Ankara University
Ankara Üniversitesi
The Turkish Republic's first university, with 19 faculties, low fees and a big offer of English-taught degrees.
- Students
- 71,888
- International
- 6%
- of students
- Tuition
- $1,800
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1946
About Ankara University
Ankara University describes itself as the first university of the Republic of Türkiye. It was officially established in 1946 by bringing together schools founded in the early years of the Republic, among them the Law School (1925), the Faculty of Language, History and Geography (1935), and the Faculty of Political Science, whose roots go back to the Ottoman Mekteb-i Mülkiye of 1859. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine traces its origins to 1842.
Today it is a very large public university: its 2026 presentation lists 71,888 enrolled students, including 4,578 international students, 4,320 academic staff, 19 faculties, 16 institutes, 15 vocational schools, a State Conservatory and 49 research centres. Teaching is mainly in Turkish, but 24 undergraduate programmes, including Medicine, Law, Computer Engineering, Business Administration and Politics and Economics, are taught in English.
For international applicants, admission runs through the university's own international student quota, based on TR-YÖS or equivalent results such as the IB, German Abitur, A-levels or the SAT, with no application fee. Annual fees for foreign students are set in US dollars and are low by European standards. It suits students who want a broad choice of subjects in Türkiye's capital and are ready to learn Turkish: students without a recognised Turkish certificate get up to two years to reach the required level.
Cumhuriyetin Bilim Güneşi
“Republic's Sun of Science” — university motto
Why students choose Ankara University
The Faculty of Political Science (Mülkiye), Law School and Faculty of Language, History and Geography are among the oldest in Türkiye and have trained presidents, ministers and leading writers.
24 undergraduate programmes are taught in English, from Medicine and Dentistry to Computer, Biomedical and Electrical-Electronic Engineering.
Annual 2026-27 fees for international students start at 2,000 US dollars for many on-campus bachelor's programmes, and there is no application fee.
The university reports 612 Erasmus+ agreements with 324 institutions in 54 countries and says it sends more students abroad through Erasmus+ than any other Turkish university.
Admissions
Entry September 2027 (2027-28 academic year)
Selectivity
Ankara University does not publish an acceptance rate for international applicants. Places are allocated by programme quota according to exam scores, and meeting the minimum score does not guarantee placement. Competitive programmes set higher TR-YÖS minimums: 440 for Medicine, Dentistry and Computer or Software Engineering, 400 for Pharmacy and Biomedical Engineering, compared with 200 for most other programmes. No more than 10% of places may go to applicants from one country.
Typical entry requirements
| TR-YÖS | Minimum 200 for most programmes; 275 for Law, Veterinary Medicine and several English-taught engineering programmes; 300 for Civil Engineering, Nursing and Midwifery; 400 for Pharmacy and Biomedical Engineering; 440 for Medicine, Dentistry, Computer, Software, AI and Data, and Electrical-Electronic Engineering |
|---|---|
| SAT | Minimum 1100 total with at least 650 in Math (Math score used for placement), for programmes that accept equivalent exams |
| IB Diploma | Minimum 30 points |
| German Abitur | Minimum grade 4 (general Abitur only; Fachabitur is not accepted) |
| GCE A-levels / Cambridge International AL and AS | Minimum 320 points (Level 2A), with at least an A grade in one subject related to the programme |
Deadlines
- International student quota applications (2026-27 intake, past) Non-binding Passed26 June 2026, 17:00
Applications for the 2026-27 intake ran from 22 May to 26 June 2026; placement results were published on 24 July 2026, followed by additional placement rounds in August and September.
Dates for 2027-28 entry had not been announced when checked on 30 September 2026. Based on the 2026 cycle, expect the application window to open in late May 2027 and close in late June 2027; check isoidb.ankara.edu.tr for the official announcement.
How to apply
Apply online at ugadmissions.ankara.edu.tr during the application window, uploading your diploma (or a temporary graduation certificate) and full high school transcripts with notarised Turkish translations, your passport, any equivalency certificate and one exam result. You can choose up to five programmes in order of preference; there is no application fee. Placed students collect an acceptance letter, obtain a study visa from a Turkish embassy and register in person with apostilled originals, a MEB equivalence certificate and proof they can fund their first year.
What admissions looks for
- A valid exam score at or above the programme's minimum, with TR-YÖS required for Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Law and most engineering programmes.
- A high school diploma equivalent to a Turkish high school diploma, with complete, officially certified transcripts.
- Eligibility for the international quota: foreign nationals who did not attend a Turkish high school, and certain Turkish or dual citizens who completed all of high school abroad.
- For conservatory and sports programmes, success in the faculty's own special talent exam.
Tips for applying to Ankara University
- 1 Take the TR-YÖS if you are aiming for Medicine, Dentistry, Computer Engineering or other programmes with raised minimums; SAT, IB or A-level results are not listed for them.
- 2 Submit only one exam result: applications with several exam results are not evaluated.
- 3 Put your most wanted programme first; placement follows your preference order across up to five choices.
- 4 Start Turkish early: most programmes are taught in Turkish, and applicants without a TÖMER or Yunus Emre Institute certificate sit Ankara University's TÖMER level exam after placement and have up to two years of Turkish courses to reach the required level.
