Middle East Technical University
Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi (ODTÜ)
Türkiye's English-medium engineering and science powerhouse, set on a 45 km² forested campus in Ankara.
- Students
- 22,608
- 17,714 undergraduates
- International
- 7%
- of students
- Tuition
- $1,600
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1956
About METU
Middle East Technical University (METU, or ODTÜ in Turkish) was founded in Ankara on 15 November 1956 as the Middle East High Technology Institute, to train a skilled workforce for Türkiye and the wider region. Its first programme was Architecture; Mechanical Engineering followed in 1957. In 1963 it moved to what the university describes as Türkiye's first university campus, a 45 km² site, 33 km² of it forest, on the edge of the capital.
Teaching is in English across the university. About 22,600 students were enrolled in fall 2025, roughly 17,700 of them undergraduates (including the English preparatory year) and about 1,500 international students. The university is organised into five faculties (Architecture, Arts and Sciences, Economic and Administrative Sciences, Education, and Engineering) offering 42 undergraduate programmes, plus graduate schools and a separate Northern Cyprus Campus.
Engineering dominates: Electrical and Electronics, Mechanical, Computer and Civil Engineering have the largest international quotas. METU Teknokent, the technology park on campus, hosts 415 firms. METU suits students who want a demanding, science-heavy education in English at a public university, and it is unusually affordable for international students, with tuition of USD 800 to 1,200 a semester in 2026-27.
Why students choose METU
All teaching is in English, and admitted students without a qualifying TOEFL or PTE score get a one-year English preparatory programme rather than a rejection.
International tuition in 2026-27 is USD 1,200 a semester for engineering, architecture and the sciences, and USD 800 for social sciences, economics and education.
The campus covers 45 km², with 7,691 dormitory places, 44 sports teams and 135 student cultural groups.
METU Teknokent on campus hosts 415 firms and more than 10,000 research staff, giving engineering students access to industry projects and internships.
Admissions
2027-28 entry (international applications expected to open in June 2027; 2026-27 cycle shown for reference)
Selectivity
METU does not publish an acceptance rate. For 2026-27 it offered 444 undergraduate places to international students across all programmes (e.g. 30 in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, 22 in Computer Engineering), and says it receives thousands of applications from highly qualified students, so meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee admission. Turkish students are admitted through the national YKS central placement, where METU programmes require high placement scores.
Typical entry requirements
| SAT | Minimum 1200 total, with at least 700 in Math for the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Architecture and science programmes |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | Minimum 33 points, with at least one Higher Level subject relevant to the programme |
| A-levels | Minimum ABB in three A-level subjects, two relevant to the programme (languages other than English cannot be used) |
| Advanced Placement (AP) | Grade 4 or higher in at least four AP subjects; Calculus AB or BC required for engineering, architecture and science programmes |
| ACT | Minimum 27 out of 36 |
| Abitur (Germany) | Overall grade of 2.3 or better |
| YKS (Turkish students) | Placement through the national university entrance exam; the applicant must reach the programme's placement score in the required score type |
| English language | TOEFL iBT 75 An English score is not required to apply. At registration, TOEFL iBT 75, PTE Academic 55 (tests before 12 November 2024) or 65 (after), or 60 on the METU English Proficiency Exam exempts students from the preparatory year; otherwise they study at the Department of Basic English for a year. IELTS taken on or after 24 December 2022 is not accepted. |
Deadlines
- International undergraduate applications (2026-27 cycle, past, for reference) Non-binding Passed12 July 2026, 23:59 Turkish time
Portal was open from 1 June to 12 July 2026; decisions were expected by 15 August 2026. A-level applicants received an admission deferral until final results in August. An additional window for selected programmes ran 26-28 August 2026.
METU had not published dates for 2027-28 entry when checked on 29 September 2026. The 2026-27 main window (1 June to 12 July 2026) is shown for reference; METU also ran a short additional application period for selected programmes from 26 to 28 August 2026. Check the International Students Office for the new dates.
How to apply
International students apply directly to METU through its online application system (no agents; METU says it works with no third-party recruiters). Upload your primary exam or diploma result and required documents, then freeze the application before the deadline. Optional extras such as a statement of purpose (written or video), reference letters, a writing sample, a portfolio and English scores are considered in a holistic review. Turkish students apply through the national YKS placement.
What admissions looks for
- A primary exam or diploma result that meets at least one of METU's published minimum criteria; this is the main criterion in the evaluation.
- Strong performance in subjects relevant to the chosen programme, such as SAT Math 700+ or calculus for engineering and science.
- Evidence of motivation and fit through optional documents, such as a statement of purpose, teacher references and a portfolio for architecture or design.
- Extracurricular achievements, community service and prior interest in the major, such as olympiads, Model UN, internships or online courses.
Tips for applying to METU
- 1 Treat the minimum criteria as a floor: METU fills a small quota (444 international places in 2026-27) from thousands of applicants, so submit the optional extras.
- 2 If you are taking A-levels, still submit and freeze your application before the July deadline; METU defers the decision until your August results.
- 3 Take TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic rather than IELTS: METU does not accept IELTS results from 24 December 2022 onward.
