According to Turkish national law, all children in Türkiye, including foreigners (as well as international protection applicants, international protection status holders, and those under temporary protection), have the right to receive primary and secondary school education free of charge. In addition to being crucial for children’s development and social cohesion, education also fosters cognitive growth and improves language skills. Furthermore, education will help children to navigate challenges, including displacement.

It is important for children to attend school, no matter how long you expect to stay in Türkiye! Even if you hope to be resettled to another country or to go back to your country, it is important that you and your family use the time in Türkiye to develop the skills that will help your children integrate socially and academically into a new education system. The longer your children are out of school, the more difficult this becomes.

Formal Education in Türkiye is:

• Compulsory
• Free,
• Implemented with 4+4+4 system,
• Imperative for parents to register their children in school and ensure their attendance until the completion.

You have to ensure that your child is registered in a school. But registration is not enough, continuity is also significant!! Failure to do so may result in significant penalties for you. Remember, a lack of proficiency in Turkish should not hinder your access to education.

It’s crucial for every child to continue to high school. In addition to regular high schools, there are also vocational high schools where your child can gain practical skills for a profession, where they have the opportunity to acquire technical and vocational skills. Vocational and technical education at the high school level is given through institutions like Vocational and Technical Anatolian High Schools, Multi-Programme Anatolian High Schools, and Vocational Training Centers (MESEM). If your child in enrolled in these schools, they can benefit from the PIKTES+ (Promoting Inclusive Education for Kids in the Turkish Education System) Programme. Further information about PIKTES is available below.

If you have a child with specific needs, you should apply for Counseling and Research Centers (RAM). You can find the list for RAMs: orgm.meb.gov.tr/alt_sayfalar/kurum.asp. Prior to seeking assistance from RAM, obtaining a ÇÖZGER (Special Needs Report for Children) is essential to ensure appropriate referrals.

How to enroll your child in school?

You have to apply to the closest Turkish school or District National Education Directorate (DNoNE), or for some provinces Provincial Directorates of National Education (PDoNE). You can find the schools that your child can enroll through e-okul system. You can find E-Okul System: https://e-okul.meb.gov.tr/

Needed documents for school enrollment are as follows:

• Valid international protection applicant ID or international protection status holder ID or temporary protection ID which are given Provincial Directorates of Migration Management (PDMMs),
• Residence registration (not mandatory, is it needed if there is not information in the national data base. You can take it from Birth Registry Office, or Mukhtars),
• Other documents needed by Schools (equivalence document, transcript, diplome etc… )

E-Equivalence

If you possess any documents from your child’ previous education life, your child will be subjected to an equivalence processes. This online process entails the following steps:

• You should follow the guidance on https://edenklik.meb.gov.tr/?culture=tr-TR and upload the relevant documents,
• Upon completion of the application, you will receive an appointment with a designated date and time,
• Ensure your availability at the scheduled appointment date and time,
• Bring all necessary document to your appointment date and time,
• The Equivalence Center will review the documents, and will decide based on the opinion of the Board of Education and Discipline,
• The Equivalence Center may render one of three decisions: acceptance, rejection or requirement for a placement test.

Please be aware that Equivalency Centers within PDoNEs/DNoNEs may take some time to forward your documents to the Central Office for review by the Board of Education and Discipline due to their heavy workload. It is crucial that all documents are notarized. Additionally, the Equivalence Center may request supplementary documents if necessary.

In cases where you lack document due to the circumstances such as was, disaster, or asylum procedures:

• Your child may undergo a placement test.
• Primary school children are exempt from the placement test, and determination will be made based on families’ verbal statements.

PIKTES+

The Catch-Up Trainings under the PIKTES+ Project aim to offer educational support to students seeking to enhance their Turkish literacy skills, including those who are completely new to the language. These classes, along with all other initiatives within the project, are accessible to children under international protection and temporary protection.

