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The Higher Education System in Turkey
The higher education system is an important part of the Turkish education system with more than seven million students and higher education institutions spread all over the country. This greatness that we have is the most important guarantee for the future of our country.
Turkey ranks first among the countries of the European Higher Education Area
Turkey ranks first among the countries of the European Higher Education Area in terms of both the number of students in higher education and the increase in the number of students over the years. In the last four years, the number of international students has been 48 thousand and has exceeded 140 thousand in December 2018 thanks to the targeted internationalisation policy.
General structure
In 1981, the administration of higher education in Turkey was extensively restructured in accordance with the new Higher Education Law (No. 2547). The system was centralised and all higher education institutions were placed under the Council of Higher Education (CoHE). After this restructuring, all higher education institutions were designed as universities. Higher education was extended to the whole country, university application was centralised, and centralised university examination and placement was introduced. In addition to the public universities, the first non-profit foundation university in Turkey started teaching in 1986.
Since 2012, compulsory education in Turkey has lasted 12 years and is divided into three levels (primary, elementary and secondary).
Types of higher education institutions and academic units
Faculty (University):
A department that conducts higher education, scientific research and publications. It may have various departments and degree programmes attached to it. Students earn a bachelor”s degree at the end of at least four years of study.
Graduate school:
An institution at universities that engages in graduate education, scientific research and applications. Graduate schools award the degrees MA, MSc or PhD.
4-year school:
A higher education institution primarily responsible for training in a specific profession. It lasts eight semesters.
Conservatoire:
A higher education institution that trains artists in music and the performing arts. It lasts eight semesters.
Post- Secondary Vocational School:
A higher education institution aimed at training people in specific professions and offering classes for four semesters.
Research and Application Centre:
A higher education institution that conducts research and applied studies to meet the need for applied studies in various fields and to provide preparatory and support activities for various professional fields with the aim of supporting higher education training.
Degrees
Associate”s Degree (short cycle):
Awarded upon completion of a two-year programme of study. Associate”s degrees are offered by universities and post-secondary vocational schools. Some distance learning programmes are also available. Associate degree programmes may require an internship.
Bachelor”s degree (1st cycle):
Awarded upon completion of four years of study and 240 ECTS. The duration of study for dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy is five years, that for medicine six years. Degrees in these four fields are considered equivalent to a Master”s degree.
Master”s programme (2nd cycle):
Two-year programme leading to a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Sciences (MS) degree. There are two types of Master”s degree programmes, with or without a thesis. The Master”s programme with thesis is a two-year programme usually consisting of courses of at least 120 ECTS followed by the submission of a thesis. Programmes without a thesis are to be completed in one or one and a half years and require the completion of graduate courses of at least 90 credits and a semester project.
Doctoral programme (3rd cycle):
Usually an eight-semester programme leading to the doctoral degree. It consists of courses totalling 180-240 ECTS, a qualifying examination, a dissertation proposal, a dissertation and its oral defence. After successful completion of the coursework and the qualifying examination, students must submit the dissertation and defend it orally before an examination committee.
Specialisation in Medicine Programmes:
They are equivalent to doctoral programmes and are conducted at medical faculties, university hospitals and research and training hospitals. For specialisation in medicine, there is a selection examination in various medical specialties for graduates of medical schools. The specialist candidates must submit a dissertation and defend it before an examination board.
Mastery of the Arts:
This is a postgraduate course of at least six semesters in the visual and performing arts, equivalent to a doctorate. It requires the presentation of an original work of art or (in music and the performing arts) an outstanding creative achievement.
International Student Approvals
Foreign students who wish to pursue undergraduate studies in Turkey must have obtained their secondary school diploma from a high school or similar institution whose education is equivalent to that of a Turkish high school. They apply directly to the university of their choice and the university makes the selection.
Foreign students who wish to pursue postgraduate studies in Turkey also apply directly to the universities, which set their own admission requirements. There are also various scholarship opportunities for some international students.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are charged differently at public and non-profit foundation universities. At public universities, tuition fees are set and announced by the website Presidencial Decree, taking into account the type and duration of studies in the various subjects. At non-profit foundation universities, on the other hand, tuition fees are set by the university”s board of trustees.
Students must pay the tuition fees for each semester before registering for classes at the beginning of each semester. At both public and non-profit foundation universities, a certain percentage of students admitted to study receive various scholarships. These scholarships may be full or partial tuition fee waivers, merit scholarships or financial aid scholarships. Some of these scholarships may cover academic materials, accommodation, meals and even certain allowances. In addition to this support, student assistantships and research grants are another type of support that can be helpful while studying in Turkey.
