Language Immersion Courses in Turkey

Language schools in Turkey mainly teach Turkish to foreigners: students who plan to enrol at a Turkish university, professionals who move to the country and people who want to learn the language for its own sake. Courses are offered by university language centres, by the Yunus Emre Institute and by private language centres such as BABEL Language Centre in Antalya.

Turkish is useful even for students on English-taught degrees. Study in Türkiye, the portal of the Council of Higher Education, notes that Turkish is the main language of instruction at most universities and that speaking Turkish at a minimum level greatly facilitates daily life, whatever the language of the degree.

How Turkish courses work

Most course programmes follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Ankara University's Turkish and Foreign Languages Application and Research Center (TÖMER), founded in 1984, structures its Turkish programme from A1 (beginner) to C1 (advanced) and awards a certificate at the end of each level, with a diploma approved by Ankara University after C1. Besides general Turkish, centres of this kind offer preparatory classes for university study, short intensive programmes, online courses and private lessons. According to Study in Türkiye, TÖMER has branches in Alanya, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Istanbul and Izmir.

Many universities also run their own Turkish preparatory year for admitted international students, usually with 4 to 6 hours of lessons a day. Students admitted with a Turkish scholarship that covers university fees, dormitory and health insurance receive one year of Turkish tuition free of charge. At the end of the preparatory year, students are expected to hold a C1 certificate before continuing to their degree.

Exams and certificates

The Yunus Emre Institute runs the Turkish Proficiency Exam (Türkçe Yeterlik Sınavı, TYS), which Study in Türkiye describes as a central exam valid for admission of international students to Turkish universities. It is held three times a year at Yunus Emre Institutes in Turkey and abroad and tests reading, listening, writing and speaking. Successful candidates receive a certificate at B2 or C1 level, and the institute states that TYS was the first Turkish exam to receive the ALTE Q-mark. TÖMER has its own exam, the International Turkish Proficiency Exam (UTYS), which it describes as a valid document for applications to many universities and public institutions.

Visa and residence for language students

Turkey's e-Visa is valid only for tourism or commerce; for study, visas are issued by Turkish embassies and consulates. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs adds that a valid visa allows a stay of up to 90 days without a residence permit, but foreigners who come to study must register with the local police after arrival.

For longer courses, the Presidency of Migration Management issues a short-term residence permit to foreigners who attend a Turkish language course. It can be granted at most twice for this purpose, only for a course at an institution authorised by the Ministry of National Education, and for no longer than the course itself when the course lasts less than a year. Check visa rules for your nationality on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs site before booking.

Costs and funding

There is no official fee scale for language courses in Turkey; each centre sets its own prices. At TÖMER, pre-application is free, the department then informs the student of course dates and fees, and the fee is paid once classes start. University preparatory courses are offered for a reasonable fee or, in some cases, for free, according to Study in Türkiye. For degree students, Turkish scholarships that cover university fees, dormitory and health insurance include a year of free Turkish lessons.

How to choose a language school in Turkey

• Goal: a general course for daily life, a university preparatory course or exam preparation (TYS or UTYS)
• City: Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir are large university cities; Antalya and Alanya are coastal cities with TÖMER branches
• Authorisation: for a residence permit, the course must be at an institution authorised by the Ministry of National Education
• Intensity and length: hours per day, number of weeks and whether the course leads to a CEFR certificate
• Option to start before arrival: the Yunus Emre Institute has 58 centres in 46 countries and also runs online courses

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Turkish to study at a Turkish university?

Not always. Some universities teach in English, and students can be admitted without Turkish and then attend a Turkish preparatory course, but Turkish is the main language of instruction at most universities.

Which Turkish exam is accepted by universities?

The Yunus Emre Institute's TYS is a central exam valid for admission of international students and awards a B2 or C1 certificate. Ankara University TÖMER's UTYS is also accepted by many universities and public institutions.

Can I study Turkish in Turkey on a tourist e-Visa?

The e-Visa is only valid for tourism or commerce. Study visas are issued by Turkish embassies and consulates, and a short-term residence permit is available for Turkish courses at institutions authorised by the Ministry of National Education.

Can I learn Turkish before travelling to Turkey?

Yes. The Yunus Emre Institute teaches Turkish at its centres abroad and runs online Turkish courses.