The Real Cost of Studying in Türkiye: State Tuition, Foundation University Fees and Scholarships (2026-2027)

The cost of studying in Türkiye is what international students ask about most, and it is also where the most misinformation circulates online. Claims such as "education in Türkiye is free" or "state universities cost nothing" are simply not true. Below we explain how the system works and give real 2026-2027 figures based on official sources.

Do State Universities Charge International Students?


Yes, they do. The "contribution fee" paid by Turkish students and the "tuition fee" paid by students admitted from abroad are different items, and the second is considerably higher.

Here is how it works: a Presidential Decision sets the general framework every year. For 2026-2027, that decision was published as No. 11625 in Official Gazette No. 33341, dated 15 August 2026. The amount charged to students admitted from abroad is set by the university itself within that framework.

The framework contains a critical floor. As universities state plainly in their fee documents, tuition charged to international students cannot be less than twice the current service cost. This threshold was lower in previous years: 1.5 times in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 periods, and three times the contribution fee in 2020-2021. In other words, the floor for international student fees has risen over the years.

The practical consequence is this: there is no single nationwide "international student tuition" figure in Türkiye. Two state universities can charge completely different amounts for the same program.

Three State Universities, Three Different Figures


Let us make the claim concrete. All the amounts below come from the universities' own published 2026-2027 documents, as annual fees:

Adıyaman University


  • Faculty of Medicine: 235,000 TL
  • Faculty of Dentistry: 110,000 TL
  • Faculty of Pharmacy: 84,000 TL
  • Faculties of Engineering and Agriculture: 46,000 TL
  • Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences: 36,000 TL
  • Faculties of Education, Theology, Tourism and Health Sciences: 32,000 TL
  • Vocational schools: 24,000 TL

Samsun University


  • Faculty of Medicine: 300,000 TL
  • Faculties of Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences, Aviation and Space Sciences, Architecture: 60,000 TL
  • Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences and Political Sciences: 55,000 TL
  • Faculty of Theology: 50,000 TL
  • Vocational schools: 30,000 TL

Dokuz Eylül University


  • Faculty of Medicine: 742,000 TL
  • Faculty of Dentistry: 315,000 TL
  • Faculty of Science programs: 117,600 TL
  • Faculty of Law and Economics and Administrative Sciences programs: 107,100 TL
  • Nursing: 105,000 TL
  • Vocational schools: 71,400 TL

The lessons are clear:

  1. Same program, threefold difference. Medicine costs 235,000 TL at Adıyaman and 742,000 TL at Dokuz Eylül. Both are state universities. This is why "state universities are cheap" does not hold as a generalisation.
  2. Medicine is in a category of its own. At all three universities, the gap between medicine and engineering is five times or more.
  3. The gap between engineering, architecture and social sciences is small. Choosing your field on price alone rarely makes sense.
  4. Vocational schools are the most economical route. Completing a two-year program and then transferring to a bachelor's degree is a realistic strategy for students on a tight budget.
  5. City size affects price. Established universities in large cities such as İzmir are markedly more expensive than universities in Anatolia.

These three universities are only examples. You must check the fee announcement of the university you are targeting. You can also find process details in our article on Samsun University.

What Is the Real Difference Between Foundation and State Universities?


The point most students miss when comparing is not the size of the number but the currency. State universities set fees in Turkish Lira, while many foundation (private) universities publish theirs in US dollars.

Here is a foundation university's 2026-2027 international student table (Istanbul Health and Technology University) — annual amounts:

  • Medicine (Turkish): 14,000 dollars
  • Medicine (English): 16,000 dollars
  • Dentistry (Turkish): 13,000 dollars
  • Dentistry (English): 15,000 dollars
  • Pharmacy (Turkish): 7,000 dollars
  • Pharmacy (English): 9,000 dollars
  • Business and Psychology: 2,500 dollars

There are additional items not visible in that list: the compulsory English preparatory year is charged separately (4,000 dollars for medicine and dentistry at this university), Turkish preparatory across five levels is priced separately at 1,500 dollars, fees include 10% VAT, and pre-registration/deposit payments are non-refundable.

When assessing the real difference, look at:

  1. Currency risk. Dollar-denominated and lira-denominated fees carry different risks. If your income is not in lira, dollar pricing may be more predictable for you; if you budget in lira, the opposite applies. Run your own calculation at the current exchange rate — today's rate may not hold in a year.
  2. Preparatory year is a separate cost. At both state and foundation universities, the preparatory year is usually charged separately and directly increases your total.
  3. Program length. Medicine takes six years, dentistry five. Comparing annual fees without multiplying by program length is misleading.
  4. The gap narrows by field. In social sciences, the difference between foundation and state universities is nowhere near as dramatic as in medicine. Business or psychology at some foundation universities can cost less than a state university in a major city.
  5. City costs. A low tuition fee at a foundation university in Istanbul can end up costing more than a state university in Anatolia once housing is included.

In short, the generalisation "state is cheap, foundation is expensive" often does not hold. A proper comparison puts tuition + preparatory year + housing + city costs side by side as a total annual figure.

