What Is TR-YÖS? 2026 Exam Structure, Application Dates & Score Guide

Published: 27 August 2026

What Is TR-YÖS?

TR-YÖS (Exam for Foreign Students for Higher Education in Türkiye) is the official university entrance exam for international students who completed their entire secondary education outside Türkiye and wish to pursue associate's or bachelor's degree programs at Turkish state universities. The exam framework is set by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) under Article 45/f of Higher Education Law No. 2547, while the exam itself is administered by the Measuring, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM). The first TR-YÖS was held in January 2023, and it has been offered twice a year ever since.

Exam Structure and Content

TR-YÖS consists of 80 questions to be answered in 100 minutes:

Numerical Ability (Logic) Test: 40 questions

Basic Mathematics Test: 40 questions

The exam is offered in multiple languages, including Turkish, English, German, French, Russian, and Arabic, so candidates from different countries can take it in their own language.

You can estimate your score in advance using our TR-YÖS Score Calculator.

Who Can Take TR-YÖS?

According to Article 1.4 of ÖSYM's official 2026-TR-YÖS/1 Application Guide, the candidates eligible to apply are as follows — the common requirement is that the candidate must not have studied at or graduated from a high school in Türkiye:

a) Foreign nationals — provided they have not studied at or graduated from a high school in Türkiye. (Exception: foreign nationals brought to Türkiye under embassy schools, international private education institutions within the scope of MOBİS, or MEB/YÖK projects are exempt from this requirement.)

b) Turkish citizens by birth who obtained permission from the Ministry of Interior to renounce Turkish citizenship (Blue Card holders), under certain conditions.

c) Individuals who were originally foreign nationals and later acquired Turkish citizenship, and dual nationals in this situation — again provided they have not studied at or graduated from a high school in Türkiye.

ç) TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) citizens who completed the entirety of their secondary education in a foreign country.

d) Turkish (T.C.) citizens — provided they completed the entirety of their secondary education at high schools abroad (including Turkish schools opened under the Ministry of National Education in another country, but excluding TRNC), and can document that they were physically present in that country during the years corresponding to their high school education.

In other words — yes, Turkish (T.C.) citizens who completed their entire secondary education abroad can also take TR-YÖS. The only requirement is being able to prove, with official documents (residence permit, student certificate, consular registration, etc.), that they actually resided in that country during the relevant years. This rule preserves the exam's core principle of "not having attended high school in Türkiye," while still giving a fair path of entry to Turkish citizens who grew up abroad and completed their secondary education there.

Note: Students brought to Türkiye under embassy schools, MOBİS institutions, or MEB/YÖK projects fall into a different category; as of 2026 these candidates are placed only through the central YKS exam. (Source: ÖSYM, 2026-TR-YÖS/1 Application Guide, Article 1.4)

2026 Application Calendar

TR-YÖS/1: Applications were accepted between January 14–February 3, 2026, and the exam was held on April 12, 2026.

TR-YÖS/2: Applications were accepted between July 9–August 3, 2026.

Applications are submitted through tryos.osym.gov.tr, and results are announced at sonuc.osym.gov.tr. Since exact dates can change each year, it's important to follow ÖSYM's official announcements during the application period.

University Placement Process

After receiving your TR-YÖS score, you must apply directly to the universities of your choice — there is no central placement system. Each university sets its own admission criteria (minimum TR-YÖS score, quota, required documents). Some universities may also accept documents such as the Abitur, SAT, or IB instead of TR-YÖS.

If you'd like professional support with the application and enrollment process, you can reach out to us through our Apply Now page and get started with a free trial lesson.

Conclusion

TR-YÖS is one of the most common admission routes for international students who want to pursue a university education in Türkiye. Knowing the exam structure, eligibility requirements, and university admission criteria well is critical to planning your preparation process correctly.