Higher Education in Turkey

In Turkey, escalation of higher education to live up to the fully-globalizing world, in terms of both quality and quantity, has been adopted as the primary goal. The plans and programs made have always reflected this perception. As a matter of fact, since the foundation of the Republic until the present, important developments have been made in higher education from the aspect of quality and quantity. This development process, which started in 1933 when the Darulfunun was transformed into Istanbul University, gained momentum especially in recent years, and as of 2000, the number of universities reached 71, 18 of which are private foundation universities.

In Turkey, the higher education includes all the educational institutions after secondary education, which provide at least two years of higher education and educate students for associates, bachelors, masters or doctorate degree levels. Institutions of higher education consist of universities, faculties, institutes, schools of higher education, conservatories, vocational schools of higher education and application-research centers. During the 1999-2000 school year a total of 1,503,981 students, including the open university students, receive education at higher education institutions and a total of 64,169 faculty members work. In the structure of these 73 universities, 2 of which are still in the regulatory process of establishment, there are 561 faculties, 199 schools of higher education, 259 institutes and 474 vocational schools of higher education. With the objective of educating teaching staff for the universities, the number of students receiving education abroad with official and private scholarships are 29,196 with 21,282 at bachelors degree level and 7,914 at masters or doctorate degree levels.

A great majority of the students receiving higher education in Turkey are receiving Education and Contribution (Expenses) loans from the Higher Education Credit and Dormitories Institution (Yurt-Kur). Dormitories are provided to meet the accommodation needs of the students. The monthly student loans and loan allocation quotas are increased annually and it is ensured that more students benefit from this opportunity every year. At present, a total of 220,614 students at associates, bachelors, masters and doctorate degree levels are being paid educational loans and 228,435 students benefit from the contribution loans. A total of 174,373 students including 89,611 female and 84,762 male students benefit from the dormitory services, supported by nutrition, health, guidance and consultation services, and social, cultural, and athletic activities. Furthermore, the state, the private sector, and the nongovernmental organizations provide scholarships for the successful students.


Faculties and higher education institutions connected to the universities accept students according to the results of the one-stage examinations held once a year by the Center for Student Selection and Placement (OSYM) connected to the Higher Education Council. A separate examination is held every year by OSYM for the foreign students who want to receive their higher education in Turkey. Because the language of the examination is both in Turkish and English, it is not necessary to know Turkish in order to take this examination. Students who pass the examination and acquire the right to receive higher education in Turkey and whose knowledge of Turkish is inadequate, are considered to be on leave for one year to learn the language after they have registered at the university. The Turkish Education Center (TOMER), affiliated to Ankara University, provides services to teach Turkish to foreigners. Furthermore, universities in Istanbul and Izmir also offer courses for foreigners who want to learn Turkish.

The Higher Education System

All universities and higher education institutions were connected to the Higher Education Council (YOK) which was established by Law No. 2547 dated 6 November 1981. YOK is an autonomous organization having a public juristic personality within the framework of the duties and authorities given by the Higher Education Law, which regulates higher education and directs the activities of the higher education institutions. YOK prepares short and long-term plans to establish and develop higher education institutions and to educate in Turkey or abroad the teaching staff required and monitors the application. Furthermore, it provides for cooperation and coordination among the higher education institutions. The Higher Education Supervisory Board, OSYM and other related units for planning, research, development, evaluation, budget, investment and coordination are connected to YOK.

In the forefront of the activities planned on the subject of higher education in Turkey are the reorganization of the higher education system and freeing the higher education from a centralized and bureaucratic structure. It is planned for this purpose to increase the authority of the boards of directors of the universities and faculties, to have them acquire freedom of action on the subjects of creating sources and making expenses and to raise university- industry relations to the highest level. In 1998, a bag budget was applied at five universities. Furthermore, activities are continuing to transform YOK into an interuniversity coordination institution, to provide full autonomy to the universities and to give the opportunity for the representation of teaching staff members, research assistants and students in the administration of the university. Additionally, great importance is placed on the subject of making the education-training system and programs conform to the international educational system and standards. Activities are continuing for providing the rapid completion of the National Academic Network and Data Center that will support on the one hand, the integration of teaching with research and joint research and on the other hand, by providing universities and research and development institutions with a rapid access to the information sources in an electronic environment at a national and international level. In recent years activities have been accelerated for the development of the open university education besides formal education to provide the opportunity for obtaining the information and skills needed by extensive groups of persons and activities for raising the quality of open university education by effective utilization of contemporary education and communication technology.