Turkey has become an increasingly popular destination for international students seeking quality education in a vibrant and culturally rich environment. With its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Turkey offers a unique blend of Eastern and Western traditions, making it an attractive place to live and study. Turkey host some of the top universities. Applying in Turkish universities consists of several steps. This blog will provide you step-by-step guideline to get admission in Turkish Universities.
Choose a Program and University
First of all, determine the field of study you are interested in and the degree level you want to pursue i.e. Undergraduate, Master’s or PhD. Once you have found your field of interest research universities in Turkey that offer you chosen program. Do consider the factors like university rankings, faculty, facilities, and location. The popular universities for Pakistani Students include:
- Koç University
- Sabancı University
- Istanbul University
- Middle East Technical University (METU)
- Cankaya University
- Bogazici University
- Ankara University
- Gazi University
Learn about Scholarships and Financing
The government of Turkey and private Turkish Universities offer wide range of scholarships for local and international students. These scholarships are given to intelligent students to pursue their degree programs or to do research in their fields of study in Turkey or elsewhere. Candidates are recommended to look for the best scholarship available to them in order to have low tuition fee. You can avail turkey government scholarship. Students can apply to following scholarships offered by the Turkish Government and the other Private universities:
- Turkiye Burslari Scholarship
- Koc University Scholarship in Turkey
- Sabanci University Scholarships Turkey
- Kadir Has University Scholarships
- Bilkent University Scholarship
1. Turkiye Burslari Scholarship:
Turkiye Burslari Scholarship is offered by the Turkish Government for students of bachelor’s, Masters and PhD in various Turkish Universities. The scholarship covers tuition, health insurance, housing costs, and return tickets for the students in addition to a monthly stipend of 1000 TL, 1400 TL, and 1800 TL for Bachelor, Master, and Ph.D. programs, respectively. In addition to providing educational scholarships, this program also provides opportunities to enhance the experience of students.
2. Koc University Scholarship in Turkey:
Koc University Scholarship is offering scholarships to students of Bachelor, Master, or Ph.D. Degree in Turkey. Koc University is one of the most prestigious and famous private universities in Turkey. The university has been providing merit-based tuition scholarships of 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% for outstanding students each year (except for Medicine).
3. Sabanci University Scholarships Turkey:
Bachelor, Master, or Ph.D. Degree programs are available at Sabanci University. The Sabanci Scholarship Program is fully funded. The scholarship pays for living expenses and tuition for the years of study at Sabanci University.
4. Kadir Has a University Scholarship:
Scholarships are available for admission to Kadir Has University in Turkey for students holding bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. International students can apply without IELTS or TOEFL at this university. Under this initiative, international undergraduates are awarded fully funded and partially funded scholarships.
5. Bilkent University Scholarship:
Bilkent University is the 2nd top-ranked university in Turkey. Students from all over the world can study degree programs in various fields at the university: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs. The Bilkent University Scholarship is fully funded and covers all expenses, however foreign applicants who seek for financial aid are assessed based on their academic performance and their national and scores in international exams followed by a scholarship that may partly be awarded.
Prepare your Application Documents
After selecting your desired university, the next step is to check the requirements to apply for that degree. You are required to apply through the official website of that university. To continue with the application process, candidates must submit their complete documents at the time of submission. In-complete applications are not well-entertained. Admission requirements vary from university to university and course to course for international students. Here are the general admission requirements of Turkish Universities.
For an Undergraduate Degree in Turkey
If you intend to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Turkey, you must either have completed your high school education or about to complete it. The next documents which should be on your list:
- Equivalence form stating that the degree is equal to Turkish 12year education
- Consent form
- A photocopy of ID card
- A copy of passport
- Original certificate of high school diploma
- Copy of high school equivalence document
- An approved transcript which includes all the subjects which the candidate has taken.
- For holders of dual nationality, a document is required which will be proving their residency in the country in which they will be receiving their education
For Graduate Degree in Turkey
If you want to pursue a Master’s degree or a Ph.D. programme in Turkey, you must also verify the particular prerequisites listed on the website of each program. You may need following documents:
- Equivalence form
- Consent form
- A photocopy of ID card
- A copy of passport
- Photocopy of “Equivalence Certificate”
- The candidate’s undergraduate degree transcript, which lists every subject they took.
- For master’s degree recognition, candidates must submit one copy of thesis in hard form and one in soft form.
Visa Application and Requirements
Obtaining a student visa is a prerequisite to studying in Turkey. To get Turkish visa the students must be admitted to any Turkish University. Fill out the visa application form to be submitted to the Turkish Embassy. Apply for a student visa as soon as you are accepted to your chosen university is crucial because the process can take some time. You need to submit the following documents which are as follows:
- Visa Application form
- Passport valid for at least 90 days
- Letter of Acceptance from Turkish institution
- Proof of fee payment(receipt)
- Health Insurance proof certificate
- Transcripts of all previous courses/degrees
- Passport size pictures(biometric)
- Police Clearance Certificate
- Bank statement
- Financial resources proof
- Travel Insurance
Turkey’s Regulations for Pakistani Students to Obtain a Student Residency Permit
In order to stay in Turkey beyond the 90 days allowed by your student visa, you must apply for a residence permit at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Administration within 1 month of your entrance in Turkey.
You’ll need to supply the following documents when applying for residence permit:
- Application form
- Valid passport (with photocopies) and student visa
- Proof of your university place
- Four passport size photographs
Your residency permit will be valid for a year, but you can extend it by visiting the local authorities and filling out an application 60 days before it expires.
Visa Processing
Your visa application may be processed in three to fifteen days, depending on the embassy or consulate, you have applied to. It is generally better to apply for the Turkish student visa as soon as possible, although there isn’t much of a wait anyway. If one leaves applying until the very end, unexpected delays, or even missing some necessary documents may deny you a visa at the end of it all.
