Schools and Universities in Türkiye: 2026 Guide

Schooling in Türkiye is run by the Ministry of National Education (MEB): 12 years are compulsory, split 4+4+4 into primary, middle and high school, and state schools teach in Turkish. Foreign children can attend state schools once the family's residence status is in order, while MEB-licensed international schools are reserved for foreign-national pupils. Universities are overseen by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), which counted 208 higher education institutions in 2025-2026, and international students apply to each university under a separate foreign-student quota.

Key facts

How the school system works

MEB sets the curriculum, calendar and enrolment rules for state and private schools alike. Since the 2012-2013 school year, compulsory education has had three four-year stages.

The 2026-2027 school calendar

Foreign children in state schools

Residence comes first. MEB's Secondary Education Institutions Regulation asks foreign pupils for a passport and a student visa, but children of foreigners who are allowed to live and work in Türkiye do not need the student visa if a parent documents a work permit or a residence permit of at least six months. Line up the parent's permit and the child's own residence permit before term starts.

The foreign identity number. Foreigners on a residence permit receive a foreign identity number (yabancı kimlik numarası), shown on the permit card. Schools issue a foreign pupil's records using that number, or the passport and residence-card details, and pupils are enrolled in e-Okul, MEB's student information system.

Placement and equivalence. At high-school level, pupils arriving from abroad are placed by a provincial commission based on an equivalence certificate (denklik belgesi) for their previous schooling and how well their programme fits. A 2025 amendment states that foreign pupils who join through equivalence, register by the end of October and stay at the same school until classes end are entitled to a diploma.

Fees and language. State schools do not charge tuition, and lessons are in Turkish, so a child without Turkish needs an adjustment period. Our Istanbul schooling guide covers how families weigh the options.

Private and international schools

Private schools operate under the Private Education Institutions Law (No. 5580) and are licensed and inspected by MEB. They fall into distinct legal categories:

• Private Turkish schools follow the MEB curriculum, teach mainly in Turkish and often add intensive English.
• International private schools (milletlerarası okullar) serve foreign-national pupils and usually teach a foreign curriculum, such as IB, British or American programmes.
• Foreign and minority schools are separate historic categories with their own admission rules.

MEB reported 328 schools in the international, minority and foreign categories in August 2024. Turchina does not rank or endorse individual schools; check each school's MEB licence category and the programme it is authorised to teach.

International schools and Turkish citizenship

Turkish citizens cannot newly enrol in an international school. In October 2026 MEB instructed all 81 provincial governorships to check documents proving each pupil's foreign nationality, as reported by Türkiye Gazetesi. A pupil who acquires Turkish citizenship while enrolled may stay until completing their current school stage. Families pursuing Turkish citizenship should plan the school route before the citizenship decision.

We could not verify any MEB-licensed Chinese-medium school, so plan Chinese reading and writing alongside school.

Universities: YÖK and the system

YÖK's 2025-2026 statistics count 208 higher education institutions and 6,301,434 students: 5,445,808 at state universities, 838,664 at foundation universities and 16,962 at foundation vocational schools. Foundation universities are non-profit private universities set up by foundations. Each programme is taught in Turkish, English or both, and each university sets its own tuition for international students every year.

Admission for international students

YÖK publishes annual principles for admitting students from abroad; within them, each university sets its foreign-student quota, the exams it accepts and its minimum scores.

• TR-YÖS. According to YÖK's 2026 principles, ÖSYM has run a central foreign-student exam, TR-YÖS, since 2023 and twice a year since 2024. Some universities have also run their own exams; check which results your target university accepts on its admission guide and at osym.gov.tr.
• Other results. Results of SAT-type entrance tests are valid for two years; school-leaving qualifications such as the IB Diploma, GCE A Levels and the Abitur have no time limit. Some universities also list national exams such as China's gaokao, each with its own minimum.
• Citizenship status. Applicants who hold or acquire Turkish citizenship may not qualify for the foreign-student quota, so check the current year's rules first.
• Language. English-taught programmes ask for proof of English. Turkish-taught programmes generally expect C1 Turkish (a TÖMER or Yunus Emre certificate); students below that level usually take a one-year preparatory course. See our Turkish language courses.
• Scholarships. Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları) is the government's scholarship programme for international students; eligibility, coverage and deadlines are published each year on turkiyeburslari.gov.tr.
• Student residence permit. After enrolment, students apply to the Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi) for a student residence permit and renew it each academic year.

Our university admission service and the YÖS and admission guide go into each route.

Recognition of diplomas

For schooling in Türkiye, previous school years and certificates from abroad are assessed through MEB equivalence (denklik), which decides the grade a pupil enters; universities may also ask for the high-school diploma's equivalence at registration, so check the admission guide. To use a degree earned abroad in Türkiye, for example for further study or a regulated profession, the holder applies to YÖK for recognition (denklik).

Frequently asked questions

Can foreign children attend Turkish state schools?

Yes, foreign children with valid residence status can attend state schools, which do not charge tuition. For high school, MEB accepts a parent's work permit or residence permit of at least six months in place of a student visa. Lessons are in Turkish.

Can a child who becomes a Turkish citizen stay at an international school?

A pupil who acquires Turkish citizenship while enrolled may continue until the end of their current school stage. Turkish citizens cannot newly enrol in international schools, and MEB tightened checks on this in October 2026.

Does ÖSYM still run the YÖS exam?

Yes, ÖSYM runs TR-YÖS, a central exam for foreign applicants, held twice a year since 2024. Each university decides whether it accepts TR-YÖS, SAT or other results and sets its own minimum scores.

Do I need Turkish to study at a Turkish university?

Not for English-taught programmes, which ask for proof of English instead. Turkish-taught programmes generally expect C1 Turkish, and students below that level usually take a one-year preparatory course first.

When does the Turkish school year start?

The 2026-2027 school year started on 14 September 2026 and ends on 25 June 2027. The mid-year break runs from 25 January to 5 February 2027.

How many universities does Türkiye have?

YÖK counted 208 higher education institutions in 2025-2026. They comprise 129 state universities, 75 foundation universities and 4 foundation vocational schools.