How to Apply to Universities in Turkey (2027 Step-by-Step Guide)

To apply to a university in Turkey, you choose your programs, get an accepted exam result or diploma (TR-YÖS, SAT, IB, A-levels or your national exam, depending on the university), and submit an online application directly on each university's international admissions portal. Once you receive an acceptance letter, you apply for a Turkish student visa.

Each university sets its own dates, documents and fees, so the hardest part is staying organised. This guide gives you the order of steps, real 2026/27 examples and a checklist. If you want a scholarship as well, you apply separately through Türkiye Scholarships.

Two routes: self-funded or Türkiye Scholarships

You can do both. Many students apply for Türkiye Scholarships in January–February and apply directly to universities as a backup, because scholarship results only come in early August.

Step-by-step: applying directly to Turkish universities

1. 1

   Shortlist programs and check the rules

   Use the Study in Türkiye program search to find English-taught programs, then open each university's international admissions page. Note which exams it accepts, the minimum scores for your country, the deadline and the fee.

2. 2

   Book an accepted exam

   Register for TR-YÖS at tryos.osym.gov.tr and pay the fee by card in time, or the application is void. Some universities instead accept SAT, IB, A-levels or your national exam.

3. 3

   Prepare your documents

   Typically passport, high-school diploma (or temporary graduation certificate), transcript, exam results and, where required, an English certificate. See documents, translation and legalization.

4. 4

   Apply online on each university's portal

   Fill in the form, upload documents and choose your programs. Some universities limit how many programs you can choose (for example, two or three per application).

5. 5

   Pay any application fee

   Fees differ: for 2026/27 METU charged nothing for undergraduate international applications, Hacettepe charged a 2,500 TL service fee and Boğaziçi charged USD 103.

6. 6

   Receive the result and pay any deposit

   Some universities issue a conditional offer and ask for a deposit before the final acceptance letter. For example, Sabancı asks for a non-refundable USD 2,000 pre-payment after an offer.

7. 7

   Apply for the student visa

   Study in Türkiye advises applying as soon as you receive your admission letter. Follow our Turkey student visa guide.

8. 8

   Travel, register and get your residence permit

   Register at the university with your original documents, then apply for the Student Residence Permit on e-İkamet within your visa period.

Real deadlines: 2026/27 examples

These dates are from official university pages for the 2026/27 academic year. Most are now closed, but they show the pattern you should expect for 2027/28. New dates are usually published by each university, so check again before you plan.

TR-YÖS: dates and fees

TR-YÖS is ÖSYM's Exam for Foreign Students. For 2026, TR-YÖS/1 applications ran from 14 January to 3 February 2026 (late registration 9–11 February), with the exam on 12 April 2026. TR-YÖS/2 applications ran from 9 July to 3 August 2026 (late 7–11 August), the exam was on 11 October 2026 and results are due on 5 November 2026. The 2027 sessions were not yet on the ÖSYM calendar in mid-October 2026.

Fees are paid by card through ÖSYM and are not refunded. Some universities only accept the official ÖSYM TR-YÖS, not other universities' own YÖS exams or online YÖS, so check before you choose an exam.

Bachelor's vs master's and PhD applications

Bachelor's applications are usually handled by the university's international students office. Master's and PhD applications are often handled by the graduate schools (institutes), with separate dates each semester. Graduate programs may ask for a statement of purpose, reference letters, ALES or GRE, and an English score at the time of application. METU, for example, requires an English score to apply for graduate study and charges USD 55 per program.

For graduate registration, non-health programs need a YÖK School Recognition Letter for your bachelor's university, while health fields with clinical practice need a full Diploma Equivalence Certificate. See Turkey admission requirements.

A realistic timeline for the 2027/28 intake

The dates below are a planning guide built from the official rules above, not new deadlines. Only use exact dates once the university or ÖSYM has published them for 2027/28.

What happens after you are accepted

An acceptance is not the end of the process. Universities usually ask you to come in person for final registration with your original documents. Several universities in our data list extra items at this stage: METU asks for originals plus an equivalence letter for your high-school diploma from the Turkish Ministry of National Education (MEB) or an embassy, and Sakarya University lists MEB equivalence, general health insurance and the tuition payment.

• Bring original diplomas, transcripts and translations, not only scans.
• Pay the first instalment of tuition by the date the university gives you.
• Ask the international office for your student certificate, which you need for the residence permit.
• Apply for General Health Insurance (SGK) within three months of first registration, or you will need private insurance for your permit.
• If you are not exempt, sit the university's English proficiency exam or join the preparatory year.

Applying from Afghanistan

• Check the university's country table: some accept the Kankor or the Afghan school certificate with a minimum, while others (for example Bursa Technical University for 2026/27, and Ordu University in its 2025/26 table) accept Afghan applicants only with TR-YÖS.
• TR-YÖS/2 in 2026 had centres in Herat, Kabul, Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif, and nearby in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Tashkent and Dushanbe.
• Afghan documents cannot be apostilled, so ask each university which legalization and translation it accepts before you submit.
• Plan extra time for the visa: confirm with the Turkish mission that it is accepting student visa applications before you book.

Mistakes to avoid

• Booking IELTS before checking. Many universities in Turkey do not list IELTS: METU does not accept IELTS taken on or after 24 December 2022, and ITU and Sabancı do not list it for bachelor's applicants.
• Paying agents for applications. Several universities state that applications are only through their official portal; Istanbul Medipol says applicants cannot be charged for applying.
• Missing the fee payment. TR-YÖS registrations and some university applications are void if you do not pay on time.
• Using an unaccepted exam. A YÖS from another university or an online YÖS may not count.
• Applying for the visa too late. Apply as soon as you have the acceptance letter.

Deadlines move every year. Track deadlines for free on FindUniPath and see all our guides on the Turkey country hub.