 June: TRY 1,242,094
- 1–31 July: TRY 1,270,979
- 1–31 August: TRY 1,299,865
- 1–4 September: TRY 1,328,751
- Installment-plan (taksitli) annual amounts by registration period:
- 24–31 March: TRY 1,191,171
- 1–30 April: TRY 1,220,950
- 1–31 May: TRY 1,250,729
- 1–30 June: TRY 1,280,509
- 1–31 July: TRY 1,310,288
- 1–31 August: TRY 1,340,067
- 1–4 September: TRY 1,369,846

- 12th Grade (annual):
- Bank transfer (Havale/EFT) single-payment amounts by registration period:
- 24–31 March: TRY 866,569
- 1–30 April: TRY 888,234
- 1–31 May: TRY 909,898
- 1–30 June: TRY 931,562
- 1–31 July: TRY 953,226
- 1–31 August: TRY 974,891
- 1–4 September: TRY 996,555
- Credit-card single-payment amounts by registration period:
- 24–31 March: TRY 884,813
- 1–30 April: TRY 906,934
- 1–31 May: TRY 929,053
- 1–30 June: TRY 951,174
- 1–31 July: TRY 973,294
- 1–31 August: TRY 995,415
- 1–4 September: TRY 1,017,535
- Installment-plan (taksitli) annual amounts by registration period:
- 24–31 March: TRY 912,178
- 1–30 April: TRY 934,983
- 1–31 May: TRY 957,787
- 1–30 June: TRY 980,592
- 1–31 July: TRY 1,003,396
- 1–31 August: TRY 1,026,201
- 1–4 September: TRY 1,049,005

(Annual tuition figures and the registration-period schedule above are published by the school for the 2026–2027 academic year.)

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school's published schedule shows multiple registration windows (e.g., 24–31 March; 1–30 April; 1–31 May; 1–30 June; 1–31 July; 1–31 August; 1–4 September) with different annual-fee amounts depending on the date of registration and the payment method selected. All listed annual amounts include 10% VAT.
- Payment methods accepted (published options): bank transfer (Havale/EFT), credit card (single payment), education loan (Akbank). Installment options include a Vakıfbank VINOV 12-month interest-free plan (available for registrations completed by 30 June 2026 for the school's special arrangement), credit-card instalments (2 installments option) and the Taksitli Eğitim Sistemi (TEST) option (example: 1 down payment + 3 instalments). The school notes banks' installment offerings and economic/regulatory changes may affect payment terms.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not provided at Üsküdar American Academy; the school indicates there is no boarding. Therefore no boarding fees are published.

Other costs and incidental fees
- Uniforms: the school publishes a uniform policy (permitted colors and garment types) but does not publish a fixed uniform price on the uniform information page. Any uniform purchase costs are not itemised in the published uniform guidance.
- Transport (school bus), meals, books, exam fees and optional activities: the school's published materials mention these services in various documents (and some bursary documents reference coverage of transport, books and meals for scholarship recipients), but specific, itemised public prices for transport, meal plans or textbooks are not published alongside the 2026–2027 annual tuition schedule.

Refund information
- Refunds follow the rules set out in the school's registration guidance and the applicable Turkish regulation referenced in that guidance: if the student withdraws before the school year starts (for schools that determine fees annually), the school returns the paid annual fee less a retained amount equal to 10% of the annual fee; if withdrawal is after the academic year has begun, the refund amount is calculated by subtracting the 10% retained portion and the pro-rated amount for days the student attended, in accordance with the stated regulation. The school's registration guide and related documentation set out these refund rules.

Fee payment options (practical methods accepted)
- Bank transfer (Havale / EFT).
- Credit card (single payment and, where offered, bank/card instalment plans).
- Education loan (Akbank is listed as an education-credit partner).
- Vakıfbank VINOV campus payment system for interest-free 12-month instalments (special arrangement for registrations completed by a specified date).

Note: the figures and payment options above are taken from the school's published 2026–2027 fee schedule and registration documentation and reflect the school's published annual tuition amounts, the registration-period pricing matrix and the payment-term options for those academic-year enrolments.
Academics

Uskudar American Academy teaches IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), Pearson Edexcel IGCSE, British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, BTEC Qualification, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IMYC (International Middle Years Curriculum), Australian Curriculum, American Curriculum, Canadian Curriculum, Chinese National Curriculum, CBSE Curriculum, Finnish Curriculum, French Curriculum, German Curriculum, Indian Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum, Montessori Curriculum, Reggio Emilia Approach, SEN focussed, Singapore Curriculum, Swiss Curriculum, Taiwan 108 Curriculum, Thai Curriculum, Vietnamese Curriculum, Waldorf Steiner Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, Catholic Curriculum, Christian Curriculum, Islamic Curriculum, Dutch Curriculum, Jordanian Curriculum, Korean Curriculum, Malaysian Curriculum, Myanmar Curriculum.

