Every year we hear from students who started a degree in their home country, in Cyprus, Ukraine, Russia or elsewhere, and now want to transfer to a Turkish university without starting from zero. It is possible, and for many people it saves one or two years, but the process in Turkey is stricter than most students expect. The Turkish term is yatay geçiş, literally horizontal transfer, and it is governed by a national YÖK regulation plus each university’s own rules and quotas
Below we explain who can transfer, which semesters are open, what GPA you need, how credits are recognised and when to apply for the 2027 intake. We have handled transfers into medicine, engineering, business and dentistry programmes, so we also include the problems that actually come up
How Transfer to a Turkish University Works
Each university senate announces a transfer quota (kontenjan) for each programme before every semester. There are usually separate quotas for students moving between Turkish universities and for students coming from universities abroad. You apply to that specific quota, the university ranks applicants with a formula based on GPA and sometimes entrance exam scores, and the top candidates are admitted. If a programme announces zero places for transfers from abroad, there is no way in that semester, however strong your file is
Your current university must be recognised by YÖK. Schools on YÖK’s list of unrecognised institutions, and distance-learning programmes that are not accepted in Turkey, are a dead end, so check this before you pay any application fees
Eligibility Rules You Need to Meet
- You must be enrolled at a recognised university abroad in a programme that matches or closely resembles the one you want in Turkey
- For a four-year bachelor’s you cannot transfer into the first two semesters or the last two semesters, and you cannot transfer into a preparatory class
- Your GPA has to meet the minimum set by the university, which in practice ranges from about 2.29 out of 4.00 to 3.00 or higher
- Some programmes require that you had no failed courses and no disciplinary penalties above a warning
- Many universities still ask for a valid admission score, such as YÖS, SAT or a national exam result accepted in their international student guidelines
At Ankara University, for example, programmes with ranking limits such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law and engineering only accept transfers from abroad if your current university is in the top 400 of major world rankings, or if you meet a set of extra conditions including at least four completed semesters and a 3.00 GPA. Other universities have their own versions of this rule, so read the transfer directive (yönerge) on the student affairs page
A common trap: students often assume their exam history does not matter once they are at university. Many Turkish universities still check whether you would have met the original entry requirements. Keep your YÖS, SAT or high school exam documents ready, because they may decide your file. Our guide on what the YÖS exam is explains the main scores universities use
Credit Recognition and Course Equivalence
Being admitted is only half the work. After registration your new faculty runs a course equivalence process (intibak). A committee compares your previous courses with its curriculum, using course descriptions, credit hours and ECTS values, and decides which ones you are exempt from. Courses that do not match must be taken again
This is where students lose time. A transfer into the fifth semester can easily become a third-semester placement if half your courses are not recognised. To reduce that risk, prepare certified course descriptions (syllabi) for every course you have passed, ideally in English or translated into Turkish, and keep them consistent with your transcript. Programmes in medicine and dentistry are especially strict because of clinical hours
| Factor | Why it matters | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| GPA | Main ranking criterion for most quotas | Official transcript with grading scale |
| Course content | Decides exemptions after admission | Stamped syllabi and ECTS details |
| University recognition | Unrecognised schools cannot transfer | Check the YÖK recognition list |
| Language of study | Turkish or English proficiency needed | Certificate such as IELTS, TOEFL or TÖMER C1 |
| Entry exam history | Some universities check original admission scores | YÖS, SAT or national exam result |
Documents for a Transfer Application
Lists vary slightly between universities, but most ask for the following
- Passport copy and a recent photo
- An official transcript from your current university showing all semesters and the grading system
- A student status certificate confirming you are currently enrolled
- Course descriptions with credits, stamped by your university
- A document showing your university’s ranking or recognition where relevant
- High school diploma and entrance exam results
- A language certificate for the programme’s language of instruction
- A discipline certificate stating you have no penalties
Some universities want the documents translated into Turkish by a sworn translator and notarised, and many will ask for apostille or consular legalisation at registration. Later you will also need diploma recognition when you graduate, which we cover in our article on diploma equivalence (denklik) in Turkey
Application Deadlines for 2027
Most universities run transfer applications twice a year. For the fall semester the window usually opens in July and closes in early to mid August, with results in late August or early September. For the spring semester, applications typically run from December to mid January. Windows are short, often just one or two weeks, and documents sent after the deadline are not considered. Medical faculties sometimes accept transfers only for the fall
Plan backwards from these dates. Translation, notarisation and legalisation can take three to six weeks in many countries, and getting stamped syllabi from a slow registrar office can take longer
Thinking about moving your degree to Turkey?
Saya Group checks your transcript against current transfer quotas, prepares your documents and applies to the universities most likely to recognise your credits. Book a free consultation to see your options
State or Private University for a Transfer?
State universities have lower fees and strong reputations, but their transfer quotas for students from abroad are small and competitive. Private universities in Istanbul and Ankara usually offer more places, more flexible GPA thresholds and English-taught programmes, and they often grant tuition discounts to transfer students with good grades. The trade-off is cost. Our breakdown of university tuition fees in Turkey gives current ranges for both sectors, and you can compare the two types of institution in our guide to private vs state universities in Turkey
Once you are accepted, you will apply for a student residence permit with your new student certificate. The steps are the same as for new students and are explained in our guide to the student visa and residence permit
What to Do Now
Request an updated transcript and your course descriptions from your current university now, before the busy end-of-semester period. Then shortlist three to five Turkish programmes that publish transfer quotas for students from abroad, and check their GPA limits against yours. If your GPA is close to the threshold, an extra semester of strong grades may be worth more than applying early with a weak file
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer to a Turkish university in my first year?
Not for a standard four-year bachelor’s. YÖK rules do not allow transfers into the first two semesters, so you generally need to have completed at least the first year at your current university
What GPA do I need to transfer to a Turkish university?
The legal minimum is lower, but many universities set their own limit around 2.50 to 3.00 out of 4.00, and competitive programmes such as medicine effectively need higher. Check the transfer directive of each university
Can I transfer into medicine in Turkey?
Yes, but it is the hardest case. Medical faculties have very small transfer quotas, strict course matching and often ranking requirements for your current university. Start preparing at least six months ahead
Will all my credits be accepted?
Usually not all of them. The faculty compares course content and credits, and unmatched courses must be repeated. Detailed syllabi improve your chances of exemption
Do I need to take YÖS to transfer?
Some universities require a valid admission score such as YÖS or SAT, while others decide only on GPA. It depends on the university and the programme
