Turkey has one of the largest higher education systems in Europe and the surrounding region. According to the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) 2025–2026 higher education statistics, Turkey has 208 higher education institutions serving 6,301,434 students. Turkey’s higher education system has expanded significantly over the years, and Turkish universities continue to attract both local and international applicants. Students can find programs in Turkish, English, and other languages, depending on the university and department.
The admission process involves several steps for each prospective student. Before applying to a university, future students should gather information about the requirements set by the universities and programs they are interested in. One important factor to consider is selectivity. Official university-wide acceptance rates are not consistently published by Turkish universities, so applicants should focus on program-specific admission requirements, quotas, entrance exams, language requirements, and past placement scores where available. This is the factor we will discuss in this article.
Universities in Turkey with Low Rates of Acceptance
1. Anadolu University
In 1982, Eskişehir Academy of Economic and Commercial Sciences became Anadolu University. Today, Anadolu University is especially known for open and distance education. Since the university does not publish an official university-wide acceptance rate, applicants should check the admission rules for their specific program.
Anadolu University is one of Turkey’s major public universities and is widely associated with lifelong learning. Its Open Education Faculty plays a major role in expanding access to higher education. The university states that its open and distance education system serves 1 million active students and has 4 million graduates, placing the system among the world’s mega universities.
The university offers programs through its faculties, graduate school, vocational schools, and other academic units. Current academic areas include pharmacy, humanities, education, fine arts, law, economics and administrative sciences, communication sciences, health sciences, tourism, open education, and several vocational fields.
2. Middle East Technical University
- Estimated Acceptance Rates: 20% to 30%
Middle East Technical University, commonly known as METU, is a public university based in Ankara. It is a strong option for students interested in engineering, natural sciences, architecture, economics, administrative sciences, education, and related fields. METU states that English is the only language of instruction in all of its degree programs.
For undergraduate applications, submitting an English proficiency score is not obligatory at the application stage. However, admitted students must prove English proficiency during registration by submitting a valid score or taking the METU English Proficiency Exam. Students who do not meet the required level attend the Department of Basic English for a one-year English Preparatory Class.
3. Ataturk University
- Estimated Acceptance Rates: 25% to 35%
Atatürk University is one of the best-known public higher education institutions in eastern Turkey. It is located in Erzurum and offers a large campus environment with a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs.
The university was founded in 1957 and began education in the 1958–1959 academic year with the Faculties of Science, Literature, and Agriculture. It started with 14 faculty members and 123 students.
Atatürk University now offers more than 450 graduate and undergraduate programs and hosts students from many countries. Prospective students should review the current admission requirements for the specific program they want to apply to, since selectivity can vary greatly by department.
4. Gazi University
- Estimated Acceptance Rates: 25% to 35%
Gazi University traces its roots to 1926, when it was founded under the leadership of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as a school for training teachers. In 1982, Gazi University was established, and the former teacher training school became Gazi Faculty of Education.
Today, Gazi University is a large public university in Ankara with programs across fields such as education, engineering, architecture, medicine, health sciences, technology, applied sciences, and social sciences. For international associate and bachelor’s degree applicants, Gazi University states that applications are evaluated according to university rules and that meeting the application criteria does not guarantee admission.
5. Ege University
- Estimated Acceptance Rates: 30% to 40%
Ege University is one of the oldest public universities in Turkey. It was established by Law No. 6595 on May 20, 1955, and began its educational life on November 5, 1955. Its first two faculties were the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Agriculture.
In 1982, part of Ege University was separated to help establish Dokuz Eylül University. Today, Ege University includes faculties, institutes, graduate schools, a State Conservatory of Turkish Music, vocational schools, rectorate units, and application and research centers. Its academic fields include medicine, agriculture, engineering, dentistry, pharmacy, education, communication, fisheries, nursing, health sciences, tourism, humanities, economics, administrative sciences, and other areas.
The university also works to create opportunities for students’ cultural, social, and personal development.
Pay attention to the admission requirements of the Turkish universities you decide to apply to. Since official acceptance rates are often unavailable, students should not rely on third-party acceptance-rate estimates alone. Instead, check the official university website for program quotas, accepted exams, language requirements, required documents, deadlines, and registration rules. The more selective the program is, the more important it is to prepare carefully for language tests, entrance exams, transcripts, and application documents.
We hope this article on universities in Turkey with low acceptance rates was helpful. If you are interested in studying in Europe, make sure to check out the Study in Turkey and Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
