Turkey — Study (Bachelor's at state universities (TR-YÖS, SAT or diploma GPA))

Main requirements

Turkish state universities have separate international quotas that YÖK approves every year (the 2026 quotas were adopted in June 2026). You must be in the final year of high school or a graduate and apply directly to each university. Each university sets its criteria: TR-YÖS, SAT, ACT, A-Level, IB, national exams or diploma GPA; since 2024-2025 state universities may not run their own entrance exams and all accept TR-YÖS.

Official METU example for Iran: high-school certificate with at least 90% success, or SAT 1200 (Math at least 700 for engineering, architecture and science programmes), or top 5th percentile in TR-YÖS. SAT and TR-YÖS results are valid for two years; diplomas do not expire. Meeting minimums does not guarantee admission; it is quota-based. Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law and teacher-training also have international quotas, usually with higher exam scores.

Foreign nationals who attended high school in Türkiye are excluded from the international quota and from 2026 must go through YKS.

Documents

Passport; diploma and full high-school transcript with GPA; exam score report (TR-YÖS, SAT etc.); language certificate; photos. Gazi, for instance, requires the diploma plus an official transcript of all years. Iran is not an Apostille party: per the Turkish embassy in Tehran, get an official Turkish translation, then certification by Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Turkish embassy or a consulate general (Tabriz, Urmia, Mashhad). After arrival the student permit needs the usual e-İkamet set: form, passport, student certificate, health insurance, card-fee receipt and proof of address.

Language

The admitting university assesses Turkish. Gazi 2026-2027 example: C1 Turkish before starting a fully Turkish-taught programme; B1 Turkish within two years for fully English-taught programmes, otherwise registration is cancelled. If the university refers you to its TÖMER language centre you get a student permit until the next academic year. Coming only for a Turkish course without a language-course or study visa does not qualify for a short-term language-course permit.

Costs and proof of funds

Minimum and maximum international tuition at state universities is set by presidential decision, and each university announces its figures. Official METU example for 2026-2027 entrants: engineering, architecture and sciences USD 1,200 per semester; humanities, economics and education USD 800 per semester; the English prep year costs the same; payment is in lira at the central-bank rate. Medicine and dentistry cost much more; official Ankara University example for 2026-2027 entrants (per year): medicine USD 9,900 in Turkish and USD 14,850 in English, dentistry USD 6,750 / 10,150, pharmacy USD 6,300 / 9,450. Application fees may apply (Gazi: USD 100). YÖK lets universities require a financial guarantee. No residence-permit fee (harç) for students, only the card fee. Living costs: METU estimates TRY 12,000-18,000 a month with a campus dorm and TRY 20,000-35,000 in a shared flat (about EUR 220-630, Ankara, June 2026); big cities like Istanbul usually cost more. For reference, the 2026 net minimum wage is TRY 28,075.50 a month (about EUR 510).

Steps and timeline

ÖSYM runs TR-YÖS twice a year: in 2026 on 12 April (registration 14 Jan-3 Feb) and 11 October (registration 9 Jul-3 Aug, results 5 Nov); 2027 dates were not yet published in October 2026. There is no TR-YÖS centre in Iran: the nearest abroad centres in 2026 were Erbil, Baghdad, Kirkuk, Baku, Ganja, Nakhchivan and Tbilisi, at least one of your centre choices must be in Türkiye, and the fee was TRY 3,700 in Türkiye, Iraq or Azerbaijan (TRY 1,650 in Georgia). University applications are usually spring/summer: METU 1 Jun-12 Jul 2026, Gazi 19-29 Jun 2026. After admission you pay tuition, travel visa-free, enrol in person and apply for a student permit on e-İkamet.

Notes for Iranian applicants

Iranians need no visa for up to 90 days and no study visa for university. None of the state universities we checked (METU, ITU, Ankara, İstanbul-Cerrahpaşa) lists Iran's Konkur as an accepted exam, so plan on diploma GPA, SAT or TR-YÖS. METU hasn't published how it converts a 20-point grade; a simple conversion puts its 90% bar at about 18/20, so with a lower GPA take SAT or TR-YÖS seriously. Male applicants who haven't finished military service need a conscription exit permit to leave Iran for study; whether you can get one depends on your level and situation, so check with Iran's conscription organisation before paying anything. Paying tuition from Iran is complicated by sanctions; arrange a route early.

After arrival (work while studying, post-study stay, path to permanent residence)

Bachelor's students may work part-time with a work permit after the first year. After graduation you must apply for a new permit within 10 days; applying within 6 months gives a one-time short-term permit of up to one year. Long-term residence needs 8 uninterrupted years, with student years counted at half.