The availability and the level of education are important indicators of how developed a country is.
The modern world has settled on a set of principles that an education system in a developed country is expected to meet.
Education in Turkey fully satisfies those principles. In this article we look in detail at what makes the system in Turkish schools and other institutions distinctive.
Content:
- The education system in Turkish schools and universities
- The education system in Turkey
- Preschool education
- The structure of school education in Turkey
- Types of schools in Turkey
- Foreign children in Turkish schools
- What changed in Turkish schools by 2026
- Vocational colleges
- University admission and higher education
- What studying in Turkey costs
- What a foreign parent should keep in mind
- Popular questions
- We will help you find property in Turkey to live and study
The education system in Turkish schools and universities
Education in the Republic of Turkey is under strict state control. The constitution guarantees every citizen the right to study, and it also sets the level that is compulsory for everyone: primary education. Anyone can obtain it free of charge at a state school.
These principles are strictly observed across all institutions, which helps create adequate and comfortable conditions for effective learning.
The education system in Turkey
Education here is built on a six-stage model, from preschool through to academic degrees. Only the primary level is compulsory.
Preschool education
Preschool classes are held with children aged 3 to 5, although among private institutions you can find ones that take younger children. A nursery or a kindergarten can be the very first stage of learning and socialization for a child, who then moves to a preparatory group that gets them ready for school.
Nurseries and kindergartens take children for a full or a half day. Parents can choose between private and state kindergartens. Places at state institutions are harder to get, because attendance there is free and parents only pay for stationery, textbooks and study materials. Private institutions charge fees. Prices have risen many times over in recent years: at well-known private kindergartens in Istanbul a year costs 755,000 to 791,000 TL in the 2026/27 academic year. In smaller cities and neighborhood kindergartens the sums are markedly lower, so the price is best checked with the particular institution. Parents also buy stationery, books and materials separately.
The main purpose of preschool institutions is to help children adapt to society, build the habit of learning and prepare for the next stage.
The structure of school education in Turkey
Turkey runs what is known as the 4+4+4 system. It has been in place since 2012 and involves three stages: primary school, middle school and lycée.
To complete primary education a pupil goes through primary and middle school. To reach the secondary level they also complete the lycée stage.
Primary education
Turkish children start school at 6. The rule applies to every resident of the country, and the primary stage lasts until the pupil turns 14.
The academic year begins in mid-September: in 2026/27 the first bell rang on September 14. The exact date is set each year by the Ministry of National Education.
The year is divided into two semesters. The 2026/27 calendar looks like this: the first semester runs from September 14 to January 22, the mid-term break falls on November 16 to 20, the semester break on January 25 to February 5, the spring break on March 8 to 12, and the school year ends on June 25, 2027. Each semester closes with assessment and an overall grade that includes tests, homework, behavior and extracurricular work.
One feature of local schools is their patriotic focus. On important occasions children sing the anthem together, and lessons and textbooks devote a lot of time to national figures such as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Younger pupils write with pencils rather than pens; this is believed to produce neater handwriting. Homework is set even for the youngest, but in primary classes it is creative in nature.
A school bus collects and drops off pupils. The service is paid for, but it costs very little, and for many families it is the more convenient and safer option.
Turkish schools are very well equipped, with modern interactive boards, computers and projectors in the classrooms. The equipment is paid for by the state.
Secondary education
To obtain a secondary education a pupil enrolls in a lycée and completes it. The country has different types: general and specialized ones, including technical, medical and teacher-training. Studies can also continue at a private lycée, known here as a college. The lycée takes another 4 years, after which pupils sit final assessments and receive a diploma.
Types of schools in Turkey
The condition of school buildings receives a good deal of attention: new premises are built, equipment is monitored and the range of educational options keeps expanding.
Secondary education institutions are either private or state-run.
All children must attend school from the age of 6, and at that point parents are obliged to choose a suitable state or private institution. Private schools are expensive: at well-known Istanbul institutions a year of study costs 490,000 to 910,000 TL in 2026/27 depending on the stage.
Foreign children in Turkish schools
For a foreign child to be admitted to a Turkish school, the parents must hold a residence permit. Where that condition is met, the child has to be accepted into a state school free of charge. Studying at a fee-paying institution is possible as well. Enrollment goes through the state e-Okul system by the address of residence, so in practice it is the registered address that determines the school. The child also needs their own foreigner identification number, issued together with the ikamet.
There are Russian-language schools in Turkey, but those who moved long ago recommend sending a child to a Turkish school even with weak language skills. It helps them join the local community sooner and pick up the language through daily practice.
What changed in Turkish schools by 2026
The main innovation of recent years is the new curriculum, the Türkiye Yüzyılı Maarif Modeli. It is being introduced gradually, class by class.
In the 2026/27 academic year the new curriculum applies to grades 1, 2 and 3 of primary school, grades 5, 6 and 7 of middle school, and the preparatory, 9th, 10th and 11th grades of the lycée. Twelfth-graders finish school under the previous programs.
