10 Cheap Universities in Turkey for International Students

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The rich history of Turkey makes it a popular tourist destination for many people around the world. The country and its tourist attractions are entries in the bucket list of a good number of travelers.

But, Turkey is not only known for its rich culture and history. This Western Asian country is also home to numerous universities offering high-quality education at a reasonable cost. If you’re thinking of studying in this culture-rich country located in the Anatolian peninsula, check out the following list of the cheapest universities in Turkey.

Cost of Studying in Turkey

The tuition fees of universities in Turkey can range from as low as $50 USD up to around $12,000 USD per academic year. Moreover, the cost of living in the country ranges from $40 USD to $500 USD per month.

Are Universities Free in Turkey?

While primary and secondary education is free in Turkey, universities charge a specific amount for the programs they offer. Normally, government-owned higher education institutions are cheaper compared to private universities.

What are the languages of instruction for universities in Turkey?

While Turkish is the main language of instruction in universities in Turkey, other languages are also used in some universities in the country. These languages are English, German, and French.

Cheapest Universities in Turkey for International Students

1. Manisa Celal Bayar University

Located in Manisa, Turkey, the Manisa Celal Bayar University is the cheapest university in Turkey for undergraduate programs. This public research university was initially established as an independent sports and teachers’ college.

The university offers 60 undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs. It aims to provide high-quality tertiary education for both local and international students. The university has 15 faculties, including the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Engineering, and Faculty of Business, among others.

Aside from receiving a quality education, students can also look forward to several interest-based clubs while studying at the Manisa Celal Bayar University. Additionally, the university offers several cultural facilities where students can immerse themselves in the culture of the Turkish people.

2. Middle East Technical University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 1,027 TL ($100 USD) to 4.620 TL ($600 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 768 TL ($100 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee Link

Established in 1956, the Middle East Technical University is a public technical university offering 41 undergraduate programs under five separate faculties. Moreover, its five graduate schools offer 105 master programs along with 70 doctorate programs.

Located in Ankara, Turkey, the Middle East Technical University is considered as the leading international technical university in terms of its international connections and research projects. This affordable university in Turkey also has English as its medium of instruction making it appealing to numerous international students.

In addition to its education and research facilities, students can also look forward to sports and leisure facilities in the university, including a gymnasium, outdoor swimming pool, jogging trail, and a shopping area.

3. Bogazici University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: 4,500.00 TL ($600 USD) to 9,000.00 TL ($1,200 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: 2,250.00TL ($300 USD) to 4,500.00 TL ($600 USD) per semester
  • Tuition Fee Link

The Bogazici University was initially founded as Robert College in 1863 by Dr. Cyrus Hamlin. It officially became Bogazici University in 1971. The university has four faculties, two schools, and six institutes. This research university located in Istanbul offers 29 undergraduate and 65 graduate programs along with 33 doctorate programs.

International students looking to study at Bogazici University have several undergraduate programs to choose from, including Philosophy, Management, Industrial Engineering, and International Trade. On the other hand, international students have the following graduate programs to choose from: Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Geophysics, Mathematics, and Management, among others.

Bogazici University uses English as its main language of instruction, which means the teachers speak English and the class materials are available in the same language.

4. Kirikkale University

Kirikkale University was established in 1992 in the Ankara suburb of Kirikkale. The university started with a limited number of faculties, including the Faculty of Science and Literature, Veterinary Faculty, and Economics and Administrative Sciences.

Today, this cheap university in Turkey already has twelve different faculties, including the Faculties of Dentistry, Education, Health Sciences, Law, and Fine Arts. Moreover, it also consists of seven vocational schools, including the Justice Vocational School, Health Services Vocational School, and Delice Vocational School.

International students have several options on the programs they can take in the university. These programs include Finance, Business Administration, History, and Health Management, among others.

5. Ankara University

Ankara University is the first institution of higher learning established in Turkey. It was founded after the republic was formed in 1923. The university was established by the first president of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

The university has eighteen 18 faculties, including the Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Political Science, Faculty of Medicine, and Faculty of Divinity. Moreover, it also has 14 graduate schools, including Accelerator Technologies, Cancer Research, Educational Science, and Social Sciences.

