Education matters

Note: The education situation in Syria continues to evolve. This page will be updated as new information becomes available.

If you plan to voluntarily return to Syria and continue your education, it is strongly recommended that you collect all necessary documents from Türkiye before leaving. This applies to both basic (formal) education and higher education. You may also refer to the following link for detailed information: 

For information related to education inside Syria, please visit Syria is home website 

 

Syria follows a 6 + 3 + 3 system:

Documents Obtainable from Türkiye:

  • Primary Education – Cycle 1: Grades 1–6
  • Primary Education – Cycle 2: Grades 7–9
  • Grade 9 National Exam: Mandatory national exam at the end of Grade 9
  • Secondary Education (Grades 10–12):
    • General secondary (science/literary) OR
    • Vocational secondary programs

You should obtain:

  • Certificate of Enrollment or Diploma + Transcript from your last level of study
    • Obtain from your school or via e-Devlet (school must stamp e-Devlet documents)
  • Family Booklet / Civil Status Record
  • Any other education certificates you have

These documents must show:

  • Last grade completed
  • All subjects taken
  • Grades received

Follow these steps:

  1. Get certification from your school in Türkiye
  2. Certify documents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Türkiye)
  3. Get endorsement from the Syrian Embassy or diplomatic mission in Türkiye
  4. Upon arrival, authenticate documents at the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Damascus)

  • In Imam Hatip Middle Schools (Grades 5-8) and Anatolian Imam Hatip High Schools (Grades 9-12), Arabic is taught as a mandatory subject.
  • In other primary, lower and upper secondary schools, Arabic is offered as an elective subject.
  • Within the PIKTES project, Arabic language teachers are employed, and Arabic language classes are opened based on demand.
  • Arabic language courses are also available at public education centers in each province and district in Türkiye.

Submit all authenticated documents to the local Directorate of Education in your governorate.
Then follow the equivalency, placement test, or enrollment procedures depending on your grade level.

No.

  • Grades 1–8:
    • Equivalency is NOT required
    • Submitting documents is enough
    • If documents are missing → you may take a placement test
  • Grade 9 (Basic Education Certificate) and Grade 12 (Secondary Education Certificate):
    • Equivalency IS required
    • These certificates are necessary to continue to Grade 10 or apply to university
    • Missing certificates cannot be replaced by a placement test

You must submit:

  • Grade 12 certificate + full transcript
  • Full sequence of Grades 10–12
  • Grade 9 certificate

All must be certified in Türkiye and then submitted to the Certificate Equivalency Department in your governorate.

    • Grades 1–9: No fees
    • Grades 10–12 in public schools: No tuition fees (only minor administrative costs)
    • Baccalaureate Certificate Equivalency Fee:
      • 25,000 SYP (verification fee)
      • 50,000 SYP (complementary subjects exam fee for foreign-curriculum certificates)

    You will be referred to take a free placement test (up to Grade 8 only).
    After the test:

    • The Directorate of Education issues the result
    • You submit:
      • Placement test result
      • Family Booklet or Civil Status Certificate
      • Medical Report

    You must register for the Certificate Equivalency Examination at the Ministry of Education during:

    • January, July, October

    Exams are held in:

    • February, August, November

    You must take additional exams in:

    • Arabic Language, History, Geography

    Yes, but only up to Grade 9.

    Provincial Directorates may allow:

    • Temporary enrollment
    • Placement based on school certificates verified by the former school principal
      → Without embassy authentication
    • Age-appropriate placement tests (“sabr”) if no documents are available

    Important:

    • Final enrollment requires fully authenticated documents by the end of the second semester.
    • Grades 10–12 do NOT allow temporary registration.

    You must collect and certify:

    • Detailed secondary school transcript (showing all subjects & grades)
    • Transcripts for Grades 10–12
    • Grade 9 certificate

    These documents must be certified by:

    1. School
    2. Türkiye’s MoFA
    3. Syrian Embassy/diplomatic mission
    4. Syrian MoFA (upon arrival)

    Then submit your full file to the Equivalency Office in Damascus.
    Once equivalency is approved, you may apply to private universities in Syria.

    • 25,000 SYP (certificate equivalency fee)
    • 50,000 SYP (complementary subjects exam fee)

    • Students studying in Turkish state universities (except medical faculties) may transfer to Syrian public universities.
    • Discussions are ongoing regarding medical faculty transfers.

    Submit documents to the Ministry of Higher Education in Syria.

    Before that, documents must be certified by:

    1. Türkiye’s Ministry of National Education
    2. Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    3. Syrian Consulate General in Istanbul

    Yes.

    Under Decree No. 95 of 2025, the Syrian Government has introduced facilitation measures for returning students:

    • Extended registration periods
    • Conditional permission to sit for exams
    • Simplified enrollment procedures
    • Eased reintegration for those who interrupted studies during the crisis

    Further implementation details will be shared as clarified by Syrian authorities.