Ask Turkish students where they would study if Istanbul were off the table and a surprising number say Eskişehir. Studying in Eskisehir means living in a mid-sized, walkable city of roughly 900,000 people where a large share of the daytime population seems to be under 25, the tram runs past most of the places you actually need, and rent is a fraction of what you would pay in Istanbul. It is not a city that international students usually put on their list first, which is exactly why it deserves a closer look
We have placed students in Eskişehir for engineering, medicine, aviation and Turkish-taught social sciences, and the feedback is consistent. They arrive expecting a quiet provincial town and find cafés open late, a river promenade full of students and a city that is built around its universities rather than squeezed between offices and traffic
Why Eskişehir Is Known as Turkey’s Student City
Eskişehir sits in north-western Anatolia, on the plateau between Ankara and Bursa. The Porsuk River runs through the centre, lined with bridges, parks and small boats that look slightly out of place on the steppe. The city has spent the last two decades investing in public spaces, so you get Sazova Park, Kentpark with its artificial beach, a modern tram system and an old town that has been restored rather than demolished
What makes it a student city is proportion. Anadolu University, Eskişehir Osmangazi University and Eskişehir Technical University together bring tens of thousands of on-campus students into a city that is not very big. Whole neighbourhoods such as Bağlar, Yenibağlar and the streets around İki Eylül Caddesi run on student life: cheap breakfast places, print shops, shared flats and bars that are busy on Tuesday nights. For a newcomer this matters, because it is much easier to make friends and find help in a city where being a student is the default
Universities in Eskişehir for International Students
All three universities in the city are state universities. There is no private (foundation) university in Eskişehir, so if you specifically want a private campus with fully English instruction you will be looking at Istanbul or Ankara instead. The upside is that state tuition for international students is usually much lower than private fees, and degrees from these universities are well known inside Turkey
Anadolu University
Anadolu University is the oldest and best known of the three. It became a university in 1982 and is famous in Turkey for its open education system, which has enrolled millions of distance learners over the years. For on-campus international students the strengths are communication sciences, fine arts, tourism, business, pharmacy and education. The main Yunus Emre Campus is close to the centre and connected by tram, and the university also runs a well established TÖMER centre for Turkish language preparation
Eskişehir Osmangazi University (ESOGU)
ESOGU has its roots in an engineering and architecture academy from the 1970s and became a university in 1993. Its Meşelik Campus is large and green, a little outside the centre but on the tram line. It is the city’s main choice for medicine, with a big university hospital, and it also has solid engineering, agriculture, science and education faculties. Medicine at ESOGU is taught in Turkish, so plan for a strong C1 level before the programme starts
Eskişehir Technical University (ESTU)
ESTU was split off from Anadolu University in 2018 and took over its engineering, architecture, science and aviation faculties. Its Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics is one of the better known in Turkey, with its own training airport facilities, which is why many of our aviation students end up here. If you are curious about that route, our guide to pilot training and aviation degrees in Turkey covers licence requirements in more detail
Programmes, Language of Instruction and Admission
Most bachelor’s programmes in Eskişehir are taught in Turkish. Some engineering departments at ESTU and a handful of programmes at Anadolu and ESOGU offer English or partly English instruction, often with a compulsory English preparatory year if you cannot show a recognised test score. Before you fall in love with a department, check the language column in the university’s international student quota list for the current year, because it changes
Each university publishes its own directive for international admissions. In recent cycles they have accepted a mix of SAT scores, national school-leaving exams, A-levels or IB and, at some universities, YÖS results. Applications are usually online in spring and summer, and results come out a few weeks after the deadline. The general process is the same as elsewhere in the country, and our step by step guide on applying to Turkish state and private universities walks through documents and timing
- For Turkish-taught programmes you can usually be admitted first and complete one year of Turkish at TÖMER before starting the faculty
- Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy quotas are small and fill with high scores, so apply to several universities in parallel
- Aviation programmes at ESTU may require medical fitness checks and additional tests on top of the normal application
