Three routes into a Turkish university

Most international students choose this route. Admission is based on your high school diploma and grades, usually without an entrance exam, and programmes are taught in English, Turkish or both. Tuition is paid to the university; many offer scholarships and fee reductions.

State universities have lower fees and admit international students through their own quotas. Most ask for an exam result — YÖS, SAT or a national exam — and set their own deadlines, often once a year. Competition for the best-known universities is high.

The government's scholarship programme places selected students at state universities and covers tuition, accommodation, health insurance, a monthly stipend and, where needed, a year of Turkish language study. Applications open once a year and selection includes an interview.