The model itself puts less weight on theory and more on practical tasks, and adds hours for values education and digital skills. For a foreign family that means something simple: the textbooks and requirements for an older and a younger child at the same school may differ noticeably.
Vocational colleges
After the lycée, studies can continue at a vocational college. If the lycée was specialized, a college in the same field can be entered without exams. If it was a general lycée, admission to a specialized college requires passing the YKS entrance exam. The former YGS and LYS were abolished in 2018 and replaced by a single exam in two parts: the basic TYT test and the subject-specific AYT.
A college course takes 2 years. Graduates can then sit the DGS transfer exam and continue at a university.
University admission and higher education
Turkey has both state and private universities. Teaching is usually in Turkish, but some universities teach in English, French or German. Programs include lectures, seminars, coursework and a thesis.
There are 211 higher education institutions in total: 129 state universities, 78 foundation universities and 4 foundation vocational schools. State universities offer both fee-paying and state-funded places to Turkish citizens, and a funded place is hard to win — it takes high entrance exam scores.
Private universities charge tuition. Fees run from 80,000 to 500,000 TL a year ($1,700–10,300), and at medical faculties they reach 3.74 million TL ($77,000). For the 2026/27 year foundation universities raised their fees by 40 to 159%. Foreign students pay at both state and private universities.
Students can take a state study loan, the Öğrenim Kredisi, or a loan for study-related needs. In 2026 the state grant and study loan amount to 4,000 TL a month for undergraduates, 8,000 TL for master’s students and 12,000 TL for doctoral students. Repayment of the loan begins two years after graduation.
Turkish degrees are well regarded in many countries, and students can take part in international exchange programs.
Leading universities
International experts rate Turkish universities highly. The World University Rankings 2026 include 109 Turkish institutions, with Koç University the highest placed among them. The country’s leading universities include:
- Middle East Technical University;
- Sabancı University;
- Boğaziçi University;
- Hacettepe University;
- Istanbul Technical University;
- Bilkent University.
What studying in Turkey costs
Reference figures for the 2026/27 academic year. Dollar amounts use the rate of 48.33 TL, September 2026.
| Stage | Cost per year | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| State kindergarten | Free | Parents pay for books, materials and stationery |
| Private kindergarten in Istanbul | 755,000–791,000 TL ($15,600–16,400) | Figures from well-known city schools; the regions are cheaper |
| State school | Free | Foreign children are admitted with a residence permit |
| Private school | 490,000–910,000 TL ($10,100–18,800) | Depends on the stage and the reputation of the school |
| State university | Fee-paying for foreigners | Lower than at foundation universities, varies by program |
| Foundation (private) university | 80,000–500,000 TL ($1,700–10,300) | Medical faculties reach 3.74 million TL |
| State grant and study loan | 4,000 TL a month for undergraduates | 8,000 TL for master’s and 12,000 TL for doctoral students |
What a foreign parent should keep in mind
Formally a child has to be accepted into a state school, but in practice there are four things families discover on the ground.
Language. Lessons are in Turkish only, and ordinary schools have no adaptation program for foreigners. In the first year a child effectively learns the language rather than the subjects, which is why many arrange a tutor or courses in advance.
Address. The school is determined by where you are registered, and registration is not available in every neighborhood — some are closed to foreigners. When choosing a home with a school in mind, check the status of the address first.
Documents. You need residence permits for the parent and the child, identification numbers, and a school certificate or transcript from the previous school with a notarized translation.
Continuing studies. To enter a Turkish university, a graduate of a foreign school usually has to sit a separate exam for international students, the YÖS, which universities run themselves.
"Parents most often get the district wrong. They rent an apartment first and then find that the school they wanted belongs to another neighborhood, and transferring between schools takes time," says a relocation expert.
Popular questions
Can the children of foreigners study at a Turkish school free of charge?
Yes, at a state school. The condition is a residence permit for the parents and the child. Enrollment goes through the e-Okul system by the address of residence.
When does the academic year start in Turkey?
In mid-September: in 2026/27 classes began on September 14 and will finish on June 25, 2027.
How much does a private school cost?
At well-known Istanbul schools, 490,000 to 910,000 TL a year, with their kindergartens at 755,000 to 791,000 TL. Prices in the regions are noticeably lower.
Which exam is taken for university admission?
The single YKS exam in two parts: the basic TYT test and the subject-specific AYT. Graduates of foreign schools usually sit the separate YÖS exam.
How many universities are there in Turkey?
211 in total, including 129 state universities, 78 foundation universities and 4 vocational schools run by foundations. The World University Rankings 2026 include 109 of them.
We will help you find property in Turkey to live and study
One of the reasons foreign nationals choose to move to another country permanently is the quality of education. Turkey offers a modern system for everyone — primary pupils, older schoolchildren and students. Children from other countries are welcome here and given the knowledge to succeed in life. If that matters to you, we are ready to help you find the right home in Turkey for a permanent move and a Turkish education. For everyone planning to move to this sunny country, or applying to a local university, we have gathered verified and reliable property listings from established developers, agencies and private sellers. Choose houses and apartments in Turkey for a happy life or successful studies by your own criteria.