Atatürk University

About Atatürk University

Atatürk University was formally established on 7 June 1957 after legislation creating a university in eastern Türkiye entered into force. Teaching began in the 1958–1959 academic year with science, literature, and agriculture. This history helps explain the institution’s continuing breadth: it is a comprehensive public university rather than a narrowly specialized school. The university’s administrative address is in Yakutiye, Erzurum. Its academic structure includes faculties, graduate institutes, vocational schools, a conservatory, and open and distance education. Official 2026 materials show that it continues to admit students at undergraduate and graduate levels. Turkey’s Council of Higher Education also includes Atatürk University among the country’s research universities, indicating a formal research role alongside teaching. For prospective students, the practical attraction is the ability to study within a large multidisciplinary environment. Health-professions students have access to university clinical settings, while science and engineering students can find dedicated research centers and laboratory infrastructure. Agriculture, veterinary medicine, humanities, education, fine arts, social sciences, and business are also represented. The breadth creates opportunities for interdisciplinary study, but experiences, entry rules, language, and costs can differ substantially among faculties and delivery modes. Applicants should therefore compare the official program page, curriculum, campus, and instruction language for the specific degree they intend to pursue.

Admission routes differ for Turkish undergraduate applicants, international undergraduate applicants, and graduate applicants. Domestic undergraduate placement generally follows Türkiye’s centralized higher-education process; candidates should use the current ÖSYM and YÖK materials for the relevant cycle rather than the international guide. For international associate and undergraduate admission in 2026–2027, the university issued a dedicated English-language guide. The main preference period ran from 15 June to 19 July 2026. As of 20 August 2026, the guide scheduled a first additional preference round through 23 August, followed by a second additional round from 18 to 23 September. The rectorate may revise the calendar in response to national placement dates, so applicants should confirm live announcements. Main and first additional placement use specified TR-YÖS results. The second additional round can also consider accepted international examinations and diploma scores, but that route excludes several regulated or high-demand faculties and certain formal health programs. Applications are online. The 2026 guide states that candidates may submit five preferences for formal programs and ten for open or distance programs. Registration documents include a high-school diploma, an equivalency certificate, placement evidence, identity documents and translations, photographs, and other status-specific records. Graduate applicants apply separately through the student information system and must follow institute-specific degree, examination, language, and document requirements. The published second graduate application period for domestic candidates is 31 August–6 September 2026; the page gives separate timing for international graduate applicants.

The undergraduate portfolio covers a broad set of professional and academic fields. Current faculty listings include agriculture, architecture and design, communication, dentistry, economics and administrative sciences, engineering, fine arts, fisheries, health sciences, law, letters, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, science, sport sciences, theology, tourism, veterinary medicine, and education. The university also operates an Open and Distance Education Faculty, so applicants must distinguish campus-based degrees from open or distance options when comparing programs. Graduate education is organized through institutes covering education, science, fine arts, health sciences, social sciences, Turkic studies, winter sports and sport sciences, and pharmaceuticals, vaccines and biotechnology, among other areas. The official 2026–2027 graduate page lists both thesis and non-thesis master’s places and doctoral places. It also documents online applications, program preferences, and field-specific conditions such as ALES or language evidence where applicable. These requirements should be checked at institute and program level because they are not uniform. Students seeking curricular flexibility can investigate approved double-major and minor combinations. The university explains that a double major can lead to two diplomas when all conditions are met, whereas a minor leads to a certificate rather than another degree. Available combinations are defined by formal university rules and lists, so eligibility should not be assumed from subject proximity alone. International applicants should also verify the actual teaching language and any Turkish-language preparation or proficiency requirements directly with the relevant program before accepting an offer.

Key Highlights

• Public university formally established on 7 June 1957
• Operating degree-granting institution recognized by Turkey’s Council of Higher Education
• Located in Yakutiye, Erzurum
• Listed by YÖK among Türkiye’s research universities

Student Life & Environment

The Erzurum campus functions as a substantial student district with academic, clinical, cultural, recreational, and everyday services. The university’s campus map identifies a central library and reading rooms, student dining, cafés, shops, banks, a post office, cultural halls, an art gallery, an ice museum, sports halls, a stadium, football and volleyball areas, tennis courts, fitness facilities, and a bowling and billiards venue. Facilities may have separate schedules, charges, or access rules, so students should confirm availability after enrolment. Accommodation described by the university is provided through residences operating under the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ General Directorate of Credit and Dormitories. The university says rooms are arranged in several occupancy types and include basic furniture, while residence services include internet access and laundry. Private dormitories and pensions are also available in Erzurum. This does not amount to a housing guarantee; applicants should apply through the appropriate residence system and compare location, eligibility, room type, and current fees. Academic and personal support infrastructure includes the Directorate of Student Affairs, international affairs, disability services, a Career Planning and Alumni Monitoring Center, and health, culture, and sports administration. The campus map also identifies a research hospital, dental clinic, and animal hospital, though access to clinical services should be verified separately. New residence students are reported to receive orientation and psychosocial support activities.

Location & Surroundings

Atatürk University’s main address is in Yakutiye, within Erzurum in eastern Türkiye. The campus is connected to the city center by municipal buses, public buses, minibuses, and taxis. The university also describes an internal ring service, although routes and times should be checked locally because transport arrangements can change. Erzurum can be reached by road, rail, and air. The Eastern Express rail route links Ankara with Erzurum through cities including Kayseri, Sivas, and Erzincan. Erzurum Airport is approximately 12 kilometres from the university campus according to the university’s transport page, with bus and taxi connections available. Intercity coaches arrive at Erzurum’s bus terminal, from which local transport serves the campus. Students should plan for Erzurum’s inland, high-elevation setting and research seasonal conditions before arrival, particularly if relocating from a warmer climate. The campus offers many daily services, but the broader city remains important for private accommodation, shopping, and travel. International students should compare flight connections and allow time for onward ground transport when planning registration travel.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Costs depend on citizenship, faculty, delivery mode, and degree type. The university’s registration site links a 2026–2027 contribution and tuition schedule implemented under the applicable national decision. Students in second-shift and distance programs are directed to pay through designated banks or the online student system. Because the schedule is program-specific, applicants should use the official table for their exact status rather than treating one faculty’s amount as a university-wide price. The 2026 international undergraduate guide charges a non-refundable TRY 1,500 application fee, payable online. It also says international candidates completing final registration receive free lunch during their first year in 2026–2027. This is a dated offer from that admission cycle and should not be assumed for later cohorts. Housing, transport, insurance, materials, residence formalities, and personal expenses require separate budgeting; the guide requires international registrants to declare that they can cover their living expenses. For 2026–2027 non-thesis master’s entrants, the graduate page lists TRY 100,000 for Health Sciences and TRY 65,000 for Education Sciences or Social Sciences, collected in two instalments. Other graduate and undergraduate charges should be checked in the current fee schedule. Career support is provided through the Career Planning and Alumni Monitoring Center, which organizes career events and employer-facing activities. Outcomes will vary by discipline, language ability, professional licensing, and work authorization; no verified institution-wide salary or placement rate was found.