- 5 Keep checking for additional placement rounds after the main results, as the 2026 cycle had several.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
Ankara University does not run a special scholarship programme for international students, but it reduces tuition for successful students according to set criteria and provides a meal scholarship. International applicants can also apply for Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları), and students on Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı and other scholarships are registered through dedicated channels.
- None
- Application fee
- 14,850 US dollars a year
- Medicine (English), 2026-27
- 50% discount
- TÖMER courses for Ankara University students
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters: autumn (from September) and spring (from February)
International Relations and Political Science (Faculty of Political Science)
Taught with 30% English at the school descended from the 1859 Mekteb-i Mülkiye; alumni include foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.
Law (Turkish or English)
The Law School was founded in 1925 to train lawyers for the new Republic; the English-taught track costs 5,400 US dollars a year for international students.
Medicine (English)
Six-year programme requiring at least 440 in TR-YÖS; 14,850 US dollars a year for international students in 2026-27.
Computer Engineering (English)
One of several English-taught engineering degrees, alongside Biomedical, Chemical and Electrical-Electronic Engineering, with a TR-YÖS minimum of 440.
Archaeology (English) and History
Offered by the Faculty of Language, History and Geography (1935), where the Ottoman historian Halil İnalcık studied history.
Politics and Economics (English)
Fully English-taught degree in the Faculty of Political Science at 4,050 US dollars a year.
Research
- The university runs 49 research centres and 16 institutes, including institutes for biotechnology, stem cells, hepatology and nuclear sciences.
- TÖMER, its Turkish and Foreign Languages Research and Application Center founded in 1984, has 11 branches around Türkiye and teaches around 55,000 students a year.
- The Kreiken Observatory, opened in 1963, supports astronomy research and public events.
- The Center of Excellence in Superconductivity Research (CESUR) works on superconducting materials such as MgB2.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Political Science
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Language, History and Geography
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Communication
- Faculty of Educational Sciences
Student life
Ankara University is a metropolitan university spread across the Turkish capital rather than one closed campus: the Faculty of Language, History and Geography, for example, has its own Bruno Taut-designed building on Atatürk Boulevard, while other units are on campuses such as Tandoğan and Gölbaşı. Students can join around 230 student clubs, and the university offers furnished dormitories and guest houses. Its Health, Culture and Sports Department runs sports halls and a swimming pool, plus a mountain resort on Mount Ilgaz, a water sports centre on Lake Mogan and summer centres on the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts.
- Around 230 student clubs.
- A water sports centre on Lake Mogan and a mountain resort on Mount Ilgaz.
- An orientation and information programme for new international students at the start of the academic year.
- Member of UNICA, the network of universities from Europe's capital cities.
Housing. The university's Health, Culture and Sports Department runs student residences and guest houses, and the International Student Office refers students to its website for dormitory applications.
Location
Ankara is Türkiye's capital, a government and university city in central Anatolia. Ankara University's faculties are spread across the city, from the Tandoğan campus to historic faculty buildings such as the Faculty of Language, History and Geography on Atatürk Boulevard, so students live and study in the city itself rather than on a single out-of-town campus.
Nearest airport: Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB)
Notable alumni
- AN Ahmet Necdet SezerPresident of Türkiye 2000-2007; law graduate (1962)
- MÇ Mevlüt ÇavuşoğluFormer Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye; graduated from the Faculty of Political Science (1988)
- Hİ Halil İnalcıkLeading historian of the Ottoman Empire; history graduate (1940) and PhD
- İO İlber OrtaylıHistorian; studied at the Faculty of Political Science and earned his doctorate there
- AA Adalet AğaoğluNovelist and playwright; graduated in French language and literature (1950)
- ET Ece TemelkuranJournalist and author; law graduate
- EA Engin AkyürekActor and author; history graduate (2002)
- HU Hamdi UlukayaFounder and CEO of Chobani; studied political science at Ankara University (did not graduate there)
Frequently asked questions
How do international students apply to Ankara University?
Through the university's international student quota: apply online at ugadmissions.ankara.edu.tr with your diploma, transcripts, passport and one valid exam result (TR-YÖS, SAT, IB, Abitur, A-levels and others), choosing up to five programmes. There is no application fee.
What SAT score does Ankara University require?
At least 1100 in total and 650 in Math, and the Math score is used for placement. Programmes such as Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Law and most engineering degrees list only TR-YÖS minimums.
How much does Ankara University cost for international students?
Annual 2026-27 fees range from 1,800 US dollars for distance programmes and 2,000 for many Turkish-taught bachelor's programmes to 5,400 for English-taught Law and Engineering and 14,850 for Medicine in English.
Can I study in English at Ankara University?
Yes. The university says 24 undergraduate programmes are taught in English, including Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Law, Business Administration and several engineering degrees. Most other programmes are in Turkish.
When is the Ankara University application deadline?
For 2026-27 entry, applications ran from 22 May to 26 June 2026. The 2027-28 dates had not been announced by 30 September 2026, but a similar late-May to late-June window is likely.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- Ankara University International Student Admissions: home
- Ankara University International Student Admissions: How to Apply
- Ankara University International Student Admissions: Programmes and Tuition Fees
- Ankara University: Programs and tuition fees of the 2026-2027 academic year (PDF)
- Ankara University: Valid examinations and required scores (PDF)
- Ankara University: Announcement for international student admission, 2026-2027 (PDF)
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