For international students, choosing a university in Turkey involves more than comparing rankings, tuition fees, and academic programs. It also helps to see what other international students did to earn admission and scholarships, and where their Turkish university education took them afterward.
This guide therefore combines practical university information with the real journeys of eight scholarship recipients and graduates. Their experiences include winning fully funded Türkiye Scholarships, improving unsuccessful applications, graduating with distinction, joining Erasmus+ programs, and progressing to further funded study in Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and China.
Alongside admissions, tuition, scholarships, languages of instruction, and major academic fields, you will find details about the applicants’ grades, documents, research experience, interview preparation, scholarship coverage, and eventual outcomes. These stories can help you evaluate not only which universities in Turkey may suit you, but also what a successful path through, and beyond, each institution can look like. Let’s take a look at these top universities in Turkey for International Students
Universities in Turkey at a Glance
| University | Selected Academic Areas |
|---|
| Çankaya University | Engineering, Economics, Psychology |
| Ankara University | Medicine, Law, Political Science |
| Koç University | Social Sciences and Humanities, Economics, Nursing and Medicine |
| Hacettepe University | Health Sciences, Engineering, Fine Arts |
| Ege University | Medicine and Health Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture |
| Sabancı University | Engineering and Natural Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Management |
| Bilkent University | Engineering, Business, Political Science |
| Boğaziçi University | Engineering, Social Sciences, Education |
| Özyeğin University | Architecture and Design, Engineering, Business |
| Sakarya University | Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences, Business |
| Ondokuz Mayıs University | Medicine and Health Sciences, Agriculture, Engineering |
| Sivas Cumhuriyet University | Medicine and Health Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Natural Sciences |
| Social Sciences University of Ankara | Political Science, Law, Economics |
Top Universities in Turkey for International Students
1. Cankaya University
Çankaya University is a foundation university in Ankara. It has five faculties covering arts and sciences, economics and administrative sciences, law, architecture, and engineering, in addition to graduate and vocational education.
English is the primary language of instruction in most programs, although there are exceptions, including programs in law and certain vocational fields. The university also operates an English preparatory school and research centers in areas such as women’s studies. Applicants should check the language and preparatory requirements for their chosen program.
2. Ankara University
Ankara University is a public research university formally established in 1946. It is widely recognized as the first university founded by the Republic of Türkiye, although several of its constituent schools and faculties trace their histories to earlier institutions. Its Faculty of Medicine, established in 1945, was the first medical faculty created during the republican era.
The university offers education across medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, law, political science, engineering, agriculture, science, languages, communication, and the social sciences. Its location in Türkiye’s capital supports connections with government bodies, research institutions, hospitals, and international organizations. International applicants should consult the university’s current admissions portal for accepted examinations, program requirements, tuition fees, and Turkish-language proficiency rules.
One student’s journey: At Ankara University, Abdul Moiz Uppal is pursuing a bachelor’s in Political Science and Public Administration after winning the fully funded Türkiye Bursları scholarship. He spent nearly a year researching universities and scholarships, strengthened his application with recommendation and motivation letters, a CV, language certificates, and a TOEFL result equivalent to IELTS 7.5 even though it was not required; the selection process then ran for about eight months, from his January application through a June interview to the August result. His scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, stipend, meals, health insurance, airfare and visa-related support, and he later earned selection for Erasmus+ mobility at Leipzig University while still completing his Ankara degree. View More Ankara University recipients →
3. Koç University
Koç University is a foundation research university in Istanbul. Its academic units include colleges of administrative sciences and economics, sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities, law, medicine, and nursing.
The vast majority of classes are taught in English, with limited exceptions in certain law and nursing courses. Koç University also offers international exchange and collaboration opportunities. Because partner lists and available places can change, students interested in institutions such as Cornell University or Georgetown University should confirm the current program-specific arrangements with the university.