Furthermore, as part of the PIKTES+ Project, Vocational and Technical Education Scholarships are available to international students, including those under international protection and temporary protection, as well as Turkish citizens who are studying in Vocational and technical education at the high school level. PIKTES+ offered these scholarships to students in grades 9 through 12. For updates on scholarship opportunities, please visit the following link: https://piktes.gov.tr

Financial Support for Education (From Kindergarten to 12th Grade)

Conditional Cash Transfer for Education (CCTE) for Foreigners Programme is implemented by the Ministry of Family and Social Services (MFSS), the Ministry of National Education (MoNE), and the Turkish Red Crescent. Children under international protection and temporary protection can also benefit from this programme. This programme is the extension of the Conditional Cash Transfer programme for Education, which has been implemented by MFSS since 2003 for Turkish citizens living in Türkiye. Under this programme, cash assistance is provided to families whose children (from kindergarten to 12th grade) regularly attend school, provided one they meet the criteria. Applicants must be registered with the PDMMs, have a foreign identity number starting with 99, and be registered in the MERNIS database. Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria of the programme and send their children to school regularly to receive payments regularly. The eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Being under temporary protection or international protection in Türkiye and living outside of camps,
• Being deprived of income and social security at the time of application,
• Having at least one child attending school in the family.

If you wish to apply for this program, please approach the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation (SASF) or the TRC Service Centers (SC) in your province or district. If you move to a new address, promptly inform the SASF or SC in your current province or district to ensure uninterrupted assistance.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

ADMISSION TO UNIVERSITY

If you are under temporary protection and wish to pursue a university education, you can study at universities in Türkiye. You are required to take the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) administered by ÖSYM. As of 2026, university placement for students under international protection who have graduated from high schools in Türkiye will be conducted through the YKS. Applications for the YKS are generally submitted between February and March. You can access announcements and information about the exam via the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) website:
https://www.osym.gov.tr
Additionally, you can access the YKS Guide at the following link:
https://www.osym.gov.tr/TR,33851/2026-yuksekogretim-kurumlari-sinavi-yks-kilavuzu.html

Tuition fees may vary depending on the university, as well as the program and faculty you choose. Students are also responsible for covering transportation, study materials, and living expenses.

Students who wish to enroll in associate (2-year) and bachelor’s (4-year) degree programs in Türkiye must meet the following requirements:
• Possess a valid foreign identification card (starting with 99) issued by Provincial Directorates of Migration Management under temporary protection.
• Have completed the 12th grade and provide proof of completion.
• Take the YKS exam conducted by ÖSYM.
• Provide the required documents.

The authority responsible for higher education in Türkiye is the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). The Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) provides higher education scholarships to international students through the Türkiye Scholarships program. In addition, it offers scholarships to international students, including Syrians under temporary protection, through other programs as well. You can access announcements regarding university applications and financial support via their websites:
https://www.yok.gov.tr
https://ytb.gov.tr

You can also find information about academic programs and application requirements for international students on university websites.

Students who started their university education in Syria or another country but were unable to complete it may request universities to recognize the courses (credits) they have previously taken. Each university independently decides whether to recognize these courses, and this may vary between departments. Information about equivalency can be accessed via YÖK’s website:
https://denklik.yok.gov.tr

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

There are various organizations that provide scholarships to Syrian students under temporary protection who wish to pursue higher education in Türkiye. These include YTB, UNHCR, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), and non-governmental organizations.

UNHCR, in cooperation with YTB, implements the DAFI Scholarship Program, also known as the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative. DAFI scholarships contribute to covering a wide range of expenses such as accommodation, food, transportation, study materials, and registration and tuition fees. UNHCR also provides semester-based cash support (Higher Education Grant Support) to Syrians under temporary protection who are enrolled in Turkish universities, in cooperation with YTB.

Students interested in the DAFI Scholarship or the Higher Education Grant Support can follow announcements and information on eligibility criteria and application processes via the YTB website, UNHCR HELP website, or their social media accounts. UNHCR also recommends that students apply to Türkiye Scholarships, as there may not be an open call every year for DAFI or Higher Education Grant Support.

OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Students may also apply for the scholarship program known as EU Scholarships provided by ICMPD, provided they meet the following criteria:
• Being under temporary protection,
• Without provincial restrictions,
• Meeting academic success and other criteria,
• Being enrolled in a 2-year associate degree, 4-year bachelor’s degree, thesis or non-thesis master’s program, or a PhD program.

