Study in Turkey: University degree programs abroad for African students at Turkish Universities

Study in Turkey 

Turkey is not only a beautiful destination for travelers but also appealing to many international students. Studying in Turkey for African students is also relatively cheap compared to many other countries abroad. There has been huge investment in universities in Turkey in recent years. As a result, Turkish universities offer high quality education and top-of-the-range facilities, but at a very affordable rate.  to equip their students with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to excel in the professional world.

Public universities in Turkey mainly offer programs delivered entirely in English, though it is also possible to find some bilingual (English and Turkish) programs and even some programs delivered in French at select institutions. There are no programs taught entirely in English in public universities and so any African student looking to study in a public university will need to study Turkish language first and successfully pass the Tomer Exam (the Turkish equivalent to the TOEFL Exam).

Private universities in Turkey offer a lot of programs taught entirely in English. We will mainly focus our attention on private universities in this guide as we do strongly believe in the global work opportunities that will be open to you if you study in English.

Why choose to study in Turkey in 2022? 

Top 8 reasons to study in Turkey 

A bridge between East and West

Turkey’s geographical location means that it has been a bridge between East and West for centuries. Turkey and especially Istanbul have historically played important roles in trade going from Asia to Europe and vice versa. As a result, Turkey has always been a melting pot of cultures.

Modern day Turkey continues to be a bridge between different cultures and different regions of the world. Turkish Airlines has grown rapidly in recent years and now serves more countries than any other airline in the world. The huge, new Istanbul Airport that opened in 2018 will surely help Turkey to play an increasingly important role in today’s globalised world.

Affordability 

Yes, living and studying in Turkey is much cheaper than in most countries in Europe as well as compared to North America. There are affordable modes of transport (and student cards make public transport even cheaper), reasonably priced student accommodation, and eating out is also very affordable. 

Tuition fees do vary widely between universities and even between different departments within the same university but, on a global scale, Turkish private universities are very affordable. See below for more information on study costs in Turkey. 

African Students are welcome.

Turkey is a multicultural country that welcomes students from all over the world. Turkey has a comparatively young population and every city and major town in Turkey has at least one university. This means that you will experience a very student-friendly environment, wherever you choose to study.

Variety of Degree courses in Turkey 

There are over 200 universities in Turkey with more than 60 thousand programs to choose from. With such a variety, Turkey is becoming one of the most sought-after learning destinations for African students. With more and more programs being taught in English, a Turkish Bachelor or Master’s degree has never been a better choice for African students looking for an international career! 

High Teaching Standards in Turkey

Turkey has a very large Higher Education system. There are currently approximately 8 million students studying at universities in Turkey, making it the largest system in Europe.  There has been enormous investment in Turkish universities, both public and private, over the last 10-15 years. Most universities in Turkey are equipped with world-class technology. The study facilities rival those offered at universities in countries such as the USA and Canada and create a positive study environment for students.

Consequently there are now several Turkish universities, both from the public and private sector, that feature in the Times Higher Education 2021 World University rankings. These include public universities such as Cankaya (#401=), Hacettepe (#501=) and Bogazici (#601=) and private universities such as Koc (#401=), Sabanci (#501=) and Bilkent (#601=). 

Opportunity to work in Turkey 

 African students are allowed to work on campus during their studies. Upon graduation they are permitted to seek full-time employment and, after 5 years of living in Turkey, they may apply for permanent residency. 

Remember, however, that if your plan is to stay and work in Turkey after graduating from a Turkish university, you should make efforts to learn the Turkish language to at least a good conversational level.

The rich culture and history of Turkey

Turkey’s geopolitical situation means that many different peoples and cultures have lived in Turkey over the centuries, each leaving their own mark. The Turkish people adore and preserve their culture. There are hundreds of significant cultural and historical monuments across Turkey, making it a perfect place for history lovers to explore.

In addition to the monuments, make sure that you make time to try the great Turkish cuisine, browse the bazaars and listen to Turkish music!