A recipient’s path: Muhammad Furqan Zia, a Pakistani electrical engineer, enrolled in a PhD at Koç University on a fully funded industry-supported doctoral scholarship and spent about 18 months working in Professor ErtuÄŸrul BaÅŸar’s wireless-communications research lab. Zia says his applications stood out because of his existing publications and applied research, targeted alignment with specific labs, a coherent statement of purpose, and recommendation letters containing concrete examples rather than generic praise. He later left Koç to continue his PhD at Université du Québec in Canada on another fully funded scholarship, where his story says he is now in the final stages of the doctorate. View More Koç University recipients →
4. Hacettepe University
- Admissions
- Selected Academic Areas: Health Sciences, Engineering, Fine Arts
Hacettepe University is a public university in Ankara with a particularly extensive presence in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and other health-related fields. It also offers programs in engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, education, fine arts, letters, and sports sciences.
The university currently reports 17 faculties, 15 institutes, four vocational schools, two schools, one conservatory, and 98 research and application centers. The language of instruction varies by program, so international applicants should verify the language and proficiency requirements listed for their chosen degree.
5. Ege University
Ege University is a public research university in Ä°zmir established in 1955 with the faculties of Medicine and Agriculture. It was the first university founded in the Aegean region and has since developed into a comprehensive institution offering undergraduate and graduate education across health sciences, engineering, natural sciences, agriculture, social sciences, education, communication, and the arts.
The university’s academic structure includes faculties, graduate schools, vocational schools, and interdisciplinary research centers. International undergraduate applicants are generally evaluated using TR-YÖS results, while prospective master’s and doctoral students apply directly to the graduate school responsible for their intended program. Applicants should consult the university’s current admissions and tuition pages because requirements, available places, and fees may differ by program and academic year.
One student’s journey: Shehneela Jamil earned a fully funded Türkiye Burslari Scholarship that placed her at Ege University for a Master’s in Physics; her application included seven graduate-scholarship questions, a proposed research topic and short research proposal, followed by a panel interview based on her submitted application. Ege was her third university choice, but she spent three years in Türkiye, including a preparatory year in which she reached C2 Turkish, with the scholarship covering tuition, travel, accommodation, health insurance, language study, and a monthly stipend. After her Ege degree, she went on to a second fully funded master’s through the Erasmus Mundus BIOPHAM program, studying across Italy, Spain, and Poland. View More Ege University recipients →
- Ege University Graduate Outcomes: Dr. Ousman Bajinka, who studied Master’s in Basic and Industrial Microbiology at Ege University, went on to complete a PhD in Microbiology at Central South University and graduated as an Outstanding International Graduating Student in 2023.
6. Sabanci University
Sabancı University is a foundation university in Istanbul developed around an interdisciplinary and department-free undergraduate model. The process of establishing the university began in 1994, followed by a search conference in 1995 that examined different approaches to higher education.
The university’s main academic units are the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Sabancı Business School. Undergraduate students begin with the Foundations Development Program before progressing into their chosen academic areas. Research is conducted through numerous laboratories, projects, and interdisciplinary centers.
7. Bilkent University
Bilkent University is an English-medium foundation university in Ankara. It offers undergraduate and graduate education across engineering, science, business, economics, humanities, law, education, political science, music, and other fields.
The university has an international community of students and faculty and provides cultural, artistic, academic, and recreational activities on campus. International applicants should consult the current admissions, tuition, and scholarship pages because fees and award conditions are reviewed periodically.
8. Boğaziçi University
Boğaziçi University traces its academic roots to Robert College, which opened in 1863. The university now offers programs through faculties and academic units covering engineering, science, economics and administrative sciences, humanities and social sciences, education, law, and other fields.
Programs such as computer engineering, industrial engineering, and electrical and electronics engineering are among its available fields of study. International applicants should use the Global Students portal for the current application process, accepted examinations, required documents, English proficiency rules, tuition fees, and application fee information.
9. Ozyegin University
Özyeğin University is a foundation university established in 2007 by the Hüsnü M. Özyeğin Foundation. Its academic structure includes seven faculties and three graduate schools, with programs in architecture and design, engineering, business, social sciences, law, aviation, hospitality, and other fields.
