Is It Easier for Foreigners to Enter Universities in Turkey?

Admission to Turkish Universities: Is It Easier for Foreigners Than for Turks?

Turkey is becoming an increasingly popular destination for international students every year. The appeal of Turkish education lies in its high academic standards, affordable tuition fees, international recognition of diplomas, and comfortable living conditions.

However, there is another important reason why students from abroad choose Turkey: for foreigners, admission to a Turkish university is often easier than for Turkish citizens.

Why does this happen? In this article, we break down the key factors that make university admission easier for international students:

• Different entrance exams (YÖS vs YKS)
• Lower competition and separate quotas for foreigners
• Flexible and transparent admission procedures
• Scholarships and financial support
• Simplified legal and migration conditions
• Recognition of foreign diplomas and language flexibility

1. Entrance Exams: YÖS vs YKS

For Turkish citizens – the difficult and highly competitive YKS

Turkish applicants take the YKS (Yükseköğretim Kurumları Sınavı), a centralized national exam considered one of the most challenging in the world.

Key features of YKS:

• Covers the entire school curriculum: Turkish language, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences
• Consists of two stages:
  • TYT (Basic Proficiency Test) – general knowledge
  • AYT (Field Proficiency Test) – subject-specific exams
• Extremely high competition: over 3 million applicants every year
• For top programs (medicine, engineering, law), students must rank in the top 1%

Conclusion: YKS is a long-term academic marathon. Even top students may fail to enter their desired program due to intense competition.

For foreigners – the much simpler YÖS

International applicants take the YÖS (Yabancı Uyruklu Öğrenci Sınavı), a specialized exam that is significantly more accessible.

Advantages of YÖS:

• Tests only mathematics and logical thinking
• Does not require Turkish language, history, or literature
• Can be taken in different languages
  • In 2024, TR-YÖS was offered in Turkish, English, Russian, Arabic, French, and German
• Far less competition: tens of thousands instead of millions
• Some dual-citizenship students even renounce Turkish citizenship to take YÖS instead of YKS

Conclusion: YÖS is narrower in scope and far easier than YKS, requiring much less preparation.

2. Competition and Quotas for Foreigners

For Turkish citizens – strict selection and low chances

• Over 3 million applicants compete for around 900,000 university seats
• Popular programs (medicine, law) may have hundreds of applicants per seat
• Chance of entering medical school for a Turkish student: about 0.01% (1 in 10,000)

For foreigners – separate quotas and higher chances

• Universities allocate 5–30% of seats specifically for international students
• Competition is much lower; sometimes only a minimum score is required
• Chance of entering medical school for a foreign student: around 6%
• Turkey continues to expand international quotas
  • In 2023, the number of foreign students exceeded 300,000

Conclusion: Fewer competitors and reserved seats significantly increase admission chances for foreigners.

3. Flexible Admission Procedures

For Turkish citizens – only YKS and centralized placement

• No alternatives: admission depends solely on YKS scores
• Academic or extracurricular achievements do not influence results

For foreigners – multiple admission pathways

Foreign applicants can be admitted through:

• YÖS
• International exams (SAT, ACT, IB, A-Level, Abitur, etc.)
• High school GPA (some universities accept students without entrance exams)
• Direct application to universities (no centralized allocation)
• English-taught programs, avoiding language barriers

Conclusion: International students have more options, including pathways without entrance exams.

4. Tuition Fees and Scholarships

For Turkish citizens

• Public universities are free or very inexpensive
• Limited scholarship opportunities
• Private universities are expensive: $5,000–$20,000 per year

For foreigners

• Türkiye Bursları government scholarships cover:
  • 100% tuition
  • Monthly stipend (up to $400)
  • Dormitory accommodation
  • Health insurance
  • Flight tickets
• University-based scholarships
  • Koç, Sabancı, METU offer grants of up to 100%
• Affordable tuition at public universities: $500–$5,000 per year

Conclusion: Foreign students often study for free or at minimal cost, while Turkish students rarely receive such financial support.

5. Ease of Student Visa and Residence Permit

• Student visas are issued quickly with a university invitation
• Student residence permits are easily extended
• Part-time work is allowed (from the 3rd year)
• Graduates can stay in Turkey under simplified work visa procedures

Conclusion: Turkey offers a very comfortable legal environment for international students.

6. Recognition of Foreign Diplomas

• High school diplomas from most countries are accepted
• International diplomas (IB, A-Level) can replace entrance exams
• The Bologna system ensures Turkish diplomas are recognized in Europe

Conclusion: Why Is Admission Easier for Foreigners?

✅ Simpler entrance exam (YÖS instead of YKS)
✅ Lower competition and separate quotas
✅ Flexible admission options (including no exams)
✅ Scholarships and affordable tuition
✅ Simplified visa and residence procedures

Fact: Some Turkish families even obtain second citizenship for their children so they can apply as international students.

Turkey actively attracts foreign students, and this policy makes university admission significantly easier for them than for Turkish citizens. If you are considering studying abroad, Turkish universities may be an excellent choice.