Turkey is one of the leading countries in the world with a schooling rate of 94% in the transition to higher education, and is an internationally prestigious educational country with its universities and academic organizations.
At the same time, Türkiye is a part of the European Higher Education system; It also has an important position in the Bologna Process, which emerged as a need for restructuring of the field of higher education due to the rapid changes occurring in every field in the globalizing world and is the common starting point of higher education institutions in European countries.
Diplomas received from a university in Turkey are recognized in many countries around the world, especially in Europe. As a course passing system, the ECTS system is applied in line with the USA and Europe. In addition, Turkey is one of the most successful countries participating in exchange processes within the scope of Erasmus, which supports student and faculty mobility. In addition to Erasmus programs, it also has strong ties with many universities internationally through Mevlana and Farabi exchange programs.
Turkey is the country where you can learn Turkish, the 5th most spoken language in the world and used in culture, education and trade, in the most accurate and fastest way.
Higher Education in Figures
203 Universities – 58000 Departments – 8 Million Students – 160,000 Foreign Students
International Student Admissions
The only institution authorized for student admission processes to higher education in Turkey is the Council of Higher Education, so-called YÖK (http://www.yok.gov.tr/), and all universities are affiliated with this institution. The conditions under with which international students who want to receive undergraduate education in Turkey will be accepted to universities are left to the initiative of the universities, and the quotas, and are determined every year, which are available on the websites of the universities and on the website of YÖK.
Candidates who will apply for universities in Turkey must have completed their secondary education in a school equivalent to high schools in Turkey. Students must apply directly for the chosen university and meet the admission criteria of the relevant university.
hile many universities in Turkey accept foreign students through the YÖS (Foreign Student Examinations) they organize, a certain number of universities accept SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) results and the following internationally valid exam results and diplomas.
ACT (American College Testing), GCE-A Level (General Certificate Education), International Baccalaureate (IB-International Baccalaureate), ABITUR, French Baccalaureate, Gaokao, Syrian Baccalaureate (Al-Shahada-Al-Thanawiyya), Lebanese Baccalaureate (Baccalaureat Libanais). ), Tawjihi etc.
For foreign student applications, universities make placements considering the students’ exam or diploma/transcript scores, preference rankings, country quotas based on their nationality, and their age.
Country quota practice is based on the fact that students of the same nationality applying for universities are accepted to a maximum of 20% of the quotas of departments affiliated with a faculty or college. While some universities may apply this rate in different ways, between 10% and 30%, some universities do not enforce this practice during placement.
Types of Higher Education Institutions and Academic Units
Faculty: It is the unit where higher education, scientific research and publications are conducted. Various departments and programs may be within the faculty. Students earn a bachelor’s degree at the end of a training program lasting at least four years.
Institute: It is a unit in universities where postgraduate education is provided and scientific research and publications are carried out. Master’s or doctoral degrees are awarded at institutes.
College: It is an eight-semester unit focusing education and training for a specific profession.
Conservatory: It is an eight-semester unit that trains artists in music and performing arts.
Post-High School Vocational School: It is a unit that aims to train qualified manpower for certain professions and provides an associate degree at the end of a four-semester education period.
Research and Application Center: It is the unit where education, practice and research are carried out for the application requirements of various fields and the preparation and support activities of some professional branches in order to support education in higher education institutions.
Academic Degrees
Associate Degree: It is the degree awarded after completing a two-year education program. Associate’s degree programs may require a period of on-the-job training.
Undergraduate: Awarded after completing a four-year and 240 ECTS education. The duration of study for Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy is five years and for Medicine is six years. Qualifications gained in these four areas are considered equivalent to a master’s degree.
Master’s degree: It is a two-year program leading to a Social Sciences (MA) or Science (MS) degree. There are two types of Master’s Programs: thesis and non-thesis. The thesis master’s program is a two-year program consisting of courses, usually with at least 120 ECTS credits, followed by the presentation of a thesis. Non-thesis programs are programs that are completed in one or one and a half years and involve the completion of at least 90 credits of courses and a term project.
Doctorate: It is a program usually consisting of eight semesters leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). It includes courses of 180-240 ECTS credits, a qualification exam, a thesis presentation, and oral defense of the thesis. After successfully completing their courses and the qualifying exam, students must first present and orally defend their thesis to a thesis committee.
Specialization in Medicine: It is equivalent to doctoral programs and is conducted in medical faculties, university hospitals, and research and training hospitals. For specialization in medicine, there is a competitive selection examination for graduates of medical schools in various branches of medicine. Specialist candidates must submit a thesis and defend it before a review committee. Additionally, a certain level of foreign language knowledge is required.
Proficiency in Art: It is a master’s program of at least six semesters in the fields of visual arts and performing arts and is equivalent to a doctorate. It requires the presentation of an original work of art or (in the musical and performing arts) a superior, creative performance.