Admission Requirements in Turkish Universities

Turkey higher education institutes offer effective and high-standard academic programs to international students. The following are the various Study program intakes and admission requirements for Turkish Universities

The Academic Calendar 

The academic year in Turkey consists of 2 semesters which runs from September until June. The academic first semester runs from October to January and  the second semester from February to July. A two week holiday is given between these semesters, summer vacations are between July and October. Application deadlines are different in different institutions; universities generally begin their session in October. Many universities render admission on a first-come, first served basis depending on the applicant’s qualifications of the prospective study abroad student. Some courses at certain universities accept applications on a rolling basis, but the most credible institutions take admission on a competitive basis. Each university’s website provides details for the upcoming admission.

The Admission Criterion in Turkish Universities

Every Turkish University has its own admission criteria and international students who want to take admission to an undergraduate program must directly apply to the Student Affairs Office of the respective university. When the student submits the necessary documents the relevant faculty boards evaluate the application status of each student. Later Interviews are also conducted with the individual applicant if necessary. Upon acceptance of the admission, the applicant gets the right to study at the chosen university and he/she is then registered for the upcoming semester.

Admission in Undergraduate Program 

Foreign students who wish to pursue their graduate/post-graduate studies in Turkey should apply directly to the universities.

International candidates who are currently studying in a senior grade in a high school or have already earned an intermediate/A-levels or high school certificate with 12 years of education equivalent to Turkish credits can apply for undergraduate programs in Turkey. Turkish universities organize Examinations for Foreign Students (YOS) in their own terms. Thus, it is essential that prospective students should apply separately to each university. 

Required Documents 

• International Student Application Form online plus a hard copy

• High School Diploma or intermediate certificate

• An Official Transcript and all previous mark sheets both original and attested photocopies

• Language Proficiency certification (TOEFL, IELTS etc. or university test

• A simple short essay about your interest in Turkish education, why you want to attend this particular university  and what course of study you want to pursue to achieve your preferred career

• Application Fee (The fee for each application ranges between USD35 and 100. This pays for processing your application and is non-refundable

• Financial proofs

• scores from the following tests

  • YOS

  • SAT 1 (Scholastic Aptitude Test)

  • ACT (National College Admission Examination)

  • Abitur

  • French Baccalaureate

  • GCE certificate (minimum two subjects)

  • International Baccalaureate (IB)

Deadline for undergraduate applications is before the 1st of August. It is better to contact them at least one year before they plan to enter that school. Then they could have plenty of time to fulfil the requirements on time.

Application results

Applications of candidates are evaluated according to student’s academic achievements like a cumulative intermediate percentage. Marks in the relevant subject, high school GPAs, and other achievements relevant to the success of the student. Meeting the application criteria, however, does not guarantee admission to the programs.

Acceptance letters are sent to Successful candidates via email and regular post, usually in August. These students will then show this acceptance letter at Turkish consulate to get a Student Visa

Admission in Master’s Program

Foreign students who wish to pursue their graduate/post-graduate studies in Turkey should apply directly to the universities.

A postgraduate qualification or master’s degree typically takes two years to complete with 120 credit hours, although this period can vary depending on the institution. 

Some departments may ask the student to appear for a personal interview before rendering him/her the admission to postgraduate degree courses.

• A foreign national applying for a master program in Turkey must possess a student visa and a valid passport

• Application form

• Bachelor's or Master's diploma or degree with attested photocopies and English translations

• A statement of purpose

• A CV(updated)

• Specified sized photographs

• At least two Reference letters from professors and employers

• All previous Transcripts with attested copies

• Graduate exam scores (: GRE or GMAT)

• Language proficiency certificate (TOEFL, or a university's own exam)

• Interviews or Written exams

• Proof of enough financial funds to support your studies

Application Deadlines

There are generally two application deadlines for graduate programs:

• Deadline For fall semester deadline falls at the end of May

• Deadline For spring semester falls at the end of December

Admission in PhD at A Turkish University

Turkish education system follows the Bologna Process. Therefore, PhD programs in Turkey are similar to other European PhD programs. The overall courses, seminars and exams for a PhD exam will lead to a total of 240 ECTS credits. There may be taught components in your program to complete an authentic PhD program. Supervision committees will assess the student’s performance and thesis. The thesis supervisor is a member of these committees. The supervisor is basically an academic lecturer who is an expert in your chosen research field. The supervisor will be appointed within the first year of PhD.

Fees and funding

Students can enrol in a Ph D program in affordable tuition fees. In most institutions, it is around €500-800 per year for international students. There are also many fully funded scholarships available to pursue a Ph D program in Turkey. There are however some limited funding resources available for international students. Tuition fees for PhD programs at private universities are relatively high. It is generally around €5, 3000-18,000 per year. However, there are many funding options available at these private institutions.

Applying for a PhD in Turkey

The specific requirements and procedures are different in different r research institution and course of study. The prospective candidate has to contact your preferred university’s international office for exact information.

Admission requirements

The admissions are highly competitive and the prospective PhD applicant has to show excellent academic performance e at undergraduate and graduate level.

• Masters degree, in a relevant subject, with good academic achievements, with a Merit or Distinction grade.

Generally, students seeking admission in PhD ( Arts and Humanities) need a Masters degree. However to take admission in the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) an undergraduate degree is generally sufficient. This, however, depends on the individual course and institution rendering the degree program.

International degrees may require additional recognition to be accepted as equivalent qualifications.

• Research proposal and it is recommended that you contact your prospective supervisor and/or university before applying to help with this.

• Academic references

• Scores of alternative international admissions tests, such as the GMAT (a minimum score of 500) and the GRE (a minimum score of 685)

• An English language test score, like TOEFL or IELTS, or a test offered by the Turkish examination coordinator ÖSYM.

• Financial proofs

• Specified sized photographs

• Spouse documents and marriage certificates for married candidates

An interview is generally conducted to assess the eligibility of prospective PhD student applying in a Turkish University.