Costs
Tuition
Public universities: €600–1,500/year. Private universities: €5,000–20,000/year. Koç, Sabancı, Bilkent offer generous merit scholarships that can make them comparable to public university costs.
Living Costs
Istanbul: €500–700/month. Ankara, Izmir: €400–550/month. Smaller cities: €300–450/month. University dormitories: €50–150/month (KYK dormitories extremely cheap).
Total Annual Cost
€5,400–9,000/year (public university). Among the lowest in the world for quality education.
Part-Time Work
24 hours/week with work permit (employer applies). Full-time during breaks. Average earnings: €200–400/month.
Post-Study & Immigration
Post-Study Work Visa
1-year residence permit for job search. Can switch to work permit. Turkish language ability significantly helps job prospects.
Path to Permanent Residency
8 years of legal residence → Long-term residence. Turkish citizenship through various routes (investment, exceptional merit). Longer path than EU countries.
Language Requirements
Both Turkish-taught and English-taught programmes available. Top private universities mostly English. Public universities mostly Turkish. TÖMER for Turkish. IELTS/TOEFL for English. Türkiye Scholarships includes 1-year Turkish language course.
Visa Processing
4–8 weeks. Student visa at Turkish embassy. Need: admission letter, financial proof, health insurance. Many nationalities can get e-visa or visa on arrival (but need proper student visa for study).
Top Universities
| University | QS 2025 | Tuition (Int'l) | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koç University (Istanbul) | #420 | €15,000–20,000 (but heavy scholarships) | Business, Engineering, Medicine, Social Sciences |
| Bilkent University (Ankara) | #481 | Merit scholarships common | Engineering, Business, Sciences, Humanities |
| Boğaziçi University (Istanbul) | #501 | €600–1,500 | Engineering, Sciences, Education — Turkey's most selective |
| Middle East Technical University (Ankara) | #361 | €600–1,500 | Engineering, Architecture, Natural Sciences |
| Sabancı University (Istanbul) | #551 | Merit scholarships common | Engineering, Management, Arts, Social Sciences |
Scholarships
Türkiye Scholarships
Award: Full tuition + ₺3,000–4,500/month + flights + accommodation + insurance + Turkish course
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Jan–Feb
World's largest scholarship. 14,000+ places. No minimum GPA. Includes 1-year Turkish language training.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Jan–Feb
World's largest scholarship. 14,000+ places. No minimum GPA. Includes 1-year Turkish language training.
Koç University Full Scholarship
Award: 100% tuition + stipend
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
For outstanding students. Koç admits most international students with scholarships.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
For outstanding students. Koç admits most international students with scholarships.
Bilkent Comprehensive Scholarship
Award: 100% tuition + accommodation + stipend
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
Merit-based. One of Turkey's most generous university scholarships.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
Merit-based. One of Turkey's most generous university scholarships.
TÜBITAK (for researchers)
Award: Varies
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Ongoing
Turkey's Scientific and Technological Research Council. For research master's and PhD.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Ongoing
Turkey's Scientific and Technological Research Council. For research master's and PhD.
YTB Foundation Scholarships
Award: Monthly stipend + tuition support
Eligibility: Various · Deadline: Varies
Through Presidency for Turks Abroad. Multiple programmes.
Eligibility: Various · Deadline: Varies
Through Presidency for Turks Abroad. Multiple programmes.
2026 Policy Updates
What changed: Türkiye Scholarships programme continues to expand. Turkey targeting 350,000 international students. University quality improving rapidly — several Turkish universities entering global top 500. Currency fluctuations make Turkey even cheaper for foreign-currency earners.
Best For
Students from Africa and South Asia (Türkiye Scholarships heavily targets these regions). Budget-conscious students wanting lowest possible costs. Those interested in a unique cultural experience. Medical students (affordable English-taught medical programmes). Students who don't meet GPA requirements elsewhere (Türkiye Scholarships has no GPA minimum).
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