State vs Private Universities in Turkey

Turkey has about 208 universities, state and foundation. Both award degrees authorised by YÖK; the differences that matter are how fees are set, how you are admitted, and how many programs are taught in English.

By Burak Ünal, Director of University Admissions · 9 July 2026 · Updated 19 October 2026

Figures are typical values for the current academic year, checked against the official sources listed at the end. How we research and update our guides

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State (public) universities

State universities are funded by the government and include some of Turkey's oldest and highest-ranked institutions. They admit international students through a separate international quota, usually ranking applicants by an exam score (TR-YÖS, the university's own YÖS, or accepted alternatives such as SAT) or by recognised national results.

For 2026-2027, Presidential Decision No. 11625 (Official Gazette, 15 August 2026) lets each state university set its own fee for international students, at no less than twice the official cost of a study place in that field. Programs taught in a foreign language are charged 1.5 times the base fee, and when two or more siblings who hold residence permits study at associate or bachelor's level at state universities, they get at least a 25% discount.

In practice that produces lira fees such as those of Eskişehir Osmangazi University, whose board set 280,000 TL a year for Dentistry for new international students in 2026-2027, and 45,000 to 84,000 TL for most engineering programs in 2025-2026: roughly 950 to 5,800 US dollars.

Private (foundation) universities

Foundation universities are non-profit institutions set up by foundations and supervised by YÖK. They set their own fees, usually in US dollars, and many admit international students on their high school grades without an entrance exam. They tend to offer more English-taught programs and smaller classes.

Published 2026-2027 examples: Istinye University charges 8,000 dollars a year for Psychology and Software Engineering in English, Bilkent University 16,300 to 18,400 dollars, and private medical schools about 18,000 to 29,000 dollars. Discounts vary a lot: some universities give early-payment or merit discounts, while Istinye states that it offers no discounts to international applicants.

Side by side

The differences that usually decide the choice:

Fees: state fees are lower but set in lira and announced late in the summer; private fees are higher, set in dollars and known earlier.
Admission: state universities are more exam-driven and competitive; private universities are often grade-based and decide faster.
Language: both offer English programs, but private universities have more of them.
Timing: private universities often accept applications until their quotas fill; state universities have fixed windows.

Which is right for you?

Choose based on:

Your realistic budget for the whole degree, including living costs
Whether you have, or can take, an exam that state universities accept
The language you want to study in
The exact program and city, which matter more than the label

How we help you choose

We compare state and private options against your grades, budget and goals, and recommend the universities where you have the best chance and value. Our guidance is free.

State vs Private Universities in Turkey: frequently asked questions

Are private university degrees recognised in Turkey?

Yes. State and foundation universities are both authorised and supervised by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), and their degrees have the same legal standing.

How are state university fees for international students set in 2026-2027?

Under Presidential Decision No. 11625 of 15 August 2026, each state university sets its fee for international students at no less than twice the official cost of a study place in that field, with foreign-language programs charged 1.5 times and a sibling discount of at least 25%.

Do I need an exam for a state university?

Usually yes: most state universities rank international applicants by TR-YÖS, their own YÖS, or accepted alternatives such as SAT or recognised national results. Many private universities admit on high school grades.

Do private universities offer scholarships?

Some do, through merit or early-payment discounts; others, such as Istinye University, state that they offer no discounts to international applicants. Check each university's current policy.

Official sources

Rules, fees and quotas are set by these institutions and change every year. Check them, or ask us, before you rely on a figure.