Study in Turkey

Affordable tuition fees, low-cost living expenses, and high-quality education makes Turkey an increasingly popular destination for students

Turkey attracts around 250,000 international students each year, ranking among the top ten countries in the world for its high number of international students.

Popular not just for its Mediterranean sun, fascinating ruins, and world-renowned food, but also for its strategic location as a bridge between Europe and Asia. Studying in the country is an affordable and enriching experience, whether you choose to live in the capital city of Ankara, the cultural and financial hub of Istanbul, or a smaller city such as Gaziantep or Bursa.

Turkey is experiencing ongoing political uncertainty, so it is important to check the latest guidance at GOV.UK before you visit.

Turkish universities

Despite having a relatively short history, Turkey's higher education system excels on the global stage. The country has secured its position among the top 50 strongest higher education systems worldwide, sitting at 43rd.

The system includes more than 200 institutions catering to 8.2 million students, consisting of 120 public universities and 87 privately funded foundations.

In the QS World University Rankings 2024, 25 Turkish institutions are featured, with six in the top 600:

• Middle East Technical University (336th)
• Istanbul Technical University (404th)
• Koç University (431st)
• Bogaziçi University (514th)
• Bilkent University (502nd)
• Sabanci University (526th)

The academic calendar is split into two semesters and runs from September to June.

Degree courses in Turkey

Most Bachelors degrees in Turkey take four years to complete full-time, apart from architecture, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and medicine, which take five or six years.

Bachelors degrees are offered in a range of subjects, including:

• business management
• economics
• fashion design
• hospitality
• mathematics
• tourism.

You can also find Bachelors degrees in more specialised fields, such as engineering, medicine, and law.

For more information about Bachelors degrees and other qualification levels in Turkey, visit Study in Turkey.

Search undergraduate courses at Study in Turkey - Study Finder.

Masters degrees

A Masters degree in Turkey (or the equivalent Higher Engineering Diploma) takes two years to complete full-time. Turkish universities offer Masters courses with and without a thesis.

Students on these courses study a range of modules and write and submit a thesis in the second semester of their second year. The thesis is a major research project that allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in their chosen field.

On non-thesis programs, students will take a wider selection of modules, with the option to study subjects outside their course discipline. Non-thesis programs typically include a capstone project, which is a smaller-scale research project or creative work.

PhDs

Doctorate courses in Turkey typically take three to four years to complete, depending on the nature of the course.

Turkish Doctorate courses are typically more structured than those in the UK. Students follow a set curriculum and complete a series of coursework requirements in addition to their research.

A committee of experts supervise your Doctoral study in Turkey, instead of just a single supervisor. This committee typically consists of three to five faculty members who will provide guidance and support to the student throughout their studies.

Search Doctoral programmes at Study in Turkey - Study Finder.

Student exchanges

The government runs the Turing Scheme for students seeking international placements and the opportunity to study at a foreign university. There is over £100million of funding, opening doors for students to secure study and work experience overseas.

It's important to ensure that your university has established a formal partnership with a Turkish university that is participating in the Turing Scheme.

Additionally, you might want to explore alternatives like the Mevlana or Farabi exchange programs once you've enrolled at a Turkish university. These two programmes allow students and academic staff to exchange between Turkish universities and higher education institutions of other countries, to study for Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees.

Course fees

Turkey is an affordable option for international students, with tuition fees and living costs significantly lower than in other countries. International students usually pay between TRY 2,888 and TRY 115,555 (£86-£3,455) per academic year at public universities.

There is some variation in tuition fees, and you will pay more to study in English. The amount you pay also depends on what and where you study, with courses in medicine and engineering often being more expensive.

Tuition fees at private universities in Turkey are more expensive than at public universities. There is still a wide range in tuition fees, with medical and dental programs being typically higher cost than other programs.

Here are the average undergraduate fees at private Turkish universities per year:

• Bilkent University - TRY 568,803 (£8,630)
• Koç University - TRY 346,501 (£10,356)
• Sabancı University - TRY 490,876 (£14,671)

International students in Turkey can expect to spend around TRY 2,250 to 3,000 (£68 to £90) per month on living costs, including accommodation, clothing, and transport. Textbooks cost around TRY 750 (£23) per semester, and food and drink costs vary depending on lifestyle and preferences.

Learn more about living expenses at Study in Turkey.

Funding to study in Turkey

You will need to do your research if you're hoping to receive funding, as most scholarships require entrance exam scores of at least 70%, with some as high as 80%.

One popular option is the Türkiye Burslari Scholarship, which offers a variety of awards to international students. The scholarship provides university and department placements, covers tuition fees and provides a monthly stipend.

Some universities, such as Sabancı University and Bilkent University, also run their scholarship programs.

For a full list of financial aid options available to international students, visit Turkey Scholarship.

Student visas

If you are a UK citizen and want to study in Turkey, you will need a student visa. To avoid any problems registering as a student and receiving a residency permit, you should arrive in Turkey with your student visa already authorised.

There are several types of Turkish student visas, depending on the purpose of your stay. Be sure to do your research to ensure you are applying for the correct one. The visa application process takes place at the Turkish consulate in your home country.

For UK citizens, this is the Turkish Embassy in London. However, you must first complete an online pre-application at Republic of Turkey Consular Procedures.

After your visa application is approved, you will need to attend an appointment and present:

• a letter of acceptance from a Turkish university
• the completed Turkish student visa form
• proof of your ability to support yourself financially
• a passport valid for at least 60 days beyond the length of your stay
• the required visa fee
• proof of health insurance
• a passport photo.

Prioritise arranging your student visa, as it will take about eight weeks to receive after you submit your application.

Read more about Turkish visas at the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

How to apply

To study in Turkey, you must have completed the previous level of education. For example, to apply for a Masters degree, you must have completed a Bachelors degree.

You must also pass the postgraduate entrance exam, the Academic Personnel and Graduate Education Exam (ALES), which is administered by the Student Selection and Placement Centre (ÖSYM).

ALES exams occur twice a year in March and November. The exam takes approximately three hours to complete and consists of literacy and numeracy questions.

In addition to your passed ALES exam, you will need to provide the following as part of your application:

• a completed international student application form
• your Bachelors or Masters certificate
• an updated CV with letters of recommendation
• proof of sufficient funds for the duration of your course
• photo ID
• the application fee.

To start your application, visit university websites to check if they have an online application system or require direct email correspondence.

Language requirements

If English is your first language and you're enrolling on an English-taught course, you won't need to provide any proof of your English proficiency. If English is your second language, you may need to provide:

• a letter of confirmation from your English coordinator or professor at your home university
• an internationally recognised language certificate, such as IELTS or TOEFL
• a passed English placement test, which may held at your institution on arrival.

Even if you are studying an English course, learning Turkish is a great opportunity. It will make it easier to navigate the country and may open more career opportunities.

Many universities, including Boğaziçi University, offer intensive language courses for international students.

Comparison to UK qualifications

Turkish and UK qualifications are equal as Turkey is a member of the Bologna Process, an agreement between 48 European countries to ensure comparability in quality and standards of higher education. As a result, the Turkish qualification framework aligns with that of UK degrees.

Find out more

• Explore the practicalities of a Turkish education at Study In Turkey.
• Discover what it's like to work in Turkey.