Top universities in Turkey

Well, a considerable increase in the number of international students choosing to study in Turkey has been seen in the latest years. over 650,000 international students are currently studying in Turkey indicating how important Turkey is becoming as a destination for higher education. 

With approximately 40 million travelers arriving from all over the world in 2017, Turkey is already a well-established tourism destination and ranked as the tenth most popular vacation spot. The Turkish government wants to expand this appeal to the market for foreign students, with a target of 350,000 students from outside.

Some of the reasons students choose to study in Turkey to receive a good education at a reasonable cost and the possibility of receiving scholarships that include providing a monthly allowance for housing, tuition, health insurance, and travel expenses.

Universities in Turkey

Turkey has more than 200 universities, the bulk of which are state-run. Turkey's public and private universities both adhere to the Bologna Agreement, which harmonizes degree programs across Europe, and many of them are also members of the Erasmus+ program, which promotes cross-border student exchanges. Turkey's higher education system came in at number 43 in the current edition of the QS Higher Education System Strength Rankings.

Both the 2022 edition of the QS University Rankings: EECA, and the 2022 edition of the QS World University Rankings include many Turkish universities, respectively. Both Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey's two largest cities, are home to the bulk of these elite colleges. Middle East Technical University, Bilkent University, and Hacettepe University are all located in Ankara and are among the top 50 universities, while Boaziçi Üniversitesi, Koç University, Sabanc University, Istanbul Technical University, and Istanbul University are all located in Istanbul and are among the top 30 universities.

Middle East Technical University (METU)

It was established in 1956 to play a crucial role in the development of Turkey and other Middle Eastern nations, and it focuses on the scientific and social sciences. At present, it has over 31,000 students, many of whom are exchange students studying there for a semester or an entire year.

Only the top 1.5 percent of METU's 1.5 million yearly applications are accepted because of the school's strong demand for students. English is used as the primary teaching language.

Koç University

Named after its founder, businessman, and philanthropist Vehbi Koç, Koç University was established in Istanbul in 1993 and is now rated 12th in the EECA ranking. With 22 undergraduate, 32 graduate, and 18 PhD programs and around 5,500 students enrolled, Koç University is one of Turkey's most distinguished institutions of higher learning. The institution states that its goal is to "develop the best qualified graduates in Turkey, well-rounded individuals with worldwide credentials, capable of thinking creatively, independently, and objectively, and who are self-assured leaders."

Boğaziçi Üniversitesi

Boaziçi Üniversitesi, which is now listed in the top 10 universities, was founded in 1863 as Robert College and was the first American institution to be established outside of the United States. The old castle of Rumelihisar, which overlooks the eastern edge of the university's South Campus, and the Bosphorus strait are both nearby Boaziçi Üniversitesi's Istanbul location. The university maintains close ties to the American higher education system and offers courses in English, just like Middle East Technical University. 

Sabanci University

Sabanci University, which is also in Istanbul, is this year's fifth-highest placed university in Turkey in the EECA rankings, coming in at position 18. It started offering classes in the fall of 1999 and now enrolls about 4,000 students. It provides its students with a wide range of subjects at both the undergraduate and graduate levels under Sabanci University's faculties of engineering and natural sciences (FENS) and arts and social sciences (FASS). Scholarships are awarded to 42% of its undergrads. 

Bilkent University

The name Bilkent University is an abbreviation for "bilim kenti," which is Turkish for "city of learning and science," and is ranked 14th in the 2019 EECA rankings. The most comprehensive academic library in the nation is situated at Bilkent University, which was established in 1984 by Turkish academician hsan Doramac. One of the top research-intensive institutions in the country, it presently enrolls around 13,000 students across nine faculties and two four-year professional schools, many of whom are from outside.