The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions


Tuition is the visible part of the iceberg. Factor these in as well:

  1. Application fees. Every university charges its own, and they are not refunded. Examples seen in the 2026-2027 period: Gazi University 100 dollars, Kütahya Dumlupınar University 2,500 TL, Kocaeli University 20 dollars/euros. Applying to five universities can add up considerably.
  2. The late graduation penalty. Excluding preparatory classes, students who do not graduate at the end of the program duration have 10% added to their tuition fee. Repeating a course costs money as well as time.
  3. No refund on voluntary withdrawal. Students who register and then withdraw of their own accord do not get their fees back.
  4. Double loss where forgery is detected. If incorrect information or forged documents are found in an application, the candidate loses the right to register even if already placed — and the fee paid is not refunded.
  5. Residence permit and insurance. Document fees, permit charges and health insurance recur every year independently of tuition.

Watch Out for Fraud When Paying


A warning repeats across university announcements, and it deserves to be taken seriously:

  1. Pay only into the university's official account. Some universities require payment at a specific bank by stating your student number, and explicitly warn that no payment should be made to any IBAN number.
  2. Your name must appear on the receipt. Some universities will not evaluate an application if the receipt does not show the student's name and the university's IBAN. If someone else pays on your behalf, your name must appear in the description field.
  3. Do not pay intermediaries. Be cautious of anyone asking for money in exchange for an acceptance letter; acceptance letters are issued free of charge through the university's own system.

Can International Students Get Scholarships?


Yes, through several routes. But one very common confusion needs correcting first.

Türkiye Scholarships is a separate track from TR-YÖS


Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları) is the Turkish state's scholarship program for international students, and it has its own application system, its own calendar and its own evaluation process. Applying with your TR-YÖS score does not automatically enter you into Türkiye Scholarships; these are two independent paths.

The program's most distinctive feature, as stated on its official pages, is that unlike other scholarship programs it carries out university and department placement itself. If you win it, the program decides which university you attend.

What it covers:

  1. University tuition fees
  2. A monthly stipend: 4,500 TL at associate and bachelor's level, 6,500 TL at master's level, 9,000 TL at doctoral level
  3. Accommodation
  4. One year of Turkish language education
  5. Health insurance
  6. A one-off outbound and return flight ticket
  7. University and department placement

The application calendar is set annually and usually opens in the first months of the year. For current dates and criteria, rely on turkiyeburslari.gov.tr.

Discounts written into the regulations: the sibling discount


This is an entitlement most students miss simply because they do not know to claim it. As stated in universities' fee documents:

Where more than one student from the same family — with the family and the student holding residence permits in Türkiye — continues associate or undergraduate study, a discount of no less than 25% is applied to the determined tuition fees.

If you are studying in Türkiye alongside a sibling, raise this at registration.

Fee exemption for students residing in Gaza


A provision set out under a provisional article for the 2026-2027 academic year: the tuition fee payable by associate, undergraduate, thesis master's and doctoral students whose family or who themselves reside in the city of Gaza in Palestine, and who continue in formal education programs, is covered by the State.

If this applies to you, inform the relevant unit during registration.

Universities' own scholarships and discounts


For students who do not win Türkiye Scholarships, the second route is what universities offer themselves:

  1. Merit scholarships / tuition discounts for students arriving with high TR-YÖS scores.
  2. Advance payment discounts for paying the annual fee in one instalment.
  3. Performance-based continuation discounts for students who keep their GPA above a set level.
  4. Scholarship quotas. Some universities open scholarship places directly — ITU's Northern Cyprus programs, for instance, include 50% scholarship and full scholarship quotas.

The rates and conditions are entirely at each university's discretion, so the only reliable source is that university's own announcement.

Other sources

Some students draw on scholarships from their own governments, programs run by international organisations, or support from foundations and associations. Post-registration conditions vary by university, so read registration announcements carefully — as in the Mehmet Akif Ersoy University registration announcement.

How Should You Plan Your Budget?


Follow these steps for a sound calculation:

  1. Find the current fee table for your target university. Rely on the university's own page, not general figures circulating online.
  2. Multiply the annual fee by the program length. Six years for medicine, five for dentistry, four for most bachelor's degrees.
  3. Add the preparatory year. If you do not hold a language proficiency certificate, budget for another year.
  4. Calculate housing and living costs by city. The gap between a major city and an Anatolian one can reverse the tuition difference entirely.
  5. Do not forget official procedure costs. Residence permit, health insurance, translation and notary work.
  6. Check your discount entitlements. Sibling discount, merit scholarship, advance payment discount.

Because these figures are updated every year, always check the university's current table for the relevant academic year before registering. You can follow placement and registration announcements on our blog.

To estimate your exam score, you can use our TR-YÖS Score Calculator. The tool only estimates your score; it does not show which universities will admit you. For the full picture of the TR-YÖS process, see our guide to what TR-YÖS is, its exam structure and application process.

To build a university list that fits your budget and your goals, the YösEdu team is here to help.

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