Foreign Degree Equivalence in Türkiye 2026: YÖK Recognition, Denklik and STS

عناقيد · Dec 20, 2025

Foreign Degree Equivalence in Türkiye 2026: YÖK Recognition, Denklik and STS

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.

Understanding your qualification’s status
If you graduated outside Türkiye and want to use your degree there, you may need a recognition document or an individual diploma equivalence decision from the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). These are distinct procedures. If you graduated from a Turkish university and intend to use the degree abroad, consult the receiving country’s recognition authority instead of assuming that foreign-diploma denklik is the relevant route.

Three terms recur: institution recognition (okul tanıma), diploma equivalence (denklik) and the level determination examination (STS).

1. Recognition and equivalence are different
Institution recognition: YÖK recognises that a foreign institution and the relevant programme are authorised to award academic degrees. An institution recognition document can be requested for academic or administrative purposes; it is not limited solely to master’s or doctoral admission, and it does not itself give a professional licence.

Diploma equivalence: YÖK evaluates an individual foreign qualification against the corresponding Turkish academic level and field, considering the education received. Equivalence may be required when using a foreign qualification for a regulated profession or another specific procedure. It is not, by itself, a licence to practise or a work permit.

Doctors, engineers, lawyers and other professionals must separately establish the rules that apply to their occupation, including any registration, nationality, language and work-authorisation conditions. Equivalence alone does not confer eligibility for public employment. If a public-employment or military-administration procedure for a naturalised citizen requests degree evidence, confirm the exact document with the responsible authority.

2. Preparing an application
Use YÖK’s current recognition and equivalence instructions for your nationality, qualification and purpose. A preliminary application service exists on e-Devlet; YÖK also provides instructions for foreign applicants. Follow the route applicable to you and confirm how originals must be submitted or verified. Do not assume that an unarranged visit to Ankara completes an application.

Prepare the case-specific checklist, which can include:

The original diploma and academic transcript, with the authentication required for the issuing country and document. Do not assume both a foreign ministry stamp and Turkish embassy approval are always needed where another accepted route applies.
Turkish translations with the certification YÖK requires.
The identity, passport and residence documents requested for your applicant category.
The prescribed consent or authorisation allowing verification with the issuing institution, where required.

YÖK may request further records about course content, practical training, attendance or time spent studying abroad. Keep copies of everything submitted and use the official application reference for follow-up.

3. STS and additional academic requirements
An examination is not a universal requirement for every foreign degree. YÖK assesses the application and may require an STS examination, supplementary courses, clinical practice or another specified assessment. The individual decision determines what you must complete.

Medicine and dentistry
The two fields have separate examination guides and should not be treated as one identical two-stage test.

Medicine: the 2026 ÖSYM guide provides first and second stages covering basic and clinical sciences. YÖK’s decision can require the first stage, the second stage or both. The published passing threshold is at least 40 out of 100 in each required stage.
Dentistry: the 2026 guide describes a single 120-question examination with a passing threshold of at least 40 out of 100. It is not the same two-stage format as medicine.

Passing the applicable examination does not remove a separate clinical-practice requirement if YÖK has imposed one. Do not assume either that every graduate must take STS or that passing automatically completes every professional requirement.

Engineering
YÖK may decide a case without additional assessment or require supplementary courses, an examination or other measures. A well-known university name does not guarantee direct equivalence. Base your plans on the assessment of your actual programme and studies.

Law
Supplementary Turkish law courses can be required because the legal systems and curricula differ. YÖK determines the necessary subjects and the receiving university applies its academic rules. There is no universal two-year completion promise: duration depends on the assigned courses, timetable, attendance and successful completion. Professional admission to legal practice remains a separate issue.

4. Before studying abroad
If you plan to study medicine or another profession outside Türkiye and later return, check the institution, exact programme and applicable YÖK conditions before enrolling. Recognition of an institution is an important check, but it is not a guarantee that every individual diploma will receive equivalence. Other conditions can relate to the programme, entry route, study mode, attendance and academic content.

Avoid relying on an agent’s informal “white list” or a promise that a future equivalence decision is guaranteed. Keep the official evidence relevant to your enrolment year and ask YÖK about your intended path where necessary.

A carefully prepared, verifiable application starts with understanding which decision you actually need.

Official references

Requirements checked on 8 October 2026. Use the current notice for your university, programme and applicant category.

Related guides

Foreign Degree Equivalence in Türkiye 2026: YÖK Recognition, Denklik and STS

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