Easy access to Europe

Degrees and Diplomas from Turkish universities are recognized all over Europe and Turkey is part of the Erasmus + student exchange scheme. African students coming to study in Turkey may opt to benefit from the Erasmus + scheme (visa permitting). 

The Higher Education System in Turkey

The Turkish Council of Higher Education (YOK) oversees the higher education system in Turkey. According to the Turkish constitution and laws related to higher education, YOK is responsible for planning and governing the higher education system, including private universities.

Higher Education in Turkey includes a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and doctoral degrees. In addition to acquiring a master’s degree in turkey, students receive a Higher Engineering Diploma. 

Turkey has signed up to the Bologna System, which ensures that its qualifications and diplomas are recognized across Europe. Turkey is also an active participant in the European Erasmus + program, which enables students to freely engage in student exchange to universities around Europe. More Turkish students take advantage of the Erasmus + scheme than almost any other European country.

Bachelor degrees in Turkey 

A Bachelor degree in Turkey usually last 4 years. There are a few exceptions to this, such as dentistry, veterinary studies and pharmacy (all of which last 5 years) and medicine, which takes 6-years to complete. 

Unlike public universities, where YOK oversees a centralized application process, students wishing to study in a private university in Turkey should apply directly to the university of their choice. You will need to submit a language test score according to the language of tuition of your chosen program as part of the application process. For courses taught in English, private universities will accept TOEFL, Pearson PTE and sometimes IELTS. Many private universities will also offer their own private English exam. The Duolingo English test is not accepted by Turkish universities. For programs taught in Turkish, you will need to pass the TOMER exam. 

Whether you choose to study in English or in Turkish, Seed’s partner institution in Turkey, ILA Turkey, runs language programs that will help you achieve the language test score that you need.

In general, programs taught in English have higher tuition fees than courses taught in Turkish. However, as there are very different tuition fees between universities, between specific courses within a university and many different scholarship awards available, in reality there are many very affordable programs that are taught entirely in English.

Pre-Masters in Turkey

There are no Pre-Master’s programs in Turkey. Therefore it is important to understand that if you have very low grades from your Bachelor degree, Seed may not be able to help you with a university placement. 

Master’s degrees in Turkey

Master’s degrees usually take 2 years to complete. Students may choose a Master’s degree with a thesis or without a thesis according to their preference.  Some Master’s degrees in Turkey are taught in English, others in Turkish. 

Online degrees with Turkey Universities 

There are no online degree programs currently offered by Turkish universities.

PhD study with Turkey Universities

PhD programs typically take 2 – 3 years to complete in Turkey, depending on the research subject chosen. 

The Higher Education System in Turkey

The Turkish Council of Higher Education (YOK) oversees the higher education system in Turkey. According to the Turkish constitution and laws related to higher education, YOK is responsible for planning and governing the higher education system, including private universities.

Higher Education in Turkey includes a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and doctoral degrees. In addition to acquiring a master’s degree in turkey, students receive a Higher Engineering Diploma. 

Turkey has signed up to the Bologna System, which ensures that its qualifications and diplomas are recognized across Europe. Turkey is also an active participant in the European Erasmus + program, which enables students to freely engage in student exchange to universities around Europe. More Turkish students take advantage of the Erasmus + scheme than almost any other European country.

Bachelor degrees in Turkey 

A Bachelor degree in Turkey usually last 4 years. There are a few exceptions to this, such as dentistry, veterinary studies and pharmacy (all of which last 5 years) and medicine, which takes 6-years to complete. 

Unlike public universities, where YOK oversees a centralized application process, students wishing to study in a private university in Turkey should apply directly to the university of their choice. You will need to submit a language test score according to the language of tuition of your chosen program as part of the application process. For courses taught in English, private universities will accept TOEFL, Pearson PTE and sometimes IELTS. Many private universities will also offer their own private English exam. The Duolingo English test is not accepted by Turkish universities. For programs taught in Turkish, you will need to pass the TOMER exam. 

Whether you choose to study in English or in Turkish, Seed’s partner institution in Turkey, ILA Turkey, runs language programs that will help you achieve the language test score that you need.

