Universities and admissions in Istanbul
Higher education in Istanbul: which universities are genuinely accessible to Russian speakers, what is required to apply, which exams are needed and how much it costs.
How much does it cost to study in Istanbul legally
Check what you need — the total will be calculated at our rates. Legally required items are already checked.
Universities in Istanbul for Russian speakers — in brief
Public: Istanbul University, ITÜ (technical), Boğaziçi, Marmara. Private: Koç, Sabancı, Bilgi.
Cost for foreigners:
- public universities: $300–1,500/year (very affordable)
- private: $5,000–20,000/year
What is needed:
- YÖS exam (or SAT/school diploma) for undergraduate admission
- Turkish (TÖMER courses) OR English-language programmes (IELTS/TOEFL)
- apply directly to the university
Residence permit: student visa → öğrenci ikamet (student residence permit) after arrival.
Türkiye Bursları — state scholarship: free tuition + stipend + accommodation + flights.
Data as of 2026. Source: Türkiye Bursları, ÖSYM.
Istanbul: studying on a free grant — how to apply
The main ’free’ route is Türkiye Bursları (Turkey’s state scholarship): it covers tuition, a stipend, accommodation, a flight, and a Turkish language course.
Türkiye Bursları application: submitted online at the start of the year; selection is based on grades and motivation.
Without a grant:
- public universities are affordable: $300–1,500/year, but you need to pass the YÖS exam
- private: $5–20k/year
Admissions to a public university:
-
Pass the YÖS (math/logic) or submit SAT scores
-
Turkish (TÖMER) or an English-language programme
-
University application based on your score
Data as of 2026. Source: Türkiye Bursları, ÖSYM.
Istanbul: documents, diploma, student residence permit
Documents:
- school certificate/diploma + translation (notarised/apostille)
- YÖS or SAT results
- language certificate (Turkish/English)
- international passport, photos
Recognition (denklik): a certificate of equivalence for your school diploma, issued by Turkey’s Ministry of Education.
Visa → ikamet:
- student visa at the consulate
- after enrollment and arrival — öğrenci ikamet izni (student residence permit)
- health insurance, proof of residence
Private universities: Koç, Sabancı, Bilgi — $5,000–20,000/year.
Data as of 2026. Source: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, göç idaresi.
Guide to applying to university in Istanbul — free
Language requirements, diploma recognition, student residence permit, and deadlines. Delivered straight to Telegram.
Documents and certificates
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Documents and certificates
Criminal record checks, civil registry documents, school and university certificates from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine — with apostille and certified translation, remotely. Required for schools, universities, residence permits, and employment.
American online school
A US high school diploma — and the child studies in Russian: grades 1–12, fully online from any country. Homeschool — €700 per year; Online with daily lessons — from €3,150.
Real estate
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What else you may need
Tasks that most often come next. Each is handled by a dedicated SVOY service.
Rent or buy housing
Rental and purchase Istanbul: prices by neighbourhood, property due diligence, and end-to-end transaction support — SVOY HOME.
Go to websiteRegularize your status
Residence permits, visas and status renewals in Istanbul, certificates and apostille — SVOY Legal.
Go to websiteChildbirth and citizenship for the child
Childbirth in Istanbul: clinics, newborn documentation and citizenship — SVOY Baby.
Go to websiteHalal community
Nikah, halal services, and the Muslim community in Istanbul — SVOY Halal.
Go to websiteAdmissions in Istanbul — we’ll go through the documents and timelines
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