Secondary Education in Turkey

Secondary education in Turkey consists of four years of primary school and four years of lower secondary school, which together make up 12 years of compulsory education — the 4+4+4 model.

Upper secondary school (high school / lise) lasts 4 years for students aged 14–18. There are several types of schools, and the choice matters:

• Anatolian High Schools — academically oriented, often with intensive foreign language study.
• Science High Schools — focusing on mathematics and natural sciences.
• Social Sciences High Schools.
• Vocational and Technical High Schools.
• Religious High Schools (İmam Hatip).

Admission to selective public high schools is a separate story — the nationwide entrance examination is the deciding factor.

Key Facts and Figures

• Education is compulsory for 12 years.
• In the 2024–2025 academic year, 17.96 million students were enrolled in formal education at all levels (pre‑primary, primary, and secondary), of whom 5.33 million were in upper secondary school.
• The distribution in high schools was as follows: 3.16 million students in general education programmes, 1.68 million in vocational and technical high schools, and 487,000 in Anatolian İmam Hatip high schools (2024–2025 data).
• The share of students in private schools at secondary level was 11.6%.
• The total number of schools in Turkey in the 2024–2025 academic year reached 74,040 — 59,336 public and 14,700 private.
• Upper secondary enrolment exceeds 87%, with an adjusted net enrolment rate of 87.88% in 2025.

The Turkish system combines academic and vocational pathways, with a growing emphasis on STEM education and foreign language proficiency.

Higher Education in Turkey

Turkey has one of the largest higher education systems in the region, which has expanded rapidly over the past two decades. The country has 208 higher education institutions — public and private (foundation) universities.

Leading institutions include the Middle East Technical University (METU), Boğaziçi University, Koç University, and Istanbul Technical University. In the QS Europe 2026 ranking, 23 Turkish universities were included in the top 500, making Turkey the second most represented country in Europe after the UK.

Key Features

• Bachelor's programmes typically last 4 years — 5–6 years for medicine and dentistry, and 4 years for architecture.
• Master's programmes take 2 years, and doctoral programmes take 3–4 years.
• The number of programmes taught entirely in English is growing, especially in engineering, business, and international relations.

Enrolment Figures

Approximately 6.3 million students are enrolled in Turkish higher education. The number of international students has grown sixfold over the past decade, reaching over 379,000 in the 2025–2026 academic year. Turkey ranks 6th globally for the number of international students. International students make up 5.5% of all higher education students — up from just 0.9% in 2013. The country aims to attract 500,000 international students by 2028.

Around 80% of international students come from Muslim‑majority countries, with 65% from Asia. Popular fields among international students include business administration, medicine, software engineering, computer engineering, and medical technology.

Turkey participates in the Bologna Process, ensuring the recognition of its degrees across Europe. Turkish universities are particularly strong in engineering, medicine, architecture, business, artificial intelligence, and computer science.

Summer Programmes and Language Courses

Turkey offers a variety of short‑term programmes — Turkish language courses, cultural summer schools, and university academic programmes.

Programme Format

• Turkish language classes — 15–25 hours per week.
• Cultural immersion activities — Ottoman history, calligraphy, cooking, art.
• Summer schools in business, engineering, and international relations.
• Excursions to Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Antalya, and Ephesus.
• Accommodation in university dormitories or host families.

Facts and Context

Turkey is one of the fastest‑growing study destinations, bridging Europe and Asia. The government offers numerous scholarships for international students through national scholarship programmes. Summer programmes in Turkey combine academic study with a rich historical heritage and a strategic location between continents.

If you're considering Turkey for your child — we'll help you navigate every stage, from choosing a school and type of high school to document preparation and visa application. Get in touch — we'll tell you where to start.