In general, programs taught in English have higher tuition fees than courses taught in Turkish. However, as there are very different tuition fees between universities, between specific courses within a university and many different scholarship awards available, in reality there are many very affordable programs that are taught entirely in English.

Pre-Masters in Turkey

There are no Pre-Master’s programs in Turkey. Therefore it is important to understand that if you have very low grades from your Bachelor degree, Seed may not be able to help you with a university placement. 

Master’s degrees in Turkey

Master’s degrees usually take 2 years to complete. Students may choose a Master’s degree with a thesis or without a thesis according to their preference.  Some Master’s degrees in Turkey are taught in English, others in Turkish. 

Online degrees with Turkey Universities 

There are no online degree programs currently offered by Turkish universities.

PhD study with Turkey Universities

PhD programs typically take 2 – 3 years to complete in Turkey, depending on the research subject chosen. 

Popular Areas of Study and Courses in Turkey 

The most popular areas of study in Turkey are Business Administration, Tourism & Hospitality Management, Computer Science and Engineering. You will find lots of programs in these fields of study and, in some cases, you may even find Business-focused private universities that are run by the local Chamber of Commerce. 

Turkey is well known for the quality of its fabrics and clothes. Textile design is also a popular field of study.

And, finally, Turkey offers excellent opportunities for students looking to work in health and medical fields. Many private universities offering medical-related programs have close links with private hospitals, giving practical experience opportunities to medical students. 

Colleges and Universities in Turkey

 Currently Seed focuses on private universities delivering courses in English. We believe that studying a Bachelor or Master’s degree delivered in English will be advantageous for students coming from countries in Africa where English is not an official language as it is the global language of business. For those of you coming from countries such as Nigeria, Ghana or Kenya, choosing to study in English in a private Turkish university means that you can aim for direct admission, without needing to take any Foundation or preparation program.

Just remember that, even if your course is delivered entirely in English, we do recommend that you make spoke efforts to learn conversational Turkish as this will make life easier for you when you are off-campus (especially in smaller student towns and cities) and also a strong knowledge of Turkish will increase your chances to find a job in Turkey after graduation. 

Recommended Turkish Universities for African Students

Through our partnership with ILA Turkey and TurkishUniversities.org, Seed can help you apply to 50 different private universities in Turkey.

If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the language admission requirements of your chosen program, then Seed can help arrange an Academic English course at ILA Turkey, conveniently located in central Istanbul, first. ILA Turkey also offers Turkish language courses – we do recommend that you consider a short introduction to the Turkish language as this will help you to settle more quickly in Turkey and will particularly help you when you explore off-campus.

Costs of Studying in Turkey

How much are tuition fees in Turkey?

It is possible to find Bachelor degrees in Business, taught fully in English, starting from around $2,000 per year, for example! IT degrees start from $2,500 and Engineering degrees tend to cost $4,000 – $6,000 per year. Medicine programs are more expensive (expect to pay between $15,000 – $20,000 per year), though these remain competitive on an international scale.

Tuition fees also vary very much depending on the university. More prestigious and higher-ranked private universities such as Sabanci and Koc do charge significantly higher tuition fees.

Student Cost of living in Turkey

The cost of living in Turkey is much lower for African students than in Western European countries such as France and Germany, as well as traditionally popular study destinations like UK, USA and Canada. 

Even in major cities like Istanbul, expect to spend no more than $500 a month on housing, living and transportation costs. In smaller student towns in Turkey, you may be able to reduce this to around $300 per month.

Scholarships for African Students to Study in Turkey 

There are many scholarships offered by private universities in Turkey. Depending on your GPA, your intended course of study and a university’s desire to diversify their student nationality mix, you may find quite a lot of scholarships ranging from 40% – 70% per year. Scholarship awards are typically made for each year of study, though you will need to maintain a certain GPA to renew the scholarship from year to year.

Please note that it is very unlikely that you will find any scholarships that cover 100% of tuition.

