Perks of Studying at a Public University in Türkiye
Did you know that Türkiye is ranked second in the world in terms of access to higher education with a 94.2 percent schooling rate? Needless to say that the public universities of Türkiye reflect these statistics in their quality of education and research facilities. Today we will talk about the perks of studying at a public university in Türkiye.
There are a total of 129 state universities in Türkiye, among which, eleven technical universities, one institute of technology, two fine arts universities, one special national defense university, and one police academy are included. Some notable public universities are Istanbul University, Gazi University in Ankara, Marmara University in Istanbul, Atatürk University in Erzurum, Gebze Technical University in Kocaeli, Kocaeli University, Sakariya University, Karabük University, Pamukkale University in Denizli, Duzze University, and Süleyman Demirel University in Isparta.
All Turkish universities are internationally recognized. Türkiye has a great education system that maintains a minimum standard compatible with the European education standard. Some world-class public universities in Turkiye rank in the top five hundred in the world. Marmara University, Istanbul University, Atatürk University, and Sabancı University are some of the top-ranking universities not only in Türkiye but in the whole World. Apart from those, Gebze Technical University, Pamukkale University, Kocaeli University, Sakarya University, and Süleyman Demirel University are among the top national public universities offering excellent quality of education.
The variety of programs in these public universities is also what makes them an excellent choice for many students. Apart from the usual majors like Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or subjects like Economics, Management, or journalism, you will find some very unique and lucrative subjects in the public universities of Türkiye like Automotive Engineering, Logistics Management, Maritime Transport Management, Mining Engineering, Aviation Management and so on. These subjects have excellent prospects but are seldom found in other countries' public universities. Education in Turkiye is more focused on practical education than theoretical education. All the universities have sufficient modern laboratory facilities of excellent quality. Students of certain faculties such as the Technology Faculty are even required to do mandatory internships before finishing their studies. There are a lot of research options for postgraduate and Ph.D. students as well.
The public university campuses have huge centralized libraries with enormous collections of books. Most of the libraries are digitalized and the whole process of issuing and returning books is done using a student ID card or national ID card. For practical education, all the universities have sufficient modern laboratories with up-to-date pieces of equipment. Students can take part in projects such as the Technofest contest and TÜBİTAK commissioned projects. This is a great opportunity for masters, Ph.D., and Research students to enhance their careers.
Students of Turkish public universities can participate in many national and international exchange programs, mandatory and voluntary internship programs, projects, clubs, and many other forms of learning opportunities that help students grow as future leaders in their relevant fields. Turkish public university students can benefit from the Erasmus exchange program, a student exchange program where member countries, mainly European countries, exchange students among the universities for one or two semesters. As Türkiye is also a member of the Erasmus exchange program, Turkish university students get the chance to participate in this program. An exchange program exposes students to different study environments as well as a whole different social environment. The difference in culture and curriculum helps diversify the participants' knowledge and helps them get a whole new experience in life.
Turkish public university campuses are very neat and clean, relatively big, and often located outside the city in a serene place close to nature. Turkish university campuses are safe and free of any political activities. Only students, staff, and faculty members are allowed to enter these highly secured campuses. There are central and faculty mosques for students to pray their daily prayers. Universities have gymnasiums and swimming pools which students can use for free. Under the Sports Faculty, other indoor and outdoor sports fields and pieces of equipment are also available. Almost all the universities have Football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and rugby fields.
Public university students are provided with government and private dormitories. All the dormitories are neat and clean and are said to have a quality equivalent to that of a three-star hotel! The security of a student dormitory is as high as the campus itself. The dormitories commonly have facilities like study rooms, mosques, entertainment rooms, laundry rooms, conference saloons, gymnasiums, football turfs, and many more. The catering service of dormitory canteens is centralized and standardized. Students living in public dormitories called KYKs have to pay a minimum fee. Moreover, Ph.D. and Research students are provided with villas inside the university campus where they can stay with their families.
Turkish university diplomas are recognized and accepted all over the world. Since the universities have to keep up with the European standard of education, the certificates provided by Turkish universities are compatible with all European universities. Thus, it is very easy to apply for a European or any other university in any other country of the world with a Turkish university certificate. In most cases, students do not even need an equivalency certificate to apply. The Turkish education system is highly regarded in other countries for its great quality of education.
Now you might be wondering all these perks must come at a high price. But the best thing about Studying at a public university in Türkiye is its low cost. Compared to any Canadian, American, or European university, where the annual tuition fees are tens of thousands of dollars, the average tuition fee for international students in a public university in Türkiye ranges from only $300-$500 annually. Such good quality of education, facilities, secured social life, and a pious community at such a low price can only be found in Türkiye.