Curriculum

The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). UAA began the IBDP in 2014–15 and the first IB class graduated in 2017. Students study six subjects, one from each of the six groups, with Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL) options, and complete the core requirements: Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). All students may apply for a place on the IBDP, though places are limited, and the IBDP runs from Grade 10 to Grade 12. In Grades 11–12, other students may follow the Turkish diploma path with options for Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses; all science and mathematics courses are taught in English; a second language option includes German or French.

Student Teacher Ratio

There are 895 students and 132 teaching staff, giving about 6.8 students per teacher. Prep classes average 20 students and Grades 9–12 average 24 students per class.

Higher Education Progression

100% of graduates attend four-year universities. Approximately 50% pursue overseas universities (primarily in America, Canada, the UK, and Europe). In 2022–2023, 65% of graduates attended university abroad.

Gifted and Talented

Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered; the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is available for qualified students. All advanced courses offered (AP and Honors) are described as rigorous, and CALP (Community Action Learning Program) supports sustained community-service projects.

Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Guidance and Psychological Counseling Department aims for a healthy transition from childhood to adulthood. It supports the development of social skills, and covers adolescence characteristics, motivation, leadership, friendship, communication skills, and learning and study skills. The department works with Turkish and foreign university counselling departments to support preparation for university entrance. Sexual Health Education is provided in cooperation with the TAP Foundation.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

All classes are taught in English, except Turkish Language and Literature and Social Sciences. In the Preparatory Year, students develop strong language and grammar skills and build a language base that underpins their high school study. Beyond reading and writing, students develop English speaking and listening skills through classroom group discussions, peer feedback, group projects, and presentations.

Mental Wellbeing

Guidance and Psychological Counseling Department aims for a healthy transition and supports social skills development, motivation, leadership, friendship, and communication. The department coordinates university entrance preparation with Turkish and foreign university counselling. Sexual Health Education is provided in cooperation with TAP Foundation.

Safeguarding

Adheres to international child protection standards.

Admissions

Admissions

1. Admission criteria and Prep Year. A minimum acceptance score for 2025-2026 is 480 for male students and 476 for female students, with average scores around 484.3 for males and 483.7 for females. The Prep Year is mandatory to prepare students for the four-year high school program and includes intensive English, a second foreign language, Turkish, Science, Math, Visual Arts, Physical Education, Music, Information Technologies, and Guidance. 2. Campus visits and intake status. Visits for 8th grade students will be announced; individual visits are not possible. Campus Days were held in May and June, with five sessions in total. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Prep Year intake is full. 3. Enrollment Guide and pre-registration. Detailed information is provided in the Enrollment Guide published during the registration period. Pre-registration requires clicking the active link on the website and entering the student's national ID number, date of birth, and phone number on the dates specified in the Enrollment Guide. The enrollment process is described in the Enrollment Guide; gender quotas will be announced there. 4. Registration authorization and documents. If the registration is to be performed by someone other than the parent, a notarized letter of attorney is required. In cases of divorce, only the parent with legal custody can proceed, and the custody or letter of attorney must be presented during enrollment. Multiple people can be listed in one letter of attorney; only the original document is accepted. 5. Enrollment completion and post-registration details. After registration, the enrollment is completed via the e-school system; the new school completes enrollment by accessing the student. Details regarding uniforms, textbooks, meals, and transportation are provided in the enrollment completion document. 6. Fees and payment. Details on tuition, payment methods, and payment schedules are provided in the Enrollment Guide published during the registration period. Details on uniforms, textbooks, meals, and transportation are provided in the enrollment completion document after registration. Families should review the Enrollment Guide for any additional fees or charges. 7. Scholarships and financial aid. Financial Aid Scholarships are provided based on SEV's Scholarship Regulations and are awarded for one academic year. Scholarships range from 10% to 100% and require annual reapplication. Continuation of a scholarship depends on academic progress and the absence of disciplinary records. Scholarships are also available for students admitted to or currently enrolled at UAA who actively engage in sports, arts, and science. 8. Language of instruction and programs. All courses, except Turkish culture and applied subjects, are taught in English. German and French are offered as second foreign languages, with language proficiency exams supported. The IB Diploma Programme is offered; UAA has been an IB World School since 2014. The school has 121 teachers in 2025–2026, with 22% international, and a focus on preparing students as globally-minded problem-solvers.

Scholarships

Financial Aid Scholarships are provided based on SEV's Scholarship Regulations and are awarded for one academic year; scholarships range from 10% to 100% and require annual reapplication; continuation depends on academic progression and absence of disciplinary records. Scholarships are available for students admitted to or currently enrolled at UAA who actively engage in sports, arts, and science.

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