- 4 A medal in an international science olympiad recognised by TÜBİTAK, such as the IMO or IPhO, qualifies you to apply on its own.
- 5 Apply yourself: METU warns that it does not work with any agents or representatives for its Ankara campus.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
International students are evaluated automatically each year for tuition discounts or exemptions based on academic success, and can apply in person for meal, dormitory and cash scholarships (including from the METU Development Foundation). Some groups are exempt from fees, and a 25% discount is available when a parent resides in Türkiye and a sibling also studies at a Turkish public university. METU estimates a student's monthly living costs in Ankara at TRY 12,000 to 18,000 with a campus dormitory and an economical lifestyle in 2026.
- 8,362, worth about TL 63 million a year
- Scholarships granted (2025)
- TRY 12,000-18,000 with campus dorm; TRY 20,000-35,000 in a shared flat
- Monthly living costs in Ankara (METU estimate, 2026)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fall and spring), with an optional summer school
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
METU's largest international quota (30 places in 2026-27), taught in English at USD 1,200 a semester.
Computer Engineering
22 international places in 2026-27; alumni include Udemy founder Eren Bali.
Mechanical Engineering
One of the first programmes, launched in spring 1957, with 24 international places in 2026-27.
Architecture
METU's founding programme (1956); a portfolio can strengthen an international application.
Aerospace Engineering
14 international places in 2026-27, taught in English at the USD 1,200-a-semester engineering fee.
Economics
16 international places in 2026-27 at the lower USD 800-a-semester fee.
Research
- METU Teknokent hosts 415 firms and 10,325 research staff; METU reports about 10,720 projects run with the university through Teknokent and its technology transfer office.
- The university runs 30 research and application centres reporting to the president, including centres for wind energy, energy materials and biomaterials.
- Since 2019 METU has started 357 TÜBİTAK projects and 143 EU projects.
- The Institute of Marine Sciences at Erdemli runs the Graduate School of Marine Sciences.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Architecture
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences
- Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Engineering
- Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences
- Graduate School of Social Sciences
- Graduate School of Informatics
- Graduate School of Applied Mathematics
- Graduate School of Marine Sciences
- School of Foreign Languages
Student life
Life at METU is centred on its large, wooded campus on the edge of Ankara, which the university says was the first university campus in Türkiye. There are 7,691 dormitory places, a free campus shuttle and cafeteria lunches from about TRY 80. METU lists 44 sports teams and 135 student cultural groups, and more than 65,000 m² of indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including the Devrim Stadium. First-year students who need English spend a year in the Department of Basic English before starting their degree.
- 44 sports teams and 135 student cultural groups.
- 7,691 dormitory places on campus.
- Forest land covers 33 km² of the 45 km² campus.
- About 1,500 international students and Erasmus+ exchanges with around 300 incoming students a year.
Housing. METU has 7,691 dormitory places; its International Students Office lists on-campus dormitories at TRY 4,000 to 20,000 a month in 2026, compared with TRY 12,000 to 60,000 for private dorms in Ankara.
Location
METU is in the Çankaya district of Ankara, Türkiye's capital, a large city of government ministries, embassies and universities. The campus is served by city buses and the metro, and a free shuttle runs inside the campus. METU estimates a student's basic monthly spending in Ankara at TRY 8,000 to 15,000 excluding accommodation in 2026, and a high-speed train reaches Istanbul.
Nearest airport: Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB)
Notable alumni
- EB Eren BaliFounder and CEO of Udemy; studied mathematics and computer engineering
- EŞ Elif ŞafakBest-selling novelist; undergraduate degree in international relations and master's in women's studies
- AB Ali BabacanPolitician and former Deputy Prime Minister of Türkiye
- Aİ Ataç İmamoğluPhysicist working on quantum optics and quantum computation, professor at ETH Zurich
- EG Erol GelenbeComputer scientist and electrical engineer; B.S. 1966
- HB Haluk BayraktarCEO of the drone maker Baykar
- EB Erdem BaşçıEconomist and former Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey
- EE Eylem Elif MavişMountaineer, the first Turkish woman to summit Mount Everest
Frequently asked questions
Is METU taught in English?
Yes. English is the medium of instruction across METU. Students without a qualifying TOEFL iBT (75), PTE or METU English Proficiency Exam score spend a year in the English preparatory programme.
How much is METU tuition for international students?
For 2026-27, international-quota undergraduates pay USD 1,200 a semester in engineering, architecture and the sciences, and USD 800 a semester in economics, social sciences and education, paid in Turkish lira.
What SAT score do I need for METU?
The minimum is a total of 1200, with at least 700 in Math for engineering, architecture and science programmes. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission, as places are limited.
When is the METU application deadline for international students?
For 2026-27 the online application ran from 1 June to 12 July 2026. Dates for 2027-28 had not been announced by late September 2026, so expect a similar summer window.
Does METU accept IELTS?
No. IELTS exams taken on or after 24 December 2022 are not accepted; use TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or the METU English Proficiency Exam.
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.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to METU in the QS World University Rankings 2027.