Turkey has 208 universities and more than 6 million students, and state universities charge international students – EU citizens included – €250–700 a year for a bachelor's, according to Study in Europe. Private (foundation) universities cost €4,000–20,000 a year, and a student spends around €400–800 a month. Find out how to apply directly to a university and when you can get a work permit.
At most universities the language of instruction is Turkish, but many programmes are also taught in English. Even if you study in English, basic Turkish will help you in everyday life.
Turkish: many universities offer a preparatory course after admission – 4–6 hours of language a day. Türkiye Bursları scholarship holders get a year of free language tuition and should reach a C1 certificate. Courses are also run by Ankara University's TÖMER centres in Alanya, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Istanbul and İzmir. You can also prove your Turkish with the central TYS exam, held three times a year.
English: universities usually require a certificate, e.g. TOEFL or IELTS, or their own test. If you do not reach the required score, you go into a preparatory year of English. At METU it costs the same as your chosen programme.
Sources: European Commission – Study in Europe (education.ec.europa.eu/study-in-europe), Eurostat, official national study and residence portals and authorities, Eurodesk, enic-naric.net, studentnews.eu. As of September 2026.
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