YÖK 2026 International Student Quotas Announced: Record Increase

The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) has officially announced international student quotas for the 2026-2027 academic year. A total of 185,000 international student places have been allocated across Turkey, representing a significant 18% increase compared to the previous year.

QUOTA DISTRIBUTION

State universities have been allocated 120,000 places, while foundation universities received 65,000 places. Universities in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir stand out as the cities with the most allocated quotas.

TOP UNIVERSITIES BY QUOTA

1. Istanbul University - 8,500 places
2. Ankara University - 6,200 places
3. Istanbul Technical University (ITU) - 5,800 places
4. Hacettepe University - 5,500 places
5. Ege University - 4,900 places
6. Gazi University - 4,700 places
7. Dokuz Eylül University - 4,200 places
8. Marmara University - 4,000 places
9. Çukurova University - 3,800 places
10. Uludağ University - 3,500 places

MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS

The most preferred programs by international students are:
- Faculty of Medicine (Turkish and English)
- Dentistry
- Engineering (Computer, Electrical-Electronics, Mechanical, Civil)
- Business and Economics
- Law
- Pharmacy
- Architecture

APPLICATION CALENDAR

2026 YÖS exam dates vary between March-June 2026 depending on the university. Applications typically open 2-3 months before the exam date.

Contact Umar International Education Consulting for free guidance: +90 533 199 24 36