How to apply to Study in Turkey

When to apply to University in Turkey

Most university programs in private Turkish universities have two start dates each year – September and January. Some programs, such as medicine, however, only start in September.

It is also important to note that YOK decides how many places are open to international students for all programs, including those offered by private universities. So, we recommend that you start the process as early as possible to avoid disappointment!

If you are not a native English-speaker, remember that you may need to take English language training at Seed’s partner, ILA Turkey, prior to your intended university start date. In this case, we recommend that you take an ILA Turkey English test as early as possible so that we can recommend the right length of language training needed in order to achieve the TOEFL or Pearson PTE test score required by your chosen university.

If you are a native English-speaker or have already achieved the required TOEFL or Pearson PTE test score, we do recommend trying to arrive at least one month in advance of your university program’s start date – this time could be usefully spent gaining an introduction to the Turkish language at ILA Turkey!

7 Steps for African Students to study in Turkey 

• Select your preferred program of study

• Determine your budget with your sponsor

• Contact Seed for an initial assessment. 

Together with our partner TurkishUniversities.org, we will make recommendations based on your intended field of study, past academic grades and budget.

• Check your English level

If you have a current TOEFL or Pearson PTE test score that meets university entry requirements, all well and good! If not, we may need to arrange a free English test with ILA Turkey to check your current English level and then we can recommend the right length of English program that you will need first to meet university entry requirements. 

• Apply to your chosen university

Depending on whether you will need a language preparation course first or not, we may apply for conditional or unconditional admission. There is a non-refundable service fee of $250 payable to our partner TurkishUniversities.org for this service.

• Accept offer

You will need to pay a tuition deposit to your chosen university to receive the formal letter of admission that will allow you to begin the visa process. The deposit will normally be $2,000 – $3,000 or 50% of annual tuition fees if the tuition fees are below $4,000 per year. These are usually refundable in the event of a visa refusal as long as proof of the visa refusal is sent to the university.

• Apply for a visa

Turkish Visas for African Students

Once you have your letter of admission from a private Turkish university, you are ready to begin the student visa process. 

In general you will need to provide the following documents in order to complete your visa application:

• Completed Turkish student visa application form 
• Valid passport
• Passport photographs (x2)
• Letter of admission indicating that you have been accepted by an education institution in Turkey. The letter must indicate the duration of your stay.
• Proof of paid fees for the educational program you are about to attend, if applicable.
• Previous diplomas, certificates and transcripts.
• TOEFL or Pearson PTE test score (for students going directly to university without an ILA Turkey language program first)
• Proof of financial resources, showing that you have the funds in place to afford your studies in Turkey, as well as the cost of living. This will normally be in the form of a bank statement provided by your sponsor. 
• Accommodation reservation letter
• Proof of flight reservation
• Proof of travel insurance

Once you have submitted your visa application, you will be invited for a student interview, where you will normally be asked a few questions about your study plans. The visa will normally be granted 1-2 weeks later.

I have already started university studies in my home country – can I transfer?

Yes, it is generally possible to transfer credits from a university in your home country to a Turkish university, though the exact number of credits that are transferable will be calculated on a case by case basis. Please note that you will not be able to transfer 100% of your university credits.

Graduate work opportunities for Africans in Turkey 

Students may seek employment in Turkey upon the completion of their university studies. Longer-term, students can even become eligible for permanent residency and Turkish citizenship. To apply for citizenship, you should work post-graduation without interruption for 5 years. 

Students should apply for a work visa during their graduation year in order to have the shortest route to permanent residency and citizenship. In this case international students have a right to count 2 years of their studies towards the 5 year period for acquiring . So, if you work continuously for 3 years after graduating from a Turkish university, you will be deemed to have completed the required 5 year residency period. 

If you are unable to obtain a work permit before your student visa expires but you wish to prolong your stay in Turkey, you have to obtain a tourist residency visa. This allows you to look for work in Turkey but you lose the right to count your university studies towards your 5-year residence period. Therefore you will only be able to apply for permanent residency and citizenship after completing 5 years of employment in Turkey without interruption.