Public Universities in Türkiye: The Struggle for Quality Education and Freedom

Every year, approximately three million young people in Türkiye undergo an intense preparation process to take the university entrance exam.

The most important stage for admission to public universities in Türkiye is the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS). The YKS consists of three sessions: the Basic Proficiency Test (TYT), the Field Proficiency Test (AYT), and the Foreign Language Test (YDT), while the TYT measures basic knowledge and skills, the AYT tests candidates' in-depth knowledge in their chosen fields. The YDT is specifically organized for foreign language department.

The difficulty level of the exam is quite high compared to university entrance exams in other countries such as the U.S., the U.K., or other European nations. The questions not only assess candidates’ knowledge but also require answering quickly and accurately within a limited time, as it is a ranking exam. Thus, students in young students face serious psychological problems due to stress and anxiety.

According to the OECD (2022) report, 33% of students in Türkiye (the largest share) were in the bottom international quintile of the socio-economic scale, meaning that they were among the most disadvantaged students who took the PISA test in 2022. However, their average score in mathematics was 424 points, one of the highest scores for student with similar socio-economic backgrounds. This report shows, despite the high numbers of disadvantage students in Türkiye, these students are academically resilient.

After all this hard work and studying, the top-ranking students are admitted to Türkiye’s most prestigious public universities, such as METU, ITU, and Boğaziçi. However, the challenges and difficulties don’t end after getting accepted into these top universities.

One of the key issues is the shortage of the faculty members. This imbalance makes it difficult for professors to provide personalized attention, mentorship, and support to students. As Professor Ali Tuna Kuyucu from Boğaziçi University’s Sociology Department explains that professors struggle to find enough time for essential academic duties such as preparing lessons, reviewing papers, and engaging in one-on-one communication with students. For instance, while a social science professor in the U.S. can dedicate much more time to their courses, academics in Turkey often bear this burden alone due to the frequent absence of support structures such as teaching assistants or discussion sessions.

Another challenge students encounter is the restricted space for freedom of thought and expression. Professor Ali Tuna Kuyucu from Boğaziçi University emphasizes that this issue has been a long-standing problem in Turkish academia, but it has become more apparent in recent years.

“Universities should be free, autonomous, and pluralistic spaces,” explains Kuyucu. “Students must be able to express themselves without fear, and all ideas — no matter how unconventional — must be open to discussion. Without this, creativity and innovation cannot flourish.” “I am a professor at Boğaziçi University. Student clubs here have traditionally been very strong, and they still maintain a significant presence. However, in recent years, administrative interventions in club activities have diminished this dynamism. Interaction, debate, and organization among student clubs are vital not only for academic growth but also for developing skills in areas such as entrepreneurship. Therefore, preserving these spaces for free expression is essential.”

As Professor Ali Tuna Kuyucu from Boğaziçi University emphasizes, realizing the full potential of public universities in Türkiye may benefit from significant reforms. Türkiye’s top public institutions already have a strong foundation: world-class faculty working with dedication and idealism, and brilliant students selected through a competitive exam. However, without a major transformation — including the adjustments in the role of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), structural reforms in governance, better employment conditions for faculty, along with increased departmental autonomy and funding—these institutions will continue to fall short of their true capacity. Reform efforts could play a key role in shaping the future of higher education in Türkiye.

Edited by: Derya Selin Yener

Works cited

OECD. PISA 2022 Results (Volume I & II): Türkiye Country Note. OECD Publishing, 2023. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/pisa-2022-results-volume-i-and-ii-country-notes_ed6fbcc5-en/turkiye_d67e6c05-en.html

Kuyucu, Ali Tuna. Interview and commentary from Boğaziçi University. Referenced in The Istanbul Chronicle, 2025