- Keep notarised translations of your diploma and transcript ready, since they are needed again for enrolment and the residence permit
If you need Turkish, start at TÖMER in Eskişehir rather than in another city. You make friends, learn the tram routes and find a flat before the faculty year begins, and the C1 certificate is accepted by all three universities. We explain levels and timelines in our article on learning Turkish for university at TÖMER
Cost of Living in Eskişehir
Eskişehir is one of the more affordable big student cities in Turkey. Prices in lira move quickly because of inflation, so treat the figures below as rough monthly ranges based on what our students reported in 2026 and convert them using the current exchange rate
| Expense | Typical monthly range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Room in a shared flat | 7,000–12,000 TL | Bağlar, Yenibağlar and around ESOGU are popular |
| Private or state dormitory | 4,000–15,000 TL | State KYK dorms are cheapest but places are limited |
| Groceries and eating out | 6,000–10,000 TL | University canteens keep lunch very cheap |
| Public transport | 500–900 TL | Student cards give reduced tram and bus fares |
| Phone, internet, utilities share | 1,500–3,000 TL | Winter heating raises bills noticeably |
| Total for a careful student | roughly $450–$700 | Excluding tuition and health insurance |
Housing is where you can save or lose the most. Flats near the tram line cost more but save time in winter, and furnished student flats are often rented for the full academic year with a deposit of one or two months. Read our guide to dorms and student housing in Turkey before you sign anything, especially the part about contracts and deposits
Student Life and Getting Around
The tram network, run by the municipality, links the centre, the bus terminal, the train station and both main campuses. Most students never need a car. Cycling along the Porsuk is common in spring and autumn, and the centre is compact enough to walk
Free time tends to revolve around the river, Odunpazarı with its Ottoman houses and the Odunpazarı Modern Museum, and Sazova Park with its replica castle. There are concerts, film festivals and theatre at the university cultural centres, and the city is known locally for çibörek, a fried pastry that you will eat more than you plan to
One honest warning. Winters are cold and dry, with nights well below zero from December to February and occasional snow. Students from the Gulf, South Asia or Africa should budget for a proper coat and boots in the first month, not after the first frost
Is Studying in Eskisehir Worth It Compared With Ankara and Istanbul?
Eskişehir works best for students who want a calm, social and affordable base and are happy with a state university. The high-speed train makes Ankara a day trip, which helps with embassy appointments, and Istanbul is close enough for a weekend. If you want more choice of English-taught private universities, compare it with our guide to student life and universities in Ankara, where you get a capital city at a higher cost
Thinking about studying in Eskisehir?
Our advisers can check your scores against this year’s quotas at Anadolu, ESOGU and ESTU and prepare your applications and TÖMER enrolment
Residence Permit and First Weeks
After enrolment you apply for a student residence permit through e-ikamet and attend an appointment at the provincial migration office in Eskişehir. The office is used to students, and in our experience appointments in Eskişehir are usually easier to get than in Istanbul. You will need your student certificate, passport, photos, health insurance and an address registration. The full list, including the entry visa step, is in our guide to the Turkish student visa and residence permit
A practical next step is to shortlist two or three departments across the three universities, check the language of instruction and the quota for international students, and then plan backwards from the spring application window. If Turkish is required, factor in a year at TÖMER. That one decision shapes your budget and your timeline more than anything else
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Eskişehir a good city for international students?
Yes, for most students it is. It is safe, affordable, compact and full of other students, and the tram makes daily life easy. The main trade-offs are cold winters and the fact that most programmes are taught in Turkish
Are there private universities in Eskişehir?
No. All three universities in the city, Anadolu, Eskişehir Osmangazi and Eskişehir Technical University, are state universities with lower tuition for international students than private universities
Can I study in English in Eskişehir?
Some programmes, mostly in engineering, are taught fully or partly in English. The majority are Turkish-taught, so check the language listed for each department in the current international quota announcement
How far is Eskişehir from Istanbul and Ankara?
The high-speed train reaches Ankara in about an hour and a half and Istanbul in roughly two and a half to three hours, depending on the station and the service
How much money do I need per month in Eskişehir?
Most of our students manage on roughly $450–$700 a month including a shared room, food and transport. Tuition and health insurance come on top of that
