Üsküdar American Academy
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$27K - US$44K
Curriculum: IB Diploma · Turkish MEB
Age Range: 13-18
Students: ~895
Location: Üsküdar (Asian Side), Istanbul
Updated April 2026
In Brief
UAA is one of Istanbul's most academically selective secondary schools - it is not an open-enrolment international school. If your child can sit the national entrance exam and score in the top tier, the IB Diploma, historic campus, and graduate outcomes make it seriously worth considering for the Asian side.
Uskudar American Academy was founded in 1876 as Uskudar American Girls College and is one of the oldest American-founded educational institutions in Turkey still operating. The school is now co-educational and IB Diploma-authorised (since 2014), operating a five-year high school programme: a mandatory prep year focused on intensive English, followed by Grades 9-12. Around 895 students attend, with classes of 20-22 in most year groups and a maximum of 24. The school is CIS-accredited, part of the SEV (Turkish Education Foundation), and has an alumni base of over 20,000 with an Alumni Association established in 1952.
Entry is selective and exam-based. Admission is via the Turkish national high school placement exam; the minimum required score for 2025-2026 was 480, targeting approximately the top 8,000 students nationally. This is the same mechanism used for Turkey's top Anatolian and Science high schools - UAA competes for the same pool of students as the country's most academically demanding institutions. Around 17% of teaching staff are international, covering English, Mathematics, French, German, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The prep year is compulsory for all entrants, regardless of prior English level, and the school does not offer entry mid-cycle once the prep year has started.
Fees for 2026-2027 are published in TRY: Grade 9-10 at 1,431,270 TRY (approximately US$44K at current rates), Grade 11 at 1,131,612 TRY, and Grade 12 at 866,569 TRY. Financial aid is available through the SEV foundation at levels from 10% to 100% scholarship, and sports and arts scholarships are also available - worth applying for given the fee level. Seventy percent of graduates go on to study abroad. The campus in Baglarbaşi, Uskudar, is a historic building on the Asian side, convenient for families based in Uskudar, Kadikoy, and Atasehir.
What parents value
- –IB Diploma Programme (authorised since 2014) combined with the Turkish Lise diploma, CIS accreditation, and 70% of graduates going abroad - a strong dual-credential outcome for a family targeting international university entry from the Asian side.
- –Financial aid from 10% to 100% through the SEV foundation, plus sports and arts scholarships. The published fee is high, but the scholarship availability is meaningful and worth pursuing from the initial application.
- –Historic campus in Uskudar with over 90 clubs, a 60-hour community service requirement (CALP), and a 20,000-strong alumni network - the extra-curricular and social environment goes well beyond a standard private school.
Points of consideration
- –Admission is by national exam only - there is no alternative entry route. A minimum score of 480 on the Turkish national placement exam (targeting roughly the top 8,000 students) is required. If your child is not sitting the Turkish national exam, or has not studied the Turkish secondary curriculum, this route is not available.
- –The prep year is mandatory for all entrants and runs as a stand-alone year before Grade 9. The five-year total programme is non-standard compared to most four-year high school pathways; factor this into your timeline if your child is joining from another system.
- –Grade 9-10 fees of around 1,431,270 TRY (US$44K at April 2026 rates) are among the highest in Istanbul's secondary market. Grade 12 drops to 866,569 TRY, so the fee trajectory changes significantly across the programme. Run the full five-year cost before comparing with BISI or IICS, and apply for SEV financial aid early.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Prep Year | 13 | NaN |
| Grade 9 | 14 | NaN |
| Grade 10 | 15 | NaN |
| Grade 11 | 16 | NaN |
| Grade 12 | 17 | NaN |
Fees converted from TRY. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Academic Results
Academic results have not been made publicly available by this school.
Extra Curriculars
Contact the school for details on co-curricular activities and facilities. Ask what a normal week looks like outside lessons for your child's age group.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
- CIS (Council of International Schools) accredited.
- IB Diploma Programme authorised (since 2014).
- Part of the SEV (Turkish Education Foundation) - a non-profit educational foundation.
- Member of the Association of American International Colleges and Universities (AAICU).
Accreditations
- CIS
- IB DP
Memberships
- SEV
- AAICU
Student Body
Around 895 students attend Uskudar American Academy, admitted by national exam. The school draws from the highest-achieving students on the Asian side and nationally. Around 17% of teaching staff are international. The alumni network has over 20,000 members, with an Alumni Association established in 1952.
Leadership
School leadership
Contact the school for details.