Questions, answered.
The essentials of getting into a Turkish university as an international student.
Pick programs, get your school diploma recognized (denklik), prepare documents (diploma with apostille, passport, language certificate), sit an entrance exam if the university requires one (TR-YÖS or SAT), then apply on each university's portal. Many private universities admit on diploma and GPA with no exam.
Not always. A large share of universities — especially private (foundation) ones — admit on your diploma and GPA. State universities and competitive programs usually want TR-YÖS or SAT. It depends on the university.
State universities are cheap for international students — often a few hundred to about 1,500 USD per year. Private universities range roughly 5,000–20,000 USD per year. Living costs vary by city; Istanbul is the most expensive.
Yes — Türkiye Bursları is a fully-funded government scholarship (tuition, monthly stipend, housing, flight, insurance, Turkish course). It's very competitive. Many private universities also offer their own partial scholarships.
Denklik is the official recognition of your high-school diploma in Türkiye (issued by the Ministry of Education). You generally need it to enroll. It can be obtained at a Turkish consulate before you travel or in Türkiye.
Only for Turkish-taught programs (then you need TÖMER B1–B2, usually after a one-year language year). Many programs are taught fully in English, where you need IELTS/TOEFL instead.
Plan roughly 4–7 months end to end: choosing programs and documents (1–2 months), exam preparation if needed (2–4 months), applications and university responses, then visa and residence permit (ikamet).