Turkey is one of the few countries where an international student can realistically enrol in a university without sitting difficult entrance exams — especially at a private institution. More than 200 universities, programmes from bachelor's to doctoral level, teaching in English and Turkish — the choice is huge. But that is exactly what creates confusion: requirements vary greatly depending on the status of the university, the level of the programme and the specific faculty.
This guide will put everything in order. We will go through how an international applicant can get into a Turkish university — what is needed, which exams to take and when to submit documents.
Where to start: choosing a programme and a university
The first step is to decide on the study format: language (English or Turkish), level (bachelor's, master's, doctoral) and field. This is not a formality: the rest of the journey depends on the answers to these questions.
Look at which universities of Turkey offer the field you need. We recommend starting with English-taught programmes — they open the door to an international career and make it possible to continue with a master's anywhere in the world. Highly accredited Turkish private universities are fully comparable on this criterion to a number of European universities.
Admission requirements for Turkish private universities
Private (foundation) universities in Turkey are the most accessible option for international students. Admission requirements here are flexible and, as a rule, there are no subject-based entrance exams.
For a bachelor's programme:
- Scan of an international passport
- Biometric photograph (taken within the last 6 months)
- Academic transcript — a GPA of at least 70/100 (equivalent to 3.5 out of 5)
- TOEFL iBT language certificate (minimum 70–80 points) or passing the university's internal language test directly before studies begin
- A completed application form, motivation letter and any accompanying documents the university requires
For a master's or doctoral programme:
- Scan of an international passport
- Biometric photograph
- Bachelor's diploma (notarised translation)
- Recommendation letters, motivation letter, CV
- TOEFL, GRE or GMAT certificates — the exact set depends on the programme and the university
Admission requirements for Turkish state universities
State universities follow a different logic. Competition is higher, requirements are stricter — especially for popular specialties like medicine, law and engineering.
The key difference is the need to sit an entrance exam. In the past each state university ran its own YÖS. Today a centralised format is in place — the TR-YÖS, organised by ÖSYM (the state assessment and selection centre).
A standard document package for a state university:
- Scan of an international passport
- Biometric photograph
- TR-YÖS or SAT certificate with a high score (depending on the specific university's requirements)
- TOEFL iBT language certificate or passing the internal language test
- Application form, motivation letter and accompanying documents
TR-YÖS and ÖSYM: the new entrance exam format
Many applicants are still searching for information about the old YÖS without realising that the system has changed. Since 2022 the scattered university-level YÖS exams have been replaced by the centralised TR-YÖS from ÖSYM — a single state exam for international applicants.
What this means in practice: you sit one exam, and its result is accepted by most state universities in the country. This is more convenient and more transparent than the previous format, when each university ran its own version of the test on its own schedule.
The TR-YÖS tests logical thinking, mathematics and, depending on the programme, basic subject knowledge. Registration is done through the ÖSYM website. The exam is held on fixed dates during the year — watch the schedule well in advance, as registration closes several weeks before the test date.
Which exams are needed for admission?
The short version:
- TOEFL iBT — mandatory for English-taught programmes. Minimum score 70–80 iBT depending on the university. IELTS is not accepted at Turkish universities — it is important to know this in advance so you do not waste time.
- Internal language test — an alternative to TOEFL. Run by the university itself, free of charge. If the result is insufficient, the student is enrolled in a preparatory language year.
- TR-YÖS / ÖSYM — for state universities. Accepted instead of or alongside SAT at most state universities.
- SAT — accepted by some state universities and by top private universities. Minimum overall score around 1000 out of 1600, with math around 600 out of 800. Not required at most private universities.
- GRE / GMAT / ALES — for master's and doctoral programmes. ALES is the Turkish state equivalent of GRE, accepted at all state universities.
Private universities do not run subject entrance exams — a school certificate and language confirmation are enough.
Application deadlines for studying in Turkey
Planning is the key factor for success. A missed deadline means a year of waiting.
Autumn semester (September):
- Private universities open admission from January–February and run it in several waves until the end of August. Do not delay — popular programmes close well before the final deadline.
- State universities accept documents roughly from April to July. The TR-YÖS exam is held between May and July, and results are announced by mid-August.
Spring semester (February):
- Some universities, mostly private ones, open an additional intake from October. Check the specific university's website.
General advice: start preparing your documents a year before your planned admission. Translating the school certificate, language tests and collecting recommendations all take time. Questions? Read the frequently asked questions about studying in Turkey or look at student reviews about studying in Turkey to see the real admission experience.
