eWENR, Nov./Dec. 2000: Turkey's System of Education

The Turkish system of education falls under the supervision of the Ministry of National Education, which determines educational programs in primary and secondary schools and monitors standards. Education is compulsory from ages 6 to 14. The country's primary schools currently have a 98 percent participation rate.

Universities are largely autonomous and are regulated by the Higher Education Council, a national board of trustees without any government or political affiliation.

Since the Higher Education Law was passed in 1981, all academies, teacher training colleges and vocational schools have been reorganized. Some have merged to form new universities and others have transformed into new facilities affiliated with regional universities.

The chief language of instruction is Turkish. However, three public and three private universities conduct courses in English and some faculties offer courses in English and German. A new institution, Galatasaray University, teaches courses in French.

Compulsory Subjects: Turkish, mathematics, science, social studies, religious instruction, art, music and physical education

Leaving Certificate: Ilkokul Bitirme Diplomasi (Primary School Completion Diploma)

Compulsory Subjects: Turkish language and literature, mathematics, science, geography, citizenship history, foreign language, religion, art, physical education and music

Leaving Certificate: Ortaokul Bitirme Diplomasi (Junior High School Completion Diploma)

Students who successfully complete middle school can continue their studies at a general, technical or vocational high school. General high school is a three-year academic program that prepares students for the university entrance exam.

Technical and vocational high schools offer four- and three-year programs, respectively, and prepare students for employment or for higher education. There are four main categories of schools within this particular group: technical for boys; technical for girls; religious education and commerce and tourism.

Compulsory Subjects: Turkish language and literature, psychology, logic and sociology, history, geography, mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry, foreign language, religious education and physical training

Compulsory Subjects: technical courses such as electronics, technical drawing and communications

Leaving Certificate: Devlet Teknik Lisesi Diplomasi (State Technical School Diploma)

Subjects taken in vocational school include: binding and screen printing, ceramics, electrical engineering and electronics, food technology, library science, cooling and air conditioning, telecommunications and installation technology

Leaving Certificate: Devlet Meslek Lisesi Diplomasi (State Vocational School Diploma)

Turkey has 52 state universities, four private universities and six institutes of technology (see complete listing at the end of this section). All universities enjoy full autonomy and most of them are multi-campus institutions.

Access to higher education requires the Lise Diplomasi (high school diploma) or its equivalent and sufficient marks in the highly competitive two-part university entrance examination. On average, only 22 percent to 25 percent of the more than 1 million applicants are accepted each year. The annual number of admissions is determined by the Higher Education Council, which calculates the manpower needs of the country, budgetary resources and classroom capacities.

Stage 1: The Lisans Diplomasi (bachelor's degree) is awarded after completing four years of study. Dentistry, architecture and veterinary medicine require five years of study. Medicine takes six years, leading to the qualification of doktor, which is awarded concurrently with the diploma. The Muhendis Diplomasi (engineering diploma) is awarded by technical universities and higher technical institutions after four to five years of study.

Stage 2: The Yuksek Lisans Diplomasi and the Yuksek Muhendi Diplomasi (higher engineering diploma) are awarded after two years of study beyond the undergraduate level, and require the preparation and defense of a thesis. Both qualifications are considered to be the equivalent of a master's degree.

Stage 3: The Doktora (doctorate) requires two to four years of study beyond the master's and the preparation of a doctoral thesis. The Sanatta Yeterlik (proficiency in art) is the equivalent of a doctorate in fine arts. The Uzmanlik (specialist degree) is equivalent to a doctorate in clinical medicine.

* Many Turkish institutions -- universities as well as secondary schools -- issue a Gecici Mezuniyet Belgesi (interim graduation certificate) until the formal graduation certificate has been issued.

Admission Requirements: Students applying to higher vocational college must take the first part of the university entrance examination. This, along with the applicant's grade average during secondary school, determines admission.

Leaving Certificate: Meslek Yuksek Okulu On Lisans Diplomasi (higher vocational school pre-licentiate diploma), also known as the Meslek Yuksek Okulu Diplomasi (higher vocational school diploma). Meslek Yuksek Okulu On Lisans Diplomasi is often translated as "associate diploma."

Leaving Certificate: On Lisans Derecesi (pre-licentiate degree), or On Lisansi. This type of qualification is usually translated as "associate degree."

Primary, middle and secondary school teachers are required to complete a four-year university program and obtain a Lisans Diplomasi. The program includes courses in the student's field of specialization, pedagogy and teaching certification.

Technical and vocational secondary school teachers undertake a four-year technical education program at a university faculty of technical education leading to the Lisans Diplomasi. Until the early 1990s, this qualification was the Erkek Teknik Yusek Ogretem Diplomasi (higher technical teaching diploma).

U.S. Grade Equivalents
9-10 Pek iyi (Very good)	A
7-8 Lyi (Good)	B
5-6 Orta (Average)	C
1-4 Noksan/Pek Noksan (Fail)	F

* Grading scale may vary. Please refer to grading scale on transcript.

UNIVERSITIES IN TURKEY

Abant Izzet Baysal University

Adnan Menderes University

Afyon Kocatepe University

Aegean University

Akdeniz University

Atilim University

Anadolu (Anatolia) University

Bogazici (Bosphorous) University

Canakkale (Eighteenth March) University

Cankaya University

Celal Bayar University

Cukurova University

Cumhuriyet (Republic) University

Dicle (Tigris) University

Dogus University

Dokuz Eylul (Ninth September) University

Dumlupinar University

Erciyes University

Firat (Euphrates) University

Galatasaray University

Gazi University Ankara

Gaziantep University

Gaziosmanpasa University

Gebze Technological Institute

Hacettepe University

Harran University

Inonu University

Istanbul Culture University

Istanbul Technical University

Istanbul University

Izmir Institute of Technology

Kafkas University

Kahramanmaras Sutcu imam University

Karadeniz University of Technology

Middle East Technical University-Ankara

Mimar Sinan University

Mugla University

Mustafa Kemal University

Nigde University

Ondokuz Mayis (Nineteenth May) University, Samsun

Suleyman Demirel University

Trakya University

Uludag University

Yildiz Technical University

Yuzuncu Yil (Centennial) University

Zonguldak Karaelmaz University

TURKISH UNIVERSITIES IN NORTHERN CYPRUS:

Dogu Akdeniz Üniversitesi (Eastern Mediterranean University)

Yakin Dogu Universitesi

International American University

Lefke Universitesi

Girne Amerikan Universitesi

Askeri Elektronik Sanayi (ASELSAN)

Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK)

Sources:

1) Country Education Profiles: Turkey; National Office of Overseas Recognition; Australia, 1997.

2) Handbook of World Education: A Comparative Guide to Higher Education & Educational Systems of the World; American Collegiate Service; United States, 1991.

3) International Guide to Qualifications in Education; British Council; Great Britain, 1996.

4) International Handbook of Universities; International Association of Universities; United Kingdom, 1998.

5) World Education News and Reviews: "Islam Still a Force in Turkish Education"; by Karen Alexandra Leal; Vol. 9, Fall 1996.

6) World Guide to Higher Education; UNESCO; France, 1996.

Turkey's System Of Education