Education in Turkey

Turkey's education system: the main stages

Turkey's full education system consists of three stages:

• kindergarten;
• school;
• university.

Both state and private kindergartens are available in the Republic of Turkey. State preschool institutions accept children from age 3. Private kindergartens accept children from age 2. Either way, a child stays in kindergarten until they turn 5 years and 5 months old, because the school stage begins at 5.5 years. State preschool institutions are free even for foreign nationals - you just need to provide a residence permit and certificates confirming health status and vaccinations. But you should be prepared for extra costs: 200 to 500 lira goes toward toys, stationery, field trips, and the bus fee for the bus that picks children up in the morning and drops them home afterward.

School is divided into three stages, each lasting 4 years.

This system is known as 4+4+4. It consists of the following stages:

• primary - İlkokul;
• middle - ortaokul;
• lycée (high school) - lise.

Education at state primary and middle schools is free, but there are also private, fee-paying schools. Even at state schools, though, you have to pay for textbooks, uniforms, classroom cleaning, and the bus that takes students to and from school.

State lycées can also be attended for free. But starting after sixth grade, students are assigned points, and the number of points earned by the end of the second four-year stage determines which lycée they can enroll in.

Instruction is conducted in Turkish, and state schools are required to accept students regardless of how well they speak Turkish.

Drawbacks of state education include large class sizes - there can be more than 40 students per class - and the lack of physical education classes in primary school.

Religious instruction (Islam) is included at every stage of school education. But Turkey is a secular country, so if parents feel their child doesn't need such classes, attendance is not mandatory.

Many foreigners prefer to send their children to private schools, where classes are smaller and each child gets more attention. Such schools often have an international student body, giving students the chance to learn more about other nationalities.

Turkish education at the lycée stage is also divided into state and private. State institutions at this level have their own specializations:

• state lycées - general-profile institutions;
• senior state lycées (Anadolu-style prep year) - differ from regular ones in that students spend an extra year studying a foreign language, usually English;
• Anatolian lycées - a network of prestigious institutions with an emphasis on foreign-language instruction, where some subjects may be taught in English or French;
• vocational-technical lycées - allow graduates to enroll in vocational technical colleges without exams;
• science lycées - focus mainly on preparing students for admission to science, technology, and medical universities.

After school, a graduate makes a choice. They can go straight to work, enroll at a university, or enter a vocational college. Since 2001, having signed the Bologna Declaration, Turkey has been part of the European Higher Education Area. As a result, higher education follows this structure:

• bachelor's degree - 4 years, and up to 6 years for some fields, primarily medicine;
• master's degree - 2-3 years, though some universities offer a 1-year master's program;
• doctorate - 3-5 years.

Those who choose a vocational college after school study for 2 years. They then receive an Associate Degree. After that, they can go to work or enroll at a university - directly into the third year of a bachelor's program.

International schools

Turkey's education system permits international schools to operate, which are distinguished by teaching according to the curricula and standards used in other countries. This is a good option for foreigners, but not for children who hold Turkish citizenship - under local law they must obtain a Turkish diploma specifically. However, the law does not prevent a child who is a Turkish citizen from studying at two schools at once - a Turkish school and an international one.

Many international educational institutions are concentrated in Istanbul. Certain specializations stand out:

• American schools place more emphasis on economics and finance;
• French schools emphasize the humanities;
• German schools focus on engineering and science knowledge and skills.

If you want to enroll your child in one of these schools, be sure to review the curriculum and find out what language classes are taught in.

Schools with a Russian curriculum and diploma

Education in Turkey in Russian is only available at private schools. There aren't many of them, but they do exist. Most such institutions are located in Alanya, and suitable schools can also be found in Istanbul and Antalya. Russian-language schools can be found in other cities too - for example, in Turkey's capital, Ankara, an institution with state accreditation operates under the auspices of the Russian embassy.

Tuition costs vary widely. In most cases it's $4,000-6,000, though there are both more affordable and more expensive options. Instruction in Russian is also available at some international private schools that offer such a program. At these schools, students can sit two exams to receive both a Turkish-format and a Russian-format diploma.

