Turkey — Study (Master's and PhD (state and private universities))

Main requirements

A master's needs a bachelor's degree and a PhD usually a master's (e.g. İstanbul Ticaret requires a thesis master's for PhD). Graduate admission is run by each university's graduate school, which publishes its own criteria and dates; METU, for example, tells applicants to contact the relevant graduate school directly. Many state programmes ask for ALES (a Turkish-language exam) or GRE/GMAT and an interview: METU, for example, asks international applicants for ALES or GRE (GRE minimums mostly around 149-155), and only rarely gives conditional admission without GRE.

Documents

Passport; bachelor's degree and transcript (plus master's for PhD); language certificate; CV; statement of purpose; recommendation letters if requested. Iran is not an Apostille party: first get your university documents certified through the Student Affairs Organization (or your university's equivalent), then an official Turkish translation, certification by Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Turkish embassy or a consulate general. After arrival the student permit needs: e-İkamet form, passport, student certificate, insurance, card-fee receipt and proof of address.

Language

English-taught programmes need an English certificate and Turkish-taught programmes a Turkish one; each university sets the minimum and the accepted tests. METU's graduate school, for example, accepts TOEFL iBT (79-95), PTE Academic (70-75) or its own exam but not IELTS, so check before booking a test. You can start with TÖMER for a Turkish programme; if the university refers you, you get a student permit.

Costs and proof of funds

Official 2026-2027 examples: METU charges internationals USD 375 per semester for graduate programmes; İstanbul Ticaret (private) charges USD 5,500-7,000 for a thesis master's and USD 6,800-8,000 for a PhD, whole programme; Bahçeşehir (private) USD 14,000 for a thesis master's and USD 40,000 for a PhD, whole programme. 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). For the student permit your own declaration is normally enough unless documents are requested; no permit fee (harç), only the card fee.

Steps and timeline

Shortlist programmes and note each graduate school's deadline (for example, METU took fall 2026-2027 applications from 23 February to 27 March 2026 and announced its next round for November-December 2026); legalise and translate documents; take language and, if required, ALES or GRE; apply and interview; get admission; travel visa-free and apply for a student permit in Türkiye.

Notes for Iranian applicants

No visa needed for up to 90 days. If you studied tuition-free at an Iranian state university, your full degree is released only after you clear the free-education service obligation (e.g. with a work certificate or by paying its cost, via the Student Affairs Organization portal); the provisional certificate is valid only for employment inside Iran. Men also need their military status cleared for the final certificate. Money transfers from Iran are difficult due to sanctions. 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. Low state-university graduate fees (e.g. METU) make this route attractive on a small budget.

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

Master's and PhD students can work with a work permit from the start, without the bachelor's first-year restriction, and the work permit does not cancel the student permit. After graduation 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 comes after 8 uninterrupted years, with student years counted at half.