Studying | Healthcare | Accommodation | Travel | Visa | Student Voice
Since the days of the Ottoman Empire, the education system in Turkey has come a long way. Today, with Turkeys aspiring entrance into the EU, its education system is still evolving, with the extension of compulsory education to eight years, and class sizes shrinking by 20 pupils.
Turkey is home to 54 state-universities and 18 private-universities, with Istanbul and Ankara as the main academic cities. Recently, several Turkish universities have signed Socrates-Erasmus exchange agreements and other similar co-operation agreements, opening up Turkey to international students.
Your first point of contact in applying to a Turkish university is to contact the university's Registrar's Office, who will be able to supply information and contact regarding the application procedure and the specific admission requirements.
Under the authority of YÖK, The Council for Higher Education is the student selection and placement centre. The YÖK website provides more details of Turkish universities.
The web page of the Turkish Student Selection and Placement Center, which includes the YOS Guide, is a useful resource. It is also recommended to contact your home university to enquire about any agreements they have with universities in Turkey.
Although most Turkish universities have on-campus medical centres, all international students are recommended to take out their own private healthcare, in case of an emergency.
In cases of illness, international students are permitted to use the health service, but will be required to pay for the service. International students are responsible for costs of hospitalisation or for any medical service or treatment not available at the university health centre.
All hospitals have an emergency room that is open 24 hours a day. Physicians and pharmacies are on call nights and weekends.
Almost all Turkish campus universities have a variety of accommodation facilities available to you. As well as state owned dormitories, shared rented accommodation, particularly in main cities, is a common option.
State and campus dormitories are quite secure, and most are equipped with kitchens and cafeterias. Dormitories are a great way to meet other students and immerse yourself in local student life, with some offering you the option of either a shared or private room.
Turkey is served by regular coach services linking Austria, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Switzerland, and Greece; also Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Syria. Railways also link Turkey with many European cities.
Most of the international airlines offer flights to Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, and Adana, linking many worldwide cities. For more information about Turkish Railways, see Turkish State Railways.
Within Turkey, public transport is widely used and is provided by buses, minibuses (dolmus) and subways (limited to major cities).
Check with local public transport providers for various discounts available to students.
Student Visas
Students who are not Turkish citizens will require a student visa to enter Turkey and pursue their study with a local university.
Student visas must be obtained before you arrive in Turkey, from your local Turkish Consulate in your home country. You must forward a copy of your 'Letter of Acceptance' from your host university within Turkey, together with your completed visa application form, and fee, to the Turkish Consulate. The process of issuing a student visa for Turkey generally takes around 6 weeks.
A residence permit should also be obtained by application to the local authorities within one month of your arrival to Turkey. Ask your host university for more information and contacts.
Visit the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs for information regarding Turkish Consulates abroad.
Note: Student visas cannot be obtained within Turkey.
Tourist Visa
These can usually be obtained at the point of entry into Turkey for all EU citizens, if applicable, at a cost of around £10/ €15. Check with your local consulate before jetting-off.
Learn from the experiences of other students and share your experiences of going overseas at International Student Blogs and Forums.
