Parents often send us a screenshot of a ranking table before anything else. Is this university in the top 500? Why is it 300th in one list and 650th in another? These are fair questions, and Turkish universities world rankings have changed quite a lot in the last few years, so it helps to know what the numbers actually say and what they do not
Below we pull together the latest QS and Times Higher Education results, published in June and September 2026, explain why the same university can sit in very different places, and show how we use rankings when advising students for the 2027 intake
QS World University Rankings 2027: Turkish Results
QS released its 2027 edition in June 2026, covering about 1,500 universities from over 100 countries. Istanbul Technical University took the top Turkish spot at 279th, overtaking METU, which had led the previous year at 269th and now sits at 305th. Koç, Boğaziçi and Sabancı all landed between 329th and 357th, and Bilkent completed the group of six Turkish universities in the global top 500
Five more made the top 1,000: Hacettepe, Istanbul University, Yıldız Technical University, Ankara University and Gebze Technical University. Another fourteen, including Ege, Marmara, Dokuz Eylül, Özyeğin and İzmir Institute of Technology, appear in the 1,001 to 1,500 band. QS leans heavily on academic and employer reputation surveys, which is one reason the older, well-known state universities do so well here
THE World University Rankings 2027: Turkish Results
Times Higher Education published its 2027 table at the end of September 2026. Türkiye had 124 universities in the list, the third largest national total after the United States and India. That headline is about quantity, though. In terms of position, Koç and METU shared the top Turkish place in the 326–350 band, followed by Sabancı at 376–400 and Boğaziçi at 401–450
Bilkent and ITU came in at 651–700, and seven more reached the 801–1,000 band, among them Hacettepe, Atatürk, Yıldız Technical, Özyeğin and Abdullah Gül University in Kayseri. You may also notice a couple of younger private universities in Istanbul, such as İstinye and Nişantaşı, in that band. THE gives a lot of weight to research citations, and a small university with a few highly cited papers can climb quickly
Top Turkish Universities: QS vs THE Side by Side
This table shows why it is worth looking at more than one list. Ranks are global positions from the 2027 editions
| University | Type | QS 2027 | THE 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul Technical University | State | 279 | 651–700 |
| Middle East Technical University | State | 305 | 326–350 |
| Koç University | Private | 329 | 326–350 |
| Boğaziçi University | State | 345 | 401–450 |
| Sabancı University | Private | 357 | 376–400 |
| Bilkent University | Private | 454 | 651–700 |
| Hacettepe University | State | 570 | 801–1000 |
| Yıldız Technical University | State | 634 | 801–1000 |
| Istanbul University | State | 629 | Outside top 1,000 |
| Ankara University | State | 731–740 | Outside top 1,000 |
Notice how ITU is first in QS but outside the THE top 600, while Koç and METU are strong in both. Neither list is wrong. They simply measure different things, and they weigh those things differently
Why the Same University Ranks So Differently
Every ranking is a formula. Change the ingredients and the order changes. In simple terms
- QS puts a lot of weight on reputation surveys among academics and employers, which favours large, long-established universities
- THE focuses more on research quality and citations, plus teaching environment indicators, which can help smaller research-intensive universities
- URAP, run by a research lab based at METU, looks almost entirely at publications and citations, and Turkish media often quote its national table
- Subject rankings, published separately by QS and THE, can look very different from the overall table, and they are usually more useful for choosing a programme
Turkish state universities also have to cope with very large student numbers, which can pull down ratios like staff per student. Private universities like Koç and Sabancı were built as research-focused campuses with smaller classes, so they score well on several indicators despite being much younger
How Much Should Rankings Matter for You?
Rankings are a useful starting point, but in our experience they are a poor final decision tool. When we build a shortlist with a student, rankings are one input next to language of instruction, tuition after scholarship, city, accreditation and the actual programme
Here is where rankings genuinely help
- Applying for scholarships or jobs in countries that use ranking lists, for example some government scholarship schemes that only fund universities in the top 500
- Planning a master’s or PhD abroad later, where a well-known name on your transcript makes the admissions team’s job easier
- Comparing research strength if you want an academic career
And here is where they mislead. A ranking does not tell you how many students are in your first-year lectures, how good the English-taught version of a programme is, or how much support international students get. Some of the best-taught engineering programmes we know are at universities that rank in the 1,001 to 1,500 band. For a breakdown by field, our guide to engineering degrees in Turkey goes into specific departments
Want a shortlist based on more than rankings?
Tell us your field, budget and grades. Our advisers will combine ranking data with fees, language and scholarship chances to build a realistic list of Turkish universities for 2027
State or Private: What the Rankings Show
One interesting pattern is the balance between sectors. In THE 2027, the 13 Turkish universities in the top 1,000 split into seven state and six private institutions. In QS the top group is more state-heavy, with ITU, METU, Boğaziçi and Hacettepe all ahead of most private universities except Koç and Sabancı. If you are deciding between the two types, our comparison of private and state universities in Turkey explains how fees, admission and teaching differ in practice
Many of the top-ranked universities are in Istanbul and Ankara. Koç, Sabancı, ITU and Boğaziçi are all in Istanbul, so if the city itself appeals to you, read our practical guide to student life in Istanbul before you decide
Do Rankings Affect Degree Recognition?
Not directly. Recognition depends on accreditation, and every YÖK-approved university in Turkey issues a legally recognised diploma whether it is ranked or not. Some countries do, however, use ranking lists for specific purposes, such as fast-track visas, civil service hiring or scholarship eligibility. Our article on how Turkish degrees are recognised abroad covers the general rules, and you should always check your own country’s requirements
A practical next step is to pick three programmes you like, then check each university’s place in the subject ranking for that field, not just the overall table. If you send us those three names, we can tell you how they compare on cost, admission difficulty and scholarship chances
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest-ranked university in Turkey?
It depends on the ranking. In QS 2027 it is Istanbul Technical University at 279th. In THE 2027, Koç University and METU share the top Turkish place in the 326–350 band
How many Turkish universities are in the world rankings?
THE 2027 includes 124 Turkish universities, with 13 in the top 1,000. QS 2027 lists 25 Turkish universities, 11 of them in the top 1,000
Are Turkish universities good by international standards?
The top group is solid, with six Turkish universities in the QS global top 500. Quality varies widely below that, so check the specific programme, accreditation and subject ranking
Do I need a ranked university for my degree to be recognised?
No. Recognition depends on YÖK accreditation, not rankings. A few countries use rankings for scholarships or certain jobs, so check your home country’s rules
When are the next rankings published?
QS usually publishes its world ranking in June and THE in late September or October. Expect the 2028 editions around the same time in 2027
