25 Best Universities In Turkey For International Students 2026

If you are looking to study in Turkey, you are surely making a great choice. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 172 universities and colleges in Turkey, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 172 universities in Turkey, Middle East Technical University and Bogazici University are the top-performing schools in Turkey. This list covers both public and private institutions in Turkey.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Turkey. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Turkey.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Turkey?

Applying to the universities in Turkey involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Turkey to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Turkey?

Tuition fees at Turkey’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 247 TRY to 250,254,000 TRY , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 0 TRY to 845,700 TRY. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Turkey!

As we cover the best universities in Turkey for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Turkey for International Students

Middle East Technical University (METU) is a world-class institution known for generating human resources in various industry sectors, particularly in the fields of natural and social sciences. The university is among the first Turkish institutions to introduce new and innovative methods for teaching and research. Aside from providing top-rated educational programs, METU actively participates in research contributions, leads in serving the community, and is firmly committed to resolving global issues.

Bogazici University aims to enrich education and offer students innovative and creative teaching approaches. Since its establishment, it has been at the forefront of transforming societies and helping shape a better future through academic and scientific activities. By educating individuals with a burning passion for service, the university aims to develop future leaders and industry experts successfully.

Istanbul Technical University is a public university in Istanbul, Turkey. It is one of the world’s oldest technical universities, founded in 1773. Since its inception, it has strived to innovate scientific applications for the community’s long-term development. The university is well-known for its leading role in engineering and architectural education.

Istanbul University is one of Turkey’s biggest and most prominent universities. It caters to many international students, especially those who want to pursue a degree in science, technology, engineering, and medicine. With 12 campuses all over Turkey, the university envisions becoming a research center of excellence that educate equally talented students and contribute to society through breakthrough discoveries.

Hacettepe University is a world-renowned public institution with its Ankara and Beyte campuses. Essentially, the university strives to help its members become their best. It does so by fostering healthy competition against global standards, pushing individuals to reach for the top. Research also stands at its core, encouraging students to explore and put out their best ideas and skills. Hacettepe University also covers the spectrum of knowledge by offering as many specialized courses as possible for undergraduate and graduate students.

Ihsan Dogramaci Bilkent University is shortly and more popularly known as Bilkent University. Ihsan Dogramaci was the man who founded this private, non-profit institution in 1984 in the hopes of creating Turkey’s new center of knowledge and research. Decades later, he did achieve his vision, as Bilkent University is not just leading nationwide but is also at par with global universities. Initially molded after Harvard, Bilkent has become a league of its own, establishing its name through fantastic research and valuable academic collaboration.

Anadolu University began as an institution focused on economic and commercial studies in 1958. The university now offers programs in nearly every discipline possible, from the arts to the sciences. As Anadolu grows, we can only expect it to offer even more up-to-date courses, especially as it has a reputation for being “dynamic, modern, and innovative.” Besides the usual degree programs, the university also provides quality vocational studies.

Highly regarded as one of the most prominent private universities in Turkey, Koc University prides itself on its proven academic excellence and contributions to society. The university, home to some of the best innovators and accomplished individuals, has been notably recognized for its first-class education.

Fostering critically-minded students into reaching their fullest potential is the institute’s primary goal. It provides a combination of traditional and advanced learning approaches so that its teachings are adaptable to the current market and industry needs.

Ankara University, the first fully established university in Turkey, is considered one of the most elite universities in Turkey and the world. Founded by the great Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, a statesman and the founder of the Republic of Turkey has felt the need to establish a higher education school as a start to transform the lives of the Turkish people. The university then grew to become the best provider of higher education in the country and neighboring countries.

The university offers a broad spectrum of educational programs, ranging from agriculture to health sciences. These programs are lectured by highly qualified professors and experts with years of relevant experience in their respective industries.

Bursa Uludag University is one of the first and most prominent research universities in Turkey. It has a strong commitment to conducting intensive research in various strategic areas and sharing the acquired knowledge with its partner industries and organizations. The university also aims to develop qualified professionals with high-level problem-solving skills who can contribute to solving society’s most pressing issues. 

Aydin Adnan Menderes University is a public university in Aydin, Turkey. It was named after former Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes when it was established in 1992. The institution’s mission is to educate graduates to be socially aware, rational, and productive citizens who will use their knowledge to help society grow. Undergraduate and postgraduate programs in natural, health, and social sciences are available at the university.

