YÖS (INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EXAM)
YÖS – Foreign Student Examination – as the name suggests, is the exam that Foreign Students must take in order to receive acceptance and study at State universities in Turkey. Some public and private universities in Turkey accept foreign students through the YÖS Exam. YÖS exam questions differ from other university entrance exams.
Which departments can be studied with YÖS Exam?
Students can apply to all departments of State and Foundation Universities with the results they receive from the YÖS Exam. Universities publish their foreign student quotas according to departments on their official websites.
However; Admission to the departments of some universities that provide education in the field of Fine Arts and Music is made through a Special Aptitude Exam.
Another area is the Military and Police Academies: Students, candidates who meet the special conditions of these institutions are accepted.
In addition, Foreign Students must meet certain YÖS Terms and conditions in order to take the YÖS Exam. Universities that accept YÖS announce the quotas themselves. YÖS exam results are announced by universities. With the YÖS exam, foreign students can choose many other departments such as Medicine, Engineering, Architecture, Law, Guidance and Psychological Counseling, Pharmacy, Psychology and teaching.
YÖS (Foreign Student Examination) Questions Proportional Distribution
YÖS Exam usually consists of 80 questions. The distribution of these questions consists of 45 YÖS IQ - General Ability (IQ), 30-32 Mathematics, 3-5 Geometry questions.
Mathematics and Geometrie questions consist of general high school level questions. Question structures differ from LYS or YGS Exam.
Diploma Grade & YÖS
You may see that the 'Secondary Education Graduation Grade Point Average' or High School Diploma Grade must be at least 40 or 60 in some universities as criteria for the Foreign Student or YÖS Exam of universities. In departments such as Faculty of Medicine / Dentistry, diploma grade criteria may vary from university to university.
It is not important for students who will or have graduated from high schools in Turkey to have an Anatolian High School Diploma or a Vocational High School Diploma. High School Diploma Grade and Diploma Type of Foreign Students - YÖS candidates who have completed high school abroad are important.
The most important criterion for YÖS candidates who have received or will receive an international diploma is that they graduate from a high school equivalent to our high schools in Turkey. These students must obtain an Equivalence Certificate and state that they have received a diploma whose diploma grade is equivalent to the High Schools in Turkey.
To apply for the YÖS Exam, you can apply from the official websites of the universities. It is very important that you follow the YÖS Application and Exam Dates in this process. Generally, YÖS Applications start in February and March. Universities accept YÖS applications until May and June. Before applying, please check the YÖS Conditions and make sure you meet the requirements.

You can follow our website for current YÖS Exam Application dates.
If you have foundation/private universities in your preferences: You can get information from the Foundation Universities that accept foreign students link and apply for foreign students.
How many people take YÖS Exams annually?
According to 31.08.2017 YÖK data, a total of 39037 students are studying in the faculties and colleges of 114 State Universities, 65 Foundation Universities, 6 Foundation Vocational Schools (185 Universities).
These students are students who come with YÖS and International Diplomas.
The number of international students studying at Turkish universities has more than doubled in the last 3 years. The number of students has approached 50,000. It is aimed to reach 100,000 students in 2018-2023. In addition, 3000-3500 foreign faculty members from different countries work at various universities.
What are the Most Preferred Programs in the YÖS Exam?
Faculty of Medicine (Turkish)
Faculty of Medicine (English)
Dentist
Business
Faculty of Law
Economy
EEG
Psychology –PDR
architecture
Veterinary medicine
Is it necessary to renounce Turkish citizenship in order to take YÖS?
If you graduated from high school abroad and have dual citizenship, never leave! Because dual citizens can benefit from these rights in this case.
If you have completed high school in a foreign country and have resided in this country during your education (at least 3 years), you can benefit from this right even if you are a Turkish citizen. Never give up your citizenship.
If you graduated from high school in Turkey as a dual citizen, be sure to renounce your Turkish citizenship. If you don't come out; Even if you win, you do not have the opportunity to register.
You can start the process of renouncing citizenship by applying to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In order to take the YÖS Exam and get a Blue Card, you can do so from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Population and Citizenship Affairs Directorate - Naturalization Branch or Consulates Abroad.
Blue Card & YÖS
Blue Card is a card that allows those who are Turkish citizens by birth and who have renounced their citizenship with permission to renounce Turkish citizenship, to benefit from the rights granted to foreign nationals by Turkish law. (Article 28 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901).
Dual nationality students who will complete or have completed their high school education in Turkey must obtain a Blue Card in order to benefit from Foreign National / YÖS quotas.
YÖS Blue Card Quota; According to the decision taken by YÖK on July 23, 2019, a 10% quota restriction has been imposed on students who will apply to the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, Law and Teaching departments. Foreign students who have a Blue Card will be able to apply for only 10% of the entire quota of these departments.
YÖS Conditions: Who can apply for YÖS?
What are the YÖS Conditions? Who can apply for the YÖS Exam? Who can benefit from this right as an International/Foreign Student? We give you all the information about YÖS Terms and conditions.
YÖS Candidates must be in their final year of high school or have graduated;
Foreign Nationality
Those who are Turkish Citizens by birth and are later allowed to renounce Turkish citizenship (Blue Card - Law No. 5901)
Those who became citizens of the Republic of Turkey (T.R.) while being foreign nationals
Dual Nationals
Those who are citizens of the Republic of Türkiye and completed their education in a foreign country
(It is mandatory to have studied the last three years of your education abroad!)
Students who completed their education and training in Turkish schools in a foreign country (For example: Western European Open High School Program)
Those who have GCE AL exam
Completely foreign students receiving high school education in Turkey
They are deemed to have fulfilled the YÖS Requirements and can participate in the YÖS Exam.

YÖS Conditions: Who cannot benefit from Foreign Student rights?
Students who are citizens of the Republic of Turkey (T.R.) and have graduated from high school in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Students who are citizens of the Republic of Turkey (T.R.) and also hold the citizenship of another foreign country and have completed high school in Turkey
Dual citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
Dual nationals studying in Foreign High Schools within the borders of Türkiye
Students are deemed not to have fulfilled the YÖS Requirements and cannot benefit from YÖS rights!
Is there Turkish among the YÖS Requirements?
Is it one of the YÖS Requirements to certify that you speak Turkish?
Knowing Turkish or certifying that you know Turkish is not one of the YÖS Requirements. It will not be required for you in university admissions.

After registering to universities with YÖS Exam results, Turkish Level Determination Exams for Foreign Students are held to determine the level.

In the evaluation of exam results, students are divided into A, B or C groups.
If the student passes the YÖS Turkish Exam:
If he is appointed to Group A, he will not encounter the Turkish language barrier in his higher education life.
If assigned to group B, Turkish Lesson for Foreign Students is added to the course plan as an additional course while undergraduate courses continue.
If assigned to Group C, the student must study Turkish Preparatory School or obtain a Turkish certificate from TÖMER.