The university emphasizes entrepreneurship, applied learning, and research. International undergraduate applicants are considered for admission scholarships as part of the application evaluation, without a separate scholarship application. Scholarship percentages, tuition fees, and continuation conditions should be checked on the current official page.
10. Sakarya University
Sakarya University is a public research university whose origins date to the Sakarya School of Engineering and Architecture, established in 1970. The institution later operated as an academy and then as a faculty of Istanbul Technical University before becoming an independent university in 1992.
The university offers programs across engineering, computer and information sciences, medicine, business, political science, humanities, education, law, communication, and other fields. It also emphasizes applied learning through models that combine classroom education with workplace experience. International applicants should review the current admissions rules, accepted examinations, program quotas, tuition fees, and language requirements published by the university’s International Student Center.
Kabineh Kpukumu’s path to Sakarya University: Kabineh Kpukumu, from Sierra Leone, pursued Sakarya’s Turkish-taught Master’s in Financial Economics through Türkiye Bursları in 2018, after a BSc in Economics with a 3.4/4.0 CGPA and about three years of professional experience. Because Türkiye Bursları handled university placement centrally, he concentrated on matching his interests to program requirements, gathering transcripts, references and authenticated credentials early, and refining his motivation letter and research proposal with feedback from mentors; he credited this deliberate preparation and clear alignment with the scholarship’s goals for strengthening his application. The fully funded award covered tuition, accommodation, health insurance, flights and a 950 TL monthly stipend, and he completed the MSc with a 3.7/4.0 CGPA, graduating with highest distinction and among the top two students in his cohort. View More Sakarya University recipients →
11. Ondokuz Mayıs University
Ondokuz Mayıs University is a public university in Samsun founded in 1975. It began its educational activities with 50 students and incorporated the Samsun Faculty of Medicine, which had previously operated under Hacettepe University. Faculties devoted to natural sciences, engineering, and agriculture were established during the university’s early development.
The university now provides undergraduate and graduate education across medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, agriculture, engineering, science, education, humanities, and other disciplines. Its academic environment includes research centers, laboratories, healthcare facilities, and international exchange opportunities. Prospective international students should consult the current admission guide for accepted qualifications, program quotas, language requirements, and registration procedures.
One student’s journey: Ondokuz Mayıs University was one of the degree institutions in Pakistani agronomist Adil Zia’s Erasmus Mundus International Master’s in Soil Science, a fully funded program spanning Turkey, Bulgaria, and Poland. After an earlier Erasmus Mundus attempt fell short, he spent the next year strengthening his profile through research, publications, online courses, and IELTS preparation; when he applied again in 2023, the emiSS program selected just 21 students from more than 1,000 applicants. Zia entered with a 3.96/4.00 agriculture degree and a Q1 publication, and he credits persistence, research experience, publications, academic achievement, and proactive learning with making his application competitive. View More Ondokuz Mayıs University recipients →
12. Sivas Cumhuriyet University
Sivas Cumhuriyet University is a comprehensive public university established in 1974 as part of initiatives commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye. Its academic development began with the Faculty of Medicine, after which the university expanded into numerous scientific, professional, and humanities-based disciplines.
The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs through faculties, graduate schools, and vocational schools. Available fields include medicine, engineering, natural sciences, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, law, education, communication, tourism, and the arts. International applicants should review the latest application guide and tuition schedule because admission criteria, accepted examinations, fees, and available places are updated by academic year.
