Is Preparatory Class Mandatory in Türkiye? What You Need to Know About Exemption Exams and English-Taught Programs

Published: 1 September 2026

Getting placed at a Turkish university is the beginning of the journey, not the end. If you have not yet completed the exam and application stage, start with our guide to what TR-YÖS is, its exam structure and application process. Once registration is complete, the first question almost every international student asks is: "Do I start my department right away, or do I have to spend a year in preparatory class?" The answer depends on the language of instruction of your program and on the documents you already hold.

How Many Types of Instruction Language Exist in Türkiye?

Undergraduate programs in Türkiye generally fall into three groups:

Turkish-taught programs: All courses are delivered in Turkish.
Partially English programs: A certain proportion of courses is taught in English, the rest in Turkish.
Fully English-taught programs: All coursework is in English from start to finish.

There are also programs taught in German, French or Arabic. The language of instruction of your program is stated clearly in the application guide and on the university's program page. Checking it before you make your choices prevents unpleasant surprises later.

Turkish Proficiency Requirements in Turkish-Taught Programs

If you are placed in a Turkish-taught department, you will normally be asked for a Turkish proficiency certificate, usually issued by a TÖMER or by the university's own language centre.

One point deserves attention: the required level differs from university to university. Some institutions accept B2, others require C1. Some accept only certificates issued by their own language centre, while others recognise documents from other institutions. As seen in the Mehmet Akif Ersoy University registration announcement, language requirements may also appear among post-registration conditions at some universities. This is why you should rely on the regulations of the university that admitted you rather than on general information found online.

How Does the Turkish Preparatory Year Work?

If you do not hold a valid proficiency certificate, there is no reason to panic. Your registration is completed, but you are required to study Turkish for one year before starting your department. During that year you follow a level-based program at the language centre, and if you pass the proficiency exam at the end of the year, you begin your studies.

Students who already hold a certificate are exempted and start their first year directly. In other words, beginning to learn Turkish in your home country before you arrive can save you an entire year.

Preparatory Class and Exemption Exams in English Programs

The logic is the same for English-taught programs: if you cannot document a sufficient level of English, you attend an English preparatory year.

There are usually two routes to exemption:

The university's own exemption exam, held before the academic year begins. Pass the required score and you go straight into your department.
Recognised international exam results. Which exams are accepted, and the minimum score required, is entirely at the university's discretion.

Preparatory class is also usually mandatory in partially English programs, since part of the coursework is delivered in English. The assumption that "my program isn't fully English, so I won't need prep" does not hold at most universities.

What Happens If You Fail the Exemption Exam?

Failing the exemption exam simply means you continue in preparatory class — this is the standard route, not a setback. For students who do not pass at the end of the preparatory year, most universities provide additional time or a repeat right. However, these rights and the maximum permitted duration are regulated differently by each institution, so read the rules published by your university's school of foreign languages.

Can I Study in an English Program Without Knowing Turkish?

The short answer is yes. If you have been placed in a fully English-taught program, your lectures, exams and assignments will all be in English. Not knowing Turkish will not block you academically.

Academic life and daily life, however, are not the same thing. Without Turkish, you are likely to struggle in these areas:

Official procedures: Residence permits, banks, healthcare institutions and university student affairs offices mostly operate in Turkish.
Internships and employment: If you want to intern in Türkiye or work after graduation, Turkish becomes a serious advantage.
Social life: Everyday life off campus runs largely in Turkish.

For this reason we recommend that even students in English-taught programs learn Turkish at least at a basic level. Many universities offer free or discounted Turkish courses to their international students.

Not Placed Yet? Keep Following the Process

The preparatory-class question only becomes relevant once you have been placed in a program. If you are still at the placement stage, you can estimate your exam score with our TR-YÖS Score Calculator — the tool estimates your score, it does not tell you which universities will admit you; that decision has to be made using each university's own quota and admission information.

You can also follow university placement and supplementary placement announcements daily on our blog. If you were not placed in one round, the process is not necessarily over: as seen in the Kırıkkale University additional application announcement and the METU supplementary placement announcement, universities open new application and placement rounds from time to time. Keep watching the international student announcements of the universities you are interested in.

Check the Right Source Before You Decide

Preparatory rules are not set centrally from one single authority; every university acts according to decisions taken by its own senate. The most reliable information is therefore always published on the official page of the university that admitted you. Before registering, check three things: the language of instruction of your program, the proficiency level required, and the date of the exemption exam.

If the process feels overwhelming, you do not have to navigate it alone. At YösEdu we guide international students through every stage — from TR-YÖS preparation and university selection to registration and preparatory-class exemption.

👉 Apply Now