Study in Turkey (Türkiye)

Who this applies to

International (foreign) students at Turkish universities. NOTE: unlike some countries, Turkish admission is largely PER-UNIVERSITY — each institution sets its own conditions, exams, and document list. This framework captures the common national elements; per-university records note specifics.

Governing authority

Council of Higher Education (YÖK / CoHE). Official info portal: https://www.studyinturkiye.gov.tr (run by YÖK).

Degree system

Associate (önlisans) 2 yrs · Bachelor (lisans) 4 yrs (Medicine 6, Dentistry/Pharmacy 5) · Master (yüksek lisans) ~2 yrs · PhD (doktora) ~4 yrs.

How to apply — step by step

• 1. Choose a program & university (use the Study Finder at studyinturkiye.gov.tr; ~208 universities, ~45,000 programs).
• 2. Learn about scholarships & financing (e.g. Türkiye Bursları).
• 3. Prepare application documents (vary by university — each sets its own conditions; apply directly to the university).
• 4. Check examination/language requirements (entrance exam, language score, or skill test as the program requires).
• 5. Apply for a student visa at the nearest Turkish consulate AFTER receiving admission.

Undergraduate admission

Tr YÖS

TR-YÖS — the national Foreign Student Exam (ÖSYM-administered; Basic Learning Skills / aptitude + math), offered in many countries (2024: 52 countries, 78 centers). Many state universities require a YÖS score (TR-YÖS or their own university YÖS).

Alternatives

Many universities also accept international exams/qualifications instead of YÖS: SAT, high-school diploma + GPA, A-Levels, IB, Abitur, Tawjihi, etc. Some 'no-exam' (especially foundation) universities admit on diploma alone. Requirements and accepted exams are set per university — always check the program page.

Note

There is no single national undergraduate application portal for internationals; applications go directly to each university.

Graduate (Master's & PhD) admission

Master

Recognized bachelor's degree + transcripts; many programs require GRE/GMAT and/or an interview; ALES (Turkish academic personnel & graduate exam) applies to Turkish nationals — international applicants are often exempt or use GRE/GMAT instead.

PhD

Recognized master's degree + transcripts; research proposal and/or interview; language proof; some require GRE.

Language Proof Grad

YDS/YÖKDİL (Turkish-administered) or TOEFL/IELTS for English-medium; Turkish proficiency for Turkish-medium.

Language of instruction

Options

• Turkish
• English
• 30% English / 70% Turkish
• other languages for specific programs

Turkish Medium

Requires Turkish proficiency (commonly TÖMER C1); students lacking it usually do a 1-year Turkish prep year.

English Medium

Requires IELTS/TOEFL or the university's own English proficiency exam; threshold set per university (commonly IELTS 6.0–6.5 at selective universities).

Required documents

• High-school or prior-degree diploma + notarized/sworn translation
• Academic transcripts + translation
• Passport copy
• Passport photos
• Entrance-exam score (TR-YÖS/university YÖS/SAT) for undergrad
• Language certificate (IELTS/TOEFL/TÖMER) as required
• Proof of financial means
• Diploma recognition/equivalence (denklik) from YÖK where required

Diploma recognition & equivalence

YÖK handles recognition & equivalence (denklik) of foreign diplomas; university recognition can be checked at okultanima.yok.gov.tr.

Tuition per year (international)

Public English Medium USD

500-1500

Public Turkish Medium USD

250-750

Public Master USD

150-300

Private Undergrad USD

2000-8500

Private Master Total USD

2500-10000 (over ~2 yrs)

Private PhD Total USD

4000-20000 (over ~4 yrs)

Private Medicine USD

11000-25000

Source

https://www.askuni.com/articles/fees-for-international-students-in-turkish-universities ; https://www.studyinturkiye.gov.tr

Student visa & residence permit

Student visa obtained from the nearest Turkish consulate after receiving the university acceptance letter; after arrival, obtain a residence permit (ikamet) within the first month.

Scholarships

Türkiye Bursları (Türkiye Scholarships, https://turkiyeburslari.gov.tr) — flagship government scholarship via YTB: covers full tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, flights, and Turkish course. TÜBİTAK offers research fellowships. Individual universities offer merit scholarships/tuition waivers (esp. foundation universities, often 25–100%).

Sources & references

• framework/process/system — https://www.studyinturkiye.gov.tr/ (2026-06-10)
• tuition/exams/process — https://www.askuni.com/articles/fees-for-international-students-in-turkish-universities (2026-06-10)
• counts — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_in_Turkey (2026-06-10)