When talking about the percentage of international students in Turkey, Turkey has spent many years building bridges between the East and the West, and it also strives to connect Asia, Europe, and Africa through the international students who study in Turkey. Turkey has become a global hub for foreign students, with a large number of students from all over the world, and in this article we will explore their numbers and percentage.
What is Meant by International Students
International students, or those referred to as foreign students, are students who have decided to complete all or part of their university or higher education in a country other than their own, moving there for the purpose of study. Until 2017, there were more than 503 million international students, and in 2000 their number was two million, with 40 percent of them in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
The Percentage of International Students in Turkey
The percentage of foreign and international students in Turkey is continuously increasing, with approximately 185,000 international students studying in Turkey. This growth in student numbers was accompanied by the establishment of several universities, including 50 public and 36 private universities between 2006 and 2011, bringing the total number of universities to 165. During this period, the number of international students increased by 40 percent. These students come to Turkey from 155 different countries, with the number of students coming from Azerbaijan reaching 4,200 in 2012, those from Turkmenistan amounting to 1,110, and from Northern Cyprus to 3,800, while the number of students coming from Europe was 1,300.
Why Turkey Is Considered the Preferred Destination for International Students
Turkey may be the best destination for students for several reasons, including the following:
- Low tuition fees and affordable living costs, especially when compared with the high expenses of studying in Europe, the United States, Australia, and Canada.
- Turkey’s accession to the Bologna Process in 2002—an agreement originally signed in 1999 by 29 European countries to improve the academic standards of European universities. Today, the number of participating countries is 49, and universities in these countries grant accredited degrees to their graduates, enabling students to continue their studies or work in Europe with the degree obtained from Turkish universities.
- Modern universities equipped with the necessary facilities that provide students with an ideal study environment, including well-stocked libraries, professional services, and banking facilities.
- Scholarships offered by the Turkish government, which provides more than 4,000 scholarships each year to students from all over the world, in addition to partial scholarships from several Turkish universities based on students’ admission scores.
- Turkey’s geographic location, which connects the continents of Europe and Asia. Its central position allows for travel to and from Turkey in less than four hours from many countries in both the East and the West.
- The rich cultural history of Turkey, which has hosted some of the greatest empires over the course of 3,000 years.
- The pleasant climate in Turkey, making it a destination favored by tourists as well as students from around the world.
- The diversity of cultures and environments in Turkey, along with the renowned hospitality of the Turkish people who go to great lengths to help new visitors with genuine kindness and love. Turkey is considered one of the most multicultural tourist destinations in the world.
- The breathtaking natural scenery that makes studying in Turkey a truly enjoyable experience.
Turkish Cities Where International Students Can Study
Turkish universities where international students can study are located in approximately 81 cities across Turkey. However, 25 percent of these universities are in Istanbul—around 56 universities—20 in Ankara, 9 in Izmir, 5 in Konya, with the remaining 110 universities distributed across the other Turkish cities.
Does an International Student Need to Master English?
International students in Turkey, especially those studying at private universities, need to master English. Moreover, many universities—particularly public ones—teach their curricula in Turkish, so international students must also master Turkish. For English, students must obtain a TOEFL certificate or may be required to take a language proficiency exam at their university. For Turkish, a preparatory year is needed before starting university studies.
Universities Where International Students Can Study
Students can study in both private and public Turkish universities. However, private universities are relatively new, with the oldest private university in Turkey, Bilkent University, established in 1984. Since then, the number of universities has increased, and most of them enjoy an excellent reputation for attracting international students. Among these universities are:
- Çankaya University.
- Koç University.
- Hacettepe University.
- Sabancı University.
- Bilkent University.
- Boğaziçi University.
- Özyeğin University.
Programs That an International Student Can Study in Turkish Universities
Among the academic programs that international students can pursue in Turkish universities are:
- Medicine and Health
- Engineering Technology
- Journalism and Media
- Social Sciences
- Arts, Design, and Architecture
- Education and Training
- Computer Science and Information Technology
- Business Administration
- Humanities
- Natural Sciences and Mathematics
- Applied Sciences and Vocational Studies
- Hospitality, Entertainment, and Sports
- Law
- Forestry and Agriculture
- Environmental Studies and Earth Sciences
Turkey’s Global Ranking in Hosting International Students
According to UNESCO, Turkey has been ranked as one of the top ten countries in the world that host a large number of foreign students. This ranking was based on collected data regarding the countries that accommodate the highest number of international students. Turkey ranked tenth by hosting 125,138 students in 2018. Despite the recent living challenges brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic, Turkey aimed to host no less than 220,000 international students, and 207 universities across the country offer approximately 60,000 different programs for foreign and international students.
The Skyline Education Platform: The Best Choice for International Students
The Skyline Education platform is one of the best resources providing essential and valuable information to international students who wish to study at Turkish universities. It offers hundreds of articles and blogs discussing Turkish universities, their costs, and all their advantages. The platform also covers the academic specializations available for study in Turkey and provides consultations to help foreign students choose the right university, major, and more. Additionally, the platform offers university admission courses and maintains excellent relationships with Turkish universities.
Thus, we have learned about the percentage of international students in Turkey, as well as the most important universities where international students can study, the academic programs offered by these universities, and Turkey’s global ranking in hosting international students. We have also highlighted the reasons that make Turkey one of the best countries to choose for university studies.
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