Tuition Fees in Turkey for International Students
In 2026-2027, state universities set international fees in lira under a new presidential decision, while private universities publish dollar fees. Here is how both work, with real published figures.
By Burak Ünal, Director of University Admissions · · Updated
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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How state university fees are set in 2026-2027
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.
Because each university applies the rule itself, fees differ between universities and are announced in lira, often only in August. Eskişehir Osmangazi University, for example, set 280,000 TL a year for Dentistry for new international students (board decision of 3 June 2026), and charged 45,000 to 84,000 TL for most engineering programs in 2025-2026. At about 48 TL to the dollar that is roughly 5,800 dollars and 950 to 1,750 dollars.
Some universities wait for the decision before announcing their fees, and a few have charged the previous year's fee at registration and collected the difference later, so budget a margin.
Private (foundation) university fees
Private universities set their own fees, usually in US dollars, and publish them before applications open. Published 2026-2027 examples: Medipol University lists Biomedical Engineering at 6,500 dollars (5,850 dollars with advance payment); Istinye University lists Psychology and Software Engineering in English at 8,000 dollars; Bilkent University charges 16,300 to 18,400 dollars depending on the year of entry.
Payment options and discounts differ: some universities give a discount for paying the year in advance or for strong grades, while Istinye states that it offers no scholarships or discounts to international applicants.
Medicine and dentistry
Medicine (six years) and dentistry (five years) are the most expensive programs everywhere. Private 2026-2027 examples: Üsküdar University lists Medicine at 18,000 dollars a year in Turkish and 24,000 dollars in English, and Istinye University at 23,000 and 29,000 dollars. State medical and dental faculties are cheaper, but places for international students are limited and competitive.
What else you will pay
Budget for these on top of tuition:
- A preparatory language year, if you need one, is usually an extra year of fees
- Application fees or deposits at some universities
- Living costs: about 500 to 1,500 dollars a month depending on the city
- Residence permit card (964 TL in 2026) and health insurance
- Translation, notarisation and apostille of your documents
How to pay less
The realistic ways to lower the bill:
- Türkiye Scholarships covers full tuition plus a stipend and accommodation
- State universities have the lowest fees, if you can meet their exam requirements
- Siblings studying at state universities get at least 25% off
- Advance-payment and merit discounts at private universities that offer them
- Choosing a city outside Istanbul lowers living costs, often more than tuition differences
Exchange rates
Dollar equivalents use about 48 Turkish lira per US dollar (September 2026); the lira moves, so recheck before you budget.
Tuition Fees in Turkey for International Students: frequently asked questions
How much is university tuition in Turkey in 2026-2027?
Many state university programs cost international students about 1,000 to 6,000 US dollars a year (set in lira by each university), private non-medical programs usually 5,000 to 10,000 dollars, and private medicine about 18,000 to 29,000 dollars.
How are state university fees for international students decided?
Presidential Decision No. 11625 of 15 August 2026 lets each state university set the fee at no less than twice the official cost of a place in that field, charges foreign-language programs 1.5 times, and gives siblings at least 25% off.
What does medicine cost in Turkey?
At private universities, about 18,000 to 29,000 US dollars a year in 2026-2027, for example 18,000 (Turkish) and 24,000 (English) dollars at Üsküdar University and 23,000 and 29,000 dollars at Istinye University. State medical faculties cost less but have few international places.
Do private universities give tuition discounts?
Some offer advance-payment or merit discounts; others, such as Istinye University, state that they do not discount fees for international applicants. We check current policies for the universities you shortlist.
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.
- Official Gazette: Presidential Decision No. 11625 on 2026-2027 fees (15 August 2026)
- Eskişehir Osmangazi University, 2026-2027 international student fees
- Istinye University, 2026-2027 quotas and tuition fees
- Üsküdar University, tuition fees
- Bilkent University, international student tuition fees
- YÖK Atlas (programs and universities)
Further reading
Related
Burak Ünal is the Director of University Admissions at Turquoise Education, where he is responsible for university admission processes for international students. Before Turquoise Education he worked at Oliver Wyman, the New York based management consulting firm, as a Financial Services Consultant, with consulting projects in Turkey, Italy and Greece and business development work across the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. He holds a master's degree in finance from the London School of Economics and a bachelor's degree in management from Bogazici University.
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