Over the past 15 years, Turkey has become an increasingly popular destination for international students. However, admissions requirements, application calendars, and available seats vary by university and program. Therefore, if you are interested in joining a Turkish university, you should review the current quotas and requirements on the university’s official admissions page before applying.
Important note: Turkish universities generally publish admission requirements, quotas, evaluation rules, and application calendars, but they do not consistently publish official acceptance rates. For this reason, the acceptance rates below should not be treated as verified official figures.
However, there are large public universities in Turkey that offer many programs and accept international applications through official online portals. In this article, we will look at these universities and what you need to know before applying.
Universities in Turkey with High Rates of Acceptance
1. Süleyman Demirel University
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: Around 80% to 89%
Süleyman Demirel University is a public university located in Isparta, Turkey. It was founded on July 11, 1992, and is named after Süleyman Demirel. The university offers undergraduate and graduate study options, and international applicants should follow the current online application instructions published by the university. Application steps may include creating an account, completing pre-registration, selecting the relevant exam center or application option, paying any required fee, and uploading the necessary documents through the official system.
2. Hacettepe University
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: Around 79%
Hacettepe University is a major public research university in Ankara, Turkey’s capital. The university’s official English website lists more than 47,000 students, more than 500 curricula, and more than 3,200 teaching staff. Its main institutional page also lists 17 faculties, 15 institutes, four vocational schools, two schools, one conservatory, and 98 research and application centers. Hacettepe accepts international students, and undergraduate international student applications are submitted online according to the requirements, quotas, evaluation rules, and calendar announced by the university each year.
3. Hatay Mustafa Kemal University
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: Around 66%
Hatay Mustafa Kemal University is a public university in Hatay, Turkey. It was founded in 1992 as Mustafa Kemal University and was officially renamed Hatay Mustafa Kemal University in 2018. The university is located in Antakya and İskenderun and enrolls approximately 24,900 students. Students can find a range of academic options across its faculties, institutes, research centers, conservatory, and university hospital. Prospective international students should check the university’s current admissions announcements for the latest application calendar and requirements.
4. İnönü University
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: Around 63%
İnönü University is a public university in Malatya, Turkey. It was established in 1975, and the World Higher Education Database lists 30,000 students for the 2023–2024 statistics year. International applicants should use the university’s current online application system and check program-level requirements before applying. Depending on the program, students may need to meet exam, diploma, transcript, language, or other admissions requirements listed by the university.
5. Atatürk University
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: Around 50% to 59%
Atatürk University is a public research university in Erzurum, Turkey. It was founded in 1957 and offers more than 450 graduate and undergraduate programs. The university’s admissions page also states that its main campus covers 6.5 square kilometers and includes students from 92 nations. International applicants should use the university’s admissions portal and follow the current requirements for the program they want to study. Graduate applicants, for example, may need to submit an online application form, transcripts, a CV or resume, letters of recommendation, and other documents required by the program.
6. Gaziantep University
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: Around 50% to 59%
Gaziantep University is a public university in Gaziantep, Turkey. It became an independent state university on June 27, 1987. Its official Study in Türkiye profile lists 20 faculties, five institutes, two colleges, and 11 vocational schools. The university accepts international students in various fields, but admission requirements and required documents can vary by program and application period. Applicants should review the current admissions page carefully before submitting their citizenship information, education documents, exam results, and other required materials.
7. Van Yüzüncü Yıl University
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: Around 40%
Van Yüzüncü Yıl University is a public university in Van, Turkey. It was founded in 1982 and now operates under the name Van Yüzüncü Yıl University. The official Study in Türkiye profile lists 20 faculties at the university. International students should follow the university’s current application announcements, which provide links to quotas, required documents, the application portal, and the application calendar. Applicants should make sure that all required documents are submitted through the official system before the stated deadline.
8. Gazi University
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: Around 40%
Founded in 1926, Gazi University is a public university located in Ankara, Turkey. Its official website lists faculties in areas such as dentistry, pharmacy, science, education, nursing, architecture, engineering, health sciences, sport sciences, technology, medicine, and applied sciences. It also lists schools, vocational colleges, graduate schools, distance education, and research units. International student applications for associate and bachelor’s degree programs are made online through Gazi University’s Student Information System during the announced application period.
9. Ege University
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: Around 36%
Ege University is a public university in İzmir, Turkey. Its first two faculties, Medicine and Agriculture, were founded in 1955. The university’s official history also lists 40 application and research centers. Ege University remains a large public institution with programs in fields such as medicine, agriculture, health sciences, engineering, social sciences, and related areas. International applicants for associate and bachelor’s degree programs should follow the university’s current international student application and admission procedure, including any exam, document, and deadline requirements.
10. Istanbul Technical University
- Estimated Acceptance Rate: Around 35%
Founded in 1773, Istanbul Technical University is one of the world’s oldest technical universities. It is a public technical university in Istanbul, with a strong focus on engineering, architecture, science, technology, and related fields. The official Study in Türkiye profile lists 14 faculties and three vocational schools. Current university profiles also list a large student body and a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. International applicants should check the relevant ITU admissions page for current program quotas, language requirements, deadlines, and required documents
Because official acceptance rates are not consistently published by Turkish universities, students should not rely only on third-party acceptance estimates. Instead, check each university’s current application calendar, program quotas, required exams, required documents, and language requirements before applying.
We hope that this article on universities in Turkey with high 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!