Information about EU Scholarships can be accessed via:
https://euburs.org

Applications of eligible candidates will be carefully reviewed by Scholarship Offices based on several criteria such as academic performance, qualifications, academic interests, and participation in social activities.

It is also recommended to regularly follow the Türkiye Scholarships page by YTB. Türkiye Scholarships is a comprehensive scholarship program offering a wide range of opportunities for international students in Türkiye. You can access the program via:
https://ytb.gov.tr/daireler/uluslararasi-ogrenciler/turkiye-burslari

International protection applicants, international protection status holders and those who are under temporary protection have right to attend Turkish universities. In addition to standard university option, institutions and websites providing online or distance education are listed below.

University Education:

If you want to study at a university in Türkiye, you can benefit from distance learning opportunities. Distance learning is a type of university education where there is no obligation to come to campus, and you can follow course modules in a virtual environment.

Anadolu University offers extensive options in distance learning. To study at Anadolu University, you need to take an entrance exam and pay tuition fees. Degrees and diplomas awarded by Anadolu University are recognized in Türkiye and internationally. Ankara University, Istanbul University and Atatürk University also offer university education through distance higher education programmes.

Online Education at Formal Education Level:

It is possible to study primary and middle school through distance learning.

Ministry of National Education Distance  Education Website provides free online support for primary and middle school students with online books.

Certificate Programmes and Other Online Education Opportunities:

Universities in Türkiye also offer online certificate programmes. Boğaziçi Üniversitesi has distance education programmes in foreign languages and professional fields. Other universities offering online certificate programmes can be explored  from there.  

YTB Akademi offers online courses in Turkish language, English at the A1 level, stress management, teamwork, and resume preparation.

Istanbul Municipality Distance Learning Platform offers distance learning opportunities in various vocational fields. These courses cover various vocational fields such as database design, wood painting, and clothing tailoring.

Institutions like University of the People, Coursera, Udemy and others offer online programmes. Most of these programmes are not officially recognized in Türkiye, but they are useful for refreshing knowledge and preparing for university.

Non-formal education is a lifelong education model. It is purpose-oriented, with a curriculum, but different from formal education. In Türkiye, non-formal education is provided at Public Education Centers (PEC) under the Directorate General for Lifelong Learning of the Ministry of National Education.

At PECs, skill acquisition and vocational and technical education courses are provided free of charge. To register for these courses, you need to have either your International Protection Identity or Temporary Protection Identity. There must be at least 12 people for the courses to be opened.

UNHCR Türkiye supports vocational and technical courses such as textiles, embroidery, cooking, pastry making, dry cleaning, shoemaking, hairdressing, ceramics, jewelry craftsmanship, carpentry, and pearls craftsmanship in more than 35 Public Education Centers in 20 provinces. Therefore, by participating in such courses, you can prepare for a profession, develop work habits, become an active producer, and even acquire enough knowledge and skills to work in a workplace or establish your own business. Additionally, municipalities can also provide vocational and technical education courses.

Learning Turkish is a fundamental skill for sustaining your life during your stay in Türkiye. Learning Turkish will facilitate daily life and simple tasks (such as shopping, using public transportation), enable friendships with other individuals living in the same region, and assist in emergencies (communicating with doctors or police).

Free Turkish courses are provided by Public Education Centers. To enroll in a course, please contact the Public Education Center in your province or district.

Anadolu University offers free online Turkish language courses at the beginner (A1) and elementary (A2) levels. These courses are open to anyone who wants to learn Turkish. To learn more about the ANA-DİL Turkish language programme and to register, you can access Anadolu University’s ANA-DİL Turkish program website

Yunus Emre Institute (YEI) offers online Turkish courses from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1) levels. Since the courses are offered in a flexible structure, YEI’s “Distance Turkish Learning Portal” allows students to learn Turkish at their own pace and from anywhere they want. You can find more information on this topic on the Yunus Emre Institute’s website and register for the program

Additionally, municipalities can also provide Turkish language courses.