Even as Turkish is the main language of instruction at Ankara University, international students can look forward to programs that are taught in English. These programs include Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Theology, and Mathematics, among others.

6. Uskudar University

The next university in our list of affordable universities in Turkey is Uskudar University, the first Turkish thematic university in Behavioral Health and Sciences. Established in 2011, the university consists of five faculties, namely the Faculties of Communication, Humanities and Social Sciences, Engineering and Natural Sciences, Medicine, and Health Sciences.

The university considers itself as the only educational institution in Turkey that provides students with the opportunity to study psychology and behavioral health sciences in a practical and clinical environment. Moreover, the clinical structure of its computer engineering program is also unique. Even though most of its courses are offered in Turkish, English is also used as the medium of instruction for several courses offered in the university.

The Uskudar University offers numerous programs for local and international students, including Psychology, Political Science and International Relations, Bioengineering, Software Engineering, and Molecular Biology and Genetics.

7. European University of Lefke

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: $5,600 USD per academic year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $4,200 USD to $8,100 USD per academic year
  • Tuition Fee Link

While the European University of Lefke was established in 1989, its academic activities officially started a year after in 1990. All the departments of the university and the university itself are accredited with the Higher Education Council of the Republic of Turkey.

Located in Northern Cyprus, this affordable university in Turkey considers itself as an education leader with the advanced infrastructure and technology in its facilities. The university has eleven faculties, including the Faculties of Engineering, Arts and Sciences, Law, Pharmacy, and Education.

The European University of Lefke also has a computer center, health center, swimming pool, fitness center, and athletics track that students can look forward to using if they enroll in the university.

8. Yasar University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: $7,000 USD per academic year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: $7,000 USD per academic year
  • Tuition Fee Link

Yasar University is a university located in the City of Izmir along the Aegean Sea. The university was established in 2001 and offers modern facilities as well as the opportunity for students to work with its accomplished and talented staff.

The university offers numerous undergraduate programs under its different faculties, including the Faculties of Law, Human and Social Sciences, Architecture, and Business Administration. Moreover, the university also offers several postgraduate programs under its Graduate School of Social Sciences and Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences.

Local and international students planning to study at Yasar University can look forward to several laboratories, studios, and public areas in the university. Moreover, several personal and professional clubs allow students to engage in a variety of social activities with other students.

9. Cankaya University

Cankaya University was established in 1997 in Akara, Turkey by the Sıtkı Alp Education Foundation. This private university aims to provide its students with the best curricula to excel in their chosen fields of study. The medium of instruction for nearly all the programs in the University is English.

The university has five faculties, namely the Faculties of Arts and Sciences, Architecture, Engineering, Economics and Administrative Sciences, and Law. The university also has 23 departments, two institutes, and two vocational schools. Moreover, the university also offers 28 master’s programs along with 10 doctorate programs.

Students of the university can also join numerous clubs and societies based on their personal interests. These clubs and societies aim to support the academic development of the students.

10. Kadir Has University

The final candidate in our list of cheapest universities in Turkey is the Kadir Has University, which was established in 1997 by the late Turkish philanthropist and industrialist Kadir Has. It initially had five faculties: the Faculties of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Communication, Fine Arts, Communication, Law, and Economics and Administrative Sciences. Two faculties were later added by the university, the Faculties of Management and Applied Sciences.

The university is situated in Cibali, which is the oldest part of Istanbul and is a few meters away from the “Golden Horn” or the harbor inlet of Haliç. The undergraduate and graduate programs of the university aim to provide its students with the best education in their chosen field of study.

Local and international students can also look forward to personal development activities through the different student clubs of the university. These student clubs enjoy the support of the university since they allow the students to explore their personal interests outside of the classroom.

 

I hope that this article on the cheapest universities in Turkey was informative! If you are interested, visit the Cheap Universities Category!