The most popular Russian-language schools in Turkey are:

• Antalya Bilim Koleji - located in Antalya, Russian is taught from 4th grade, and Russian-speaking students can follow Russian educational programs;
• "Klassika-M" - a school operating in Alanya that offers full boarding for children and maintains partnerships with UK educational institutions;
• The Pushkin International Russian School - located in Istanbul.

To obtain a Russian secondary-school diploma, students must pass the Russian Unified State Exam (EGE). It can only be taken on Russian territory, so this needs to be planned for in advance. Some schools take care of this and organize trips for students to Russia to sit the exam.

Vocational colleges

In Turkish, these institutions are called Meslek Yüksek Okulları. Most of them operate under state universities, and graduates are entitled to apply directly for admission to an institute or university.

The goal of vocational education is to develop applied skills that can be used in the workplace. That's why vocational colleges usually partner with companies and state enterprises, where students can gain practical experience.

For a foreigner to enroll in a vocational college, they will need:

• a secondary-education document translated into Turkish;
• a student visa - not required if the applicant already holds a residence permit;
• a TOEFL-type certificate confirming Turkish-language proficiency of at least level B2.

The standard of education at Turkey's vocational colleges is fairly high. It allows graduates to find work right after graduation or continue their studies - now at a university, entering directly into the third year of a bachelor's program. To continue studying, you need to:

• have a comparatively high grade point average - each university sets its own requirements;
• pass the national DGS exam.

Why do international students choose to study at Turkish universities?

Turkish education has many clear advantages. These include:

• a multicultural society with a welcoming attitude toward foreigners, and the option to study not only in Turkish;
• free preschool and school education - provided you use state institutions;
• a wide choice of institutions at every stage of the education system - Turkey has more than 200 universities offering over 40,000 study programs across various fields;
• a fairly high standard of education, with university diplomas recognized in many countries;
• well-organized social life - schools and universities usually have interest clubs and sports teams;
• affordable cost of living - students can get a spot in a dormitory at a low cost, and various benefits are available to them, including for museum admission and public transport fares.

The 5 best Turkish universities and tuition costs for international students

According to the popular Top Universities 2022 ranking, international students favor the following Turkish universities:

• Koç University - located in Istanbul, instruction in English, tuition $19,500 per year, and $26,500 per year for the medical faculty;
• Sabancı University - also located in Istanbul, annual tuition for most bachelor's programs starting from $19,500;
• METU (Middle East Technical University) - located in Ankara, one of the oldest and most affordable universities in the Republic of Turkey, with tuition as low as $1,000 per year in many programs;
• Bilkent University - located in Ankara and one of the largest in the country, with tuition starting from $14,400 per year;
• Boğaziçi University - located in Istanbul, operating since 1863, with tuition as low as $1,500 per year for many programs.

These universities take part in many international education programs and are eager to welcome students from other countries.

Student visa and student residence permit in Turkey

Students who are not residents of Turkey can access a student residence permit program by first obtaining a special student visa, issued for 12 months. The list of documents needed for a student visa:

• a letter of invitation from the university;
• an education-services agreement and documents confirming its payment;
• a bank account statement showing a balance of at least $6,000 - this can be the student's own account or an account belonging to one of their parents or a guardian.

Then, within one month of entering Turkey, an application for a student residence permit must be filed. In this case the document package is larger, and includes biometric photos, health insurance, and either a housing lease agreement or a certificate confirming that the student has a place in a dormitory.

The student residence permit is valid for 4 years. It's also possible for the document to remain valid for the entire duration of study at a Turkish university.

Is it hard to find a job in Turkey after graduating?

If you specifically want to work at a Turkish company, you may run into difficulties. Hiring foreigners can be too costly for local employers, since they have to pay for a work visa.

But international business has a strong presence in the Republic of Turkey. Companies oriented toward foreign markets operate here. These commercial organizations are interested in hiring foreigners.

To search for suitable openings, you can use the career centers that operate at almost every university. You can also contact the state employment service or look for work on one of the many job-listing websites.

You can only work in Turkey if you hold a work visa, which must be obtained from the consulate.