With roots tracing as far back as 1961, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University has gone through years of transformation from being a simple training center for teachers to a higher educational institute. Ahi Evran University was only recognized as a university in 2006, and it now aims to fulfill its mission of providing education to create change, innovation, and value-laden scholars.

Ege University, also known as Aegean University, has an extensive history of molding Turkish scholars, as it is one of the country’s oldest universities. The institution initially offered medicine and agriculture programs, but it has since diversified to education, technology, communication, and other varied courses. It also established itself as a stronghold of scientific knowledge by establishing world-class research centers focused on drug development, petroleum analysis, textile, apparel manufacturing, and more.

Sabanci University is a private university in Istanbul, Turkey. It was established in 1994 by the Sabanci Foundation. The university follows a Foundations Development program in which students must improve their language skills. Sabanci University provides a multidisciplinary approach to education to develop well-rounded students and help them gain more skills for career advancement.

Ataturk University is a public university in Erzurum, Turkey. It was founded in 1957. Because of its high-quality facilities and wide range of extracurricular activities for students, the university is regarded as a regional center of educational and cultural excellence. The university also has partnership and exchange programs with the Network of Balkan Universities.

Yildiz Technical University is a public university in Istanbul, Turkey. It was founded in 1911 as the Conductors School for Higher Education. Because of its achievements and educational quality, it is regarded as one of the city’s oldest technical and most prominent institutions. Currently, the university is promoting sustainable development in the region.

Marmara University is a public university in Istanbul, Turkey. It was founded in 1883 and was named after the Sea of Marmara. The university places a premium on its students’ social development and leadership abilities. As Turkey’s only multilingual university, programs are available in Turkish, English, German, French, and Arabic.

Gazi University is a public university in Ankara, Turkey. It was founded in 1926 as the Gazi Teacher Training Institute. It has several campuses spread across the city. As a forerunner in education in the country, the university strives to provide international-level research and produce innovative and critical students for the benefit of society.

Selcuk University was founded in 1975 through the orders of the Turkish government. It currently has more than 69,000 students and 4,210 academic staff members. The university offers undergraduate and graduate-level education in different fields of study.

Selcuk University aims to produce graduates with great competence and virtues. These graduates are expected to pursue a sustainable and innovative world. Furthermore, graduates and current students are expected to do this since the university has policies that help promote it. These policies cover quality education, research efforts, internationalization of education, and excellent management of students.

Dokuz Eylul University stands out among Turkish universities for honing students’ critical thinking, creativity, analysis, and problem-solving skills. That’s because it was the first university in the country to employ a problem-based learning method, which pushes students to actively seek solutions for issues as a way of gaining knowledge and expanding abilities. Moreover, DEU does not just stop at surpassing national standards; it also aims to exceed global expectations by improving its internationalization strategies and focusing on credible, helpful research.

Erciyes University (ERU) is a public university in Kayseri, Turkey. It was founded in 1978 as the Gevher Nesibe Medical Faculty. The university provides advanced facilities and a research-intensive educational model. The vision of ERU is to produce highly qualified graduates who excel in research in order to strengthen the university’s international network and increase the impact of research outcomes.

Sakarya University is a public university in Serdivan, Turkey. It was founded in 1970 as the Istanbul Technical University’s School of Engineering and Architecture. It is famous for its technological infrastructure and facilities, which include laboratories and libraries. In terms of international exchange programs to countries around the world, the university is one of the leading universities in the country.

With over 1,700 international students, Cukurova University has established itself as a reputable university that equally caters to its local youth and foreign scholars. Its efforts for equality and diversity do not end with assessing nationality and ethnicity. It admits students from across the globe, regardless of background.

Cukurova University welcomes applicants pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies. They may apply to different fields of study, such as economics, education, fisheries, and theology, to name a few.

Istanbul Bilgi University has considered the modernization of the educational industry and society, enabling its policies and rules to adapt to future-oriented strategies. As one of the internationally-renowned universities in Turkey, it seeks to provide academic freedom and gather intellectual students with the same cause from all over the world.

Istanbul Aydin University is a leading educational institution located in Turkey’s capital city. The university is dedicated to providing world-class programs that prepare students with broad knowledge and high-level skills that would increase their employment prospects. It also offers different services to students that help them plan for their future and achieve their academic and career goals.