Studying in Türkiye: universities, scholarships and admission

Short answer: Türkiye is one of the most chosen destinations for Azerbaijani students at bachelor's level. In the State Program admission list, 196 people are recorded for Türkiye, and of the 528 bachelor's admissions, 178 (about one third) went to Turkish universities. The most chosen universities are Bilkent, Koç and Sabancı. The main advantages are closeness of language and culture, proximity to Baku and the large number of English-taught programmes.

Why Türkiye?

• Turkish is close to Azerbaijani: adapting is easy.
• A short flight from Baku, closeness to family.
• Both public and private (foundation) universities, with many English-taught programmes.
• The State Program's monthly norm for Türkiye is $1,300, lower than for many European countries.

Public or private university?

Tuition at public universities is usually lower for international students, while admission is more competitive. Private (foundation) universities charge higher tuition, but often offer scholarship discounts (half or full), English-taught programmes and modern campuses. At universities such as Bilkent, Koç and Sabancı, admission competition is high and scholarship opportunities may vary. Check the exact fee on each university's website.

Duration of study

• Bachelor's: usually 4 years (a preparatory year is added if a language course is required).
• Master's: usually 2 years.
• Doctoral: usually 3–4 years or more.

Admission requirements

• Bachelor's: school certificate and the university's admission criterion (exam score, the foreign-student exam or international results such as SAT/IB). Each university applies its own rules.
• Language: for English-taught programmes, a test accepted by the university (sometimes not IELTS but TOEFL or its own test). For Turkish-taught programmes, TÖMER or an equivalent certificate. Check the accepted tests in advance, because requirements can differ considerably in Türkiye.
• Application documents: CV, motivation letter and so on: motivation letter, CV.

Scholarship opportunities

• Türkiye Scholarships: the Turkish government's scholarship programme for international students. The application period and conditions are announced every year; check the official website (turkiyeburslari.gov.tr) regularly.
• Azerbaijan State Program: Turkish universities are on the list, and there are 350 programmes for Türkiye in the DP. More details: DP conditions.
• University scholarships: private universities offer discounts based on the admission result.

For a general list of master's scholarships: master's scholarships.

Visa and residence permit

Entry rules to Türkiye for Azerbaijani citizens are simple, but for the student residence permit rules for study, ask the university's international office and the official migration authority. Periods and document requirements may change: visa guide.

Advantages and difficulties

• Advantages: closeness of language and culture, an existing Azerbaijani community, a wide choice of universities, competitive cost.
• Difficulties: different test requirements for English-taught programmes, rising rent prices in some cities, high fees at private universities.

On air: studying in Türkiye

On PLANET FM (16.02.2026), Miryusif Javadzadeh and two experts from Istinye University discussed fees, exams and scholarships at Türkiye's leading universities. Also listen: "Zaman Maşını" podcast and "Baku Electro": Istinye University.

PLANET FM · Watch on YouTube ↗

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in Türkiye?

Yes, many universities have English-taught programmes. Tests and admission criteria differ by university.

Do I need to know Turkish?

It is not needed for study in English-taught programmes, but basic Turkish is useful for daily life. Adapting is easy for Azerbaijanis.

Which city is the most convenient?

Istanbul and Ankara offer more choice, but living costs are also higher. In other cities (Izmir, Konya, Eskişehir and so on) costs are usually lower.

If you need help

EDDE Global helps with choosing programmes and preparing documents when applying to Turkish universities. Book a free consultation. Country comparison: which country to choose.

Note: the statistics are based on open data on dp.edu.az. Scholarship periods and admission criteria may change; check the official sources. EDDE Global is an independent education company.

Related articles: How to write a motivation letter: structure and common mistakes | How do you prepare a CV for studying abroad? | State Program 2026/27: requirements and application procedure | Master's scholarships 2027: a full list for Azerbaijanis | Student visa: steps, documents and typical mistakes