Moving to and studying in Turkey may be an interesting proposition for international students but living abroad is fraught with many questions. There are many questions like admission requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, accommodation, language, student life, visas, safety, and career opportunities which are going through the minds of students.
Specifically for Pakistani students, receiving unambiguous answers prior to applying could make the whole thing smoother. StudyLead Consultants assists students in the understanding of all the stages of studying abroad ranging from choosing a university course and helping them in preparing an application.
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions by international students regarding studying in Turkey.
Turkey a Good Option for International Students
Turkey is a country with a vast higher education system and a large number of foreign students. There are programs on offer at universities in sectors like engineering, medicine, business, computer science, architecture, tourism, social sciences and others.
Admission Requirements for Turkish Universities
Academic certificates, transcript, passport details, photos, language test scores and other papers might be requested from the students.
In competitive or regulated industries, there may be extra requirements for some programs.
The best thing is to read the requirements for admission to the University and the specific program you are applying to before you apply.
IELTS to Study in Turkey
Not necessarily but it may vary from university to university, program to program, and language to language. There may be some English-taught programs that accept English proficiency exams such as IELTS, or they may have other language assessment or exemption requirements.
Students are not to assume that at all Turkish universities all English requirements are fulfilled.
Study in Turkey Without Knowing Turkish
But having a bit of Turkish can make life a bit easier. In the local community situations such as buying and selling, traveling, ordering food, using services Turkish language can be used.
It can be helpful to have some knowledge of Turkish prior to or after arriving even the degree is taught in English.
Tuition fee in Turkey
There are no fixed costs associated to studying at the University for international students.There is a variation in tuition fees depending on the university, program, degree level and the type of university (public or private). The cost of living also depends on the city and way of life.The students should have a detailed financial plan that lists tuition fees, housing, food, travel, insurance, books and assignments, residence related expenses and other expenses.
The costs of a student in a big city like Istanbul might be different from those of a student in a smaller city within Turkey.
Scholarships for International students
There are of course government and university scholarships for international students.
One of the most significant scholarships for foreign students is the Türkiye Scholarships which may provide different forms of financial and educational support based on the type of the scholarship.
Required Documents
While it depends on the individual, some criteria for international students may include:
- Passport
- Academic certificates
- Academic transcripts
- Passport-size photographs
- English/ Turkish language test results (if applicable)
- Application form
- Motivation letter for certain programs
- Submitted recommendation letters (where applicable)
- Other program-specific documents
The students need to make a checklist of the documents before they start applying.
Work While Studying in Turkey
Working in Turkey is bound by the legal and work permit procedures of Turkey and it is important that the international students are aware of this.
Rules may be based on the student’s education level and employment status. Students should thus refer to the latest requirements of the Turkish government instead of information posted on social media.
Labour should not be a distraction to study and should not be in conflict with Immigration conditions.
Accommodation for International Students
The dorms of the university, student houses, shared housing units, and independent rent are various choices for students for accommodation.
Stay in Turkey After Graduation
Depending on the situation, international graduates might be able to continue to stay in Turkey after receiving their degrees, but the prospects for post-graduation stays in Turkey are subject to immigration and employment laws.
Students who are planning to work upon completion of their degree program should look into the residency and work visa requirements in advance.
Official information is subject to change, and must be checked at all times.
Final Thoughts
International students can study abroad in Turkey, have academic studies and cultural experiences in Turkey as well. It must be done with proper research, however. Students are encouraged to make decisions using the most up to date official information as there may be changes in the requirements of the University, fees, scholarships, accommodation, language requirements and immigration requirements.
Choosing the university and the course is an important as it can affect the future education and career of the Pakistani students. StudyLead Consultants can assist students in their exploration of Turkish Universities and in preparing their applications, and explain the important requirements needed to prepare a student’s application.