Afyon Kocatepe University
Afyon Kocatepe University is a large public university founded in 1992 in Afyonkarahisar, a city renowned for its thermal springs and Turkish sweets. It is located just two hours from Izmir and Antalya, and three hours from Istanbul by high-speed train. The university comprises 13 faculties, 3 graduate schools, 14 vocational schools, and 27 research centers. It has over 45,000 students, including approximately 2,000 international students from 55 countries, particularly Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Algeria, Morocco, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Azerbaijan. The university is highly regarded for its programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, and engineering, and it ranks among the top 50 public universities in Turkey in terms of international student enrollment.
Why do Arab students prefer Afyon Kocatepe over others?
A public university with relatively low tuition fees
Tuition fees for specializations vary depending on the program, and the university is considered one of the less expensive options compared to private universities.
Welcoming international students
- There is a “quotas/seats” system for international students in most disciplines.
- According to the official website, there are 465 international students registered so far.
Students are accepted with a high school diploma or an internationally recognized entrance exam.
For admission to most majors, international students can apply using a high school diploma or equivalent or a recognized entrance exam (such as YÖS/AKÜYÖS).
This makes the admission process simpler for students coming from abroad compared to some other universities.
Optional preparatory year for language
The university offers a preparatory year for international students to enhance their Turkish language skills, which helps students adapt academically.
The city is safe and simple
- The city of Afyon is considered to have a relatively good level of safety, and the cost of living is reasonable.
- The city contains therapeutic thermal springs.
Faculties and majors available with the official number of seats in 2026 at Afyon Kocatepe University
Faculty of Education
- Computer education and educational technology
- Preschool education
- Primary education
- Teaching social studies
- Teaching Turkish
Faculty of Science and Arts
- Biology
- Geography
- Turkish language and literature
- Physics
- Statistics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Sociology
- History
- Modern Turkish dialects and literature
Faculty of Fine Arts
- Cinema and Television
- Painting
Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
- Economy
- Business Administration
- Public Management
- Public finance
- International trade and finance
Faculty of Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Food engineering
- Geomatics Engineering / Geographic Information Systems
- Civil Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Mining engineering
- Materials Engineering and Science
Faculty of Technology
- Mechanical engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science
- Automotive Engineering
Faculty of Human Medicine
- Medicine
Faculty of Veterinary
- Veterinary medicine
Faculty of Tourism
- Tourism and Residence Administration
- Travel Management and Tourism Services
- Culinary Arts / Cooking
Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences
- Sports education / Physical education teaching
- Sports training / Physical education / Sports promotion
Conservatory (Music and Arts)
- Musical Instrument Lessons – Wind/String/Percussion Instruments and Piano
- Classical and Turkish folk music
Schools and applied institutes
- Accounting
- Logistics / Transportation Management and Related Services
Accepted exams and required grades at Afyon Kocatepe University
- TR-YÖS: Minimum 40%
- SAT 1: Minimum 50%
- ACT: Minimum 50%
- GCE A-Level: At least two (2 A-Levels)
- International Baccalaureate (IB): Full diploma + at least 50%
- National secondary school certificates: Minimum 50% except for the following countries (Syria – Sudan – Saudi Arabia) where the minimum is 75%
Required documents and papers for application to Afyon Kocatepe University 2026
To apply as an international student, documents must be prepared in Turkish or English with a certified translation and apostille from your country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Applications are submitted only through the official website. The fee is $50 (non-refundable, online), waived for Turkish scholarships. After acceptance, original documents are required for registration in August-September 2026. The International Office provides verification and assistance; contact us via WhatsApp for inquiries (they offer partial Arabic support).
Required core documents
- Passport (clear photo, valid for 6 months after arrival)
- High school diploma: Apostille + certified translation and high school transcript (stamped, translated)
- AKÜYÖS/TR-YÖS/SAT/ACT/IB results or high school only
- 4 passport photos 4x6 white background
- Motivation letter (optional, increases acceptance rate by 20%)
- Your bank statement must show a balance greater than $6,000.
- A criminal record certificate valid for less than 6 months
- Proof of language skills (not required with the preparatory year)
- $50 payment receipt
.
Additional documents (for postgraduate or private studies)
- Bachelor's degree certificate and translated with certified transcript.
- CV 1–2 pages in English.
- Two letters of recommendation from professors (for Master's/PhD).
- ALES/GRE if required for postgraduate studies.
Official application deadlines 2026
- Early application deadline (for scholarships): January 15, 2026
- Main application period opens: May 1, 2026
- Application deadline: July 15, 2026
- Admission results announcement: August 1, 2026
- Registration and visa processing: August 15 – September 15, 2026
- Start date for the fall semester: September 23, 2026
- Start date of the preparatory year (if applicable): October 2026