Turkey (Türkiye) Education and Training Sector Snapshot
Last published date:

Capital:  Ankara
Population:  84,7 million (2022)
GDP:  $2,59 trillion (2021, Purchasing Power Parity)
Currency:  Turkish liras (TRY)
Language:  Turkish (official) 

UNESCO Student Mobility Number:

Türkiye has 51,146 students studying abroad, according to UNESCO.

CIA World Factbook:
39.08% of the population in Turkiye is under 24 years old.

OVERVIEW

Türkiye’s population of 84.7 million is relatively young.  Around 27 percent of the population is under the age of eighteen.  This young population provides considerable opportunities for international education institutions.

As of December 2022, there are 129 public and 75 foundation (private) universities serving 8.29 million students in various academic programs.  2021 figures reveal that 3.37 million students are enrolled in undergraduate and vocational programs, 358,271 in graduate programs, 109,540 in doctorate programs, and 4.45 million in the Open University (distance education in various subfields).  Public universities charge a small fee, whereas private university tuition costs range from $1,500 to $12,000 per year.  Outstanding students of limited means often attend private universities on merit scholarships.

Entrance into universities is competitive due to the limited capacity of high-quality university programs.  Students need to successfully pass a nationwide placement test administered over a two-day period in June of each year.  Every year, an increasing number of students take the university exam.  In 2022, 3,008,287 high school graduates took the exams, and 850,631 applicants were enrolled in a 4-year university or a 2-year vocational school program. 154,859 students registered for Open University programs. The remaining test takers were unable to enter a higher education program of their choice.  In Türkiye, the Ministry of National Education is responsible for administering K-12 education.  The Council of Higher Education (Yükseköğretim Kurulu - YÖK) is a 22-member corporate-public body responsible for the planning, coordination, and supervision of higher education.

Capacity (for graduate and doctorate programs) and quality constraints of Turkish higher education institutions spur demand of Turkish students to study abroad.  Many students wishing to study abroad place U.S. universities at the top of the list due to the perceived quality of education and potential career prospects.  Over 51,000 Turkish students go abroad for university education.  U.S. colleges and universities already attract around a fifth of these students for undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as specialized trainings.

Sub-Sectors

Higher Education

The Institute of International Education’s Open Doors 2022 Statistics show that Türkiye, with its 8,476 students, is the eighteenth leading place of origin for foreign students in the U.S.  Among European countries, Türkiye holds the third place for the number of students in the U.S., after the U.K. and Germany.  The enrollment levels of Turkish students are as follows:

Undergraduate: 2,866

Graduate: 3,937

Other (Non-degree programs): 247

Optional Practical Training: 1,417

 

About half (46%) of Turkish students in U.S. universities are pursuing graduate degrees.

According to the Turkish Fulbright Commission, which is part of the U.S. Department of State’s EducationUSA network, the following are the most popular fields of study chosen by Turkish students planning to study abroad:

  • Engineering, computer science, and other technical fields
  • Business administration and economics (especially MBA programs in finance, marketing, and international business)
  • English as a second language
  • Short-term certificate programs and/or summer programs
  • Social sciences, humanities, and arts (mainly psychology, political sciences, architecture, and law)
  • Mass communications (radio-TV, film & video production)
  • Medicine and other medical fields (for the most part, advanced level residencies)

Secondary Education

The inadequacies of the Turkish secondary education system have been a driving force for parents to send their children to reputable boarding schools.  Through marketing efforts, Turkish student representation at U.S. boarding schools has increased in recent years. In 2019, over 400 Turkish students pursued their studies at U.S. boarding schools, making the U.S. the second most popular destination for boarding schools after the U.K.

Many Turks find the academic quality, residential campus environment, and superior extra-curricular activities at U.S. boarding schools invaluable.  It is also important for potential students and their families that graduated students are accepted at some of the most prestigious and competitive universities in the U.S. and around the world.

Opportunities

There are not enough places in popular Turkish universities and university programs to accommodate the student demand. Thus, opportunities exist for American universities and colleges to explore recruitment possibilities from Türkiye.  The results of the central university placement exam in Türkiye are announced in mid-July.  U.S. higher education institutions can reach out to unmatched or dissatisfied students, if they are able to accept students starting in the second semester/quarter of the school year.

The Ministry of National Education, the Council of Higher Education and many ministries offer scholarships to hundreds of successful students each year wishing to continue their studies abroad.  These students usually apply to well-known “top universities” chosen from a specific list provided to them.  Cost is not a critical factor in students decision-making process as the scholarship sponsors pay for their entire program and the scholarship holders are usually obliged to work with their sponsoring organizations for about four to eight years after graduation.

Due to the competitive nature of the Turkish labor market and high unemployment, many students are compelled to pursue post-graduate education to increase their employment prospects. These programs are even more competitive in Türkiye, so students seek placement at international universities.  Graduate studies are the most popular level of enrollment for Turkish students studying abroad; almost 50% of the Turkish students in the U.S. are pursuing graduate degrees.

Several Turkish universities have cooperation programs (such as dual diploma and language programs) with U.S. universities, enabling their students to continue their education at U.S. institutions.  Other U.S. universities may wish to pursue such cooperative agreements and/or student exchange programs to attract qualified Turkish students.

DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIES

Türkiye ranks in the top ten countries for the use of social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Marketing on popular social media platforms, active using of streaming platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo, working with influencers/alumni, providing information in Turkish, compatibility of materials with mobile devices are recommended strategies for student recruitment from Türkiye.

Events

Resources

U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE CONTACT

Perim Akguner, Commercial Specialist

U.S. Commercial Service – Istanbul, Türkiye

Email: Perim.Akguner@trade.gov

Phone: +90 212 335 9197