The YÖS (Foreign Student Examination) will be conducted for the first time on January 29th!

The Evolution of International Student Admissions in Turkey

The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) is launching a new era for international students. The Turkey International Student Admission Exam (TR-YÖS) will take place for the first time on January 29th. This centralized exam aims to standardize the application process. Previously, individual universities often held their own separate exams. Now, the Measurement, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) will manage this unified test to ensure fairness and accessibility.

Key Details of the January 29th TR-YÖS

The TR-YÖS is designed to attract high-quality students from across the globe. By centralizing the process, Turkey makes it easier for international candidates to apply to multiple institutions with a single score. The exam is not just limited to Turkish speakers. To accommodate a global audience, the test will be available in six languages: Turkish, English, Arabic, French, German, and Russian.

Testing Centers: Where to Take the Exam

The exam will have a massive reach, covering both domestic and international locations. This ensures that students do not have to travel long distances to participate.

Domestic Locations in Turkey

The exam will be administered in 17 provinces across Turkey:

• Adana, Ankara, and Bursa
• Edirne, Gaziantep, and Hatay
• Mersin, Istanbul, and Izmir
• Kayseri, Konya, and Kahramanmaraş
• Mardin, Trabzon, and Şanlıurfa
• Van and Kilis

International Testing Centers

Candidates can also take the exam in 23 different countries, including:

• Northern Cyprus, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan
• Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Iran
• Pakistan, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan
• Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Algeria
• Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, and Afghanistan
• Chad, Libya, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal, and Jordan

Eligibility Criteria for Applicants

The TR-YÖS is open to a specific group of candidates who meet the requirements set by YÖK. You can apply if you fall into one of these categories:

• Foreign nationals who have no claim to Turkish citizenship.
• Blue Card holders (individuals who were Turkish citizens by birth but lost citizenship with permission from the Ministry of Internal Affairs).
• Dual citizens who acquired foreign citizenship while they were foreign nationals.
• Students who completed their entire high school education abroad.

Exam Content and Structure

The TR-YÖS focuses on assessing the core competencies of students. It generally consists of 80 questions. The primary focus is on Basic Learning Skills, which include mathematical reasoning and logic. Because the exam avoids heavy language-based questions in the logic section, it provides a fair playing field for students from different linguistic backgrounds. The results will be valid for two years, allowing students flexibility in their university application timelines.

How the TR-YÖS Benefits Students

This centralized system reduces the financial and logistical burden on students. Instead of paying for and traveling to multiple university-specific exams, one result can be used for many applications. It provides a clear, transparent pathway into the Turkish higher education system, which is rapidly becoming a hub for international academic excellence.

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