Antalya stopped being simply Turkey's tourist showcase a long time ago. Today it is a fully-fledged educational centre with several major universities, modern campuses and thousands of international students who come here not for the sea but for the degree. International programmes, flexible admission conditions, the option to study in English without the EGE — all of this makes studying in Antalya a real and attractive alternative to European universities.
If you are considering the universities of Antalya for international students, this article will help you figure out which universities are in the region, how they differ and what is needed to apply.
The best universities in Antalya: an overview
The Antalya region covers several cities — the provincial centre itself and the resort town of Alanya. Each of them is home to universities with different profiles, statuses and levels of international integration. All universities of Turkey with English-taught programmes deserve their own look, but Antalya's universities stand out in particular: the climate, infrastructure and quality of life here are significantly above average.
Akdeniz University (Akdeniz Üniversitesi)
- 📍 Founded: 1982
- 📍 Status: State
- 📍 Location: Antalya, Konyaaltı district
- 📍 Main fields: medicine, engineering, agriculture, economics, arts
The state-run Akdeniz is the largest university in the entire region. Its campus stretches out in the picturesque Konyaaltı district with a view of the Mediterranean Sea. There are 24 faculties here, a serious medical school and a research base that many European universities might envy: it was in Akdeniz's clinical practice that Turkey's first successful full face transplant was performed.
For international students Akdeniz is interesting first and foremost for its scale: more faculties means a wider choice. Participation in the Erasmus+ programme opens up the option of spending a semester at partner universities in Europe. Laboratories, libraries, research centres — the infrastructure of this state flagship is impressive.
Antalya Bilim University — an international private institution
- 📍 Founded: 2010
- 📍 Status: Private
- 📍 Location: Antalya, Döşemealtı district
- 📍 Main fields: business, engineering, law, medicine, tourism
Antalya Bilim University is a private university that was built from the start around an international audience. Today students from more than 80 countries study here. Programmes are taught in English — this is not an option, it is the main working format.
The campus is equipped with modern research laboratories. Partnerships have been set up with leading global companies where students go for internships. If you are looking for a private university in Antalya with a strong English-speaking environment, Antalya Bilim is one of the first candidates to consider.
Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University (ALKU)
- 📍 Founded: 2015
- 📍 Status: State
- 📍 Location: Alanya, Antalya province
- 📍 Main fields: engineering, medicine, education, tourism
ALKU is one of the fastest-growing state universities in the country. Located in the resort town of Alanya, it offers teaching in both Turkish and English. This young university has already built partnerships with a number of overseas universities and is actively involved in academic exchange programmes. The fields cover engineering, medicine, education and the tourism industry — the latter is logical given the location in one of the main resort cities on the Mediterranean.
University of Alanya (formerly Hamdullah Emin Paşa University)
- 📍 Founded: 2011
- 📍 Status: Private
- 📍 Location: Alanya
- 📍 Main fields: architecture, design, business, international relations
This private university in the centre of Alanya specialises in creative and international fields. Architecture, design, international business — these are the fields that are especially strong here. The university works actively with overseas partners and gives students opportunities for internships abroad. On top of that there is a compact modern campus right in the urban environment, a high rate of graduate employment and English-taught programmes.
Academy of Tourism in Antalya
- 📍 Status: Private institution
- 📍 Location: Antalya
- 📍 Main fields: hospitality, tourism
A narrowly specialised institution for those who know exactly what they want to do. The academy trains specialists for the hospitality and tourism industry to international standards and issues degrees recognised in the EU and the US. Teaching is offered in Russian, English and Turkish — a rarity for Turkey. Internships at leading hotels in the country are part of the programme.
Why international students choose to study in Antalya
There are several reasons, and they are all weighty.
Erasmus+ programmes and international ties. Antalya universities take part actively in Erasmus+. This means a real chance of a semester at a European university, international contacts and an academic record that reads well outside Turkey.
Teaching in English. Antalya Bilim University and a number of other universities in the region offer fully English-taught programmes. For those who do not know Turkish, this is a direct path to quality education without a language barrier.
Admission without the EGE. Private universities in Antalya do not require EGE results. A school certificate with a GPA of at least 70/100 and confirmation of English level — either a TOEFL certificate (minimum 70–80 iBT) or passing the university's internal test — is enough.
Modern infrastructure. Laboratories, research centres, comfortable dormitories, sports complexes — these are not marketing promises but the real picture of major universities in the region.
Career prospects. Private universities in the region focus students on the real job market. Internships in hospitality, IT, engineering and financial companies are part of the educational process. Graduates with a degree from an accredited Turkish university have no difficulty continuing with a master's in Europe or the United States.
Student life. Football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, swimming — the sports infrastructure at Antalya universities is rich. Add to this the Mediterranean Sea a few minutes from campus and the cultural life of one of the most developed cities in Turkey.
Cost. Compared with European and American universities, studying in Antalya is significantly cheaper at a fully comparable level of education. Several dozen Turkish universities are in the upper echelons of the world rankings.
Tuition costs and application deadlines
Tuition varies depending on the status of the university and the chosen programme. State universities (Akdeniz, ALKU) offer some of the most affordable rates in Turkey. Private universities (Antalya Bilim, University of Alanya) cost roughly $3,000 to $10,000 per year — many of them offer discounts for good grades and scholarships.
On deadlines: private universities usually open applications in January–February and accept them until early September. State universities are bound by stricter deadlines — admissions are normally from April to July. Submit your application as early as possible: popular programmes close before the official deadline.
Want to work out the details of relocation and settling in? The Edu Turkish team provides help with the move to Turkey — from paperwork to finding housing. Read the student reviews about studying in Turkey to see how it looks in practice.