One student’s journey: Riska Delvia entered a Physics master’s at Sivas Cumhuriyet University after completing her bachelor’s with a 92.76/100 final score and applying to the master’s with a 3.53/4.00 GPA. She prepared ALES and YDS scores—the latter was optional but could add evaluation points—and put particular effort into her letter of intent and research plan, getting feedback from professors and senior students while defining interests in solid-state physics and nanotechnology. Her studies are supported by the fully funded Türkiye Scholarships–ASEAN Joint Programme, covering tuition alongside a stipend, accommodation, health insurance, Turkish-language study and flights. View More Sivas Cumhuriyet University recipients →
13. Social Sciences University of Ankara
The Social Sciences University of Ankara, commonly known as ASBU, is a public research university established in 2013. Located in the historic Ulus district of Türkiye’s capital, it specializes in the social sciences and conducts teaching and research in several historically and culturally significant buildings.
ASBU offers undergraduate and graduate programs in political science, economics, business, law, international relations, psychology, sociology, languages, humanities, and Islamic studies. Most programs use English as their principal language of instruction, while the university also promotes multilingual learning and interdisciplinary research. International applicants should check the current admission guide for program-specific academic qualifications, language requirements, tuition fees, and application dates.
One student’s journey: Ethiopian scholar Esayas Bamlack Bishaw completed an MA in International Relations at Social Sciences University of Ankara in June 2024, funded by Türkiye Scholarships, after a BA in Political Science and International Relations from Addis Ababa University. In his full story, he says he prepared for about four months before his first IELTS attempt and earned a B2 score, which he says helped him secure both his Turkish and German scholarships; while studying in Turkey, he later raised his English level to C1. After graduating from Ankara, he continued to the University of Cologne for a Master’s in Political Science supported by the fully funded DAAD Leadership for Africa Scholarship. View More Social Sciences University of Ankara recipients →
FAQs for Studying in Turkey
Is Turkey a Good Place to Study for International Students?
According to Turkey’s Council of Higher Education, the country currently has 208 universities and more than six million higher education students. Turkey participates in the Bologna Process and uses tools such as the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System to improve transparency, comparability, and academic mobility.
However, participation in the Bologna Process does not mean that every Turkish degree is automatically recognized for admission, employment, or professional licensing in every European country. Recognition is determined by the relevant university, employer, professional regulator, or national authority. Students planning to enter a regulated profession should verify recognition before enrolling.
Living in Turkey can vary considerably in cost depending on the city, accommodation type, and lifestyle. For example, METU’s 2026 guidance for Ankara estimates that total monthly expenses may begin at approximately TRY 15,000 and can exceed TRY 40,000, depending mainly on housing and lifestyle. Students should prepare a city-specific budget using current university guidance.
Can International Students Work in Turkey While Studying?
International students enrolled in associate, undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs may work in Turkey if they obtain the required student work permit. For associate and undergraduate students, the right to work begins after the first year of study, and working time may not exceed 24 hours per week.
Graduate and doctoral students may also work if they obtain a work permit. Enrollment alone does not authorize employment, and students should confirm the current rules with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security before accepting a position. Scholarship recipients should also check whether their award imposes additional employment restrictions. Information about scholarships in Turkey should be read together with each scholarship provider’s official conditions.
Can International Students Stay in Turkey After Graduation?
Graduates of a Turkish higher education program may apply for a short-term residence permit within six months of graduation. This graduation-based permit may be issued once for a maximum of one year. It is intended to provide lawful residence after the student’s study-based status ends, but approval remains subject to the applicable requirements.
A graduate who obtains employment will generally need an appropriate work permit. Depending on the application route, the employer may submit the work-permit application through the Ministry’s electronic system. A valid work permit generally also functions as a residence permit for its period of validity. Students should distinguish these rules from the requirements for a student visa or student residence permit.
The main work-permit categories include fixed-term, permanent, and independent work permits, as well as the Turquoise Card for qualifying applicants. A new employee does not automatically qualify for permanent or independent status, and eligibility depends on the applicant’s circumstances and the applicable legislation.
Turkey currently has 208 universities offering programs across a broad range of academic fields. English-taught programs are available at many institutions, but their availability differs by university, degree level, and department. Students can explore fields such as business, engineering, and medicine. Tuition fees vary substantially between public and foundation universities and may also differ by program and academic year.
We hope this article on the best universities in Turkey for international students was helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
