IB Diploma Admission to Universities in Turkey: Scores and Documents
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Turkey does not set one national IB entry score. Turkish universities decide which international exams they accept and at what level, and the exam centre ÖSYM says so in its own guide. For you this means two things: the IB Diploma can be accepted instead of the TR-YÖS exam at universities that list it, but the threshold changes from one university to the next. This guide reflects what universities and ÖSYM published in October 2026.
How the IB fits into admission
If your secondary school was outside Turkey, you apply to each university directly, within its quota for students from abroad. The ÖSYM guide to the 2026 TR-YÖS exam states that applicants who are in their final school year or are graduates, and who hold an exam and score that the university has set and the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) approved, such as TR-YÖS, Abitur, SAT or IB, are assessed by the university when they apply directly with those documents and the other documents it requests. Foundation universities may add their own exam. See how to get into a university in Turkey.
Students who attended secondary school in Turkey are placed through the national YKS exam instead. The exception is students who completed their full secondary education in an embassy school or an international private school in the national register.
Published IB thresholds
Two examples, from the universities' own pages as read on 23 October 2026:
| University | IB Diploma | Other options on the page |
|---|---|---|
| TED University, Ankara | at least 29 of 45 | TR-YÖS 250 of 500, SAT 1000 of 1600, A levels, Abitur |
| Ankara Social Sciences University | at least 28 of 45 | TR-YÖS 250 of 500, SAT 1100 of 1600, A levels, Abitur |
The numbers are the minimum for being considered, not a promise of a place. Competitive programmes and the number of places in the quota for students from abroad decide the rest, and both universities may change the thresholds. Always use the current page of the university, because the figures can change from one year to the next.
Documents for IB students
- Diploma and results. If you have not received the diploma yet, TED University accepts a certificate from your school stating the expected graduation date and expected graduation score. Final results arrive later and are then submitted.
- Apostille. For IB, Cambridge, Matura and Baccalaureate documents, TED University says an apostille, or an endorsement from the foreign or education ministry, is mandatory. Apostille the diploma and transcript in the country where they were issued, before you travel. See apostille and legalisation of documents.
- High school equivalence certificate. The education ministry issues it, and TED University treats it as a requirement for registration. The regulation does not give equivalence to documents obtained wholly or partly through distance learning, so an IB taken fully online may be a problem. Ask the university first. See documents and recognition for Turkey.
- Translation. TED University asks for documents in Turkish or English, with translations by an official translation office.
For translations see sworn translation of documents.
Language
The IB score does not by itself prove language skills. For English-taught programmes universities still ask for English proof or a preparatory year, and METU, for instance, exempts students who submit a valid TOEFL or PTE Academic score or pass its own exam. For Turkish-taught programmes, Ankara Social Sciences University asks for Turkish at level C1 before you begin directly. See bachelor's degrees in English in Turkey and Turkish language requirements.
Planning
- Choose the programmes in the Turkey catalogue, which lists 7,726 programmes at 209 institutions.
- Check the IB threshold, the quota and the application period on each university's page. Periods differ.
- Ask whether a certificate of predicted or expected results is enough at the time of the application.
- Once admitted, apply for the visa and the residence permit; see student visa and residence permit for Turkey.
Official sources
- ÖSYM: 2026 TR-YÖS/2 guide, sections 1.6 and 1.7
- TED University: admission criteria
- TED University: equivalency certificate
- TED University: required documents
- Ankara Social Sciences University: application conditions
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.