Turkey Achieved Milestone with Over 300,000 International Students

INTERNATIONAL

Turkey, August 9, 2023

Turkey, known for its rich history and cultural diversity, has successfully enrolled more than 300,000 international students for the academic year 2022/23, surpassing a target set by the Turkey Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) the last year.

Leading institutions in Istanbul, including Istanbul University, Istanbul Medipol, Bahcesehir, Altinbas, Gelisim, and Istanbul Aydin, each hosted over 5,000 international students this year.

According to the country’s Council of Higher Education (YÖK), a total of 301,694 non-Turkish students have pursued education in various Turkish institutions over the past year. This figure includes 179,670 male students and 122,024 female students.

The aim to host 300,000 international students by 2023 was announced by İrfan Gündüz, President of the DEİK Education Economy Business Council, last year. Turkey previously welcomed 260,289 international students in the 2021/22 academic year, showcasing significant growth.

Notably, Turkey’s international student community comes from diverse corners of the world. While traditional source countries for English-speaking destinations accounted for relatively few students, nations such as Syria, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Iraq made up a substantial portion of the international enrollment.

In recent years, Turkey has expanded scholarship opportunities, particularly for African students. Additionally, international students have been exempted from admission exams for certain courses. The popularity of these initiatives is evident from the record 165,000 applications received for international scholarships in 2022.

The Middle East and North African region remain prominent sources of international students for Turkish institutions. Countries like Somalia, Egypt, and Afghanistan have significantly increased their enrollments, contributing to the growth.

Turkey’s economic challenges have potentially made it an attractive destination for international students due to a weakened currency.

Turkey’s achievement in surpassing its international student enrollment target highlights its growing reputation as an emerging education hub on the global stage.