Studying in Turkey or Russia: Which is Better?

Studying in Turkey or Russia: Which is better is a question we will answer in this article, as we will also talk about the most important reasons that may prompt international students to study in one of the two countries.

The question of whether it is better to study in Turkey or in Russia is one we will answer in this article. We will also discuss the most important reasons that might drive international students to choose one of these countries, especially since universities in both Turkey and Russia offer many distinctive features that set them apart from other institutions.

Skyline Education wishes you an enjoyable reading experience.

Which is Better: Studying in Turkey or Russia

Students often wonder which is better—studying in Turkey or in Russia—and it is not easy to answer this question without a detailed explanation of the educational systems in both countries, so that each student can make the decision that suits them best.

Studying in Russia comes with a number of advantages, as it has a large number of universities and offers a wide variety of specializations. On the other hand, studying in Turkey is just as significant; Turkish universities have secured an advanced status among world universities and provide their students with many benefits.

Although the decision remains perplexing for many, there are reasons that drive students to choose one country over the other. We will now explore these reasons.

Reasons for Choosing to Study in Russia

There are several reasons to choose studying in Russia, including:

Russian Language Usage:

Learning Russian becomes easier through direct interaction with Russian students. Additionally, Russia offers its students an optional preparatory year during which they can master the language, opening up many prestigious job opportunities.

Exclusive Educational Methodologies:

Russia annually innovates its educational curriculum, allowing students to acquire a number of skills as well as extensive knowledge during their studies. Russian universities also give their students the opportunity to receive individualized development programs.

Dual Diploma Programs:

Russian universities provide students with the option to study at their institution alongside studying at another university of the student’s choice—perhaps the best advantage offered by Russian universities.

Excellent and Innovative Engineering Universities:

Russia places great emphasis on engineering specializations and continuously strives to raise academic standards and provide all that students need during their academic journey, which has led to increased enrollment at institutions like Tomsk University.

Reasons Driving Students to Study in Turkey

As for the reasons that drive foreign students to study at Turkish universities—whether public or private—these include:

· Ideal Location:

Turkey is often called the “Bridge of the World” because of its unique geographical location, serving as a meeting point between the West and the East. A large number of diverse cultures and traditions converge here and coexist harmoniously, providing an international student with an ideal environment to learn and explore new and varied cultures.

· Quality of Education:

Over the past two decades, Turkey has significantly increased the number of its universities and improved the quality of education. In 2014, Turkish universities ranked third among the top ten universities globally, and seven Turkish universities achieved significant positions among the top 100 universities in the world.

· Multiple Study Opportunities:

Turkish universities offer a diverse range of study opportunities, with over 3.6 million students applying to Turkish universities by the end of the last decade.

· Cost of Living:

When a foreign student receives a scholarship in Turkey, it typically covers all living expenses. Studying at Turkish universities is less expensive than studying in Russia. The cost of living in Turkey for a student ranges between $150 and $250, and Turkey ranks among the top 10 countries for quality of life and work.

It is important to note that both studying in Turkey and studying in Russia offer numerous advantages. However, studying in Turkey is generally considered more suitable for Arab students, as Turkey is culturally closer to the Arab world and its population is predominantly Muslim. Moreover, Turkish universities offer high-quality education and a good standard of living, making Turkey the ideal destination for students with Arab nationality. In contrast, Russia is not an Islamic country and many of its customs and traditions do not particularly align with those of Arabs.

Admission Requirements at Turkish Public Universities

There are several conditions that a student must meet in order to be admitted to a Turkish university. The admission process takes place in two ways; here are the details:

· First Method:

In this method, the admission is based on the student's high school GPA. Admission is granted after an internal selection process specific to each university. Students apply for the selection using their high school certificate to secure a university seat at one of the Turkish public universities.

· Second Method:

In this method, the student undergoes an internal selection process and applies for the YÖS exam (Turkish Aptitude Test) at the university they wish to attend. Admission is then granted according to the scores obtained in the YÖS exam, with preference given to students who achieve the highest scores.

A considerable number of universities require the YÖS exam as a basic condition for reserving a seat. Other universities may require the American SAT exam instead.

What Are the Admission Requirements at Russian Universities?

Let us take, for example, one of the oldest and largest traditional universities in Russia—Moscow State University—which is considered a symbol of national science and culture in Russia. Moscow State University comprises 15 research institutes, 40 faculties, 300 buildings dedicated to academic staff, and has 6 branches in Russia and 5 abroad. The admission requirements at Moscow State University are as follows:

The original high school diploma if the student wishes to study for a bachelor's degree.
If the student wishes to study for a master's degree at Moscow State University, a bachelor's degree certificate must be submitted. Those who wish to pursue a Ph.D. must provide a master’s degree certificate or an equivalent qualification.
All these documents must be translated into Russian.
The translations must be issued by one of the recognized agencies in Russia, and then submitted through the university's official website.
A valid passport must be provided.
Two recent passport-sized photographs of the applicant without any head coverings (preferably in formal attire) must be submitted. The photos should be in the specified dimensions of 4×3.

The most important Russian universities are as follows:

Lomonosov Moscow State University.
Novosibirsk State University.
Tomsk State University.

This concludes our article in which we answered the question: Which is better—studying in Turkey or in Russia? We explained the reasons driving students to choose one country over the other. For more information, please contact Skyline Education.